The danger of the evacuation of ancient Jewish cemeteries in Algeria brought together the European rabbonim and French rabbinical bodies together to demand an emergency meeting with French government officials in an attempt to prevent the desecration of ancient Jewish graves.
A small Jewish cemetery in Algeria that was slated for destruction
In a meeting which took place this past Monday in the office of French Foreign Affairs, an agreement was arrived at where the French government will operate according to the halachic directives conveyed to it by the Chief Rabbi of France.
The director-general of the European Rabbinical Committee, Rabbi Moshe Levine, spoke to Yated Ne'eman this past Monday, revealing, "Top officials of the Foreign Ministry said in the meeting that the tender publicized regarding the evacuation of said cemeteries with a half year limitation period does not apply to Jewish cemeteries and graves. We explained to them the importance which Jews accord to the dead and of the sanctity of their graves, and they unequivocally stated that they would give us all the time needed to find halachically viable solutions."
He added that the Foreign Ministry sought to clarify that the demand to vacate the Jewish cemeteries in Algeria does not issue from French authorities but from the Algerian officials seeking to transform these areas to marketable real estate, for highways and other purposes.
As has already been reported at length, the threat of grave violation in Algeria originates in a document publicized on May 26th in the official notices of the French government according to which French authorities will cease funding and preserving 31 cemeteries throughout Algeria within six months.
The French government has up until now fulfilled its commitment and paid for the preservation of cemeteries under a clause in the Charter of Independence which it signed with Algeria when the latter declared its independence in 1962. It was willing to continue the funding, but the Algerian government asked it to stop so that the areas could be used for development.
According to the order, families of those interred in Jewish cemeteries should relocate them within six months; if this is not done, those bodies will be reburied in a mass grave in the closest Jewish cemetery extant.
