Jewish Sites, Landmarks, Synagogues, and Kosher Restaurants in Paris

Jewish Paris

Jewish Paris is a historical quarter with a long and complicated story, that started in the Roman’s times, about 2000 years ago.

It is a story sadly punctuated with antijudaism, antisemitism and other hate crimes…

But it is also a story of the Jewish people who lived along with the French society: Activists, successful intellectuals, political figures, military officers, fortunate merchants, notorious families, famous artists, writers and important jewish bankers.

These Jewish families immigrated from far countries and even old Empires, through the centuries, to finally join the city of Paris, in a search of peace of mind, decent human rights, to find freedom and an oasis of safety in France that they couldn’t get anywhere else.

The jews of France are today living mostly in Paris center and its suburbs, and another part is in Lyon (a city in the south, 2 hours away from Paris)

With the 3rd biggest Jewish population in the world, and the biggest Jewish population in Europe, France will, let’s hope, continue to hold a major place for the Jewish community and culture.

Jews in Paris are living in different parts of the town.

The historical Jewish quarter is le Marais neighbourhood, with its old narrow and winding streets, where the Yiddish culture was once highly represented.

My grandfather’s delicatessen restaurant “Goldenberg” was one of the many places in Le Marais, where the French Jews (mainly from eastern Europe) had their habits.

Belleville and the 20th arrondissement saw the first waves of Jews coming from North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria) in the 50’s and 60’s.

As for the other places in Paris: French Jews also live today in the 9th, 13th, 19th, or 16th arrondissements.

One important print of the Jewish presence in Paris is the food: Jewish Paris is also a travel by mouth.

You can find in Paris many Jewish style, or kosher restaurants, where the variety of the food is unique : Eastern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, fusion with French, Italian or Japanese…

Another print is the adapted architecture of our beautiful synagogues:

Did you know that there are more than 100 privately-funded Synagogues in Paris?

Paris city can not participate to the construction of religious sites. So the synagogues of Paris were built thanks to donations.

Many of them were built in the 19th century and are truly worth a visit!

We can discover them on my Jewish Walking Tours in Paris.

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1. Le Marais:

a Chic and Trendy Jewish Quarter of Paris

Le Marais is the famous and historical Jewish Quarter of Paris,  the most “Tourist Friendly” quarter of Paris.

You can find there some beautiful Jewish boutiques, Jewish bakeries and restaurants.

Due to the increase in real estate prices in le Marais, many families decided to go the 19th district, to the 17th district where you will find many Kosher shops …

A part of the fourth district where le Marais is located, are the two islands on the Seine River :

First : City Island (Ile de la Cité) where Notre Dame Cathedral is.

Then you have the Saint Louis Island : It is famous for its ice creams and great walks, spots for pictures …

Aerial View of Paris Islands next to le Marais and the Jewish Paris area:

There are many beautiful Jewish sites that you can visit in le Marais on your own.

Le Marais is the Main Jewish Quarter of Paris.

Le Marais means the “Swamp” : Funny how the most beautiful, hip and trendy neighborhood in Paris is named after a swamp.

Our Jewish life in the streets of le Marais ressembles to this picture today in Rue des Rosiers – Paris :

This is due to its history : Le Marais was indeed a swamp, where the Jews took refuge during the middle ages.

In the 18th century, they used the private mansions building (built for the aristocracy) to divide them into small apartments.

Nowadays these apartments in le Marais are the one of the most expensive, most rare and unavailable real estates in the World !

Le Marais is one of the safest places in Europe.

You will find in Rue des Rosiers many Jewish shops and kosher restaurants.

There are also many small and big synagogues.

you can see some wild street art from Sebestyén Fiumei (on the left)  in Le Marais – Rue des Rosiers.

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2. The Latin Quarter

Paris Jewish History began in the Romans times.

There is about 2000 years of Jewish presence in Paris, with physical evidence of the first communities celebrating Sabbath in Paris since the Romans times.

A first synagogue once stood on the same Island in Paris  where Notre Dame Cathedral is Today.

The first Jews of Paris also gathered discretely in the old city of Paris Lutece, in the Latin Quarter of Paris

The Roman city of Lutetia was the predecessor of present-day Paris.

Simone Veil is a Jewish French woman – A national Hero and equality Activist – she was honored by the french President Macron and buried among other heroes of the nation in the Panthéon – Latin Quarter – She wrote “The need to testify”

Some of the Impressive monumental remains of the ancient city are still visible in the Latin quarter of Paris today.

I actually have designed a Jewish tour in the Latin Quarter, if you want to do a visit there

Some of these Jewish sites are detailed in this link.

Of course, the most important Jewish sites in Paris are part of my Jewish walking tour in the Marais.

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3. Le Sentier : Sepharadic Quarter

Famous for its fabric & textile shops, Le Sentier Quarter is where the Jews from North Africa settled, as well as the main printing shops and newspapers started in the 19th century.

This is the perfect area to visit when you come to Paris : if you want to taste life the way the Local Jewish Parisians live it.

Le Sentier used to be the home of the successful Jewish cloth manufacturers. For some remaining families, it is still is !

Visit Sentier Quarter with Flora Goldenberg : Food Tour + Jewish History

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4. Belleville : a unique and eclectic area of Paris

If you’re looking for a new jewish neighborhood in Paris to explore, Belleville is a great option.

Belleville is an old village , where Parisians liked to escape for the weekend.

Belleville Village became a part of Paris in the 1860’s.

The strength of the multiple identity that the neighborhood carries is due in large part to its memory, its connection to the history of immigration, and what it has left as a legacy to French culture.
This district located in the east of Paris is both a place of memory for immigration and a territory that still welcomes many foreign immigrants and their families today.

It is an emblematic place of multi ethnic French-style neighborhoods.

The first immigrants settled in Bellville were Polish Jews.

Polish Jews contributed to the development of craftsmanship, which was already present and in particular that of leather.

The establishment of Jewish businesses, and their visibility, gives Belleville its identity as a “Jewish quarter”, with an intense Yiddish community life.

Picture inside one of the beautiful Belleville synagogues of Paris – a private access with Flora Goldenberg for a client who converted recently to Judaism and wanted to discover everything :

Belleville was the main political center of left-wing Jewish immigrants often opposed to the Marais a district that was more oriented towards religious practices and Yiddish immigration.

See our Jewish Belleville tour with Livia

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5. Saint Mandé

This Jewish neighborhood is outside of Paris, but an important one.

This is where the Jewish restaurants and big kosher groceries stores like the Hyper Cacher are located.

It is more a residential area.

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Jewish Paris Quarter Map

Everything in this map is Jewish. 

I made this Map of Jewish Paris Sites to show you all the Jewish sites of Paris.

Surprisingly, it showed me that we have a lot of communities everywhere in Paris, it is not just concentrated in le Marais

This map is Free to use. You can share my link freely with everyone!

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In the list below, I will talk about the Jewish Paris where I lived all my life:

I will show you how to access the Jewish Quarter, all the private Synagogues, all the Kosher Restaurants and Glatt kosher Restaurants, the Jewish style restaurants

with pictures and addresses to visit on your own.

If you have any difficulties to choose a place to go, I can guide you personally through this list:

Email : Flora.Goldenberg@gmail.com

Tel : +33787082577

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Transportation to the Jewish Paris

The easiest way to go to Paris Jewish Quarter, is to take the metro line One.

Jewish neighborhood is located near the Metro Saint Paul. 

Check Ratp website for Metro Information 

You can immediately access the Jewish Quarter Paris by Metro : Saint Paul by Line 1 and Get on The Exit escalator

Take on Rue Pavée where you will see the big Synagogue of Hagoudas Hakehilos :

Zoom on this cute synagogue in Rue Pavé.

She was built by a non-jewish french architect Hector Guimard 1862:1942.

Hector Guimard was the Art Nouveau first Designer, he made the vintage Subway signs that you will see in Montmartre hill.

On your left, on the same street, you will see a Jewish School :

Jewish school on rue pave.

then, take the first street on the left : you are in Rue des Rosiers, which is the main Jewish Vessel of Paris:

Rue des Rosiers in the Jewish quarter of Paris

In Rue des Rosiers, you can enjoy shopping, grab a bite in As de Falafel (Kosher) or Florence Kahn (Yiddish, not kosher) or Korcarz (kosher Bakery)

You can go to Café des Psaumes and enjoy listening to Jewish music played by the locals.

You can also see the old Goldenberg Restaurant in Rue des Rosiers

( in 2021, it have been transformed into a clothing shop)

Marais by night:

The jewish festive ambiance does not stop by night, especially during the Jewish holidays.

We celebrate everything together.

By night, le Marais is very safe. The restaurants stay open late at night and there are always people walking in the streets.

 

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My top list of the kosher restaurants in Paris

Note for the Restaurants Managers : This is my personal opinion of your restaurant. I don’t accept sponsorship as I do this to help my visitors for them to get the best option and not the most “sponsored one”. Thank you. Flora Goldenberg – Tour Guide Paris

You can follow this link to see more choices of Glatt Kosher restaurants : jewish-paris-tours.com/my-top-pick-of-the-kosher-restaurants-in-paris/

 

iossa – Italien Kosher

Address: 18 Rue Meynadier, 75019 Paris

 

Rodchenko

17 Rue des Ecouffes, 75004 Paris

 Phone : 00 33 1 75 50 77 95

The french Kosher restaurant

French style, Very tasty food. If you are in Paris, then you should at least try to eat french food 🙂

This Kosher restaurant is located in le Marais where my Jewish walking tour takes place.

It is in Rue des Ecouffes.

Kavod

26 Rue Jean Mermoz, 75008 Paris

00 33 1 42 25 65 26

French style, Kosher restaurant, a bit more expensive than the others. Prestigious and fancy.

Tavlini e Massala – Indian Kosher 

Address: 18 Rue Meynadier, 75019 Paris

 

Pitzman 

Address :  8, rue Pavée  75004 Paris

0142711717

Glatt Kosher,  Family Friendly, Religious,

They have : Falafel Party,  they have Gluten Free Vegetarian meals, kosher Pizza, some with tuna fish …  

This is a Family owned restaurant, the style is a bit everything french casual with pizza with tuna, pasta, gratins, falafel, crepes , soups , fish of the day

L’As du Fallafel

Very famous

thanks to TripAdvisor thousands reviews and celebrities visiting this kosher restaurant, Presidents to famous actors like Natalie Portman …

so there will be a long line in front, expect 30 minutes waiting 

If you go to l’As de Falafel, and wait in line, some of the boys will ask you to pay in advance to make the line quicker.

The falafel is very good and the Kosher plates offer a lot of choices. To avoid waiting in  line, avoid 12:00 to 14:00 ) and Sundays.

Address :  32-34, rue des Rosiers   75004 Paris

0148876360

Douieb

Address : 11 Bis Rue Geoffroy-Marie, Paris, France

 Sepharadic , Tunisian style and Kosher

I tried this restaurant many times, with my little family, and with my friends. They offer Mloukhia, Couscous, Ojja … Delicious plates from Tunisia !

You can also pre-order for shabbat with this little Tunisian restaurant.

Restaurant l’Inté Caffé

Address : 22 Rue Cambacérès, 75008 Paris

An Italian restaurant, very local were many people go for business lunch or for a casual/fancy diner.

The food is very tasty, and the restaurant is located in a fancy area of Paris, near the Elysée palace (the French President house) and the famous Hotel Palace Le Bristol. The cozy atmosphere in this restaurant makes it the perfect place for a lunch stop during your visit of Paris or for a nice evening.

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For visitors only : Please send me your feedbacks if you tried one of these restaurants , by email to Flora.Goldenberg@gmail.com 
so we can help others make a better choice

For Restaurants / advertiser :  I want to stay independent, I do not accept sponsorship.

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My favorite kosher bakeries in Paris

Korcarz

 This boutique is included in our Jewish walking tour in le Marais Paris 

Great service, large choice of pastries, sandwiches, quiches, bagels, salads and great coffee place.

They offer both Sephardi and Ashkenazi pastries !

Address : 29, rue des Rosiers   75004 Paris

Murciano

Address : 18, rue des Rosiers   75004 Paris

(I go there for breakfast as it is in front of my office in Rue des Rosiers, but there is no place to sit )

This is a bakery that you can not miss in Rue des Rosiers : Murciano -Kosher Bakery

The most beautiful Jewish bakery in my opinion as the owners, originally from Morocco, kept the french ornaments inside, like the in the 19th century.

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My favorite Jewish Sites in Paris

 N°1 Museum : Museum of Jewish Art and History

Address : Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, 71 Rue du Temple, 75003 Paris

This museum is housed in a 17th century private mansion :

The museum displays a lot of documents, pictures, artifacts and art related to the life and history of the Jews in Europe and France through the centuries

Inside the museum of Jewish Art and Jewish history in Paris

Synagogue Agoudas Hakehilos in Rue Pavée 

Orthodox – Private & Restricted access

This beautiful synagogue, registered as one of the historical monument in Paris, was built by the famous French architect Hector Guimard, who has built the metro entrances in Paris.

The synagogues in France are not open for public because of the Law on the seperation of State and Religion.

To visit this beautiful synagogue, you need to book in advance.

I can help you if you wish to visit this particular synagogue.

Inside the Synagogue Agoudas Hakehilos in Rue Pavé – Jewish Paris :

Secret small synagogues :

Roger Fleischman in Rue des Ecouffes

They are generally open for public – if you reserve in advance –

but they can background check visitors with your ID for security purposes only – contact me in case of difficulties

This small synagogue is open for visitors, you need however to contact them in advance to have permission and opening hours.

Send me an email if you want some help to access this synagogue on your own

Synagogue Roger Fleischman with Flora Goldenberg – (Sukkah)

Most Beautiful Kosher Bakery : Murciano in Rue des Rosiers

This old fashioned pretty  and family owned bakery called Murciano is my favorite one. French pastries, eastern Europe pastries, north African/ Sephardic specialties : they have the best selection to make you travel by mouth and the most beautiful French interior decoration !

Bookstore/Art Gallery in Rue des Rosiers

The bookstore of the Temple ( 52, Rue des Rosiers, Librairie du Temple )  is also an Art Gallery, as well as a shop with some Jewish Artifacts : perfect for some souvenir of the Jewish quarter of Paris.

Monument : Shoah Memorial Wall of Names

The wall of the names at the Holocaust Memorial was inaugurated in 2005, and recently rebuild in 2019.

This amazing monument is very moving, but it is also one of the best ways to remember the 76 000 Jews deported from France during WWII.

Flame inside the Memorial :

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Other great Jewish Sites in Paris

Vel d’Hiv Memorial

Grande Synagogue of Paris

Address : 44 Rue de la Victoire, 75009 Paris

Zadkine Museum

Address : 100bis Rue d’Assas, 75006 Paris

Nissim de Camondo Museum

Address : 63, rue de Monceau , 75008 Paris

Nissim de Camondo was a Jewish very rich banker who lived in Paris. He has been deported by the nazis.

On his death in 1935, Moïse de Camondo bequeathed his Parisian mansion at 63, rue de Monceau (including its contents and a major collection of art) to be used to create the Musée Nissim de Camondo in his son’s honor.

We can visit this mansion together and tour in the Monceau Quarter

Address : 63 Rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris

Jewish artifacts in the Louvre

Address : 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

I have found many biblical and jewish artifacts in the Louvre.

So I created a new exclusive tour : the Jewish Louvre tour to see everything that is jewish and israeli origin, displayed inside the biggest museum in the world : the Louvre !

Inside the Louvre , you can find many Jewish artifacts found in Israel and in other parts of Egypt

Synagogue Buffault

The facade of the Buffault Synagogue in Paris (France). In the 19th century. Colored lithography.

and a picture Inside the synagogue Buffault

Bakery Finkelsztajn : The Yellow shop

The tour guide Eden on a Jewish tour in Paris in front of Finkelstein Boutique :

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The restaurants in Paris with Jewish Style Food, but Not Kosher

In 2018, many Jewish style and Israeli restaurants opened in Paris. This new trend is a good image of tolerance for Paris mix of communities, but most of all : their food is so good , Parisian Jewish Restaurant are so booked and filled of people ! Let me share my favorite addresses  :

Maafim / Salatim

Addresses : Maafim, 5, rue des Forges, 75002 Paris / Salatim ,15 Rue des Jeuneurs, 75002 Paris

2 different restaurants, same owner. After returning to the Sentier neighborhood with some stunning schnitzels at his restaurant Salatim, the Israeli chef Yariv Berreby  has opened up Maafim. 

This restaurant is delicious. Street Israeli cuisine, Home Made houmous,  roasted eggplant and cauliflower … They also bake their own bread and both restaurants are very cozy, and trendy places, located in Le Sentier, also called the Silicon Sentier for all the start ups that settled in the same area. (read more about my food tour in Le Sentier)

Miznon

My favorite spot for a quick bite 

You may have seen a Miznon in Tel Aviv, this is the same guy, who opened the same style restaurant in Paris, Le Marais, next to As de Falafel.

The concept is a Miznon = a “buffet”in French, french and Israeli meals stuffed in pitas

I personally choose between a pita ratatouille or the famous boeuf Bourguignon!

This new place opened by an Israeli chef from Tel Aviv is one of the hippest spot in the Marais : The restaurant can be full by young Jewish Parisians on Sunday and it gets very joyful but loud 🙂

Address : 22 rue des Ecouffes, 75004

Balagan

Yes, the name is funny, and still, the restaurant opened by two israelis : Uri and Assaf, is very trendy and stylish,

and you need to book ! 

You can ask me to do the booking for you

The food is very excellent and the ambiance is warm  ! This restaurant is for you if you like Mediterranean flavors. The chefs cook a generous and aromatic cuisine, and the crowd is classy/casual.

Address: 9 Rue d’Alger, 75001 Paris

Shosh 

Shosh, short for “Shoshana”, which means “mother” or “grandmother” in Hebrew, promises home cooking and comforting at will in the capital. Behind this new address, which will soon open its doors in Paris, are the teams of the city’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, Shabour.

Visit : instagram.com/shosh.paris

Shosh should open a stone’s throw from the restaurant in the 2nd arrondissement, at the end of summer 2021, if covid allows it, of course !

The concept that awaits us is already known: a delicatessen, good Levantine catered dishes, and a cellar.

But while waiting for the real opening of the store, Shosh is revealed in popup in the kitchens of Shabour, with sandwiches combining traditional dishes and fast food to take away.

Shabour

19 Rue Saint-Sauveur, 75002 Paris

Same as Balaghan, made by the same chef as Balaghan, but the address is different.

Yafo 

The Hommous Specialist !

Address : 96 Rue d’Hauteville, 75010 Paris

 

SoumSoum

The place to be if you like a good houmous or a sabih tradtional sandwich !

They have two addresses in Paris.

Addresses : 59 Rue de Miromesnil, 75008 Paris, Or  144 Boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris

The food is very colorful, and the staff is nice and smiling !

This is the perfect place for a quick bite or to share different specialities from Middle East with your friends or family.

Florence Kahn

Address :  24 Rue des Ecouffes, 75004 Paris

Ask to taste their “Croquants” ( Pronounced Krokan) with almonds

All my friends including me, love this little family bakery where you can enjoy their tasty Pastrami Sandwich !

A lot of locals come on Sunday to buy the Pastrami Sandwich, along with some Ashkenazi desert and a drink to enjoy on the terrace.

I always buy the croquants : sort of Tunisian biscuits that you can eat in the morning with your coffee. They are  delicious and I am addicted to it.

Tavline

25 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris

Israeli Restaurant, delicious, Not Kosher

I tried this restaurant with my mother Léontine and I must say : best hummus in Paris !

We also tried the shakshouka and the Fish balls and , of course, all the starters , like in Israel : eggplant, hummus, roasted Cauliflower … yummy ! Also, the owners are very nice !

Restaurant Goldenberg

closed now

My family lived in Paris since the 1900’s !

My great grand father opened his first store before the war.

My grandfather was a passionate butcher and businessman,  and he made Jewish Yiddish Charcuterie in Rue des Rosiers. Then he opened the famous Restaurant Jo Goldenberg

 

Please send me your feedback if you tried one of these restaurants :

by email to Flora.Goldenberg@gmail.com 

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List of All synagogues and oratories in Paris :

• Synagogue Kehilat Gesher – Progressive and Bilingual – Great contact for american visitors

Phone: 00 33 9 53 18 90 86

Opened since 1993, this is a Liberal Jewish synagogue located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris by the American Rabbi Tom Cohen, founded the synagogue to be Jewish and Franco American.

• Synagogue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth 

Israelite Community of Strict Observance in Paris

10 ; rue Cadet,  75009 Paris

0033142463647

contact Flora for more information.

• Ohel Avraham in Paris : Orthodox Synagogue

http://www.synagogue-montevideo31.com/

31, rue de Motevideo  75016 Paris

0033145046673

• Séminaire israélite in Paris (Rabbinical school)

Also known as the Central Rabbinical School of France (L’école centrale rabbinique de France), is a Rabbinical school that trains Orthodox rabbis in France. Founded in Metz in 1829 as the Central Rabbinical School of Metz, it moved to Paris in 1859, where it is based in the city’s 5th arrondissement. The school is connected with the Israelite Central Consistory of France, one of the major bodies of Orthodox Judaism in France.

9, rue Vauquelin   75005 Paris

0147072122

• Synagogue des Tournelles

21 bis, rue des Tournelles   75004 Paris

0033142743265

• Synagogue Charles Liché in la Place des Vosges

14, Place des Vosges  75004 Paris

0148877945

• Fondation Roger Fleischman ( Visit inside is Included in my #1 jewish walking tour Paris Le Marais ) 

18, rue des Ecouffes  75004 Paris

0033148879786

• Synagogue Agoudath Hakehilot ( Orthodox // Visits are restricted / Possible to go inside during my #1 jewish walking tour Paris Le Marais ) 

10, rue Pavée   75004 Paris

0033148872154

• Synagogue Buffault

28, rue Buffault  75009 Paris

0033145268087

• Synagogue Chasseloup-Laubat

14, rue Chasseloup-Laubat   75015 Paris

0033142733629

• Temple israélite de Belleville ( Sepharadi ) 

75, rue Julien-Lacroix   75020 Paris

49, rue de Pali-Kao        75020 Paris

0033146363010

• Synagogue de Montmartre

13, rue Saint-Isaure   75018

0142644834

• Great Synagogue of Paris, synagogue de la Victoire

17, rue Saint-Georges   75009 Paris

0033140822626

• Union libérale israélite ( Liberal )

Liberal Jewish synagogue, located in Paris, France. Inaugurated on the first of December 1907, it is the oldest Reform synagogue in France.

24, rue Copernic  75016

0147043727

• Mouvement juif libéral ( Liberal  / Sabbath Services )

https://www.mjlf.org

This association is an open and egalitarian community of 1000 families committed to tradition and innovation.

Sabbath services any Friday evening or Saturday morning, or for any of our Jewish festival celebrations or cultural activities

11, rue Gaston-de-Caillavet  75015

0033144374848

• Synagogue Berit Chalom

18, rue Saint Lazare   75009

0148784532

• Synagogue Don Isaac Abravanel ( Sepharadi ) 

lso known as the Synagogue de la Roquette, is a historic synagogue in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built in 1962 for Jews who emigrated to France from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia (North Africa) as a result of the french decolonization

84-86, rue de la Roquette  75011 Paris

0033147007595

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Et Voila !

I hope you liked my list, if you have more suggestions, you are welcome to contact me to talk, or to join one of my tours of Paris !

I always love a nice friendly email just to say Hi : flora.goldenberg@gmail.com

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Please send me your feedback

if you tried one of these restaurants

by email to 

Flora.Goldenberg@gmail.com 

Or using this form : 

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My name is Flora,

I am a Certified Tour Guide.

I write about my Jewish Quarter in Paris.

I blog about Jewish Paris on instagram

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What my guests say about me on Google and Trip advisor: 

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