Figure 1.--This is part of the prosperous Lucette Lagnado family in Cairo before their decline as a result of Egypt's[ersecution of the Jews. The family finaly fled Egypt (1963). They arrived in America with $212 -- all Egyptian authorities permitted them to take out of Egypt. The father never recovered and was reduced to selling ties on the street.

Egypt was a major refuge for the Jews of the Dispora following the revolt against Rome (1st century AD). Egypt had one of the most dynamic Jewish communities in the Diaspora. After the Arab conquest Jews were tolerated to a varying degree. During the Caliphate Jews were subjected to major periods of persecution by different caliphs (9th-11th centuries). Finally the large Jewish quater in Cairo was destoyed and the Jews there murrdered in mass (1012). Conditions in Egypt varied at the whim of local rules after the destruction of the Caliphate. There were periods of relative tollerance and periods of persecution. Spain expelled Jews (1492). e Sephardi and Karaite Jews began to emigrate to Egypt, The Ottomans seized Egypt (1517). Again treatment of the Jews varied depending on the attitude of the various sultans. Ottoman rule weakened in the 19th century and local rulers began to exert indepedence. The French and British took an increasing interest in Egypt at mid-century with the construction of the Suez Canal. The numbers of Jews increased substantially after the completion of the Suez Canal (1869). The growth in commercial and trading opportunities attracted Jews from all over the Ottoman Empire as well as Italy and Greece. Jews settled in the main cities of Egypt, especially Alexandria and Cairo. Ashkenazi Jews began to arrive as Jews were targeted with pogrms in the Tsaeisr Empire (late-19th century). They were largely confined to Cairo's Darb al-Barabira quarter. Along with economic success came increasing attacks bt Muslims. There were at least six blood libel persecutions in Egyptian cities (1870-92). Egyptians were affected by European anti-Semitism. The Tsarist secret police published the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It was a forgery, but widely diseminated. Most Egytians to this day regard it as a historical document. Egyptians nationalists were influenced by the anti-British and anti-Semitic writings and broadcasts of the Grand Mufti of Jeursalem in Palestine. Both the Free Officers movement and the Muslim Broytherhood were heavily influenced by anti-Semitism. At the end of World War II (1945), there were about 80,000 Jews in Egypt. Most lived in Alexandria and Cairo. Unlike the other Jews in North Africa, the Fascists in never occupied Egypt, except for the Western Desert. Thus Egyptian Jews did not experience the NAZI Holocaust, but only because the British Eighth Army stopped the Afrika Korps at El Alamein. Many Egyptian nationists were prepared to welcome the Germans. After Israel declared independence and Arab armies attacked, Jews in Egypt were targeted (1948). Arabs carried out bomb attacks in Cairo, killing about 70 Jews. Authorities arrested prominent Jews and confiscated their property. Virtually all Jews were the explled. The population of Jewish Egyptians Jews precipitously fell from a thrivig community of 80,000 to virtually none. A handful of elderly Jews still live in Egypt.

Ancient Egypt

Revolt Against Rome (1st Century AD)

Egypt was a major refuge for the Jews of the Dispora following the revolt against Rome (1st century AD). Egypt had one of the most dynamic Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

Arab Conquest

After the Arab conquest Jews were tolerated to a varying degree. During the Caliphate Jews were subjected to major periods of persecution by different caliphs (9th-11th centuries). Finally the large Jewish quater in Cairo was destoyed and the Jews there murrdered in mass (1012). Conditions in Egypt varied at the whim of local rules after the destruction of the Caliphate. There were periods of relative tollerance and periods of persecution. Spain expelled Jews (1492). e Sephardi and Karaite Jews began to emigrate to Egypt, The Ottomans seized Egypt (1517). Again treatment of the Jews varied depending on the attitude of the various sultans. Ottoman rule weakened in the 19th century and local rulers began to exert indepedence. The French and British took an increasing interest in Egypt at mid-century with the construction of the Suez Canal. The numbers of Jews increased substantially after the completion of the Suez Canal (1869). The growth in commercial and trading opportunities attracted Jews from all over the Ottoman Empire as well as Italy and Greece. Jews settled in the main cities of Egypt, especially Alexandria and Cairo. Ashkenazi Jews began to arrive as Jews were targeted with pograms in the Tsarist Empire (late-19th century). They were largely confined to Cairo's Darb al-Barabira quarter. Along with economic success came increasing attacks bt Muslims. There were at least six blood libel persecutions in Egyptian cities (1870-92). Egyptians were affected by European anti-Semitism. The Tsarist secret police published the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It was a forgery, but widely diseminated. Most Egytians to this day regard it as a historical document.

World War II

Egyptians nationalists were influenced by the anti-British and anti-Semitic writings and broadcasts of the Grand Mufti of Jeursalem in Palestine. Both the Free Officers movement and the Muslim Broytherhood were heavily influenced by anti-Semitism. At the end of World War II (1945), there were about 80,000 Jews in Egypt. Most lived in Alexandria and Cairo. Unlike the other Jews in North Africa, the Fascists in never occupied Egypt, except for the Western Desert. Thus Egyptian Jews did not experience the NAZI Holocaust, but only because the British Eighth Army stopped the Afrika Korps at El Alamein. Many Egyptian nationists were prepared to welcome the Germans.

Persecution and Expulsion

After Israel declared independence and Arab armies attacked. Egyot had the largest Arab army and was the major force attacking Isreal. Jews in Egypt were targeted (1948). Arabs carried out bomb attacks in Cairo, killing about 70 Jews. Authorities arrested prominent Jews and confiscated their property. The situation was even worse after the Suez War (1956). Virtually all Jews were the explled. The population of Jewish Egyptians Jews precipitously fell from a thrivig community of 80,000 to virtually none. A handful of elderly Jews still live in Egypt. Egyptians not only hated Jews, but believed that the economy would benefit by expelling them. It did not.

Created: 9:54 PM 12/11/2015
Last updated: 11:10 PM 12/29/2017