Jewish Paris | World Jewish Travel

Mémorial de la Shoah is the Holocaust museum in Paris, France. The memorial is in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, in the Marais district, which had a large Jewish population at the beginning of World War II. The memorial was opened, by President Jacques Chirac, on 27 January 2005. This day was chosen to coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. The memorial underwent a major renovation in 2005, creating exhibition spaces, a multimedia center, and a reading room. Wall of Names Several walls that make a passageway to the building list the names of the approximately 76,000 French Jews who were deported and murdered by the Nazis. They are listed alphabetically by year of deportation. The Crypt The crypt predates the Mémorial de la Shoah; in 1957, the ashes of victims from the different death camps and the Warsaw Ghetto were buried in dirt from Israel. A door from the Beaune-la-Rolande internment camp in France faces the tomb. The "Jewish Files" The Jewish files are located in a small room near the crypt. They were created by the Vichy government to identify Jewish citizens, and were later used by the Nazis to locate Jews for deportation. Exhibit Rooms The memorial's permanent exhibit documents the history of French Jews during the Holocaust. The materials on exhibit include photographs, text, and video and audio recordings. The memorial also includes an auditorium, bookstore, multimedia learning center, documentation center, and the Room of Names (research room). The Wall of the Righteous Since 1963, the Museum Memorial of Yad Vashem (Jerusalem) has awarded the title "Righteous Among the Nations" to non-Jewish people who helped save Jews during the war. As of 2014, this wall lists 3,300 people, either French or acting in France, who have been awarded this title. The wall runs alongside of the memorial. Image attribution: BrnGrby, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Grand Synagogue de Paris

The Grand Synagogue of Paris, generally known as Synagogue de la Victoire or Grande Synagogue de la Victoire, is situated at 44, Rue de la Victoire, in the 9th arrondissement. It also serves as the official seat of the chief rabbi of Paris. The architect was Alfred-Philibert Aldrophe (1834–1895) who also built the Versailles Synagogue and that of Enghien-les-Bains. Building commenced in 1867 and the Synagogue was inaugurated in 1874, and opened to the general public in 1875, built in the classical style, but embellished with Byzantine frills. The inscription in Hebrew at the entrance is a verse from Genesis 28,17 : "This is none other than the House of God, the very gateway to Heaven", the same as is found on the entrance to the synagogue of Reims and that of Bar-le-Duc. The interior has a number of religious inscriptions above the doors. In the choir pulpit is written in French the names of the prophets. Above the Torah Ark is engraved with the words "ה 'ניסי" ("The Lord-is-my-banner" Ex 17:15) It also includes a series of 12 stained glass windows symbolising the Tribes of Israel. Every year, the Sunday before Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), there takes place a ceremony in remembrance of the Martyrs of the Deportation, which is televised on France 2. Image attribution: Luiza Fediuc, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Olevy, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Jewish Museum of Art and History

The Museum of Jewish Art and History is the largest French museum of Jewish art and history. It is located in the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan in the Marais district in Paris. The museum conveys the rich history and culture of Jews in Europe and North Africa from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Its fine collection of religious objects, archives, manuscripts, and works of art promotes the contributions of Jews to France and to the world, especially in the arts. The museum's collections include works of art from Marc Chagall and Amedeo Modigliani. The museum has a bookshop selling books on Jewish art and history and Judaica, a media library with an online catalogue accessible to the public, and an auditorium which offers conferences, lectures, concerts, performances, and seminars. It also provides guided weekly visits in English during the tourist season (April to July) for individuals as well as students and teachers, and workshops for children, families, and adults.

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TOURS OF Paris

Tours

Eiffel Tower Guided Climb

The Eiffel Tower Guided Climb gives you the opportunity to climb the Eiffel Tower with a guide who will share with you the history of the tower and point out the surrounding sites as you get to the top. You won't have to wait in the long elevator line and you will definitely get a good chunk of your daily steps in. There may be a line for the stairs, but this is still much shorter than the elevator line. Your guide knows the 704 step climb isn't easy and has prepared several stops along the way to share fascinating stories and legends about the world's most visited landmark. During the first section of the clumb, you will learn about Gustave Eiffel, the young engineer, entrepreneur, and builder of the magnificent tower. If you're worried about bringing kids on this tour, many people who reviewed this tour said it wasn't a problem and their kids loved it. Because of the breaks between levels, the climb isn't as daunting as it sounds. On the second level is where you feel a real sense of accomplishment. You can gaze out at the breathtaking views and enjoy the birdseye tour of the entire city. Your guide will tell you about the districts and monuments such as Les Invalides, Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Montparnasse, and Champs-Elysees. This tour is a once in a lifetime experience that will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, insight on the tower's history, and many wonderful photos to show friends and family when you get home.

Tours

Le Marais Secret Food Tour

There's no better way to explore the culture of a city than through the local cuisine. On this tour, you will taste a wide variety of French culinary delights including French cheeses, sausages, croissants, baguettes, macarons, chocolates, pastries, and local wines. The tour takes place in Le Marais district because the guides believe that all visitors must explore this historic district during their stay in Paris. It is here where you will truly feel the history of Paris and enjoy the beauty of Paris from medieval times. The tour begins in the beautiful north area of Le Marais and ends in the busy streets near Saint Paul metro station, allowing you to see two very different parts of the district. When the tour concludes, you are encouraged to walk around and further explore the shops, galleries, and museums that make up this district.

Tours

Paris Charms & Secrets

Paris is a city filled with rich history and culture, but there are so many hidden facts to some of the city's top attractions and stories behind almost every corner. The big Saint-Sulpice Church, for example, was once a hayloft, and the building where the president works, the Elysse Palace, was once a gambling house. Thanks to the research made by the team at Paris Charms & Secrets, hundreds of strange and personal stories that were hidden somewhere in old books and documents, have been brought to life again. Did you know that there is a link between Al Capone and the Eiffel Tower? Or that the Eiffel tower had a younger sister? Paris is a mysterious city and on this tour, you will learn some of the top mysteries and the stories surrounding them. When you take a tour of the Louvre, you might hear a few details about the architecture, but at Paris Charms & Secrest, you will hear a story about the museum's greatest scandal. The goal of this tour is to provide you with the lesser known, hidden stories and details, that you won't find anywhere else. This tour is done on an electric bike because you travel more than 20 km and this is an effortless way to cover as much of the city as possible in four hours. There is no other tour that travels this way, but it's perfect for staying out of traffic, entering protected areas, keeping the group at the same speed, and being able to enjoy some fresh air. By now you've read a few of the hidden facts that the historians at Paris Charm's & Secrets dug out for you, but there are plenty more stories waiting to be told. If you want a fascinating, slightly unconventional tour that takes you to the places less traveled and tells you the hidden secrets of Paris, this tour is for you.

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Jewish Style Restaurants

Restaurants

Mabrouk

Mabrouk Alexandre David and Alexis Memmi dreamed of opening a restaurant filled with their grandparent's Tunisian food since their were children. They wanted to bring that style food back to Paris. In 2019, Mabrouk was opened near Le Marais, an historic area of Jewish Paris, and serves Sephardic dishes with a modern French twist. The restaurant has received high reviews for their North African cuisine. [caption id="attachment_37990" align="alignnone" width="419"] Mabrouk's dishes have a Tunisian, Parisian, and Kosher-style twist[/caption] North African cuisine has become a trend in Paris, but this restaurant is unique due to its Kosher-style twist. They serve pkaila (a Tunisian cholent) and a dish called the AbitBowl (a poke-style bowl which combines spicy meatballs, sesame cream, and caramelized onions). While the restaurant has a French twist, serving a dairy free sabayon, they have remained true to their grandmother's flavorful style of cooking. They even named a dish inspired and named for their grandmother: Boutargue Memmi (made of salted and cured fish roe). The environment Alexandre David and Alexis Memmi created is one where everyone can call home. While the restaurant is kosher-style, the meat is both certified kosher and halal to accommodate to all customers who appreciate the Tunisian food.

Restaurants

Florence Kahn Bakery and Delicatessen

Florence Kahn Bakery and Delicatessen is a Jewish-style bakery and pastry shop in the heart of the Marais. The stunning blue mosaic that covers the shop's exterior is likely to grab your attention and pull you into the shop, even if you are just passing by. The mosaic was created by a master artisan in 1932 and is considered a historical monument of Paris. The same artisan also decorated several other shops in the Marais, so be sure to keep your eyes open when exploring the area. One in particular is the former horse butcher’s shop which you can find near Florence Kahn's on the corner of Rue Vieille du Temple and Rue du Roi de Sicile. If you go on a nice day, you will be able to enjoy your Yiddish pastry or homemade chicken soup in the fresh air at a table set out on the terrace. But don't be disappointed if you don't come on a sunny day, because the inside is just as relaxing and gives off the fabulous aroma of fresh baked goods. Some of their most popular menu items include their corn beef sandwich, pastrami, apple strudel, yogurt cake, challah, and cheesecake, but you really can't go wrong. If you love traditional Jewish food prepared fresh just the way your grandmother would make it, this shop is for you.

Restaurants

L'As du Fallafel

L'As du Fallafel is a lively kosher Middle Eastern restaurant located in the Pletzl Jewish quarter in the Le Marais neighborhood. The restaurant is known for its falafel sandwich served with eggplant and hummus, but you can create your sandwich any way you want with a variety of toppings. There is often a line packed with both locals and tourists, some who are coming for their first time and others who have been coming for years. This restaurant is great for vegans and vegetarians, or anyone looking for an authentic falafel experience.

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CITY GUIDES

Guides

Andrea

Andrea is originally from Venezuela and has been living in Paris for 2 years. She fell in love with energy, colors, and architecture of Paris during her first visit, and since moving there, her love for the city has only grown! Around every corner, there is a unique story, and every street gives off its own personality. While Andrea has several pre-designed tours based on different topics and interests, she is happy to create a custom tour if there is something specific you are interested in. Some of her tours will take you to popular landmarks and sites, while others are based on specific themes such as fashion, sports, urban life, Bohemian culture, and Paris-filmed movies. Andrea wants to share her love of Paris with you and show you another side to the city that you wouldn't otherwise know or might miss while exploring on your own.

Guides

Elisa

Elisa was born and raised in western France in the city of Brittany. She studied art history, Spanish, and English, became a licensed tour guide, and then finally moved to Paris. There are several tours Elisa offers and she is allowing willing to adapt the tour to fit your family or group's interests. She can take you to the Opera House or the Eiffel Tower, take you on a day tour of the city's highlights and top attractions, and even take you around the Louvre or Orsay Museum, showing you some of the most famous masterpieces. Maybe you want to explore Auvers-Sur-Oise, the town where Vincent Van Gogh lived, or visit the Basilica of Saint-Denis, where the French kings are buried. Wherever you decide to tour, Elisa will make sure you have a relaxing day filled with history, fun, and memories.

Guides

Alex

Alex is a native Parisian and licensed tour guide, offering tours to individuals and groups up to 12. Limiting the group size is a way to make sure all tour participants can hear the information and comfortably ask questions without fighting to get to the guide. Alex's tours can last anywhere from one hour to the entire day, he can purchase tickets ahead of time to help you avoid long lines, and will even help you plan your visit to Paris. With Alex, you will explore Paris like a local, while gaining insight on some of the city's top landmarks and discovering the hidden secrets of the city itself. Alex does not have premade tours, he simply creates a plan with you based on your interests, needs, and time constraints.

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HOTELS IN Paris

Hotels

Hotel de Jobo

The Hôtel de Joséphine Bonaparte, JoBo to those in the know, opened this charming residence, with its lounges and 24 rooms, to all would-be Parisians – for a night or a longer stay, a cup of tea, an evening drink, or even a whole night of cocktails and delicious nibbles. Hidden behind a flamboyant courtyard, Hôtel de JoBo is the intimate and delightful escape after a long journey, a day of strolling, visiting museums, and fabulous shopping to be found in this multi-faceted part of old Paris. Born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, her lover and soon to be second husband Bonaparte renamed Rose de Beauharnais “Joséphine”. In today’s world, Joséphine Bonaparte would probably be known as JoBo on Instagram and in celebrity magazines. She is the fantasized inspiration behind this hotel. Who better than JoBo, the contemporary alter ego of Joséphine Bonaparte, to represent French elegance with charming frivolity? As a backlash to the Revolution and the Reign of Terror, the fashionable aristocratic subculture “The Incredibles and The Marvelous” (Les Incroyables et les Merveilleuses) decadent mantra was to live life to its fullest. Joséphine, dressed or rather undressed like a Greek goddess, was amongst their trend setters. Her sense of style was admired by all. But this great seductress also had a more down-to-earth secret garden: at Malmaison, just outside Paris, she had 240 species of roses from all over the world planted... roses for Rose, the little girl that she had once been, who had run barefoot in her Martinique hometown of Trois-Îlets. To appease her nostalgia, a heated greenhouse for tropical plants was built.

Hotels

La Chambre du Marais

La Chambre du Marais, or the Chamber of the Marsh, is located on the Rue des Archives in the center of Paris, an ideal location for exploring the historical Marais district. Just a few minutes walk from the hotel brings you to the Picasso Museum, the Georges Pompidou Center, and numerous attractions, art galleries, and shops. The building was build in the 18th century but was reconstructed by Aurore Vachette and stylishly designed by Philippe Jégou and Aurore Vachette de Lesquen. Inside the hotel, there are nineteen spacious and authentically decorated rooms where guests can stay and enjoy the hotel's top class services. At the heart of the hotel, you will find Bar del la Veuve, a cozy lounge opened to both hotel guests and locals from the neighborhood. In the morning, the bar serves breakfast from 7 am until 12 pm, perfect for guests wanting to sleep in a little later. From noon until 2 am, you can enjoy a cocktail or choose from the bar's fine selection of wines. The hotel's excellent reviews are usually what draw people to La Chambre du Marais as many people enjoy the smaller size of the hotel, the friendly hotel staff, and all the great services the hotel provides.

Hotels

Hotel Saint-Marc

The Hotel Saint-Marc was built in 1791, extending from the rue Saint-March to the ramparts of Paris. It was one of Paris' most elaborate properties during the 18th century, built on the private residence of the Duc de Choiseul. Today, this historic piece of French heritage stands as a marvelous hotel where art, design, comfort, luxury, and relaxation come together. Just steps away from the hotel, you'll find the Opera House, the Louvre, theatres, boutiques, and galleries. Inside the hotel, there are six different rooms and suites to choose from, depending on the services you want and which size suits you best. The wellness center, featuring a hammam, hydromassage, and counter-current pool, is free for all hotel guests, and additional massage treatments can be booked for further relaxation. The Hotel Saint-Marc is a sophisticated oasis where you can make yourself feel at home and indulge in all services the hotel has to offer. Here you will enjoy the hotel's hospitality, tranquility, and receive a personalized experience that will make you feel as though you have a home away from home in the center of Paris.

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THE BEST OF Paris

Eiffel Tower Guided Climb

Andrea

Hotel de Jobo

Mabrouk

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SITES TO SEE

Memorial de la Shoah

Grand Synagogue de Paris

Jewish Museum of Art and History

TOURS OF Paris

Eiffel Tower Guided Climb

Le Marais Secret Food Tour

Paris Charms & Secrets

Jewish Style Restaurants

Mabrouk

Florence Kahn Bakery and Delicatessen

L'As du Fallafel

CITY GUIDES

Andrea

Elisa

Alex

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HOTELS IN Paris

Hotel de Jobo

La Chambre du Marais

Hotel Saint-Marc

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