The atmosphere in a small part of the Israelite community, in Sarcelles, resembles a war of the chiefs.
An internal struggle is taking place behind the scenes to recover the leadership of the largest Jewish community in Ile-de-France, after Paris.
With in sight, in particular, the elections of the Consistory of Paris, in a year.
So far, it is Moïse Kahloun, close to the mayor (PS) Patrick Haddad, who holds the reins.
He holds the post of president of ACIP, a local branch of the Paris Consistory, on which the Great Synagogue depends.
Very influential, and close to Rabbi Laurent Berros, he brings together a large part of the community behind him.
This earned him the title of "President of the Jewish community of Sarcelles".
Uncontested yesterday, its legitimacy is today questioned by René Taieb, president of the union of Jewish communities of Val-d'Oise and close to the deputy (DVG) François Pupponi.
"If he is the head of the great synagogue of Sarcelles, he does not lead the twenty other synagogues in the city", he asserts.
Originally from Montmagny, he seems to want to regain local leadership.
“He tries to emerge, but we do not really understand what he wants, blows an elected municipal.
Sometimes he gives the impression that he thinks he is above us and the local community leaders… ”
His rival accuses him of being the voice of the Consistory
René Taïeb attacks the place of Moïse Kahloun, who, he says, “self-proclaimed” president of the Jewish community.
“He was appointed by the Consistory, he was not elected by the faithful.
He defends the Consistory and for my part, I am not defending an institution, but French Judaism, stings René Taïeb.
He wants the Consistory to be the master of the house in Sarcelles and in Ile-de-France.
It is not possible.
"
He accuses him, too, of having maintained the two large gatherings of the Purim festival, at the start of the Covid-19 health crisis, just before the general confinement.
They had accelerated the spread of the coronavirus in the community, causing many deaths.
René Taïeb affirms that he had called on all the communities of the department to cancel all the events.
"Moïse Kahloun has chosen to do as he pleases", he criticizes.
At the mention of his rival, Moïse Kahloun quips: “Who is this gentleman?
»He asks falsely.
Before, too, launch a frontal attack.
“First of all, he does not live in our city, he is from Montmagny, laughs at the president of ACIP.
He tried to be mayor, then prefect, then to be responsible for the community in Sarcelles… Well, we can't say that he has succeeded much so far!
"
The municipal campaign has left its mark
This battle illustrates another, even more violent internal struggle that unfolded during the long months of the municipal campaign.
The Jewish community split into two camps.
Between that of pro-Patrick Haddad, the new mayor (PS) of the city.
And the other, made up of unwavering support from MP (various left) François Pupponi.
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“For twenty years, François was the only one in the running, he brought everyone together.
This time, everyone has chosen their candidate, confides an active member of the community, close to the honorary mayor.
This created dissension, a fracture.
"
"We must look at all this positively, launches support from Patrick Haddad.
We are united, around a common base of values.
Afterwards, everyone has their opinions, we don't all agree, we debate.
And so much the better, it is a sign that democracy is alive!
Everyone campaigned, it's the political game.
Over time, it will get better… ”
“It doesn't make sense that the community is disunited”
Three months after the announcement of the results, the elections seem to have left their mark.
“There are internal problems,” emphasizes François Pupponi.
It doesn't make sense that the community is disunited.
We must stop now and work together.
"" All this is behind us, thinks Patrick Haddad.
Only a few people continue to play the game because they did not accept defeat!
"
The stakes were too high for the rivalries to fade overnight.
In Sarcelles, the Israelite community has a significant electoral weight.
This is evidenced by the “blue list”, created in the early 2000s, and exclusively made up of personalities from the Jewish community.
First described as "shame for the Republic" by Dominique Strauss-Kahn in 2001, it was integrated into the municipal majority in 2008 by his successor, François Pupponi.
Since then, she has been on all the winning lists.
"We have an importance in the vote, as few Jewish communities have it in other cities in France", underlines Isabelle Plo, assistant and member of the blue list.
"The cleavage was not community, but political"
As the elections progressed, the community, which was very mobilized at each election, strengthened its influence.
It weighed, during the victories of François Pupponi, between 15 and 20% of the votes in favor of the honorary mayor.
Positioning itself as a kingmaker?
"François Pupponi won the elections for twenty years, until we stop supporting him," says Moïse Kahloun dryly.
Patrick Haddad tempers.
“No community can win an election in Sarcelles on its own,” he argues.
The scores of offices in the Great Synagogue district are similar to those in the rest of the city.
"
The results are around 65-35%.
On the whole of the commune, the elected official won with 58% of the votes, against 42%, and nearly 1,500 votes of difference.
“The cleavage was not community, but political.
I represented a left-wing sensitivity, while the deputy was right, analyzes the mayor.
François Pupponi thinks he lost because of the communities.
He is wrong.
"
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The parliamentarian's supporters accuse the rabbi, Laurent Berros, and Moïse Kahloun, of having unequivocally supported Patrick Haddad.
Influencing, thus, a large part of the community.
“The rabbi weighed on the campaign, he left his role, insists Jocelyn Assor, municipal councilor of the opposition.
He is supposed to take care of the services, of the synagogue.
No interfering in the local political game!
"
"I find it very particular that they took an official position during the municipal elections," François Pupponi is surprised.
I had never asked for it.
They never had.
The mayor denies any involvement of either in his campaign.
“They have never been to my meetings, nor in my support committee, recalls Patrick Haddad.
That they were able to talk to those around them, wanted not to add to the instability: perhaps, and if so, I welcome that.
"
Patrick Haddad: "They tried to rekindle fears"
A matter of leaflets and letters has ended up annoying old friends.
In June, François Pupponi's team distributed a leaflet intended for members of the Jewish community.
Where René Taïeb, in particular, running mate of the deputy, calls to vote for the honorary mayor.
And attacks the links, supposedly, of community leaders with "radical Islamists".
“They tried to play on disunity, to rekindle fears through detestable leaflets,” says Patrick Haddad.
In response, Rabbi Laurent Berros and Moïse Kahloun, president of ACIP, castigate in a letter a leaflet which "infantilizes the members of the community".
In the name of the Consistory of Paris, the two men denounce "electoral" maneuvers and an attempt to bet on "division and fear".
François Pupponi: "They massacred me"
“They massacred me.
It is an incendiary letter ", is moved today François Pupponi, who finds" unjust "that his former traveling companions have turned their backs on him after having" taken full face for twenty-five years to defend the community. ".
Moïse Kahloun reaffirms his "gratitude" to the deputy.
“It is not called into question by these elections, François remains a friend, he supports.
I add that the rabbi did not decide on the election.
If he had really called to vote against him, the scores would not have been the same!
"
Some attribute considerable political weight to the religious man.
He would have, for example, been consulted, behind closed doors in his office, to define the succession of Annie Peronnet.
“There were fears within the community because it was labeled PCF.
The rabbi, like other personalities, wanted to know the scenario for 2020, deciphers an observer of local political life.
There have been discussions.
But it is not the rabbi who chooses the mayors in this city!
"
Contacted, Laurent Berros did not respond to our requests.
