Simone Veil and Gisèle Halimi: To be a mentsch

In 2026, the Shoah Memorial offers a poignant look at the friendship between Simone Veil and Gisèle Halimi, two women with unique paths. This exhibition, “Simone Veil, My Sisters and Me,” explores their exceptional bond, forged by shared commitments to women’s rights and memory. Gisèle Halimi, lawyer and feminist activist, reflects with emotion: “It’s the sister I would have chosen.” The exhibition traces the lives of these two women, born respectively in Tunisia and in Nice, and their involvement in the resistance and reconstruction after World War II. It is accompanied by a reflection on family ties and the legacy of trauma. The exhibition is free and is part of a broader tribute to Jean Jacob, Simone Veil’s brother, a victim of deportation. It is open from May 12th to May 13th, 2026.