Thread by @JenniBns

On November 30th Mizrahi Jews commemorate our expulsion and departure from Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
With only a suitcase and over 2000 years of history in our former lands, majority came to Israel escaping discriminations, violence and death.

Almost 1 million of Jews left Arab and Muslim countries to seek refuge and start anew in the new state of Israel. It’s only been 5 years that our plight has been officially recognized by the Israeli government. We are the sons and daughters of the Forgotten Millions.

We are those whose heritage is constantly being erased or stolen by those who forced us out of our former lands. We are also those whose heritage has been neglected by the Israeli government and the Western World. We are those who need to speak up and stand proud of our cultures.

Self-reliance. We need to share our stories: no one else is going to speak for ourselves. We, Mizrahi Jews should not let anyone speak over us whether online or offline. Majority of us happened to be Israelis and people act surprised and try to silence us for this very reason.

We need to speak up to also educate others about our past. It’s appalling to realize that in Arab and Muslim countries in general, the younger generation has little to no idea of who Mizrahi Jews are and our history in the lands they claim to be theirs solely.

Only the older generation remembers about us. And then what happens when the old generation dies ? Mostly because of their countries’ (one-sided) hate relationship against Israel, young people in Arab and Muslim countries nowadays know anything remotely Jewish.

People who advocate for coexistence in the “Middle East” but avoid mentioning MENA Jews because we don’t fit into their political agenda are not to be trusted. Same with people who post pictures online of -of course- empty synagogues and never wonder “why the Jews are gone.

It has already been said but enough with the phrase “We want our Jews back”. Some of us may want to go back but the decision is ours.
Countries that worked so hard on kicking us out in the name of a foreign conflict don’t get a say.
Also “our Jews” ?
We are no one’s property.

However what’s ours is our ancient houses, our businesses that were confiscated. Cemeteries that are still being desecrated. Our ancient artefacts put for sell on the black market everyday. And our most important property: our history, culture and memories that are being erased.

I am proud of my heritage: I am half Iraqi half Sabra. Half Babylonia, half Judea. I try my best to keep my family’s traditions and someday I’ll past them onto my children.
I hope someday I’ll be able to see my ancestors’ land and laugh with my Iraqi friends على شواطي دجلة مر.