The documentary film The Forgotten Refugees (48 minutes) is available at the top of this page.
In 1945, an estimated one million Jews lived in the Middle East and North Africa, outside the borders of Mandatory Palestine. Within a matter of years, these flourishing Jewish communitiesโlong-standing minorities in the regionโwere nearly wiped out. The Forgotten Refugees, directed by Michael Grynszpan and released in 2005, explores the history of these communities, capturing their complex and often harrowing experiences.
The film presents testimonies highlighting periods of prosperity and good neighborly relations, contrasted with prolonged periods of violent riots, persecution, denial of rights, and systematic confiscation of property. Despite their rich cultural heritage and deep historical roots in the region, their displacement remains largely overlooked, especially in comparison to European Jewish history. The film has been screened at the United Nations and the U.S. Congress, seeking to bring attention to this disregarded chapter of Jewish history and raise international awareness of their struggles and contributions.
The Forgotten Refugees is a rare and significant historical document. The film presents compelling testimonies from Jewish refugees of the Middle East and North Africa, recounting the traumas they endured during violent riots that targeted them solely for being Jewish, along with the profound sense of betrayal they experienced. These individuals often saw themselves as integral members of their societies, connected through friendships, neighborly bonds, and professional relationships, making the betrayal even more devastating. The film examines the circumstances of their escape to Israel, which often required the forced abandonment of all their possessions, and the lasting trauma that continues to affect them to this day.
In this article, I will highlight some of the key issues explored in the film and provide links to additional films and articles available online. These resources aim to expand and deepen the understanding of the historical themes discussed by the speakers in The Forgotten Refugees.
The documentary begins by tracing the history of Jewish communities in the region, which existed for centuries before the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE. Under Islamic rule, Jews who did not convert to Islam were classified as “dhimmi,” a status that assigned non-Muslims an inferior position in society. This classification subjected them to systematic discrimination, numerous restrictions, and a deprivation of rights. They were also required to pay a particular tax, known as the jizya, in exchange for the right to practice their religion and live under Islamic rule. While their treatment varied depending on the ruling leader, it often involved humiliation, persecution, and violence.
One poignant example is the Jewish community of Mashhad, Iran, known as the “Marranos of Mashhad.” For 120 years, they lived in secrecy, outwardly practicing Islam while secretly preserving their Jewish traditions. For more on the resilience and history of the Mashhad Jewish community, refer to the article available on the ANU Museumโs website.
Another example of the persecution of Jews is the massacre that took place in 1912 in Fez, Morocco, when thousands of soldiers and Muslim residents stormed the Jewish quarter. They looted property, brutally attacked Jewish residents, and murdered approximately 50 men, women, and children. Large parts of the Jewish Quarter were set on fire, leaving 12,000 residents homeless.
The dramatic shift in the status of Jews, as depicted in The Forgotten Refugees, began with the rise of Arab nationalism in the 1930s and the spread of Nazi ideology in the Middle East. These developments intensified hostility toward Jewish communities as leaders of the region increasingly scapegoated them, incited public hatred, and orchestrated violent pogroms. While the filmโs speakers recount instances of friends and neighbors who provided aid and, in some cases, saved Jewish lives, the leaders continued to propagate anti-Jewish rhetoric, impose restrictive laws, and label Jews as traitors. The persecution escalated further, culminating in the systematic confiscation of Jewish property.
During this period, Adolf Hitlerโs book โMein Kampfโ was translated into Arabic to spread Nazi ideology and garner support from local leaders in the Middle East. One of the most prominent figures involved was Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, who was deeply influenced by Nazi ideology and maintained personal ties with Hitler. Al-Husseini played a key role in disseminating Nazi propaganda throughout the region and rallying support for Hitlerโs agenda.
“Mein Kampf” and the antisemitic text “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” which was translated into Arabic in 1925 in Syria, continue to be widely distributed across the Middle East in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a fabricated document falsely alleging a Jewish plan for world domination, remains a cornerstone of antisemitic propaganda. It continues to be used by extremist groups to incite hatred against Jews and the State of Israel and is regarded as one of the most influential antisemitic texts in history.
In a rare testimony before a Jewish audience in London, Saudi-Egyptian peace activist Loay Al-Shareef shared his journey from being a devout Muslim with deeply rooted antisemitic beliefs to becoming an advocate for Jews, Israel, and peace. He recounted the damaging influence of “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” which he was introduced to as a child in Egypt, explaining how it deeply shaped his early antisemitic beliefs. The continued spread of these two books in the Middle East has severe and far-reaching consequences. Ideas that were decisively rejected in Europe following World War II continue to persist in the region, with no efforts to confront or eliminate them.
Ongoing anti-Jewish incitement by leaders in the Middle East and North Africa has fueled waves of deadly violence over the years. Among the most notable events: In 1929, during the British Mandate, riots against Jews erupted as incited mobs attacked Jewish communities in Jerusalem, Hebron, and other towns across Mandate Palestine. Over five days, 133 Jews were murdered, hundreds were injured, and widespread destruction ensued in what came to be known as the โ1929 Massacres.โ
In 1941, over the course of two days, approximately 180 Jews were brutally murdered in Baghdad, thousands were injured, and vast amounts of property were looted. This atrocity, known as the โFarhud,โ is explored in depth in the second episode of the documentary series โThe Long Journey Home: The Untold Story of Iraqโs Jewsโ by David Kahtan (Kan 11). The series chronicles the history of Iraqโs Jewish community, from their exile from Jerusalem to Babylon as slaves to their eventual escape from Iraq to Israel, which began in the 1930s and continued into the 1950s. Duki Drorโs film “Shadow in Baghdad” recounts the story of Linda Abdul Aziz Menuhin, who fled Iraq while searching for her father, who remained behind and was abducted. Her testimony is one of the central accounts featured in The Forgotten Refugees.
The horrors of the October 7, 2023 massacre resurfaced not only the generational Jewish trauma of pogroms in Eastern Europe and the Holocaust but also the enduring pain of deadly riots endured by Jews in the Middle East and North Africa over centuries. The events depicted in The Forgotten Refugees bear an unsettling resemblance to the atrocities inflicted on Jewish communities near the Gaza Strip on that day. This haunting parallel underscores the profound and long-standing trauma that Jewish minorities in these regions have faced throughout history.
Today, as the historical narrative and identity of the Jewish people are increasingly distorted and undermined on the international stage, we still have an opportunity to document the stories of Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa who live among us and share these accounts with the world. The film invites viewers to explore the circumstances that shaped the status of these Jewish communities over centuries, emphasizing that their stories can offer new perspectives on Jewish life in the region and inspire a reexamination of Israel’s relationships with Middle Eastern countries, despite its Western and liberal character.
It calls for a deeper exploration and presentation of historical events and their lasting consequences, to instill in future generations a clearer understanding of the origins and collective identity of the Jewish people. This requires shifting our focus from the familiar Western frame of reference to examine the currents, tensions, and contexts that have shaped Middle Eastern history and profoundly influenced the lives of Jews in the region over the centuries.
In recent years, artists and filmmakers have taken meaningful steps to shed light on an often-overlooked chapter of Jewish history, amplifying the voices and stories of Mizrahi Jews. While I have already mentioned several films and series earlier in this article, it is important to highlight the work of Dor Zlekha Levy, a multidisciplinary artist whose creations serve as a cultural bridge between the religions and traditions of the Middle East. Through his art, Levy celebrates the rich history of Jews from Arab countries, fostering greater recognition and appreciation of their heritage. Filmmaker and producer Rafael Balulu has also made a significant contribution with his latest documentary film, โThe Last Righteous Man.โ This film delves into the legacy of the Abuhatzeira family, a prominent Moroccan-Jewish dynasty, illuminating their profound influence on the identity, culture, and political development of North African Jews in Israel.
I hope that watching the testimonies in the film The Forgotten Refugees and learning about the events and trauma experienced by Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa will inspire people worldwide to explore the untold history of over 60% of Israel’s Jewish population. The Holocaust has been depicted in countless films, plays, and works of art, presented at international festivals, and has received widespread recognition and acclaim. It is now time to shine a spotlight on the complex and rich story of Jewish life in the Middle East and North Africa before the establishment of the State of Israel, giving it the significant presence it deserves on the global stage.
