By Naomi Firsht
1 min read
By Naomi Firsht
The façade of Paris's Grande Synagogue rises 36 metres into the sky, and with its ornate arches, domed roof and 1,800-seat capacity it is the largest in France. It has been symbolic of the capital's Jewish community since it opened its doors in 1874.
Jacques Canet, the synagogue president, is well aware of its status - it was part of the reason he ensured services continued despite advice from the Interior Minister and police to shut synagogues on the Shabbat following the Hyper Cacher attack.
"If you shut the synagogue then it means it's the end of the world. During the Second World War we stayed open until the Rosh Hashanah of 1943," Mr Canet said.
"On the Shabbat after Hyper Cacher we had even more people than usual. They came to show their solidarity. We will stay open no matter what happens."
Rabbi Moshé Sebbag said he had noticed a mixed response to the supermarket killings among his congregants. He said: "Some people really believe in France and the Republic, they want to stand up to what has happened and continue to live here. They have been here for generations and France is their home.
"Others are loyal to French values but are beginning to ask questions. They want to stay loyal but will maybe leave to go to Canada, America, London or Israel.
"Those who emigrated from north Africa 40 years ago because of security issues have the same kind of feelings now - that maybe they should leave."
Mr Canet, who had his barmitzvah and wedding at the shul, said the Paris attacks had left Jews questioning the politics of their country.
"After the attack on the Jewish school in Toulouse in 2012 there was a rally with around 5,000 people, but after Charlie Hebdo there were five million.
"The question is: if there had been only the Hyper Cacher victims, would five million people have protested? Until now the Jews didn't count."
For both men the growth of Islamic extremism in France had exacerbated the Jewish community's problems.
Parents were now scared to send their children to state schools where they may be targeted by other pupils if violence flared in the Middle East.
Mr Canet said: "The day after the Charlie Hebdo attacks all state schools held a minute's silence, but there were a number of Muslim children who refused to do it."
There appears to have been another direct impact on the Grande Synagogue. Mr Canet explained: "We host school visits. Lots of state schools used to come, but in the last four or five years we have only had Christian schools visit.
"We asked the teachers why they weren't coming any more, and they said the Muslim children don't want to come."
The Muslim community's lack of structure made it difficult to organise substantial interfaith efforts, he said.