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Before you make aliyah, know where you come from. French Jewry is one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in Europe, Rashi was teaching in Troyes in the 11th century, Napoleon emancipated them in 1791, and Dreyfus split the country in two. The post-1956 wave from North Africa rebuilt the demographic mass after the Shoah. Roughly 500K Jews lived in France at the 2000s peak, the third-largest community in the world. Understanding this heritage is part of becoming an Israeli, your story is woven into theirs.
Cultural note, French Jewry is split between Ashkenazim (descendants of Rashi, Alsace, post-WWII Polish/Lithuanian survivors) and Sephardim (Maghreb arrivals 1956-67, today the demographic majority at ~70%). The Consistoire administers Ashkenazi religious life, the CRIF speaks politically for both. The Pletzl in the Marais (4th arrondissement) is the historical Yiddish quarter; Sarcelles, Créteil, Strasbourg and Marseille are today\'s living centers. When you arrive in Israel, "tzarfati" (French) on a name tag carries this entire history.
Medieval & Modern Roots
Communities & Cities
Institutions & Organizations
Notable Events & Affairs
Key Figures & Sources
A Conversation at the Consistoire
A pre-aliyah meeting with a rabbi at the Consistoire de Paris, the kind of conversation you may have to obtain documents proving Jewish status for the Sokhnut.