L-R: Austinites Robin Davis, Matt Schocket, Kim Schocket and Jennifer Koppel visit Paris on a Jewish Federations of North America mission with 65 other leaders and professionals representing 25 communities of all sizes. Courtesy: Jennifer Koppel

Paris is home to the largest Jewish population in Europe. This fact paired with a 2000-year history through which Jewish communities have both thrived and faced persecution created a powerful lens to explore the tension between vibrancy and vulnerability that is universally felt by Jewish people today.

Austinites Robin Davis, Jennifer Koppel, Kim Schocket and Matt Schocket visited Paris on a Jewish Federations of North America ( JFNA) mission with 65 other leaders and professionals representing 25 communities of all sizes. Crisscrossing the Seine River, the group engaged with Parisian community members of all ages and backgrounds, including the Israeli Ambassador to France, French social and political sector leaders, kids at summer camp, young entrepreneurial nonprofit leaders and a popular social media influencer. Several international partner organizations of JFNA were central to the mission program, Joint Distribution Committee ( JDC), Jewish Agency for Israel ( JAFI) and World ORT. Shalom Austin allocates 12% of the annual campaign total to support these and other programs that connect Austin to Israel and global Jewish peoplehood.

A visit to Sarcelles, 10 miles north of Paris, set the essence of the mission. Vitality was palpable in the on-going immigration story of Sarcelles, which since the 1960s has had a strong North African Sephardic heritage with cultural and religious life, marked by numerous synagogues, kosher shops, and distinct traditions that earn the community the nickname “Little Jerusalem.” At the same time the community’s vigilance was ever present including intense security and several memorials to deadly acts of hate.

Shalom Austin Philanthropy Chair Robin Davis was struck by JAFI’s work to bring Israelis to camps all over the world. “The enthusiasm and joy that we witnessed of 9-year-old boys at camp singing, dancing and chanting, ‘Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv’ as if at a soccer match, helps me believe that this next generation can and will do better,” Davis said.

“Our philanthropic support of JAFI ensured Israeli counselors made a harrowing exit from Israel to be in xx camps across the world on time this summer to help children visualize a Jewish future that is safe, secure, connected to Israel and filled with Jewish joy.”

Davis also commented on the profound impact of spending an evening with families choosing to leave France for Israel, to make Aliyah. “A statement attributed to CEO and Director General at JAFI Yehuda Setton, that Aliyah is running towards something rather than running away has forever changed my view and understanding of Aliyah. This combined with hearing the stories of the French families we met at dinner choosing to move to Israel with their young families, was fascinating.”

Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy Co-Chair Kim Schocket felt peoplehood in a new light after processing sessions the group attended, saying, “I think what stuck with me most since returning is how much the French look to the US to help fight this war on antisemitism. I didn’t realize how much what’s happening here in the US is affecting their feelings of safety about the diaspora. It was the first time I felt this immense responsibility to not only fight for our life in the US and Israel as Jews, but for Jews in the entirety of the diaspora.”

Schocket continued, “And, all Jewish tourists in Paris should put the Synagogue de La Victiore (Great Synagogue of Paris) and the Jewishly historic Marais neighborhood on your list of must sees.”

From Kyiv to Paris to Haifa, Jewish communities across the world are vibrant because we support each other’s Jewish journeys through philanthropy at home that reaches across the globe.

To learn more about the Shalom Austin Annual Campaign, visit shalomaustin.org/annualcampaign.