the CRIF dinner takes place every year for 24 years and became one of the most mundane events of the year. Participating for the first time this year I can speak from within. And the least we can say is that it's fun to see.
all starts entering the Bois de Boulogne, near the pavilion where Ermenonville unfolds dinner. Impressive safety device, police youngest SCPJ squaring the perimeter next to the television trucks from I-TV, BFM TV and other major media. With course teams Audience Senate for the second year, covers the entire dinner live on their channel.
arrived in the room with the famous cartoon, the guest is taken over by a well-oiled organization: delivery of cardboard table with the seating chart on the back, speed of execution of the locker room, they quickly come up short at the first significant step in the evening. The buffet.
In a room large enough to accommodate 800 guests, the caterer had prepared all the corners of sofas and delicious appetizers, often compared to the original classic kosher caterers wedding or bar -mitzvot. And for good reason, the caterer is kosher division of Potel & Chabot. Halavi, ie without meat, the buffet was excellent, and dinner, but I will.
What a lot of fun at the buffet is to walk in the midst of people we have rather used to seeing on TV. Look, here Dati open conversation. Here Andre Vingt-Trois Cardinal in his robes. Surprised that Christine Lagarde was at least 1 m 85. Fascination with the beauty and class Rama Yade . Once recovered from his amazement navigate this worldly, we pulled himself together and it makes the point.
The government in almost complete except 2 secretaries State with whom I really liked to discuss: Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet and Martin Hirsch . Of course personalities left Benoît Hamon, Bertrand Delanoe , Jack Lang , Harlem Désir , but two still missing: Martine Aubry and Segolene Royal.
Some media personalities: Daniela Lumbroso, Jean-Pierre Elkabbach , Paul Amar, Mougeotte . Religious figures: of course Dalil Boubkeur , Rector of the Paris Mosque Muslim side, the Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois for Catholics, and "religion inviting" the full range of rabbis in the community: the Grand Rabbi of France Gilles Bernheim , Grand Rabbi Sirat , Rabbi Serfati responsible for Jewish-Muslim Friendship, Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Pewzner Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Ryvon Krygier Masorti movement, etc., etc. ...
short, a meeting which I do not think that there are equivalent for any other reason and for the effective we want to address that if indeed we have something to say, we play the game of common courtesy requires that we move this year and also the fascination with this concentration of powers in one place.
example, I could talk with Alain Madelin of its operations on Tuesday morning on Good Morning Business on BFM, exchange with Jean-David Levitte on his experience to EEIF (besides telling me that there are currently 2 ARs at the Elysee Palace: he and Arnold Munnich , adviser to the President), aware of the fabulous art Jack Lang of who gave me the impression that we were friends for 20 years when he shook my hand, or hear Harlem Désir on the rules of the CRIF.
Small animation when a flock of cameras, reporters and guests coagulates around a new host. Who could cause such commotion? Of course, our omni / hyper / Global President (delete as appropriate) around which bees agglomerate all who dream of one day appearing in the picture next highest power of the Republic. Vanity of vanities ... Once completed the buffet, we arrive in the large dining room where you are asked to sit down to listen:
- the introduction of the CRIF CEO, Haim Musicant
- The Speech of the President of the CRIF, Richard Prasquier
- Speech by Prime Minister François Fillon
I'll spare you the speech of our friends. First, because you can easily find them on the canvas. And then because they are really just variations on the same themes for years: Anti-Semitism and the situation in Israel. Dinner 2009 was a very good year from that point of view since these two subjects, there was indeed much to say after the war in Gaza and its impact on the upsurge in anti-Semitic associates.
But I assure you, nothing to change the face of the world: a slight shudder when the UOIF is in question, some discussion in the room when Durban is discussed ... In short, we must not say, but it's routine. Except qu'apparemmment, this observation is not shared by everyone: After the speeches, many guests engage in commentary and scholarly exegesis on the content of speeches two speakers to try to understand the subliminal messages, forms non-diplomatic unexpected commitments, etc., etc. ... That's really what politics?
last act, but not least, this evening, the dinner itself. Nice innovation Potel & Chabot, which serves two superimposed plates, one containing the input (red mullet) and one hot plate, which miraculously remained hot for the 800 guests. Bel culinary feat of reducing the number of services by sending starter and main course at the same time, while ensuring the stability of gourmet dishes. Bravo. But anecdotally, because the most interesting is the new and fro between the tables for "networking" again and again to go round up of guests. The only ones left are a little polite members of the head table (basically, the core members of the government) who dine quietly, chatting under the countless photographers who assail them.
Conclusion: a very nice evening in which many words and ideas have certainly been exchanged, but, as usual, in the inner circle of private conversations and probably not in the speeches of mummified people power, prisoners of their respective institutions and the compulsory exercise ...
Conclusion: a very nice evening in which many words and ideas have certainly been exchanged, but, as usual, in the inner circle of private conversations and probably not in the speeches of mummified people power, prisoners of their respective institutions and the compulsory exercise ...
