Jewish History in Egypt

Jewish History

The Jewish presence in Egypt extends back to biblical times.  Egypt was a place of refuge following the destruction of the kingdom of Judah in 597 BCE and a safe haven from persecution for the Jewish people. During this time, Jewish communities developed Talmudic schools and prospered intellectually.

From 1805-1956 Jews played a dominant role in Egyptian society, contributing significantly to the development of finance, industry, urban development, and culture.  The British, who colonized Egypt from 1882 to 1956, treated the Jews well and as a result, many European Jews who were suffering persecution in their own countries immigrated to Egypt, bringing the number of Jews in Egypt from 25,000 in 1900 to over 80,000 by 1948. Despite their contributions, Jews in Egypt, under the British rule, were denied citizenship.

With the rise of Nazi Germany and Arab Nationalism in the 1930’s attitudes toward the Jews began to change.  In 1938 massive anti-Jewish demonstrations commenced, prompting the ensuing annihilation of Egyptian Jews. With the establishment of Israel, in 1948, the Egyptian government began enforcing aggressive and repressive measures against Jews including; confiscation of property, imprisonments, torture and institutionalized discrimination. Riots against Jews were common leaving many injured and some dead. Black Saturday, on January 26, 1952 started as a demonstration against the British and resulted in riots against Jews which left 500 businesses destroyed and many Jews injured or dead.

Gamal Abdel Nasser was appointed the second President of Egypt, from 1956 until his death in 1970, and with his rule began widespread pan-Arabism and worsening conditions for the Jews.  The Suez Crisis, in 1956 was an attack on Egypt by the French, British and Israelis.  As a result, Nasser declared that the Jews were enemies of the state and the massive expulsion of the Jews continued with 25,000 Jews fleeing. Jews were given 2 days to evacuate their property, which was later confiscated by the government, and were forced to leave with one bag and no more than twenty dollars in hand.  Nearly 1,000 of those who remained in Egypt were imprisoned or tortured.  Jewish refugees who had once prospered in Egypt were left with nearly nothing.

The Six-Day war occurred in 1967 in Israel.  Again, there was an insurgence of violence toward Jews in Egypt based on ethnic cleansing ideology. During the war, all Jewish males over the age of 16 were imprisoned in interment camps or tortured and only 2,500 Jews remained in Egypt.  In the 1970’s, as a result of international pressure, Jews were given permission to leave the country.  The Jews in Egypt were among the wealthiest Jews in all of the Middle East.  In 1971 it was estimated that Jews lost $500 million in personal property, $300 million in communal religious property, and $200 million in religious artifacts.  As more and more Jews were forced out of Egypt the numbers continued to rise.

As of 2005, only 100 Jews were left in Egypt. Today there are estimates that only 5 remain.