A Special Dinner

by Denis Elkoubi

The event and the details I am going to relate remained confidential for a very long time, and until today, I am not authorized to give you the secret reasons for this very special and certainly unique meeting in the history of France!

In 1981, two elections brought two exceptional men to the head of their respective communities. France elected François Mitterrand President, while the Jewish Consistorial Community elected Rabbi Sirat, Chief Rabbi of France.

While it was traditional for the President to welcome the Chief Rabbi of France to the Elysee Palace, along with other French religious dignitaries, the relationship between the two public figures had never exceeded the strict rules of the separation of the Church and State.

Although I am not allowed to reveal the background story, I can tell you that the Chief Rabbi requested an interview with President Mitterrand. As the President’s agenda was very busy, a carefully timed interview was granted to Chief Rabbi Sirat, but the warmth of the discussion greatly overwhelmed him and encouraged the Chief Rabbi to extend an invitation that had never before been made in French history. The Chief Rabbi invited the President to visit him in his home for a private dinner. Very soon after, the Elysee Palace fixed the date that happened to be Hoshana Rabba. The opportunity could not be missed and the Chief Rabbi immediately agreed.

There, I must say that my parents and we were very close to the Chief Rabbi and his wife Nicole. So, very naturally the Chief Rabbi told my father that the President had accepted his invitation, but that it had embarrassed his wife who was wondering how to receive the President of France at home! Who was going to prepare the meal, we couldn’t serve him Gelfilte Fish or couscous, how should the guests be seated? In short, all the material questions a good Bale Booste asks when men dream and think about politics.

As a faithful friend, my father protocol.

So, we had to get acquainted with it, and here I am with my father in the courtyard of the Elysée Palace where we have an appointment with the Chief of Protocol. We are told how the guests should be seated, who is to the right of the President, who is to the left, who should be served first, what the President eats, what wine he likes, how long a meal should last etc.

left to right: President François Mitterrand, Chief Rabbi Sirat and my father

reassured the Chief Rabbi and told him, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”

France is a Republic; if the protocol attached to a monarchy like England is foreign to republican customs, the fact remains that a dinner with the President must take place according to rules which obey the Elysean

With all these details we are ready to organize the luncheon. But of course, the community leaders want to be part of it. The Chief Rabbi lives in a beautiful Haussmanian building, but the apartment cannot compete with the Elysée banquet hall.

Places are limited and to satisfy