|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Executive Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban participated as a guest of honor on Wednesday at a Rosh Hashanah ceremony organized by the Jewish Consistory of Marseille.
The event was held at the Great Synagogue of Marseille, the southern French port city that its home to at least 70,000 Jews, Europe’s third-largest Jewish community after Paris and London.
Distinguished attendees at Wednesday’s event included President of the Jewish Consistory of Marseille Michel Cohen Tenoudji, Chief Rabbi of Marseille Réouven Ohana, President of the Central Consistory of France Élie Korchia, and Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan, among other government officials, civic and religious leaders, diplomats, and Jewish community members.
At the event, Seban — a national secretary for Les Républicains, former city council member in the Paris suburb of Rosny-sous-Bois, and author of French, Jewish — So What? — was recognized for her dedicated work fighting antisemitism.
The ceremony included a video greeting from President of Israel Isaac Herzog, the sounding of the shofar, a prayer for the French Republic, and the singing of “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem.
In her remarks, Seban delivered a message of Jewish pride and resilience in the face of rising antisemitism.
“At a time when so many Jews are wondering whether they should remove a mezuzah, hide a Star of David, or hide their Jewish identity, I want to start with a very simple conviction — the most powerful way to fight antisemitism is first and foremost to be proud of one’s Judaism,” she said.
“I refuse to accept that Jews in France should start believing they need to become less Jewish in order to live more peacefully in France,” Seban declared. “The worst form of surrender is getting used to it.”
Read more:
CAM’s Shannon Seban Honored as 2026 ‘Mensch Award’ Recipient at Vienna Ceremony
European Mayors Unite in Paris to Confront Rising Antisemitism Across Continent
