President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France for Languedoc-Roussillon, Perla Danan, from Montpellier, fears more than anything to see the conflict in the Middle East imported into France. In a tense climate, she pleads for dialogue and harmony between religions.
It is not necessarily easy to detect the truths of a woman, of a man, between the folds of a torn and heartbreaking contemporary history. And in the midst of conflict in a burning Middle East, how can you speak peacefully when you yourself are the emblematic regional figure of the Jewish community?
This was how we reflected while listening to Perla Danan, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France for Languedoc-Roussillon, on a very rainy April 30. We first heard him tell about… an Arab country, that of his birth, (in Fez, in 1949), that of his family, “for generations”. This Morocco that she left at 18 to study pharmacy, in Toulouse, then in Montpellier. “A city that I immediately found incredible!” she still gets carried away today.
Morocco never forgotten
Where she had a career (at Sanofi, and as a lecturer at the pharmacy school), where she lives her life. Married, now divorced, one child, “two adorable granddaughters!”polyglot (“French, Arabic, English, Spanish, a little Hebrew, food Hebrew!”), she has never forgotten Morocco, where she returns regularly, where she has certainly forged a number of convictions which still guide her daily action.
“My family, Jewish, was very involved in its community in Morocco, without that causing any problems. We knew each other between communities, each respected the rites, the traditions, the cultures of the other. A Moroccan could draw on the ear of a little Jewish boy, on Saturday, saying to him: “But you’re not at the synagogue today?” That’s wonderful ! This is why I was so involved in the inter-religious bond, in this respect for differences which enriches us even if everyone follows their own path…”
“Great control over one’s emotions”
She sighs : “It’s extremely important, that’s why we invite each other to worship for our major celebrations. This harmony has existed, it must continue, we must do everything to”.
In her own way, therefore, she is doing it. Since many decades. By first getting involved, “and up to the neck, very quickly”, in the associative world, at the initiative of Hubert Allouche, his predecessor at Crif:“He asked me if I could help, introduced me to the associative world. I saw the scope of this grassroots action, when you get involved in something that makes sense…”
“She is a volunteer, very professional, who never gives up, with great control over her emotions” a close friend told us ( “Since 1973, we were students, it was yesterday”), Martine Marragou, president of the Emmaus community of Montpellier: “And Perla remains very loyal, both in friendship and in terms of her commitments.”
At Crif, at Radio Aviva
Armed with these qualities, Perla Danan charted her course, and succeeded, ten years ago, Hubert Allouche, after his death, as president of the Crif region. She will also replace him at the head of Radio Aviva, based in Montpellier for 40 years, and now also present in Nîmes and Perpignan. “She is very demanding, with herself, with others. It has to go quickly and well. She gives a lot” adds Liliane Dray, vice-president of the same radio.
She will also deploy her energy on the Montpellier municipal council, during two mandates, with Hélène Mandroux, then Philippe Saurel. “She is a woman who has always worked for inter-religious dialogue,” he recalled. “We met on this ground, to work to ensure that men build bridges rather than dig ditches.”.
A before and after October 7
“Perla deeply loves interculturality, which she sees as an inestimable wealth in a society” added Clare Hart, vice-president of the Montpellier metropolis, who carried out a number of actions alongside him.
But in the life of Perla Danan, there will also be a before and after October 7. Since then, she has been wondering, she admits: “Have we failed to convey this message of tolerance, of acceptance of differences? I wonder, seeing this outburst of anti-Semitism.”
“I tell myself that we must continue…”
She quickly recovers: “But when I receive words from Muslims, for the Easter holidays, that they wrote after looking for the right formula in Hebrew, it’s so touching… And then, I tell myself that we must continue…”
Yom HaShoah, the Crif dinner.
Two major events for the Jewish community await Perla Danan this Sunday, May 5, and tomorrow, Monday, May 6.
This Sunday, therefore, will begin Yom HaShoah, the day of remembrance of the Shoah, where tribute is paid to the six million Jews who died during the Second World War. On this occasion, a public, uninterrupted reading for 24 hours, day and night, of the names of the victims of the Shoah is organized.
In Montpellier, the reading will begin at 5 p.m. in the park of the new town hall, the official ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. “It’s important, to understand and prevent” assures Perla Danan.
The traditional Crif dinner will take place this Monday, May 6, in Paris, and Perla Danan will be present: “It is a republican meeting, where the whole of civil society is represented, as well as constituted bodies, religions, the government. It is an important moment of exchanges. And two speeches are delivered. of the president of Crif, and that of the President of the Republic.”
Or the Prime Minister if necessary, as will be the case this year, since Emmanuel Macron will be represented by Gabriel Attal.
However, she does not hide her concern, facing “to the insidious slippage of words, when we compare a university president to Eichmann…”.
Or in front of slogans heard in universities during demonstrations in support of the Palestinians: “Where are we going? Jewish students are afraid to go to class…Freedom of expression is not about calling for hatred. It impacts the Jewish community as a whole. When we come together and the police, whom we sincerely thank, are not there, we are worried now. Is this normal?”
“Two countries in peace and freedom”
And to recall that Crif has maintained the same position for ten years : “Two countries in peace and freedom. And we stand in solidarity with the Israeli people, not with the government.”
Targeted by name during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Montpellier, her name chanted or whistled in certain processions, she was also able to measure the impact of social networks, when these images and sounds were put online. She admits to feeling “threatened”she knows how to be “protected”.
“A form of devotion given to one’s mission”
The prefect of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, confirms: “I have only known her for six months. I arrived in Hérault on October 9, so she was one of the first people I met. And when she was attacked by the public harangue, I put in In place of protective measures, I gave her my support. She is a very endearing woman, through the form of devotion she gives to her mission. She is a republican, with a lot of courage. this moment, in Montpellier, to play out interreligious dialogue. She is the catalyst. She could have given up.
“There are still battles to be fought”
And if she allows herself “once a year, a break of three, four days, just the two of us” as Martine Marragou slips, Perla Danan does not intend to retreat. “There are still battles to be fought, unfortunately”she sighs.
And to breathe, seriously, before leaving us: “We must not hide, we cannot live like hidden citizens, even if in Montpellier we are very supported. But before, it’s true, during commemorations, we always said: “Never again”.Today I would add a question mark.”
