Yom Haplitim: Commemorating the expulsion of 1 Million Jews

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On June 23, 2014 the Knesset adopted a law which designates November 30th as an annual, national day of commemoration of about 1 million Jewish refugees who were expelled with brute force from Arab countries and Iran in the 20th century. YOM HAPLITIM

Jews had lived in the Arab lands for thousands of years, and many of their communities preceded the advent of Islam.

“But in the 20th century, with the rise of Arab nationalism and the conflict in Palestine, the new Arab regimes began a campaign of massive violations of the rights of their Jewish citizens. Arab states expropriated property of their native Jews, and denaturalized, expelled, arrested, tortured and murdered many of them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in 2014 as this law was adopted: “Today, for the first time, we are marking the exit and deportation of hundreds of thousands of Jews from Arab countries and Iran in the years following the establishment of the State of Israel. It is not for nothing that this day is marked on the day after the 29th of November. The Arab countries, which never accepted the UN declaration on the establishment of a Jewish state, compelled the Jews living in their territories to leave their homes while leaving their assets behind. In several instances, the deportations were accompanied by pogroms and violence against Jews. We have acted – and will continue to act – so that they and their claims are not forgotten.“” (quoted from press release of the PMO 2014)

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a very instructive, yet moving video about the repulsion of about 1 million Jews.

The Jewish communities of Iraq had existed for more than 2,500 years and were a cultural centre of Judaism where the Babylonian Talmud was written and compiled.

This ancient community came under attack from the Iraqi government in the wake of the establishment of Israel and was expelled, after being physically attacked with many fatalities, and their property and assets confiscated.

In this film, Aharon Abudi, tells the story of his upbringing in Iraq, and the story of his family, through the Farhud pogrom and expulsion, their absorption in Israel and a life rebuilt from the ruins.

We will remember.