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Les Enfants et Amis AbadiPreserving the memory of Odette and Moussa Abadi and keeping alive the memory of the Shoah

Commemoration of the deported children of the primary school in rue de Romainville

February 5, 2022

Commemoration of the deported children of the primary school in rue de Romainville

As every year, January 27 is THE day of commemoration of the Deportation. For the second time, Madame Armelle Gonzalez and Madame Vanessa Lucas, respectively head teacher and teacher at the primary school in rue de Romainville in Paris, did me the honour and pleasure of inviting me to take part.

This January 27, 2022 took on a greater, stronger resonance for me. Is it the effect of the weight of the years that accompany me, and of their heaviness?

“…The time of disaster unfolds in the opposite direction to chronological time. Instead of taking us further away from it, it brings us closer.” (Rachel Ertel, Brasier de mots)

The incomprehension, still as sharp, at the ignominy and inhumanity of men; the question “…what if?”; feeling even more concerned, inhabited by all my lost loved ones – all this means that I would probably never have taken the risk of facing children’s eyes to speak of them (for they are mine, within me) had Odette and Moussa, Monseigneur Rémond and Pastors Gagnier and Evrard not slipped in beside them, for they belong to History. They were part of History; their memory must be honoured, their deeds known and recognised.

So I wanted to mark this testimony differently: not as an isolated afternoon, but by being among these children and sharing. I therefore went with them to the Mémorial de la Shoah on Friday, January 21, where a very interesting speaker, Madame Adeline Salmon, led a workshop, “Resisting through Art and Literature”, for a passionate, attentive and participative class. A few days later we met at the Musée de la Libération – Jean Moulin for another view of “Daily life”.
Then came Friday, January 27 in the classroom. Talking about the Marcel network was easy; putting it in context? Marshal Pétain? The anti-Jewish laws? The Resistance? Citizenship? Discrimination? These children had clear knowledge, which allowed me not only to explain Odette and Moussa’s actions but also to answer their pertinent questions.

We then gathered in the playground before Year 5 pupils (those who will take over these moments devoted to remembrance), parents and elected representatives of the 19th: Mr François Dagnaud, Mayor, and his deputies Mrs Yasmina Merzi and Mr Mahor Chiche.
After an introductory speech, Madame Gonzalez gave the floor to Mr Dagnaud, who, in a very fine address, spoke of the themes of resistance, tolerance and memory that marked the week the children had just lived through.
The children then recited texts by Martin Niemöller, Marianne Cohn, Robert Desnos, Aragon, etc., and then named the four deported children of this school and three other children from the neighbourhood whose names are engraved on the plaques.
The ceremony ended amid the emotion stirred by the first notes of music and the so clear voices singing the “Chant des Partisans”, under the direction of the music teacher, Madame Catherine Larbre.

Thank you, Madame Gonzalez, for inviting me.

Andrée Poch-Karsenti