[Atlantic Friend]

I'm quite the quintessential goy here, but can you help me understand what Sitruk said about "Jewish life in the Diaspora to remain independent" ? Does he mean that Jewish people in France, for example, must strive to keep their own religious identity ?

[SJackson]

I'm quite the quintessential goy here, but can you help me understand what Sitruk said about "Jewish life in the Diaspora to remain independent" ? Does he mean that Jewish people in France, for example, must strive to keep their own religious identity ?

The issue is the increased persecution of Jews in Europe, resulting in the inability to practice their faith. For example, in France it's recommended that Jews not dress in an identifiable way, not even to wear a Yarmulke.

Sitruk is saying it would be nice if Judiasm could continue to be practiced in France, rather than having the French Jewish community forced to either abandon their faith and move to Israel. Obviously the US would be the other option, but that's not relevant to their discussion.

It's not really an issue one would expect to be disputed in the 21st century, is it?

[ChicagoHebrew]

Does he mean that Jewish people in France, for example, must strive to keep their own religious identity ?

I think that's essentially what H'Rishon L'Tzion Rabbi Yosef was saying. Everywhere but Israel, Jews face extreme pressures of assimilation and intermarriage.