20 Friday, July 8, 1983 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Religious Groups in Troyes Live in Much-Envied Harmony BY NIVES FOX cle? And is it a real one? It Troyes generally brings to would appear so, and in the mind its well-known provincial town of Troyes, hosiery and woolens indus- population 120,000, just 150 try, but also the charms of kilometers southeast of an old city with many valu- Paris, in the Champagne- able and beautiful monu- Ardenne region. ments bearing witness of an Henri Fesquet (religious ancient and glorious his- expert for Le Monde) called tory. his article "Troyes and the For Jews, the city is RemembranCe of Jewish best known as the birth- Thought." Mention of place of Rashi (1040- European Representative, American Jewish Committee A bright note in these troubled days? A Jewish community at peace with its neighbors, and not only those of the dominant Christian society around it, but a large minority of Mos- lems as well. Where is this small mira- • Special LOOSE. DIAMOND Promotion • OIMIUONIMPT■ • • CUT CARAT PRICE PEAR OVAL PEAR PEAR .88 • .76 1.31 1.02 $844 1.03 .65 .60 .60 .60 988 351 336 306 288 ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND 661 1179 918 41.11■••••■ •• ...LIR" +.114.6 ■ •••,^P, CUT ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND ROUND ...., • t • , ....10. CARAT PRIC FE .52 .50 .54 .61 .52 .44 .51 .51 '249 240 259 336 265 211 193 193 SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE • 1105), the great Talmud and Bible commentator. But there are more somber reminders too, for Jews: an accusation of ritual murder in 1288, which led to the burning of a family of 14 and shocked the Jewish world at the time; and the expulsion orders by Philip the Fair in 1306 and Philip the Tall in 1322, which made Troyes and its region virtually Judenfrei. Not until the second half of the 19th Century was there again a Jewish popu- lation in the city, with some 200 Jews living there on the eve of World War II. Of these, two-thirds perished in the deportations. Today there are 750-800 Jews in Troyes, most of them from North Africa, who settled there after France granted indepen- dence to its colonies close to 30 years ago. The commu- nity's rabbi, Abba Samoun (also the army Jewish chap- lain for the region and a number of surrounding de- partments), is of Moroccan origin and has been in Troyes for the past 32 years. It is probably thanks to him that the incoming Jewish population found a warm welcome, smoother integra- tion and growth. As in many other French cities, Troyes has a rela- tively large Moslem popula- tion, some 500 families. Un- like other cities, they are economically quite well off, with a number of storekeep- ers and small businessmen among them. Relations be- tween Moslems and Jews are described as excellent in Fesquet's article, and this is ascribed in large part to Rabbi Samoun. A long conversation with the rabbi confirmed _ this: he speaks Arabic, and the Moslem popula- tion has found in him a man of warmth, under- standing and kindness, as well as an interpreter on occasion (the rabbi is officially accredited as a translator). He has be- come a source of counsel, of moral support, and staunchly condemns Arab-directed racism. In practical terms, too, it is through the rabbi that kosher meat — also suit- able for Moslem ritual — is supplied to the Arab community. "There has never been a problem between Moslems and Jews here," asserts Rabbi Samoun, "the atmos- phere is good, our relations friendly." Good relations also are maintained between Jews and Christians: lectures of Jewish content and adult Bible courses often are attended by local priests, who also make a point of going to the synagogue dur- ing the high holidays. There is a cultural center, where dinner-lectures and debates are organized, as well as Hebrew courses for children and adults; an active Bnai Brith lodge, a LICRA (League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism) representative, and a corn- mittee on Soviet Jewry. There are not enough children for a Jewish school, though the rabbi himself is the father of 10, and the majority Sephardic com- munity averages a good three per family. The chil- dren of the three religions all go to the same public schools and get along well, without problems. The community is not tottally free of anti- Semitic tensions — graffiti on the synagogue or other walls occasion- ally mar the otherwise idyllic picture. The rabbi is very positive that such crude signs of enmity (promptly erased by the municipality) are not from Moslem sources. He does not know of any structured or very active extremist groups in the city (everybody knows everybody, he says) and rather ascribes such deeds to individual or im- itatiVe reactions, giving them minimal impor- tance. "We have had no serious problems of anti-Semitism in all the years I have lived here," he maintains. "But this," he adds, "does not mean that we are not vigil- ant and watchful. And we have protested and been heard effectively whenever necessary." Technion Unit to Show Films An Israel film night will Century Miracle," "Israel's be featured at the American Mediterranean Shores" and DIAMONDS Technion Society, Detroit "Kirk Douglas Reports from our vt••ialt) Chapter public meeting, to Technion." be held at the United He- 30400 TELEGRAPH ROAD* SUITS 104/143 Directing the evening's BIRMINGHAM, MICH. 48010 • (313) 642-5575 brew Schools 7:45 p.m. program will be Hymie Cu- Wednesday. tier, chairman, program AWARDED CERTIFICATE BY GIA IN GRADING & EVALUATION. Three films will be committee, Detroit Chap- ••••••••.••*••• ••• ••••••••••••••°4^, t••• ■ `).•°. shown: "Israel-Twentieth ter, American Technion ••••••• " !: ° •■ ••• S. • • 4. • NV - Society. The film "Israel - Twen- tieth Century Miracle" tells of the transforma- tion of Israel from an un- productive desert coun- July 11-July 17 — $210. try into a world-ranking exporter of agricultural July 18-July 24 — 210. produce. It shows re- search programs which July 25-July 31 — $210. resulted in reclamation of large tracts of land and August 1-August 7 — $175. production of a great variety of farm products August 8-August 14 — $175. — some not seen in the area since biblical times, (Round-trip transportation is available.) latest farming techniques and closeups of kibutz and moshav life. Here's a great opportunity for you to have fun, enjoy the company of friends, and share new experiences. "Israel's Mediterranean Shores" provides a These special "Vacation Weeks for Seniors" are offered by the Jewish Community Center. travelogue along the Israeli It's . . . swimming . coast, shows many of Is- . boating . . . fishing . . . art . . . singing . . . dancing . . . acting . . . long rael's popular resort towns, walks down shaded paths . . . sitting peacefully . . . Jewish traditions and customs . . . Anything you beaches and spectacular want it to be. views. "Kirk Douglas Reports Each Friday night, welcome the Shabbot with old and new friends. Enjoy delicious meals everyday, all from Technion" shows some of the research and de- prepared in the customary Jewish tradition. Stay one week, or more . . . you're always welcome. This is velopments in the Techn- the place to relax, to renew old friendships and make new ones. ion. Israel spends the high- est percentage of its gross national product on re- ACCOMMODATIONS: search and development of At the Butzel Conference Center in Ortonville, any- country in the world. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Michigan. You'll stay in one of the beautiful Guest The meeting is open to the Contact the Senior Adult Department, Jimmy Houses, each with air-conditioned, twin-bedded public and there is no Prentis Morris Branch at 967 4030. rooms with private baths. charge. For information, call the Technion office, 559-5190. pass up this Terrific Opportunity! Howard Da Silva was ■ •• born Howard Silverblatt. - • 4•)6.1 ARE YOU 60 OR OVER? HERE'S A SPECIAL VACATION FOR YOU! DATES.- - Don't