Comments on: The tourism that isn’t http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/ It's a Jewish Blog! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:17:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joanne http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/#comment-338135 Joanne Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:02:04 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2564#comment-338135 Whether it's "all that bad" or not in France depends on your standards. Jews can thrive in France as individuals, sure. But, from my limited experience there, it seems that Jews as a culture and a people are marginalized in France, best tolerated when invisible. And Israel is portrayed as a monster. I saw anti-Semitic graffiti in many places, and articles in Le Monde and other publications bordered at times on pure hatred of Israel. If you can distance yourself from your Jewish identity, ignore it, and discount it...then staying in France is not a problem. Otherwise, being a Jew is not exactly a validating experience. I was there years ago, during the first Intifada and again just in the wake of Oslo. It wasn't great. The anti-Israel feeling was only background noise for me, especially as I didn't usually identify myself as Jewish, but it was pervasive and disturbing all the same. My impression is that as a Jew in France you're part of a group that's dutifully tolerated but actually disliked. At the same time you can be appreciated very nicely as an individual. That's not the worst fate in the world but it still can be uncomfortable. Whether it’s “all that bad” or not in France depends on your standards. Jews can thrive in France as individuals, sure. But, from my limited experience there, it seems that Jews as a culture and a people are marginalized in France, best tolerated when invisible. And Israel is portrayed as a monster. I saw anti-Semitic graffiti in many places, and articles in Le Monde and other publications bordered at times on pure hatred of Israel.

If you can distance yourself from your Jewish identity, ignore it, and discount it…then staying in France is not a problem. Otherwise, being a Jew is not exactly a validating experience. I was there years ago, during the first Intifada and again just in the wake of Oslo. It wasn’t great. The anti-Israel feeling was only background noise for me, especially as I didn’t usually identify myself as Jewish, but it was pervasive and disturbing all the same.

My impression is that as a Jew in France you’re part of a group that’s dutifully tolerated but actually disliked. At the same time you can be appreciated very nicely as an individual. That’s not the worst fate in the world but it still can be uncomfortable.

]]> By: Penny http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/#comment-333652 Penny Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:36:09 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2564#comment-333652 Well I was in La Rochelle last week and we didn't get any trouble. Although the French press was (if possible) even more anti-Israel than the English. Well I was in La Rochelle last week and we didn’t get any trouble. Although the French press was (if possible) even more anti-Israel than the English.

]]> By: DK http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/#comment-327896 DK Fri, 18 Aug 2006 19:05:36 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2564#comment-327896 Many of us have been worried and wondering what the real situation is for French Jews, both out of solidarity, and quite frankly, wondering about what it means for visits to Paris. (Some of us, uh, look a bit Jewish.) So the updates are definitely appreciated. Many of us have been worried and wondering what the real situation is for French Jews, both out of solidarity, and quite frankly, wondering about what it means for visits to Paris. (Some of us, uh, look a bit Jewish.)

So the updates are definitely appreciated.

]]> By: Joel http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/#comment-327622 Joel Fri, 18 Aug 2006 13:18:55 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2564#comment-327622 More afraid in France? Interesting. I guess I'll never understand why Jews want to stay in Europe considering the blatant anti-Jew views. My great-grandfather couldn't stand it and came over to America with my grandfather...and this was during a time when Jews were hardly allowed to travel freely in Russia and eastern Europe. Some can say that France isn't really that bad, but let's be honest, if the leader is willing to destroy any hope of peace for the sake of bowing to the Muslim wants...how good could it possibly be for Jews in France? More afraid in France? Interesting.

I guess I’ll never understand why Jews want to stay in Europe considering the blatant anti-Jew views. My great-grandfather couldn’t stand it and came over to America with my grandfather…and this was during a time when Jews were hardly allowed to travel freely in Russia and eastern Europe.

Some can say that France isn’t really that bad, but let’s be honest, if the leader is willing to destroy any hope of peace for the sake of bowing to the Muslim wants…how good could it possibly be for Jews in France?

]]> By: amira http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/#comment-327341 amira Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:23:07 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2564#comment-327341 we have an extended branch of the family living in france and theyve been visiting israel nearly every 2 months...from what they say, the situation in france is getting worse and worse by the day... we have an extended branch of the family living in france and theyve been visiting israel nearly every 2 months…from what they say, the situation in france is getting worse and worse by the day…

]]> By: phoebe http://www.jewlicious.com/2006/08/the-tourism-that-isnt/#comment-327106 phoebe Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:00:09 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=2564#comment-327106 Also, same idea: <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3292685,00.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>. Also, same idea: click here.

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