‘Death to Jews’ Town Won’t Change Name

Despite the urging of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a French village is dismissing calls to change its name: La Mort aux Juifs, or “Death to the Jews.” The group’s director, Shimon Samuels, wrote to the French interior minister, saying that “It is extremely shocking that this name has slipped under the radar in the 70 years that have passed since France was liberated from Nazism and the [pro-Nazi] Vichy regime.” Earlier this year, residents of a Spanish town voted to change their name from Castrillo Matajudios, or Castrillo Kill Jews—but this appears less likely to occur in France. The deputy mayor of Courtemaux, which has jurisdiction over the hamlet, said, “It’s ridiculous. This name has always existed,” adding, “No one has anything against the Jews, of course.”