Crif - Francis Kalifat pays tribute to the victims of Pittsburgh antisemitic attack

A year after the antisemitic attack in Pittsburgh, a ceremony to pay tribute to the 11 victims was organized with the help of the Paris office of the AJC.

A lot of public and political personalities were present at the commemoration. Among them, Jamie McCourt, Ambassador of the United States in France, Frederic Potier of the Dilcrah, Anne-Sophie Sebban, Director of the AJC in Paris, Francis Kalifat, President of Crif, and Haim Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France.

The ceremony began with the moving speech of the Ambassador. Jamie McCourt recalled the names of French victims of anti-Semitism and associated their memories with those of the victims we honored. She again affirmed her commitment against antisemitism and hatred.

The AJC director in Paris Anne-Sophie Sebban then spoke. She also paid tribute to all the victims of antisemitism in the United States, France, and the rest of the world. Anne-Sophie Sebban expressed a "hateful feeling of déjà-vu at each commemoration and tribute ceremony to the victims of antisemitism". She expressed her emotion and anger at an ever-persistent anti-Semitism, which gives a sense of insecurity to hundreds of Jews around the world.

The director of the Paris office of the AJC also recalled the #ShowUpForShabbat initiative that had inspired Jews and non-Jews to go massively to synagogues after the attack on the Tree of Life synagogue.

A video message of Anthony Fienberg, the son of Joyce Fienberg, one of the victims of the attack, was then broadcast. With sincerity and humor, Anthony evoked the memory of his mother and called for it to never be forgotten.

Eleven candles were then lit in memory of the victims by the Ambassador, the director of the AJC in Paris and the family members of Joyce Fienberg.

The ceremony ended with the performance of "Oseh Shalom" on clarinet by Elias Rodriguez and a minute of silence.

On the occasion of this ceremony, the President Crif Francis Kalifat delivered to Jamie McCourt, Ambassador of the United States in France, the remembrance book that Crif has made after the tragedy. Last year, Crif invited people to write messages of support and solidarity. It is with a sincere emotion that we gave Jamie McCourt all these messages Friday morning, right after the ceremony.