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Jewish Refugees Day – The Untold Story of the Expulsion of Jews from Arab Lands
Edited by: Fern Sidman
When the world reflects on the refugee crises spawned by the turbulent mid-20th century Middle East, the narrative often centers on the Palestinian refugees who were purportedly displaced by the 1948 Israeli War of Independence and the 1967 Six-Day War. Yet, another tragedy unfolded concurrently, largely overlooked in international discourse: the forced exodus of nearly a million Jews from Arab lands. These Jewish refugees, their communities rooted in antiquity, were driven from their homes, stripped of their property, and left to rebuild their lives elsewhere, predominantly in the newly established State of Israel.
In 1945, Jewish communities flourished across the Arab world. From Morocco to Iraq, nearly one million Jews lived in relative harmony alongside their Muslim and Christian neighbors. Many of these communities had existed for thousands of years, predating Islam and tracing their origins back to the Babylonian exile or even earlier. Yet, the tides of history turned brutally against them following the United Nations’ 1947 resolution to partition what was then known as Palestine, a decision met with vehement rejection by Arab leaders.
The rejection of partition was not confined to political corridors; it manifested as a pervasive hostility toward Jewish populations across Arab states. The warning issued by Egypt’s delegate to the United Nations, foretelling danger to Jewish lives in Muslim lands, proved prophetic. Over the next few years, a systematic campaign of persecution, violence, and forced expulsion shattered these millennia-old communities.
Anti-Jewish sentiment rapidly escalated into coordinated violence and legislative marginalization. Across the Arab world, Jews found themselves targets of repressive policies and mob brutality:
Iraq: Zionism was declared a capital crime. Jewish bank accounts were frozen, and widespread arrests left the community in a state of constant fear.
Syria: Pogroms erupted in Aleppo, destroying the city’s ancient Jewish quarter and forcing many to flee.
Egypt: Bombings in Jewish neighborhoods claimed dozens of lives. Anti-Jewish riots erupted, coupled with laws stripping Jews of citizenship and livelihoods.
Algeria: Anti-Jewish decrees imposed severe restrictions on civil rights, pushing many to emigrate.
Yemen: Bloody pogroms left nearly 100 Jews dead, prompting thousands to undertake dangerous journeys to escape persecution.
Libya: Synagogues were torched, and violent mobs assaulted Jewish residents.
These acts were not merely spontaneous eruptions of mob anger; they were often instigated or condoned by governments, feeding off the fervor of pan-Arab nationalism and anti-Zionist sentiment.
The precarious situation faced by Jews in Arab lands did not go unnoticed. In January 1948, Dr. Stephen Wise, president of the World Jewish Congress, implored U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall to recognize the unfolding crisis. Wise described the looming threat of “genocide,” framing it as a crime against humanity under United Nations resolutions. That May, the New York Times ran a headline declaring that “Jews in Grave Danger in all Muslim Lands,” yet the world’s response remained muted.
The United Nations’ approach to Palestinian refugees is unprecedented in its scope and specificity. Unlike other displaced populations, who fall under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Palestinians have a separate agency, UNRWA, dedicated exclusively to their needs. Furthermore, the UN’s definition of Palestinian refugees diverges significantly from the standard criteria used for all other refugee populations.
According to UNRWA, Palestinian refugee status extends to the descendants of those displaced in 1948, allowing the population to grow from an estimated 400,000–700,000 individuals to nearly 5 million today. This hereditary expansion contrasts sharply with the traditional definition of refugees, which focuses on individuals directly displaced by conflict or persecution, not their descendants.
In stark contrast, the international community has largely ignored the parallel plight of Jewish refugees from Arab countries. Despite the displacement of nearly 850,000 Jews from Arab lands between the 1940s and 1970s, not a single UN resolution has specifically addressed their suffering or the restitution of their rights. This omission persists despite the fact that these Jewish refugees lost billions of dollars in property and assets and were forced to abandon communities that had thrived for millennia.
The economic losses suffered by Jewish refugees from Arab countries, estimated at $6.7 billion in 2024 prices, stand as a stark reminder of the broader injustices faced by this displaced population. Despite the significant scale of their suffering and losses, Jewish refugees have yet to receive the recognition and restitution afforded to Palestinian refugees.
By the mid-20th century, the situation for Jews in Arab lands became untenable. Driven by fear and uncertainty, hundreds of thousands fled, leaving behind homes, businesses, and cultural heritage. Between 1948 and the 1970s, nearly all of these Jewish communities were emptied. Most found refuge in Israel, which, despite its limited resources, absorbed them and facilitated their integration. Others resettled in Western countries.
This mass migration marked the end of Jewish life in many parts of the Arab world. Ancient synagogues, cemeteries, and cultural sites were left abandoned, their histories fading from collective memory.
For decades, the story of Jewish refugees from Arab lands remained overshadowed by other regional conflicts. In Israel, efforts to rebuild and integrate took precedence over pursuing international recognition of their plight.
For the Jewish people as a whole, the displacement of such a large segment of their population was deeply impactful. These stories of resilience and loss are an integral part of modern Jewish history, and their preservation is essential for understanding the broader narrative of the Jewish diaspora.
In 2015, Israel’s Knesset took a significant step toward acknowledging this neglected chapter of history. November 30th was designated as a day of remembrance for Jewish refugees from Arab countries.
November 30th is not just a day of remembrance; it is a call to action. It is a reminder to preserve the memory of these communities, to honor their contributions, and to ensure that their stories are told—not just within Jewish circles but to the global community. Their legacy is a testament to resilience, a symbol of cultural richness, and a reminder of the consequences of intolerance and persecution.
As the world commemorates the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands and Iran, it is vital to give voice to the stories of those who lived through this tragedy. Their narratives are a bridge to a history that must never be forgotten and a source of inspiration for future generations.
The contributions of these communities to Israeli society and to the world at large stand as a powerful example of the strength and vibrancy of the human spirit. November 30th, also known as Jewish Refugees Day ensures that their voices echo through time, reminding us all of the importance of tolerance, justice, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
