NYC Mayor de Blasio, chief rabbi of France pledge unity

In the wake of recent events in Europe that have made the Jewish community feel targeted, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio exchanged promises of unity and support with the chief rabbi of France during an event Thursday at a Manhattan house of worship.

In a speech at the Park East Synagogue, de Blasio called on world leaders to lodge action and offer sentiment "so powerful that it will actually inhibit the next attack." De Blasio, wearing a yarmulke, also told the audience of about 250 Jewish community leaders and synagogue members that the world cannot be complacent, and should realize that the post-Holocaust era is not free of anti-Semitism.

"People cannot be indifferent," de Blasio said. "They have to stand up now in the defense of this community and in the defense of freedom."

The gathering took place in the wake of recent attacks in Europe that have shaken the Jewish community. Last week, 250 graves were desecrated at a Jewish cemetery in Sarre-Union, France, and tombstones subsequently defaced at two more Jewish cemeteries. Last Sunday, a gunman fatally shot a volunteer Jewish guard protecting a synagogue in Copenhagen. And last month, four died in an attack on a Kosher supermarket in Paris.

The Manhattan synagogue already planned to host Rabbi Haim Korsia, chief rabbi of France, but the relevance of the visit rose after the events in Europe.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the synagogue spoke of being "liberated" 70 years ago in Budapest, Hungary, of family members who were imprisoned at Auschwitz and other places, and of his surprise and disappointment at what seems to be a resurgence in anti-Jewish sentiment.

"I would never have thought 70 years ago that the scourge of anti-Semitism would rise again in Europe," Schneier said.

And in the atmosphere of unity that underscored the event, Schneier spoke of seeing a very tired de Blasio one day, and learning that he'd flown to France, offered expressions of support in the wake of the attack at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and the Hyper Cacher Kosher supermarket, and returned to the United States immediately after.

Rabbi Korsia told de Blasio that his gesture went far, and he likened the recent attacks in Europe with the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Although thousands died in the attacks in the United States, the incidents in Europe also left a feeling of unease, Korsia said.
"It's always a crime" no matter the number of graves," Korsia said in heavily accented English.

Synagogue members said they felt de Blasio's gestures were significant, and that they agreed with Korsia's point that while the numbers of deaths in the European attacks may have been smaller than those seen in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

But they also said they hope more can be done to publicize what they say is a traumatic situation for Jewish people living in France. Three parents who have children who attend the school affiliated with the synagogue said Jewish people living in France must constantly hide their religion for fear of being attacked verbally or having graffiti splashed on their homes.

"You simply cannot live a free Jewish life in France anymore," said Muriel Josse, 47, of Manhattan.

They also spoke of taking down Mezuzahs -- small parchments containing religious tests -- off door frames so they would not attract attacks, and of wearing baseball caps into synagogues to hide yarmulkes.

"You have to really hide your faith," said Florian Seroussi, 46, also of Manhattan.