AMEJDAM: Newsletter no. 7 of October 13, 2008

Inauguration of the Place MOUSSA et ODETTE ABADI

Paris 12th, September 12, 2008.

After several years of efforts, and through the joint determination of Michèle Blumenthal, Mayor of the 12th, Andrée Poch Karsenti, President of the association Les Enfants et Amis Abadi, and Jeannette Wolgust, founder of the association, a square now bears the names of Moussa and Odette Abadi, to whom 527 Jewish children owe their lives.

527 children whose names will never be inscribed on the walls of schools, because they were saved by this extraordinary couple, who had taken refuge in Nice to escape the Paris round-ups.
Powerless in the face of the distress of their fellow Jews trying to escape the Milice and the Nazis, they asked for help from Monseigneur Rémond, Archbishop-Bishop of Nice; although a convinced supporter of Pétain, the prelate gave them his unconditional support, opening schools, boarding schools and convents to hide the Jewish children after giving them a new, less compromising identity. Moussa took charge of teaching them their new names.
The Protestants took part in the rescue: Pastors Evrard and Gagnier hid children with foster families and transferred others to Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.
It took many years for these hidden children to reclaim their history – they who had been ordered to keep quiet, on the pretext that they had been lucky enough to survive the Shoah. After more than 60 years, they have at last paid Moussa and Odette Abadi the posthumous tribute that meant so much to them. Mrs Blumenthal opened the day with a screening of the film “Le réseau Marcel” at the town hall. Then the plaque was unveiled and the speakers were introduced by Andrée Poch-Karsenti.

Michèle Blumenthal,
with Marthe
Kuperminc and
Jeannette Wolgust.
In the background:
Andrée Poch

Some ten children saved by the Marcel network were present, deeply moved to see the role of their rescuers officially recognised in this way.
In this photo, from left to right: the deputy mayors of the 12th, Andrée Poch-Karsenti, Marthe Kuperminc, Jeannette Wolgust and the Mayor, Michèle Blumenthal.

Given our close ties with Les Enfants et Amis Abadi, a delegation of AMEJDAM from Nice attended the ceremony: Maurice and Madeleine Germain, secretaries, and Michèle Merowka, President.

Impressions, by Madeleine GERMAIN

On Tuesday, September 9, Maurice and I went to the new Beaugrenelle district to look for the synagogue of the Mouvement Juif Libéral de France.
Long after the war, Rabbi Farhi had married Odette and Moussa Abadi there. That late afternoon, a small group of friends surrounded Rabbi Farhi to honour the memory of this extraordinary couple. We immediately sensed that our presence brought a welcome breath of Nice… We did not quite know why…
It was because, with time, this anniversary had been somewhat forgotten by many.
Only those for whom Odette and Moussa mattered were there.
The rabbi’s words carried just the right emotion. After the service, the sharing of Ashkenazi dishes that followed was warm, and everyone felt good together. We were glad we had come.

Saturday, September 13, 2008, we experienced a real victory over the Nazis!
Andrée Poch-Karsenti, her children and grandchildren were there, all looking lovely in the little square that was about to be given a name: Odette and Moussa Abadi – they who worked so hard so that Jewish children could live!!!
The whole ceremony was charged with intense emotion. But hearing Moussa’s voice in the speech he gave at the Senate was overwhelming.
What a lesson in humanity for the world! “For all ears to hear”…

Opening of the cultural centre in Nice

The Jewish cultural centre in Nice, at 5 Place Masséna, has at last opened its doors. It bears the name of a Nice rabbi whose strong personality and charisma left their mark on the memory of the Jews: the Centre Jean Kling. The entrance is from the passage at 3 avenue Jean Médecin.
The inauguration took place on October 16, in the presence of civil and religious authorities: Christian Estrosi, as President of the General Council and Mayor of Nice, and Michel Vauzelle and Patrick Allemand on behalf of the Regional Council.
The premises on Place Masséna house various activities – religious (Consistory and Rabbinate), social (SBIN) and cultural: RCN, the Jewish radio station of Nice, and a library where you will find the books presented in our newsletter, as well as many works on the history of Jews from all over the world. A large section concerns the Shoah, with the works of Serge Klarsfeld, an essential tool for our research in schools.

Centre Jean Kling,
Exhibition:
the Comité Amelot

At the initiative of AMEJDAM, the exhibition “The Comité de la rue Amelot” is on show from September 2 to November 6, 2008.
The history of the first resistance network to emerge from the Jewish community is told in 20 illustrated panels. Located in the heart of Paris, this reception centre helped Jewish immigrants and then took part in rescuing and hiding children and adults in danger.

In all, 10 rescue networks recognised by the French national Resistance helped save three quarters of the Jews of France.
Pupils from the Jewish schools of Nice came to see the exhibition after watching the film Ich Bin Jude, about the EIF (French Jewish Scouts) and the Jewish Resistance. They are welcomed by a member of AMEJDAM who can answer their questions; it is essential to explain to the children that the Jews did not “let themselves be led to the slaughter”, but fought to save their own and took up arms, taking part in the French Resistance and creating Jewish maquis that fought for victory over Nazism. On November 7 the exhibition will move to non-religious schools, where we give talks to explain to pupils what the Shoah was.

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