A Jewish family in Paris has been granted permission to keep their mezuzah after a property management firm initially demanded they take it down.
The management company, Century 21, wrote a letter to the residents of an apartment in the suburb of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, stating that putting up the mezuzah required “prior approval” as the outside wall was “common property”.
The family was told they had to remove it within 15 days or face legal action.
Eight other households received similar letters over other external items that “might not comply with the coownership regulations” or which may “affect the harmony and good condition of the common areas”.
The warning letter to the Jewish family said that the mezuzah affected the “aesthetics” of this common property area.
Century 21 was subsequently condemned by Israeli education group Stand With Us, which posted the story on its Instagram and wrote: “This unacceptable targeting of religious expression comes amid a surge in antisemitic incidents across France, where Jewish families are increasingly facing discrimination for openly practicing their faith in their own homes.”
This prompted a media backlash and Century 21 said it started receiving “violent threats”.
A spokesperson from the property firm told the JC: “[Our] entire network reaffirm with the greatest clarity their commitment to the principles of respect and equal treatment for all.
“No form of discrimination is practised, whether towards our clients, the occupants of the co-owned properties we manage or our employees.
"Our actions are strictly in line with and in compliance with our professional and regulatory obligations.”
They continued: “Nevertheless, we understand that in the current context, this letter may have raised questions or caused misunderstanding.
"As soon as we were made aware of the difficulties in interpretation, we immediately took up the matter and asked the local office to refer it back to the Co-owners’Council for review.
“I am pleased to confirm that, following our intervention, the Co-Owners' Council, that met on the February 26, has decided, in the interests of harmony and good relations within the co-ownership, to authorise the mezuzah to remain in place.”
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