19 January 2006
France's president Jacques Chirac has honored nearly 2,800 French citizens who rescued Jews from the Nazis during World War II. A ceremony was held at the Pantheon in central Paris on Thursday. Chirac paid tribute to members of a group, known as the "Righteous of France," who risked their own lives to help Jews escape from the death camps. Twelve years ago, Chirac became France's first president to recognize the Vichy government's role in the mass deportation of Jews during the Holocaust. "Thousands of French men and women, from all social classes and professions, and from throughout the political spectrum, made - without questioning it - the right choice," Chirac said. The ceremony took place in the Pantheon, the converted church in that serves as a mausoleum for France's national heroes.
Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial has inducted more than 21,000 people worldwide into its "Righteous Among the Nations" honor roll of non-Jews who saved Jews. The group's list of inductees includes 2,725 French citizens - 240 of whom are still alive. Seventy-four of them attended Thursday's ceremony. Families of deceased inductees also attended, as well as some of the Jews who were rescued.
