When the issue of Middle East refugees is mentioned, what comes to mind? For most people, it is not the 856,000 Sephardi Jews who lived in Arab lands at the founding of Israel in 1948 – or the less than 1% that remain in those lands today. The JCRC, in partnership with JIMENA and Justice for Jews from Arab Lands (JfJ) is trying to change that.  This summer the JCRC hosted an educational forum for synagogue representatives about the exodus of Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews from the Middle East. Representatives of JIMENA and JfJ, who were in town to testify before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus chaired by Congressman Tom Lantos, participated in the discussion.

Neither the mass violations of human rights nor the displacement of Jews from Arab lands has ever been adequately addressed by the international community. As Israel enters into a new phase of negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, the importance of this issue has become increasingly clear. Recognizing its urgency, the Israeli cabinet has issued resolutions calling for efforts to “gather information, data, claims and documents” and “record details of Jewish private and communal property in Arab countries and the denial of their rights.

JCRC’s July 18 forum is a part of this larger initiative to secure redress for Jewish refugees from Arab countries and educate the public about the mass violation of human rights of Jews in Arab countries and to catalogue the loss of extensive communal and individual assets. To do its part, JCRC is urging those who attended the forum, as well as all of our area synagogues to plan follow-on programming on this important issue and untold story. Contact JCRC for support and information.

Does your family have testimony or family history they wish to share? Please contact Ayelet Margolin at JCRC, 301-770-0881.