France's former grand rabbi Joseph Sitruk dies at 71

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2004 file photo, French President Jacques Chirac, center, speaks as Israeli President Moshe Katsav, right, and Grand Rabbi of France Joseph Sitruk, left, exchange greetings at a dinner party given at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on the first day of Katsav's state visit to France. Sitruk, who oversaw a growth in synagogues and Jewish schools, has died after a long illness. He was 71. The French president's office announced Sitruk's death in a statement on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2005 file photo, Grand Rabbi of France, Joseph Sitruk, speaks to reporters after they attended a New Year wishes ceremony with French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Sitruk, who oversaw a growth in synagogues and Jewish schools, has died after a long illness. He was 71. The French president's office announced Sitruk's death in a statement on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File) (The Associated Press)

PARIS – Joseph Sitruk, a former grand rabbi of France for more than two decades who oversaw a growth in synagogues and Jewish schools, has died after a long illness. He was 71.

President Francois Hollande's office announced Sitruk's death. In a statement Sunday, Hollande praised Sitruk as a "defender of secularism" who left an indelible legacy for French Judaism. Sitruk was hailed as "a tireless fighter against racism and anti-Semitism" by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who oversees religious affairs.

Born in French-controlled Tunisia in 1944, Sitruk was grand rabbi of France from 1987-2008, spiritual leader for Europe's largest Jewish community. He was active internationally, and led efforts encouraging French Jews to attend synagogue and embrace Judaism.

A memorial ceremony is being held Sunday night in a Paris synagogue.