French Jews Wage Legal Battle To Reclaim Family Names

London's Jewish Chronicle yesterday reported on the legal battle being waged by some Jews in France who want to reclaim their traditional family name. Many years ago, their parents changed the family name to something that sounds more French to avoid anti-Semitism. French law provides that family names are immutable and must be continued. Foreign-sounding names can be changed, and a person can reclaim a name if it is about to disappear, but only if it is a French name. Now, for example, Olivier Raimbaud wants to reclaim her family name of Rubinstein, and has been filing requests for 25 years with the State Council to do so. When requests are considered, the government insists that the entire family agree to the change. A new group, The Strength of the Name, has recently filed four more requests for individuals at the justice ministry. Some of those seeking a name change are reacting to right-wing politicians like National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen who has accused Jews of hiding their identity in order to dominate France.