By: Mayer Steinman
On Thursday, Feb 26th, the Jewish Law students association screened the documentary “The Forgotten Refugees,” which explores the mass and often forced exodus of Jewish communities from the Middle East, Iran and North Africa during the 20th century. The film touches upon many of the concepts of moral justice that we have discussed in our studies. Using extensive testimony of some of the one million refugees from Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Morocco, the film recounts the refugees stories of suffering while living under the rule of Muslim leaders and their subsequent joy upon the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
Telling the story. Many of these refugees emphasized that they simply want to tell their story. While the media has been dominated by the current and past claims of the Palestinian refu gees, the stories of these jewish refugees, which for many occurred during the same period – the late 1940’s – have been largely ignored. These individuals have worked diligently to have their stories disseminated through the production of t his film and through the building of museums to remember their past. While they were often forced out of their country empty handed, leaving behind their ancestral homes and all their material possessions, they do not seek reparations or justice from those that caused their suffering. Their only request is for the world to hear their stories and acknowledge their suffering.
Emotional Harm – Many of these refugees discussed the status of ‘Dhimmi’ that was given to Jews throughout the Middle East. Though literally translated as “protected”, this status subjected the Jews to a culture of submission. Some rules include: Jews were not allowed to ride a horse lest they seem higher than a Moslem, their homes were not allowed to be higher than that of a Moslem, they were not allowed to build synagogues, and they were required to pay an extra tax for their supposed protection. While in some countries like Libya and Iraq, there were also violent persecutions and beheadings, in many other countries Jews were generally left unharmed and were integrated into society. Nevertheless, the refuges described how the constant verbal abuses directed at them left them20feeling worthless and unwanted. They lived in a constant state of fear, not being able to leave their country and not knowing what fate awaited them on any given day. These rules that were enacted to make them feel inferior have caused them life long emotional harm. Today, many year later, after their scars and bruises have healed, the emotional abuse has left a bitter, indelible reminder on their heart and soul.
Acknowledgment of Harm. Many of these refuges held out hope that peace can be achieved in the state of Israel but emphasized that there must first be a recognition and acknowledgment by each party of what they had done to each other. The Jews must recognize the Palestinians’ plight and the long-term suffering that they have endured and in turn the Arabs must recognize that the Jews similarly suffered while living and when later expelled from their respective Middle Eastern countries. They must each recognize their right to exist and to have a place they can call home.
