Once Thriving Jewish Community in Egypt Dwindles to a Few
Egypt, a land with roots reaching back to the Hellenistic period, once nurtured one of the oldest and most vibrant Jewish communities in the world. Today, however, that community has dwindled to a mere fraction of its former glory. Overwhelming persecution and discrimination have forced the exodus of nearly the entire Jewish population.
David Hayna’s Story: Imprisonment and Exodus
David Hayna, born in Cairo 64 years ago, recounts the arrest of his father shortly after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Egyptian authorities imprisoned Jewish men as alleged “spies for Israel,” keeping Hayna’s father captive for over two years.
Hayna recalls a relatively peaceful childhood in a mixed neighborhood. Despite attending a Christian school where they were exempted from religious instruction, he remembers a sense of normalcy. However, the war marked a turning point, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over the community.
After his father’s release in 1969, the Hayna family faced the difficult decision of leaving their homeland. With few options and limited resources, they chose to immigrate to Israel, where they faced challenges of language, culture, and economic hardship.
Roland Hassan’s Story: A Daring Escape
Roland Hassan, born in Alexandria in the mid-1950s, remembers a comfortable upbringing in a mixed-class neighborhood. While anti-Zionist sentiment grew in the years leading up to the Six Day War, Hassan’s family initially dismissed it.
In 1967, with tensions escalating, Hassan’s family realized it was time to flee. However, their departure was far from ordinary. Facing threats and harassment, they managed to escape during the height of the war, thanks to their Italian passports and the help of a brave neighbor.
Hassan and his family boarded a ship bound for Naples, leaving all their possessions behind. On the ship, they were reunited with Hassan’s father, who had miraculously made it to the same vessel after being released from detention.
A Complex Connection to the Past
Despite the pain and loss they endured, both Hayna and Hassan maintain a connection to their Egyptian roots. Hayna still speaks Arabic at home and occasionally reminisces about his childhood in Cairo.
Hassan, now a dentist in New York, has returned to Egypt once since leaving. He found the experience bittersweet, filled with nostalgia and reflections on the past. While he acknowledges the challenges and hostility faced by Egyptian Jews, he also recognizes the warmth and hospitality of the Egyptian people.
A Lesson from the Exodus
The exodus of Egyptian Jewry serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of minority communities in the face of political and religious persecution. It is a story of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of memory.
