An investigation has been launched into an incident in which Tel Aviv University art students are prohibited from visiting the Louvre Museum. The group was hoping to make the visit at the end of the month but organizers were compelled to tell 12 students the Louvre and other cultural institutions have rejected their requests to make a group visit.
According to a report in the Liberation newspaper, the governor of the district has ordered an investigation.
Sefy Hendler, who teaches in the university was finalizing the group’s itinerary. Requests were sent to the Louvre and Sainte-Chapelle (medieval Gothic chapel). The Louvre rejected all three possible dates for a visit and the chapel explained it did not have vacancies on the day requested. Hendler, who is also affiliated with Haaretz, explains it is difficult to understand the places that receive millions of visitors annually were unable to accommodate one of three possible dates for a small group.
Wishing to be absolutely certain as to the reason for being rejected. Hendler then tried to make reservations for the same dates, but this time explaining the groups are from Italy and Abu Dhabi. Both cultural institutions were happy to oblige.
Tel Aviv U, then contacted the president of French Friends of TAU, Francois Heilbronn, as the organization is funding the trip. He contacted the institutions involved, as well as with French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin.
Louvre officials’ responded they are “disturbed” upon hearing of the events, promising an investigation. Adding somewhat to the confusion is the fact that Heilbronn points out the reservations system is almost entirely automated.
Officials at the Sainte-Chapelle are probing the matter as well, and at present they are not certain the refusal was due to discrimination.
Hendler on the other hand says the reason for rejecting the dates is quite clear.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
shocking! I didn’t know there was anti-semitism in france
Yes, from the point of view that France is supposed to be
a Democracy and that we had reached a point in history, where anti-antisemitism is supposed to be unacceptable, this is terrible. But it is only one example of what is going on presently in the world, Rachmana Letzlan it appears that antisemitism is on the rise. The current incident discussed in this article talks. Hashem is sending us messages – I’m not a baalas mussar but the facts shout – what are Yidden doing going to the Louvre? World War II, and The Holocaust occurred after there had been tremendous reforms and assimilation. Uru Mishnaschem! Wake Up!
Why would Jews want to go to a church its asur
The Frech would do well to remember that if it wasn’t for the US they would probably be speaking German today.
The Louve is not a church its an Art Museum that contains among other things the Mona Lisa by DaVinci.
Just a thought – and not that I have any particular love of France or it’s institutions – but the reason behind the denial of the group visit may have been less due to bias against Jews and Israelis by officials of the Louvre and more to do with their fear of damage to priceless exhibits through retaliatory acts of vandalism and violence by fanatical anti-Jewish/Israeli groups.
It’s still pretty rotten.