The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (Crif) criticized on Friday the fact that the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanouka was celebrated at the presidential palace in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron, who denied any violation of republican secularism.
“In fact, the Élysée Palace is not the right place to light a Hanouka candle, because the republican DNA is to stay away from anything religious,” said Yonathan Arfi, president of du Crif, at the Sud Radio microphone.
Mr Macron received the annual Lord Jakobovits Prize, which recognizes the fight against anti-Semitism and upholding religious freedom, from the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) on Thursday evening. On this occasion, the Chief Rabbi of France, Haïm Korsia, lit the first candle in the candelabra for Hanukkah.
The video, which was widely shared and viewed on social media, sparked strong criticism from all sides.
“It is not traditionally the job of a public authority to host a religious festival,” said Yonathan Arfi, who said he was “surprised.”
“I think that this is actually something that I don’t think should happen again,” he continued. According to him, “French Jews have always viewed secularism as a law of protection and a law of freedom.” And anything that weakens secularism weakens the Jews of France.”
In return, Mr. Macron said he “does not regret at all” this celebration, which took place “in the spirit of the Republic and harmony.”
“If the President of the Republic had taken part in a religious gesture or taken part in a ceremony, it would not be respect for secularism.” But it did not happen that way, Mr Macron argued.
In view of the increasing anti-Semitism since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the head of state called for “trust in our compatriots of the Jewish faith” and also called for “common sense and kindness.”
Before him, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also came to the front to deny any departure from secularism, an issue that is always politically and socially sensitive in France, where there is a system of separation between religions and the state.
Above all, the president wanted to send a “signal” of “support” to the “Jewish community” in the face of “increasing anti-Semitism,” she argued.
The president respects “all religions” and there is “no violation of secularism,” assured his Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who is also responsible for religion, on Franceinfo radio.
The holiday of Hanukkah commemorates one of the great victories in Jewish history, when in the 2nd century B.C.E. A small group of Jews recaptured the desecrated Temple in Jerusalem. The tiny bottle they then found to relight the candelabra, which was supposed to last a day, actually lasted eight. For eight days, at nightfall, believers light a flame on a candlestick called “Hanoukkia,” placed in the door or window frame.