November 30 marks the annual commemoration of Yom Haplitim, a day dedicated to remembering the exile of Jews from Arab countries. In observance of this significant day, Sylvain Abitbol, Co-President of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, addressed students at Jewish day schools.
Yom Haplitim serves as a poignant reminder of the one million Jews who were expelled from Arab countries following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. To shed light on the historical significance of this day, Mr. Abitbol, a former Federation CJA president and an esteemed advocate for justice, shared his personal experiences with students.
A key figure in an international coalition, Mr. Abitbol has addressed critical forums such as the United Nations in Geneva. He played a pivotal role in securing refugee status for Jews from Arab Lands by advocating before Congress, the Canadian Parliament, and the British Parliament.
According to the World Jewish Congress, until the 1960s, approximately one million Jews lived in Iran and other Arab countries, having arrived in the region more than 2,000 years before. Nowadays, it is estimated that only around 15,000 remain, as the majority of the Jewish population in Muslim lands were forced to flee their homes in the years following the establishment of the State of Israel. This mass expulsion and exodus is part of modern history, but inexplicably, it’s neither taught at schools nor remembered within the context of the conflicts in the Middle East.
For over 2,500 years, Jews lived continuously in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf region, where the Jewish population had settled at least 1,000 years before the advent of Islam.
Despite the positive influence that Jews brought to the places where they lived, more than 850,000 Jews were forced to leave their homes in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Morocco, and several other Arab countries in the 20 years that followed the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. Another significant forced migration took place from Iran in 1979–80, following the Iranian Revolution and the collapse of the Shah’s regime, adding 70,000 more Jewish refugees to this number.
The commemoration of Yom Haplitim underscores the importance of keeping these historical facts alive. This is particularly crucial in the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where the narrative often neglects the experiences of Jewish refugees from Arab countries.
In his address, Mr. Abitbol emphasized the significance of acknowledging the history of Jewish refugees and the need to ensure their stories are not forgotten.
Mr. Abitbol’s wealth of experience and advocacy for justice aligns with our commitment to fostering awareness, tolerance, and historical understanding.
About Sylvain Abitbol:
Sylvain Abitbol is the Co-President of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries and a distinguished advocate for the rights of Jewish refugees. His contributions include impactful speeches at international forums, raising awareness about the challenges faced by Jewish communities expelled from Arab lands.
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