What is life like for Jews in the Middle East and North Africa?

Question

(I'm not talking about Israel..but Jews in other countries)

What is the culture?? Are they well intregrated? Do they experience discrimation???

Answer 1

I don't know about other Arab countries, but in Tunisia, they intregate vey well. There was only one incident of retaliation against Jews, and that was back in 2002 in a Jewish Synogogue in Southern Tunisia, which the authorities responded to and acted upon quickly. After that incident the government put guars outside the synogues to help insure peace for the Jews while they worship. Other than that, they have the same rights and freedoms as anyone else and live their life as they like. Tunisia is really a peace loving country and allows the practice of all religions.

Djerba has one Jewish kindergarten. There are also six Jewish primary schools (three located in Tunis, two in Djerba and one in the coastal city of Zarzis) and four secondary schools (two in Tunis and two in Djerba). There are also yeshivot in Tunis and Djerba. The community has two homes for the aged. The country has several kosher restaurants and five officiating rabbis: the chief rabbi in Tunis, a rabbi in Djerba, and four others in Tunis. The majority of the Jewish community observes the laws of kashrut.

Many tourists come to visit Djerba's El Ghirba Synagogue in the village of Hara Sghira. Although the present structure was built in 1929, it is believed there has been a continuously used synagogue on the site for the past 1,900 years. Tunisian Jews have many unique and colorful rituals and celebrations, including the annual pilgrimage to Djerba which takes place during Lag BaOmer. The Bardo Museum in Tunis contains an exhibit dealing exclusively with Jewish ritual objects.

Today, the 1,300 Jews comprise the country's largest indigenous religious minority. "The Government assures freedom of worship for the Jewish community and pays the salary of the Grand Rabbi" of the community.

Answer 2

Their numbers are greatly decreased now, only few hundreds in Egypt, the youngest member of the community is 66 years old! In Libya they are extinct already, in Algeria, I believe it is as in Egypt, In Tunisia, few thousands, with new generations though, they have Hebrew schools and Kosher restaurants, a very small community, yet still alive. In Morocco, it is the biggest and most thriving in any Arabic country, the community in Casablanca is really vibrant. . . . In Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq . . . etc. only odd individuals left. . . . .
Their culture is really amazing; they are typical Sephardic Jews, with very traditional culture and excellent cuisine! However, in the community in Egypt for example, there was, in the golden past, many Ashkenazi Jews, i.e. from European descent. . . . There was an Ashkenazi synagogue in Cairo too. . . .
Regarding the tolerance, there was ups and downs throughout the history, for example by the time of WWII, Egypt was a haven for many Jews, however after the creation of Israel in 1948, the countries Jewry was in a really bad situation that got worse by the revolution in 1952, the nationalisation of the Suez Canal in 1956 (The year marked what is known as the beginning of the second exodus), the Arab-Israeli war of 1967 marked the end of the community, only few individuals left, and the vast majority left the country. . . . The last Jewish marriage in Egypt took place in 1984. Nowadays, those who still in Egypt are old and fragile, loved dearly by their Muslim and Christian neighbours and friends, and mostly served by them too. . . . In Egypt there was never a problem among people because of their faith, all are religious, sometimes fanatics, but very loveable by nature. . . .That problem was political principally, most of Jews from Egypt who live now in Europe, America, or Israel, still keep great memories of Egypt and their friends their. . .
I hope that answers your question. . . .

Answer 3

I'm an Israeli.. I know ur not talking about israel but my grandparents came to israel from Yeman. They lived well from an economic point of view if u compared their lifestyle to the local arabs. Still they werent living a modern life so they weren't really ok from my perspective.
The arabs weren't antysmetic like in Europe, yet didn't treat the jews very nice. My grandpa's brother 4 example, got killed cause he was cought riding a horse in front of n arab group of ppl... (The arabs had a rule that jews cant be taller than the arabs n synagogues cant b taller than misgads).

Answer 4

Same as everywhere. We pity people and find the orphan, poor and homeless here. The young gang member and married people cheating on their spouses and huggng their kids telling them they love them. Betrayal amongst christians and churches turning into the largest corporations anywhere. Their life in the middle east and north africa is focused for sure, we have a slow decay of civilization and eventual death, a cancer. Which is better, a bullet or societal decay? Neither, they are the same and there is more! There is good news!

Answer 5

They live well, especially in Morocco, but the problem is they all left between 1948 and 1990 and went to Israel, but also tou countries like Canada, France and the USA.

Answer 6

I met many Jews from Morrocco and other Middle East countries when I was in Israel. They all left for a better life...

Answer 7

In the 20th century most Jews were expelled from their homes in Arab/Muslim lands, and made into refugees. Most of whom were taken in by Israel.

The history of Jews under Islam is one of constant oppression and pogroms.

Answer 8

Bliss

Answer 9

it is not bad