September means “La Rentrée” in France – back to school, back to work, a new start for everyone. The President meets with key representatives of civil society, including the Jewish community. In many ways, this year’s rentrée was remarkably smooth, with no teacher strikes despite the threat of job cuts and few complaints about the new national “Parcoursup” system that tramples French tradition by weighing performance in guiding new entrants to university. But for Emmanuel Macron it has been calamitous, his approval rating collapsing to below 30 per cent, comparable to that of his predecessors Hollande and Sarkozy who failed to be re-elected for a second five-year term.
Macron will undoubtedly learn, adapt and recover. He still has no serous rival. But internationally, his splendid speeches have made little impression on the world, while Mrs. Merkel’s difficulties have frustrated his ambitions for Europe. Domestically, his policies and his personal style are now widely criticised, even by those who wish him well. Results of his policy reforms have been slow to emerge. He is taxed with arrogance and insensitivity, isolated from all but a small coterie of advisors. Scandals, though minor, have undermined his promise of more virtuous government.
Islam is still an unrelenting topic of public conversation, but there is real progress in frankness, realism and an ongoing search for solutions. While the President has yet to show his hand and the political left still flirts with denial, the popular Education Minister is already showing the way. Responding to recommendations of “Institut Montaigne”, a centre right think tank, he wants to integrate Arabic teaching in high schools to reduce the appeal of outside language tuition by radical religious groups. The Interior Minister wants to wrench the long-delayed development of “Islam de France” away from the consulates of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Saud Arabia. Muslim intellectuals, writers, journalists and lay leaders are now speaking out on the dangers of political Islam and promoting Muslim integration in modern French society.
Our own rentrée was rather gentle. We returned from two weeks of generous hospitality in Washington DC and Los Angeles, great American cities that have become pleasantly more European while Paris has trended American. Big brand names are the same. Vegan is gaining ground. But Americans don’t smoke like Parisians, and they stop more often at red lights. High marks for US civility, and for building synagogues on main street, not hidden away as in Paris. LA felt like Tel Aviv, just bigger, richer and more hilly. That will never be Paris, but the City of Lights has its own attractions, including for Jews whether cultural or religious.
Jewish institutions in Paris are in upheaval or renovation. The dominant Consistoire, recognised since Napoleon as the official representative of Jews in France, is increasingly contested – by Chabad, dissenting orthodox, conservatives and liberals (read “reform”). Community centres are under new management. The two largest liberal synagogues, ULIF-Copernic (right bank) and MJLF (left bank) are joining forces to increase membership and raise their profile with government authorities and the public. If they succeed they could change the face of Judaism in France.
"Reuven Levi" has been a Paris resident since 1981. He married in the United States and is father of three and grandfather of six. He is an active member of the Jewish Community
