The Jewish section of the M.O.I.

While not all 110,000 Jews who immigrated to Eastern Europe hold progressive views, many of them—both men and women—are driven by a universalist and secular revolutionary ideal. Often politically active in their countries of origin, they choose to settle in France out of admiration for the France of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the […]

The Communist Party worked to organize workers, both French and immigrant. Committed to defending the interests of foreign workers, it established the M.O.E. (Main-d’œuvre Étrangère) in 1926, a “sector of activity” dedicated to immigrants of various origins. This organization became the Main-d’Œuvre Immigrée (M.O.I.) in 1932, and language groups were created to promote the integration […]

The Jewish presence in France dates back to the Gallo-Roman period. Persecution of Jews began there as early as the beginning of the Middle Ages. In the 20th century, among French Jews—known as “Israelites” —some gradually distanced themselves from Judaism, choosing to assimilate; others continued to practice their religion more or less regularly. While some […]