24.03.2012                      01.Nissan. 5772                      Wajikra, Paraschat Hachodesch

Geschichte und Film:

The Great Mosque of Paris that saved Jews during the Holocaust

Focusing on the tale of Algerian-born Jewish singer Salim Halali, a new French film looks at the little-known, and hard to confirm, efforts of the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris to save Jews during World War II.

Salim Halali was a huge star in France and Morocco in the mid-20th century. The Jewish singer, who was born in 1920 into a poor family in Algeria, came to France when he was 14. Within a few years he became known far and wide as the best “Oriental” singer in Europe.
Halali’s persona is back at center stage in a new French movie. The film, “Les hommes libres”, is being screened at the French film festival that is taking place at Cinematheques across Israel until April 5th….