If you plan to visit Paris during Passover, you may be wondering how to celebrate this important Jewish holiday while enjoying your stay. Fortunately, due in part to the French capital’s large, vibrant and historic Jewish community, it can be easy to do so, as long as you head to the right places and plan a little ahead of time.
Known as “Pesach” by most French Jews and the less-than-peaceful “Pacques Juive” (Jewish Passover) by some, Passover is joyfully celebrated by thousands of Parisians each year. There are many food stores and some restaurants that serve or sell delicacies ideal for annual seders. Here are some ideas on where to head for the festivities, which will run between Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 27, 2019.
Celebrations in Paris: group parties
Kehilat Gesher is a Franco-American reform congregation that welcomes conservative denominations and generally sponsors a series of Shabbat nights and other activities for Easter. Visit the official website for information on Easter celebrations in 2019. Some may be bilingual (observed in both French and English).
Kosher food stores and restaurants
The Marais district in northeast Paris is home to a lively Jewish community, and the site of the ‘Pletzl’: the neighborhood where French Jews have lived and congregated for hundreds of years, beginning in the 13th century. . Read our guide to the area around Rue des Rosiers for ideas on where to shop and eat for Easter. While some of the more popular fares (falafel, biyali, strudel, etc.) may not be suitable for the occasion, you are likely to find restaurants and shops in the area that will accommodate strictly holiday-observing travelers.
Looking for kosher foods or traditional products for a private Easter seder? Michel Gurfinkiel has a comprehensive online guide to kosher food shops and restaurants in Paris. Be sure to call ahead, as many stores and restaurants will be closed on certain days or every day during Easter.
Kosher supermarkets and specialty stores
In numerous Paris neighborhoods, supermarkets like Franprix, Monoprix, and Casino sell kosher staples as well as food for Easter (Matzoh cookies and other yeast-free products).
District 11 (especially around Metro Goncourt or Parmentier), District 20 (Metro Belleville or Couronnes) and District 19 (Metro Ourq, Laumière or Stalingrad) have local supermarkets and specialty stores that stock high-quality kosher and yeast-free products. quality.
However, keep in mind that in many of these areas the Jewish communities are predominantly Sephardic (with roots in North Africa and the Middle East). Therefore, their own kosher dinner celebrations during Passover are often slightly different from those of the Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jews). Grains such as rice, corn and lentils are allowed, for example, during Easter in most Sephardic restaurants and homes.
Outside of these neighborhoods and others with significant Jewish communities, it’s a bit more unpredictable, and stores may or may not stock kosher items. Again, when in doubt, check out Michel Gurfinkiel’s guide to Kosher Paris at the link in the previous section.
Celebrating Jewish History in Paris: Get Some Culture Before Dark
Paris has a remarkably rich (and tumultuous) Jewish history. One way to celebrate Easter in the city could be to learn more about this centuries-old heritage. Visit the Museum of Jewish Art and History in Paris, or take our self-guided walking tour of the Marais district and old Pletzl to see more deeply into Parisian Jewish life, past and present.
Meanwhile, to solemnly remember those who suffered and perished in the Shoah, the nearby Shoah Museum and Monument will allow you to view the struggles, suffering and triumphs of European Jews during the early and mid-20th century.
