VOA标准英语2015--法国犹太人感到安全受到威胁

 

French Jews Feel Increased Threat After Attack 法国犹太人感到安全受到威胁

PARIS—

After the attack on the kosher market in Paris last week, many members of the country’s Jewish population - the largest in Europe - are more anxious about their safety and their future.

For days after the attack, Jews and non-Jews came to the eastern edge of Paris to pay their respects.

“My heart goes out to those who fell for liberty, for France," said homeaker Francoise.  "I’m a Christian¹, but all people are equal, all the same, and we should have freedom for all.”

But many of France’s Jews are not feeling particularly free in the wake of the attack.  One young couple came to mourn a friend who was killed in the market.

“Now, after what happened, unfortunately there’s a feeling of wanting to escape," said Rafael, a student.  "We don’t want to leave, but sometimes we feel like we have to flee to protect ourselves.”

Rafael says he’s not sure whether France’s diverse communities can live together in peace anymore.

His wife Malka doesn’t want to leave France, but fears she may have to.

“This is my country.  I love it.  But I above all I love my religion," she said. "Why should we have to be constantly in fear, and hide our skullcaps and Jewish stars in the Metro² so we’re not attacked?  This is not a life.”

But that is not a universal view, in spite of previous attacks in France and Belgium, and numerous anti-Semitic incidents in Europe every year.

“We don’t have to be scared, we have good security over here and I don’t think it’s going to be worse than before,” said Levi, a student.

“I don’t want to leave.  I want to stay here because I’m French.  I’m Jewish, but I’m French,” said Alexander, a restaurant manager.  

Still, the Paris attack is expected to fuel another increase in Jewish emigration from France to Israel, after it already doubled last year to 7,000.

That’s just over 1 percent of France’s Jewish community, but it will take more than police and army deployments to give French Jews more long-term security, says Yonatan Arfi, vice³ president of the Council of Jewish Institutions in France.

“We have to think about maybe reinventing the French society in order to struggle against this radicalization, because if we do not fight now against this radicalization, we are condemned⁴ to suffer from new attacks in the years to come,” he said.

Arfi says the solidarity⁵ march after the attacks could help spur action.  But it may not come soon enough for Rafael and Malka.

“I never thought it would be like this," Malka said. "Now that I’m talking to you I don’t believe it’s true.  I think that tomorrow I’m just going to wake up, pass my exams and live my normal life, forgetting that a friend of ours is dead.”

Malka is not likely to forget.  But the concern is that the urgency created by the attacks won’t last long enough to result in the changes she and other French Jews want to see. 

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 metro   

n.地铁；adj.大都市的；(METRO)麦德隆(财富500强公司之一总部所在地德国，主要经营零售)

参考例句：

• Can you reach the park by metro?你可以乘地铁到达那个公园吗？
• The metro flood gate system is a disaster prevention equipment.地铁防淹门系统是一种防灾设备。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。