Summary
In the heart of Paris, the air was thick with anticipation on a Monday night as the illustrious Théâtre Antoine thrummed with the energies of voices united against a common plight. “There are still a few seats in paradise…” mused the philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, gesturing toward the back of the packed auditorium, where prominent figures gathered to flesh out a vision—”Europe Against Anti-Semitism”. A poignant evening unfolded amidst an audience of 800, under the vigilant watch of a significant police presence, safeguarding this beacon of discourse. Among the attendees were notable figures like former ministers Manuel Valls and Jean-Michel Blanquer, Paris’s mayor Anne Hidalgo, actor Yvan Attal, and the president of CRIF, Yonathan Arfi. Caroline Fourest, the essayist and editor of the applauded journal “Franc-Tireur”, also graced the occasion, receiving a well-deserved ovation. The literary journal “La règle du Jeu” took the lead in organizing this vital gathering, set against the backdrop of impending European elections—a timeline suggesting urgency. Levy passionately expressed his distress over what he saw as a faltering commitment to the principle of “never again,” which had anchored the formation of the European Union in the aftermath of the Holocaust, especially in light of the sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents since October 7. He lamented the lack of robust engagement from major political factions regarding what he termed as a “existential threat to Europe.” While acknowledging the discomforting rhetoric of La France Insoumise, he criticized their incendiary narrative, suggesting it only fueled the flames of division. Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, echoed this sentiment, lamenting the shift in perception towards Jews—from victims of historical genocide to scapegoats labeled as aggressors. Her words ceased the room, unraveling the painful realization that those sowing discord, blaming Jews for contemporary conflicts, were not seekers of peace, but purveyors of resentment. “One can disagree with Israeli government policies—indeed, I do—but labeling the victim as the perpetrator is a grave moral failing,” added Gérard Larcher, president of the Senate, as he dissected the emergence of a new anti-Semitism arising from extreme left ideologies and radical Islam. When acclaimed writer Christine Angot stepped forward to share her insights, the audience hung on her thoughtful interludes. With a rhythmic cadence, she illustrated the dangerous ambiguity occurring in academia, where the term “genocide” had soured into mere “massacre,” and “anti-Semitism” had become lost in the sprawling web of generic “racism.” “By merging these terms, we risk cultivating a culture of indifference,” she cautioned, igniting a fervor synonymous with the evening’s purpose—to awaken the conscience, not just to recognize, but to actively combat the insidious resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe.
Original Source: www.sudouest.fr
