January 2015 attacks: at the Hypercacher, ten years later, between contemplation and fears

Four people lost their lives in the supermarket on January 9, 2015. The Jewish community remains concerned about anti-Semitism.

Recollection and remembrance within the framework of a commemoration and a duty of remembrance on the one hand. Concerns and anxieties on the other, when it comes to expressing one's experiences of the moment or future prospects, in the face of the resurgence and rise of anti-Semitism in particular.

These are the mixed feelings that transpired this Thursday from the tribute ceremonies that took place throughout France, from Paris to Montpellier, ten years after the attack on the Hyper Cacher on January 9, 2015. During which four people were murdered during the hostage-taking perpetrated by Amédy Coulibaly, who would ultimately be shot dead.

The names of these four victims – Yohan Cohen, Philippe Braham, François-Michel Saada and Yoav Hattab – were thus recalled, in each place in the presence of elected officials, religious leaders, and representatives of the Jewish community, and citizens who came to express their solidarity.

The main gathering was of course held at Porte de Vincennes, in front of the Hyper Cacher. Several ministers (Bruno Retailleau, Manuel Valls), the President of the Senate Gérard Larcher, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and the President of the Île-de-France region Valérie Pécresse attended, noted Le Figaro.

A brief ceremony, without speeches as for all those that mark this week of commemoration.

“The Jews are struck for what they are, not for what they do. There must be a surge: Jewish life in our country must flourish, lively and visible”, pleaded that very morning Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (the Crif), at the microphone of Franceinfo.

A Few Notes of Hope ?

Perla Danan, the Montpellier president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France for Languedoc-Roussillon, did not say anything when we contacted her a little later: “These gatherings remain fundamental. Ten years ago, the press was attacked, then the police, the symbol of the State, and finally the Jewish community. We must therefore show that we are resisting together, as we did on January 10”, she affirmed, referring to the impressive “marches republican” following the attacks.

And the Héraultaise particularly appreciated “the presence, this Thursday morning, of people from the Muslim community, imams who came despite the threats. That too is fundamental, because the terrorists' goal is for people to withdraw, to create divisions in society, they even want Muslims to be hated! All the representatives of National Education, rectors, deans, university presidents were there, that's very important too. And the action of the State services and the police forces, which I thank, also allows us not to remain cloistered.”

So many notes of hope that did not allay all the fears of a community.