In an unprecedented spirit of unity and cooperation, the Rabbonim of many cities and spiritual leaders of Jewish communities throughout France gathered Tuesday for a meeting – the first of its kind – whose goal was to fortify the fundamentals of Judaism in the country. The meeting was prompted by the need, in face of the rising anti-Semitism in France (perceived by RCE members) to unify the resources throughout the country, by taking positive action to strengthen Judaism throughout the country.

The venue of the meeting was the Beis Hamedrash Yeshuas Yaakov in Paris, named after the Pshevorsker Rebbe by courtesy of Rabbi Yosef Dovid Frankfurter, Rov of Adass Yereim who warmly hosted the participants. Much preparation was invested in this meeting by the staff of the RCE, who found it essential to bring together as many French Rabbonim as possible. In truth, Rabbonim attached substantial importance to this highly significant matter, and very many took the opportunity to participate The meeting was opened by Rabbi Todros Cahen (Kohen), Rov of Yeshuos Yaakov, who warmly welcomed all participants of this auspicious meeting, designed to strengthen Halachah. Rabbi Y.D. Frankfurter brought up the main suggestion of the meeting: to organise the establishment of a local committee of Rabbonim in France, operating under RCE auspices. All Halachic matters pertaining to the Jewish community would be brought before this committee for decision, including questions brought to the various communal Rabbis, to safeguard Jewish values throughout France.

He briefly reviewed the activities of the orthodox French communities, striving unceasingly to establish and strengthen the fundamentals of Judaism, and expressed his satisfaction and admiration at the firm stand of the Rabbonim and activists of the various communities, who work night and day to disseminate Torah in face of the increasing assimilation in the country. Demonstrating the importance of this meeting, he quoted the pasuk, “When the G-d-fearing discussed with one another, Hashem hearkened and heard” and pointed out that the pasuk states “they discussed” rather than “they spoke”. For discussion is more than mere speaking – when the G-d-fearing sit together and discuss a problem, their decision is carried into action! As the pasuk continues, “And Hashem hearkened and heard“, for it brings positive results, increasing Heavenly honour. Among other subjects, he called for aid for Torah institutions in Israel in financial straits, and suggested forming a group of Rabbonim to settle the differences between local communities.

Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Haltovsky, Rov of the RCE Centre, represented the Rabbinical-Halachic point of view when he reported various topics which the RCE deals with: “In some communities the Rov has to take charge of all matters of Judaism in his city – and in numerous cases it is simply to much for one person to fulfil so many varied tasks at the same time. For this purpose the Rabbinical Centre of Europe was established – that each Rov can receive professional help in each area separately, through the various departments experienced in their fields and headed by reliable Rabbonim.” Each department, he noted, is in constant contact with Poskim, who bring their halachic queries before the greatest Halachic authorities in order to receive the premier halachic opinion.

Rabbi Haltovsky and Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Schmahl, as RCE representatives, received a warm blessing from the Pshevorsker Rebbe, when taking leave of him before travelling to France, and the conference participants were invigorated by his heart-warming words:

“This is a very important gathering, and I am jealous of those involved in this great Mitzvah! It is true, we have a promise that Torah will never be forgotten, but we have to make an effort towards this goal. My blessing to the gathered Rabbonim is that they should have success and Heavenly assistance, they should have the strength and insight to influence their communities in Torah and Yiddishkeit, and reap success.”

Dayan Schmahl, Head of the Financial Queries Dept., pointed out the importance of the RCE as a unifying force, a central address for queries on any aspect of Judaism. In the past, European communal Rabbis had to address their queries to Rabbonim and Poskim abroad, who sometimes found it difficult to understand the facts in countries so different from theirs, and therefore harder to assess the situation correctly. It is a great advantage to centralise the Halachic queries and clarify the topics which arise locally in Europe by Rabbonim who live in the area and are familiar with the European mentality in all its aspects, who know how to deal with important questions and subjects according to the time and place. The result is that acceptable solutions can be found quickly to any problem that occurs.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Secretary of the organisation, reviewed the activities of the Centre which encompass all aspects of Jewish life in Europe. He described the practical set-up of the organisation, where each department has its own Rov and Posek, and brought examples of the intensive activities carried out by the staff of the Centre which proved very effective, achieving positive results with Governmental authorities, thanks to the organisational strength of the RCE. Rabbi Margolin requested of the French Rabbonim to take advantage of the services of the Rabbinical Centre, which stands ready to assist the communities in any way possible.

A wave of excitement passed over the participants at the unexpected appearance of the elderly French Rabbi, Chief Rabbi of Djerba, Rabbi Bougid Chanania Saadon. His spokesman, Rabbi Shmuel Chori, Head of his institutions and Rov of the Shul, pointed out that this was the Rov’s first public appearance outside his own Beis Hamedrash in the twenty years since he moved to France! The fact that he made this exception shows the great importance that he attaches to this gathering together of all the Rabbonim in France, and the possibility to bolster the fundamentals of Judaism in France.

Dayan Rabbi Massoud Chamu, Rov of Mekor Chaim and a member of the Beth Din of the Union of the Communities (Agudas Hakehillos?) brought up the problem of burial places in the Jewish cemeteries in Paris, noting that from lack of choice, Jews are sometimes buried in a non-Jewish cemetery with a separation. He also highlighted the problem of the severe lack of Mikvaos.

This was followed by a heated discussion in which the following Rabbonim took part: – Rabbi Sasi Boshosha, Dayan in Aix-les-Bains; Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Bamberger, Rov of Metz; Rabbi Yechiel Brand, son-in-law of Rabbi Chaikin zt”l, founder of Aix-les-Bains Yeshiva; Rabbi Bukris; Rabbi Shmuel Chori, Rov of the Tunisian community; Rabbi Massoud Chamu, Rov of Mekor Chaim and Beth Din member of the of the Union of the Communities of Paris; Rabbi Dovid Levy, Rov of Ner Hatorah and Head of the Union of Batei Medrash; Rabbi Daniel Amram, a member of the Kashrus Committee of Adas Yereim; Rabbi Hillel Pevesner, Head of Chabad Beth Din in Paris; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Pevesner, Head of the Sinai institutions; Rabbi Dr. A Pedida; Rabbi Yaakov Yoel Frankfurter, Head of the Kashrus Committee of Adas Yereim in Paris; Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Kahn, member of Chabad Beth Din in Paris; Rabbi Yechiel Kalmanson, Rosh Yeshiva of Brunoi; Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Rosenberg, Rov of Rashi Beis Hamedrash and Head of the Igud Charedi; Rabbi Eliahu Shneur, Rov of the Ohr Joseph institutions in Armentieres; Rabbi Michoel Schmerler, Rov of Strasbourg.

A warm letter of greeting was delivered to the meeting from Rabbi Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger, Rabbi of Strasbourg, who apologised that he was unable to attend the meeting, and blessed the participants that the Saying of our Sages be fulfilled by them “Every gathering for the sake of Heaven will have continuance”. Just as your worthy activities to strengthen the weak in many communities are well known, so I am sure, with Hashem’s help, in France too you will be able to correct many faults over time in different areas. Rabbi Yechiel Teboul, Rabbi of Lyon, welcomed the meeting and the bond it was forging between the Rabbonim of France. Rabbi Yitzchok Weil, Rov of Aix-les-Bains, also revealed that he was unable to attend due a family celebration in the USA, but sent the Dayan of Aix-.les-Bains to represent him at the meeting.

At the close of the meeting, it was decided to set up a local Rabbonim committee to act under RCE auspices. Another suggestion accepted was to establish an Education Dept. in France in order to deal with youth dropouts from educational institutions. It was also agreed to take action on the problem of cemeteries, and set aside further areas for Jewish burials to alleviate the shortage of burial places. Another decision was to plan the building of additional Mikvaos in French cities.

As a result of the strong impression the meeting left on all Rabbonim, it was decided to meet again before the upcoming Yamim Noraim in order to keep track of the development and implementation of the various decisions. RCE representatives handed out to the participants a newsletter, as well as three Seforim published by three of their Rabbonim: Vayaan Dovid written by Rabbi Chaim Yosef Dovid Weiss, Av Beis Din Satmar in Antwerp; Veheishiv HaCohen from Rabbi Yirmiyah Menachem Cohen; and Kisos Lebeis Dovid from Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Schmahl.