French Prime Minister Honors Anniversary of Jewish Consistories

The European Jewish Press today reports that this is the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's creation of Jewish consistories in France, set up by imperial decree to organize the life of the Jewish community in the empire. In a speech in Paris' main synagogue marking the bicentennial, French Prime Minister François Fillon emphasized the importance of "secularism" in protecting freedom of worship. He also said: "The patriotism of the Jewish community has never sagged. In spite of certain prejudices and humiliations from part of the French society in several circumstances, the love of France never became exhausted."