Egypt - the lost homeland

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In the twentieth century, the political Zionist movement and Egyptian rulers uprooted Egypt's once-thriving Jewish community, a goal dating back to the Pharaohs. Comprised mainly of Sephardim descendants, this ancient community numbered 85,000 in 1948, but today only 100 to 200 Jews remain in Egypt. The narrative spans from Biblical times to 1967, marking significant events like the First Exodus around 1500 BCE and the Second Exodus, prompted by the establishment of Israel and subsequent wars in 1948, 1956, and 1967. Throughout history, the Jewish community faced the arbitrary decisions of Egyptian rulers, particularly after 1948, when they were forced to leave without their belongings. Unlike other Jews from the Arab world, Egyptian Jews were not aligned with the Eurocentric, Ashkenazi notion of Zionism, leading to their arrival in Israel being met with prejudice. Despite facing discrimination in housing and education, they successfully integrated into Israeli society and now occupy positions in the upper and middle classes. The insights in this account are drawn from interviews with ninety-six Egyptian Jews living in Israel and the United States.