France Announces Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism and Racism

France announced an ambitious government plan to spend 100 million euros ($107 million) on a program to combat rising anti-Semitism and other forms of racism.

A 40-point program introduced by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls will include increased penalties for crimes deemed to have been fueled by anti-Semitism and racism as well as increasing awareness and local efforts against prejudice.

“Racism, anti-Semitism, hatred of Muslims, of foreigners, homophobia are increasing in an unbearable manner,” Valls said in the Paris suburb city of Créteil, which was the scene of a brutal attack on a Jewish man and his girlfriend last December, AFP reported. That attack was followed by the January 2015 attack by Muslim terrorist Amedy Coulibaly on a Paris kosher supermarket that left four dead, during the same week as the Islamist shooting that killed 12 people at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.

Anti-Semitism doubled from 2013 to 2014 in France, with an increasing number of Jews leaving France for Israel.

“French Jews should not be afraid of being Jewish,” said Valls. “French Muslims should not be ashamed of being Muslims.”

By: JNS.org

Send Passover Packages to Needy Israeli Soldiers - Bring Them Joy!

We are honored to thank the young men and women of the IDF who risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Israel. Since October 7th, soldiers have been on the battlefield for months - many are hoping to come home for Passover.

Join us in sending Passover food packages (and personal notes) to Israeli soldiers and their families.

Many soldiers spend the Passover holiday with needy families back home. The soldiers greatly appreciate your love and concern. Bring them Passover joy!

CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR PACKAGE AND NOTE TO ISRAELI SOLDIERS!