French President: "intolerable to hide religion"

French President Francois Hollande discussed today (Wednesday) the statement made by the President of the Jewish community in Marseille that it is advisable to go without a kippa, during remarks to members of the public in his office at the Elysee Palace and reported by the Agence France-Presse. "This is intolerable that in our country citizens will be afraid or be attacked because of their religion, and they decide it's better to hide," he stated.
Meanwhile, Israel's Chief Rabbi, Hagaon Rabbi David Lau, called on the EU president to ensure the safety of European Jews following the rise in anti-Semitic persecution against Jews in various European countries. The Chief Rabbi made his comments as part of a short trip of 48 hours in Europe which included a meeting with European Union leaders and leaders of Jewish communities.
In a meeting with President of the EU Parliament, Martin Schulz, attended by representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the chief rabbi noted that, "the situation of Jews in some European countries has become an impossible situation and one should do everything possible to increase their personal security." The Chief Rabbi further added that, "The fact that we hear voices asking Jews not to walk around with one of the major Jewish overtones which is a skullcap, hat and tzitizit, to avoid harassment - is an intolerable situation in any way."
The chief rabbi added that he does not intend to address the disputes between the EU and the Government of Israel, however, "while expressing their criticism, and criticism is allowed among friends, one should expressed it carefully because there are those who translate the criticism into hatred and hostility, and one must act as the sages of Israel said already many generations ago 'Chachamim, be careful with what you say."
Upon leaving the meeting, the rabbi replied to journalists' questions on the subject of calls in France to remove Jewish symbols for fear of harassment and expressed support for the position of Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Chaim Korsiah, who called not to respond to requests, but continue to walk around with a kippa. The Chief Rabbi stated in this framework, that he is "calling on every Jew to keep going the same way he was used to this day."
Previously, in the early afternoon, the chief rabbi met with Ambassadors of EU and EU vice president, Martin Schulz. This meeting was also attended by Hagaon Rabbi Benjamin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of the Netherlands; Rabbi Menachem Margolin, CEO of RCE and Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, vice president of the Rabbinical Center of Europe.
During the meeting, the Chief Rabbi called on ambassadors not to believe rumors and slander about Israel and come see firsthand how in the State of Israel all its citizens enjoy full all equality in aspects of life, noting that "It can be seen in hospitals, bed next to bed, Jewish, Muslim and Christian. So too one can see in medical teams Jews, Muslims and Christians, and they all receive equal treatment."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!