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FJN in partnership with Judaisme En Mouvement(JEM)

Pirkey Avot says: “Al Tifroch Min Hatzibour”, do not separate yourself from the community. Good news for humanists! The International Federation of Black Jews, headquartered in Paris, has just signed a partnership agreement with “Judaisme En Mouvement” based in all country. The FJN is part of the Jewish community of France, and it is  full member of the CRIF. Born from a simple need for visibility, the FJN does not commit its members to adopt a religious or ideological vision. It is a gathering, the sole objective of which is to answer questions of representation, and of valorization of the humanism conveyed by the memory and the reflection of Judaism on the human condition. The place of women, like that of other members of classes made invisible by inattention to humanism, can only be revalued and re-balanced by representation.
This is true within each community, where the patriarchal order operates without fundamental questioning. In the same way, the members of the FJN consider that the presence of black Jews within the community necessitates a rebalancing of representation. In this sense, the FJN does not criticize the Jewish community, of which it is an integral part. It simply reminds us that it is impossible to remain waterproof, insensitive and uncontaminated in a context where racism is real, and experienced on a daily basis. This important reminder must be made to protect the most fragile minds, the children of tomorrow. The Jewish community has lived through its greatest human tragedy in a time when the claim of the nation states of the West to moral superiority has met with historic failure. The Shoah is a resounding bankruptcy, which exposes the fragility of social edifices devoid of humanism. The FJN had among its first members Jewish heroes of the resistance against the Nazis, who taught us to soak our conscience in the bath of humanism. With the formulation of the Andre Chouraqui Prize, undertaken with the family and friends of this great Jewish humanist, the FJN wishes to inspire and point the way towards the values ​​of reminder dear to our members. For FJN, Judaism In Motion represents this adage. By signing this partnership, FJN reminds that the Jewish community is multiple in its tendencies and its developments, but also and above all that it is united in its devotion to humanitarian values, which are in essence universal. It is necessary to know how to honor cultural heritages, in all their differences and nuances, without however creating borders, which become scars between beings who are fundamentally similar in their aspirations. There are Noisy Jews who wear shtreimels, others wear seruga kippa, others Ethiopian kessim shawls. There are others who wear nothing, but were brought up at home in Kashrut, there are black Jews who do Shabbat challa like their mother and grandmother but who watch television, or who take the Dafina at the beach.This diversity of practice is not a weakness. It is simply due to the fact of the diversity of individuals. There is no single model. Baruch Hashem. But respect is not negotiable. Our Jewish Hasidim brothers, like our brothers on the Kibbutz are entitled to the same dignity and the same respect, and are subject to the same examinations of humanism towards each other. The culture of the Talmud pushes us to question and question, on the contrary to passively submit to established reason, but this with respect. Hillel’s and Shamai’s schools were opposed in their decisions, but respected each other in life. They ate together and intermarried, although their visions of Kosher and marriage were different. Judaism is the how of humanism, not just the why. The why is simple, but the how is difficult. Stay in the space of humanism through daily, weekly, monthly, annual reminders, which prioritize Tzeddakah, love of neighbor, acquisition of wisdom, hope and joy as a source of transformation personal, requires constant efforts. But gratitude, the “Baruch Hashem!” that comes when we say the Hallel, when we listen to the Torah together, is worth those efforts. We say to this partnership: “Baruch Haba BeShem HaShem”.

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