THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Baron. Guy de Rothschild Reaffirms
Role in Jewish Life Despite Critics
PARIS (JTA) — Baron
Guy de Rothschild, head of
the world-famous banking
firm, recalled how as a child
he used to walk on Yom
Kippur day to synagogue
practically crossing Paris
from one corner to another
in top hat and tails.- -
"We all,the entire family,
used to troop behind my
father to synagogue on holy
days. It was all part of my
Jewish upbringing. Since
then, some of my values. of
Judaism might have
changed, but the core has
remained," he said.
De Rothschild, who
serves as president of
France's Cential Jewish
Welfare Fund, the Fonds
Social Juif Unifie (FSJU)
and co-chairman of the
United Jewish Appeal, has
come under attack from cer-
tain French Jewish circles
over an interview he
granted to a local magazine.
One paper, the Jewish
Tribune run by a
Strasbourg-based rabbi,
even called for his resig-
nation from his , two
community posts taking
him to task for having
said, among other things,
that his second marriage
is a mixed marriage and
that he "feels a foreigner"
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BARON DE ROTHSCHILD
in Israel.
In an interview with the
Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Baron Guy ex-
plained his position. "I feel
deeply Jewish and I am a
Zionist, but I also believe in
the diversity of opinions and
sentiments among mem-
bers of the Jewish commu-
nity."
He said he intends to con-
tinue serving the French
JewiSh community "for as
long as they want me to do
so and in whatever capacity
they define and thi$ for as
long as my health permits. I
belong to the category of
Jews who are involved and
devoted to the development
of Judaism in all religious,
social and cultural matters.
I prayed for the success of
Zionism in the days which
preceded the second World
War and the independence
of Israel."
De Rothschild told the
JTA how together with his
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wife he demonstrated on Is-
rael's Independence Day in
May 1948. `Together with
Mrs. Merrdes-France (the
wife of France's Jewish
Prime Minister), we
marched down the Champs
Elyess to celebrate Israel's
birth." The baron, a
member of France's exclu-
sive Jockdy Club, has
rarely, if ever, joined any
other public demonstra-
tions.
His personal definition
of Judaism is "solidar-
ity." He said: "This is the
key word, solidarity with
all those who are Jews,
first with those in my own
community, France, then
with Jews all over the
world and especially
with those made to suffer
because of their Jewish-
ness. It also involves re-
spect and help for Jewish
culture, Jewish civiliza-
tion and Jewish re-
ligion."
De Rothschild first vis-
ited Israel in 1932 when he
was 23. "I toured the Jewish
colonies, I went to see the
Jewish settlements," he re-
called. He has often re-
turned since, once in 1945
while still serving as a Cap-
tain in Gen. de Gaulle's
Free French forces.
"It was one of my most
moving trips to Israel, then
Palestine still. The war was
drawing to its end and I was
having a seder in Klbutz
Ein -Gedi with a young
lcibutznick, Teddy Kollek, -
arid a young writer, Arthur
Koestler."
Friday, March 9, 1919 21
sANdy FRIEdMAN
phoTognApliy
'114
my Bar Mitzva with all the
serious concern which it in-
volved. Naming my son
David should show some-
thing."
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The baron was asked if he
felt that Jews living in the
Diaspora have an obligation
or the right to take a stand
on Israel's policy. "An obli-
gation? Definitely no A
right, neither. I agree with
what (former Israeli
Foreign Minister) •Abba
Eban once told me: 'Only
those who risk shedding
their blood for Israel -should
have a voice in its basic pol-
icy matters.' " Baron Guy
said he feels, however, they
can play a discreet role in
trying to bring certain
people together or help ire
the peace process.
If his name were not
Rothschild, would he still
play such an important
role in Jewish affairs in
spite of his many other
activities? de Rothschild
was asked:
"If my name were not
Rothschild, I would be a
different man, I would have
had a different upbringing,
a different basic education.
As it is I cannot forget•that
my falher, a keen horse
racer, never let one of his
horses run on a Saturday. I
, also constantly remember
how my mother used to tell
me nearly every day you
must strive hard to be forgi-
ven for what you are and
what you have. I told my
children the same thing. My
grandchildren will hear it
in their turn.
"I would not be what I am
i,f •
oold
.no,t h aye . passed,
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