The views of a group of French Jews who are now living in London
The first time Rabbi René Pfertzl told me about a “French Jewish blog”, I admit I hesitated. As with many French Jews, I’m fed up with all these articles speaking about “Les Juifs de France” as L’Express wrote on its front page a few months ago. For those of the readers who do not speak French and/or do not know L’Express, it means “ The Jews from France ” and L’Express is one of the most important weekly newspapers in France.
Why am I stressing this point ? Because words are important. I’m not a “ Jew of France ”, but a French Jew. Writing about “Jews of France” simply means that Jews are not considered totally French. The media has some responsibility for the rising of antisemitism in France, writing articles and news only when there are some attacks or other tragic events between French Jews and French Muslims. But never when they are working or simply living together like anybody else. And this obviously happens very often.
So, when Rabbi René told me about this blog, my first reaction was a little bit nervous. Why were we being considered as someone specific? Being French AND Jewish perhaps is even more specific. I’ll never be an Englishman, but I’m a Londoner, trying to do my best to respect and understand the rules, here in the country we chose to live in two years ago.
Then I read the first article Rabbi René wrote. It was called “Crossing the Channel” and, that’s true, crossing the Channel makes life really different. This 200-mile-journey from Paris to London perhaps is a total escape. It is not a question of the French or English way of living being better than another. They are so different you cannot really compare.
Some rules in London and clear, some other ones, even after two years, remain quite unclear. You only need a few minutes, for instance, to realise that standing on the escalator’s left side in the tube is the last thing to do to make friends in London. Regarding Kosher food (after all, this is a Jewish blog), it takes more time to realise that you will not find kosher products in the grocery around the corner but find them in Golders Green. You will also quickly realise how London really is a cosmopolitan city.
Some other things are a little bit tricky to quickly understand. Before living in England, I never realised how French are straighforward compared to the English. I really love politeness and the way English people are polite. However, it took me some time to realise “I’m afraid…” means “no way” and that “interesting” often means… it is not “interesting” at all and that many superlatives words like “brilliant”, “fantastic”, “amazing” are just used to say “I’m just still hearing you”. Perhaps it is even more difficult to understand for a French Ashkenazi like me.
We have been living in London for nearly two years now and even we still have so many things to learn about the “ English way of life ”, we really enjoy our new life and, what we call in France “the English flegma”. We really appreciate how people always seem “positive” compared to us; never complaining, we appreciate London, its diversity, its amazing parks, its museums.
Unfortunately antisemitism exists here too, but we feel the Government (and, more generally the English authorities) face it more firmly, admit to it and does not only consider it “a Jewish matter”. The media treats it as a “national issue”, rather than trying to oppose Jews and Muslims.
I do not know how it will evolve, but I really appreciate the balance existing there between the real possibility for everyone to keep his/her own identity and the respect of common English rules.
And that’s the most important thing for me, as an immigrant, I consider I must respect the existing rules of the country I chose to live in. I’m sad to admit that sometimes, I really have the impression the French authorities even forgot to remember these basic rules of living together and respecting each other. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I feel this is perhaps the biggest difference between England and France.
David Herz is a member of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue
