1,500 French Jews Travel to Israel in Solidarity Gesture
PARIS — France’s Jewish community, angered and frightened by Iraqi efforts to draw Israel into the Persian Gulf War, is sending people and funds to the Jewish state in a gesture of solidarity.
Four chartered planes carrying 1,500 people were leaving Thursday for Tel Aviv, officials said.
Among those going to Israel were Joseph Sitruk, the grand rabbi of France, and Alain Goldman, the grand rabbi of Paris. They are scheduled to meet with Israeli government and religious leaders in Jerusalem.
“Operation Solidarity,” organized by the community’s religious governing body, is one of several campaigns begun since Israel became a target of Iraqi missile attacks.
A 24-hour radio-thon Sunday raised more than $5 million for the United Jewish Appeal France. Other donor events helped boost the total to $8.4 million.
Many among France’s 600,000 Jews are survivors of the Holocaust and lost family members in Nazi gas chambers. Others have close relatives and friends living in Israel.
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