France / 30-07-2012
Ceremony in remembrance of the victims of antisemitic and racist violence
Rennes - At 11 o'clock this morning a ceremony took place in France dedicated to the memory of the victims of antisemitic and racist violence and a ceremony honoring the French "righteous among the nations". Maurice Azeroual, the President of the Jewish Community of Rennes, Jean Jacques Narayaninsamy, the Deputy Commissioner and Briero Lenaic, the Deputy Mayor of Rennes were all present at the monument to the Martyrs of the Resistance and the Expulsion, in 50th Artillery Regiment Square.
In his speech, Maurice Azeroual mentioned the importance of remembrance activities, 70 years after the expulsion of the Jews from Paris (also called: the Velodrome D'hiver Hunt). In July 1942, 13,152 Jews were arrested before being sent to Concentration Camps.
"Remembrance is the source of life when it faces the future", he said. The President of the Rennes Jewish Community condemned the murders in Toulouse in which 4 pupils of the Jewish School were murdered in March. He said "The same hatred always manifests itself".
Maurice Azeroual and Jean Jacques Narayaninsamy honored the memory of the "righteous among the nations" who saved the lives of many Jewish families during the war. "Through their struggle they brought new hope during this dark period", said the Deputy Commissioner. The ceremony concluded with a prayer and the laying of a wreath of flowers at the foot of the monument.
