French President Emmanuel Macron felt compelled Friday to justify allowing a Jewish ritual at the Elysee palace after critics accused him of failing to respect France's secular traditions.
During an award ceremony on Thursday -- at which Macron was handed a prize for his stance against anti-Semitism -- France's Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia lit the first candle of a menorah -- a ceremony that opens the week-long Jewish festival of Hanukkah -- as Macron looked on.
