Remember Jewish refugees and pray for those buried in Arab lands
As we approach 30 November, the date to remember the exodus of Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim countries, French journalist Véronique Chemla posts a comprehensive overview of the issue on her blog. On 25 November, synagogues around the world will be reciting prayers for Jews buried in inaccessible cemeteries. All are requested to join this Mass Kaddish.
About a million Jews were forced to leave Arab countries, Iran, Turkey as well as the Old City of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria – three territories occupied by Jordan. The exodus took place between 1940 to the 1970s and the refugees fled toIsrael, Europe and North America. The value of their abandoned assets is estimated at 150-200 billion dollars. The Jewish-owned land area from which they were dispossessed (100,000 km²) is five times greater than that of the State of Israel.
In 2014, the Knesset selected 30 November as a day commemorating “The Forgotten Exodus” or rmore appropriately “The departure and expulsion of Jews from Arab states and Iran.” That is, the day after the adoption on 29 November 1947 of UN General Assembly Resolution 181, The Partition Plan for Mandatory Palestine. This was the day when a predicted violent reaction of States Muslims against “their” Jews began (“There will be a war of extermination and a momentous massacre”).
For the first time, the Central Consistory of France (the umbrella authority for synagogues) will join the Mass Kaddish initiative on Shabbat 25 November 2023 in synagogues when prayers will be recited in memory of Jews buried in these Muslim countries. Your presence will enable there to be a minyan.
Leave a Reply