Editing Esther Benbassa

[[File:Esther.jpg|400px|thumbnail|left|Esther Benbassa]]
Esther Benbassa (born March 27, 1950) is a French Senator representing the Department of Val-de-Marne and a member of the Green Party of France.

Benbassa is well-known in France for her academic work in the fields of History and Religious Studies as well as her social and environmental activism in the French Senate. 

==  Political Career  ==
Before becoming a Senator in 2011, Benbassa had virtually no experience in the field of politics. Her career prior to entering politics was solely academic, as she is a celebrated professor in the fields of History and Religious Studies. 

Benbassa's academic work at the University of Paris and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem boosted her reputation in France and in 2011, she was elected to the Senate for the Department of Val-de-Marne.

Since becoming a Senator, Benbassa has been working on many social justice and environmental issues in France including: protecting the legalization of same-sex marriage, promoting environmental programs and projects, working to de-criminalize marijuana, fighting antisemitism, defending workers involved in the sex trade, etc. 

==  Education  ==
Born in Turkey and raised in France, Benbassa attended the University of Tel-Aviv for her undergraduate degree, the University of Paris VIII for her Master's, the Institute of National Languages and Oriental Civilizations, and the University of Paris III for her postdoctoral degree. 

Benbassa has also written multiple essays, books, opinion pieces, articles, journals, etc on social justice issues in France and around the globe.

==  External Links  ==
[http://www.estherbenbassa.net/ Official Website of Esther Benbassa]

[http://www.senat.fr/senateur/benbassa_esther11033f.html Official Website of the French Senate - Esther Benbassa]