Commemorating Jewish refugees
MAURICE Cohen’s family was expelled from Cairo in 1957. “We were expelled with nothing – we left with little possessions, no money, no nothing.”
MAURICE Cohen’s family was expelled from Cairo in 1957. “We were expelled with nothing – we left with little possessions, no money, no nothing.”
Cohen is one of around 800,000 Jews whose families had lived in Arab lands for centuries, that were expelled from their countries in the years leading up to and following the establishment of the State of Israel. While the Palestinian refugee issue remains a hot global topic, history has largely forgotten these Jewish refugees.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) hopes to address that deficiency, locally at least, with an inaugural annual event recognising the plight of these refugees and the contribution of those who settled in Australia to the local community.
“The 800,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands and Iran are too often omitted from the narrative of the events of 1948,” JBOD CEO Vic Alhadeff told The AJN.
“This event is an important step in restoring this highly significant chapter of our history to its rightful place. Knowledge of the Jewish refugee story is essential to understanding the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Added Cohen: “Middle Eastern Jewry were really a rich culture, a dynamic religious group.
“The issue of these Jews has never really been at the forefront; it’s taken a while, but I commend the fact. It’s a wonderful idea.”
Yuval Avrahami’s father’s family left Kurdistan in the 1920s after facing increasing harassment. His mother’s family, who were all born in Iraq, were expelled in the 1950s.
“Up until the 1930s they had a pretty peaceful life with their Iraqi neighbours,” he said.
“[Things] got much worse after the 1947 partition decision by the UN and then of course after the State of Israel was established. They had to leave their houses behind, they had to leave most of their possessions. They left Iraq as refugees,” he said.
“Many people around the world talk about the Palestinian refugees and their misery. Very, very few people even know, let alone mention, the status of the Jewish refugees from all these countries.”
The event is on Monday, November 30, 6-8pm at the Sydney Jewish Museum. RSVP: benmenashe@nswjbd.com.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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