May 21, 2012 – New York – The Toulouse Jewish Community has expressed appreciation for an AJC donation to assist families of the victims of the terror attack on a Jewish school in March.

 

“On behalf of the Jewish community of Toulouse I want to express my extreme gratitude to AJC and its Paris director Simone Rodan Benzaquen for the generous contribution to the solidarity fund for the victims of the Toulouse murders,” said Arie Benshemoun, president of the Jewish community of Toulouse.

 

“This fund shall help the families of the victims and enable the traumatized children of the Jewish schools of Toulouse to return to as much of a normal life as possible,” said Benshemoun. “We were particularly touched by AJC’s gesture that demonstrates spontaneous unity and love of the Jewish people going beyond borders.”

 

AJC responded immediately after the attack at the Jewish school Ozar Hatorah, which left three children — Arieh and Gabriel Sandler and Myriam Monsonego — and one teacher, Jonathan Sandler, dead. The lone terrorist died later in a gun battle with French police.

 

“AJC stands in full solidarity with the French Jewish community, and will continue to work closely with our friends to help assure their well-being and security,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

 

A commemoration for the Toulouse victims took place during the AJC Global Forum earlier this month in Washington, D.C. Dr. Richard Prasquier, president of CRIF, delivered an impassioned address before an audience of more than 1,500 that included three foreign ministers and other dignitaries.