ER Editor: In France, the tradition of secularism means that the state is supposed to be above and beyond religious partisanship. This even means that government employees can’t wear visible symbols of religious affiliation on the job, such as a crucifix necklace, etc. So putting a Jewish Hannukah ceremony right in the middle of the Elysee is bound to cause problems. (And did we say that France has both the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe?) It’s a puzzling choice, unless you’re trying to send a message. And by the way, the Politico piece below reminds us that the law governing secularism in France has its 118th anniversary today, December 12. Curious timing much?
The display of religious signs in public spaces and by state officials is a particularly sensitive issue in France, where church and state have been strictly separated by law since 1905, which often ignites fiery political debates. The 118th anniversary of the law’s implementation will coincidentally be celebrated on Saturday.
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Looking for interesting patterns across media as we do, here was a curious tweet put out two days ago on a CTV report in Canada, using a public Hannukah celebration to get a message across —
CTV producer gone rogue? This will turn your hair grey (and only then will they fire you)pic.twitter.com/CpsFJRMxRT
— Stephen Taylor (@stephen_taylor) December 7, 2023
Images from Gaza(?), appearing to indict Israel and the IDF, are abruptly interjected into an announcement of a public Jewish festival celebration in Toronto, with a rabbi giving the positive, generic message to everyone watching of bringing in light to disperse darkness. The word ‘anti-semitism’ can be heard just before he speaks. “We’re having some technical difficulties there with Alison’s mic.” LOL. Carried off with such prepared aplomb.
To our ear we hear criticism of Israel’s action in Gaza, as we hear positive messaging from an orthodox Jew. Zionism vs. Judaism? Hmm.
And Macron? Some thoughtful tweets first —
Translation: Abaya (a type of Muslim dress) more secular
Abaya plus de laïcité ! #Hannukah #Hanouka #Macron #Elysee pic.twitter.com/VjaBXt21rv
— Aix Insoumise φ (@Jeunesinsoumis_) December 7, 2023
Translation: What a sinister idiot this #Macron is, with no coherent policy or convictions, everything and its opposite. Doesn’t march against anti-Semitism at the behest of a Moroccan jailbird and out of fear of Islamists & Muslims, then violates secularism by celebrating #Hannukah at the Elysée.
Mais quel sinistre c*n ce #Macron, sans politique ni convictions cohérentes, tout et son contraire.
Ne marche pas contre l’antisémitisme sous injonction d’un repris de justice marocain et par peur des islamistes & musulmans, puis viole la laïcité en fêtant #Hannukah à l’Elysée. pic.twitter.com/bKD4tA83te— Alexandra Light 🇨🇵 🇮🇱 (@Ekhouvannaai) December 8, 2023
French President Macron consecrated the first candle of Hannukah “to the Oct 7 victims”, While Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia and all French-Jewish institutions are openly supporting the genocidal war in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/yZXJ1RXomk
— MonitorX (@MonitorX99800) December 7, 2023
Zionism has transformed Hanukkah into a holiday of genocidal triumphalism. Why is Macron hosting a candle-lighting for Hanukkah?https://t.co/mgsHOstk4C
— Jonathan Affleck (@affleck78894) December 8, 2023
Translation: Hannukah is the story of a minority who resist oppression to free themselves. The oppression suffered by the Palestinians is contrary to Jewish tradition. Everyone understands that Macron here is giving a blank check to the genocide underway in Gaza #Hanouka
Hannukah c’est l’histoire d’une minorité qui résiste à l’oppression pour se libérer. L’oppression subie par les palestiniens est contraire aux traditions juives
Tout le monde comprend que Macron ici donne un blanc seing au génocide en cours à Gaza #Hanouka https://t.co/2FNhaHMs8i— Babou Lou (@babou_lou) December 8, 2023
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MSM warning for Politico.
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Macron had been invited to receive an award for fighting antisemitism and safeguarding religious freedoms at an annual event from the Conference of European Rabbis.
During the event, France’s chief rabbi Haïm Korsia lit a ceremonial candle as members of the audience sang traditional Hanukkah songs in Hebrew. Lighting candles on a multi-branched candelabra, called a menorah, is a Jewish ritual that is part of the Hanukkah celebrations, which this year began on Thursday and will last until next Friday.
Macron said Friday, during a visit to the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, that he didn’t regret what happened “at all.”
“I think that on this point we need to keep our heads cool,” the French president told reporters. “Secularism isn’t about erasing religions. It’s about the fact that everyone has the right and freedom to believe and not to believe.”
Because of the French state’s sacrosanct principle of being strictly secular, Macron’s presence at a religious ritual in an official building had sparked criticism from all sides — including from some Jewish groups.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the French Jewish federation CRIF who also attended the event, told radio broadcaster Sud Radio on Friday that the lighting of the candle was “a mistake” and “should not have happened.”
“The Élysée is not the place to light a Hanukkah candle because the Republican DNA is to stay away from anything religious,” Arfi added.
Pierre Henriet, an MP from Macron’s own centrist Renaissance party, “strongly condemn[ed] this attempt at religious preferences,” adding, “By this act, Emmanuel Macron breaks with his role as guarantor of the neutrality of the State.”
Manuel Bompard, a lawmaker from the far-left opposition France Unbowed (LFI) party, said Macron had made “an unforgivable political mistake.”
Laurence Rossignol, a socialist lawmaker who is vice president of the French Senate, compared Macron to “a 10-year-old kid [playing] with a little chemist’s kit, but [with] real nitroglycerine and real matches.”
The far-right National Rally, meanwhile, claimed that Macron’s attendance at the Élysée event was meant to make up for his absence at a march against antisemitism in November, which sparked criticism for the French president.
CONTINUE READING HERE
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Published to The Liberty Beacon from EuropeReloaded.com
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