Personal Stories

Egyptian Jews and their descendants share memories of Cairo and Alexandria, the upheaval of 1956, and the new lives they built in Israel, France, the United States, and beyond.

Written Narratives

Egyptian Oral History Collection

In their own words

Oral Histories from Egypt

JIMENA has recorded the memories of Jews from across the Middle East and North Africa. These interviews with Jews from Egypt tell of the communities they grew up in and the journeys that followed.

Remy Pessah

Cairo. Jewish women in Egypt after the 1967 war.

Rachel Wahba

Born in India to Egyptian and Iraqi Jewish refugees. Years as a stateless refugee.

Mark Levy

Alexandria. The riots after 1948 and Israel's transit camps.

Joe Pessah

The ancient community of Egypt and its expulsion.

Henriette Eshkenazi

Khartoum and Cairo. Staying on after most Jews had fled.

Bill Moran

A hidden Jewish identity and the internment of Jews in 1967.

Albert Bivas

Cairo, 1941. Leaving for France in 1956.

Watch the oral histories from Egypt →

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Timeline of Jewish Presence

View chronological details of Jewish life and presence in Egypt.

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Personal Stories

Hear firsthand accounts of Jewish life in Egypt, including memories of family, community, and the journey into exile.

Photos

See the people, synagogues, and neighborhoods of Jewish Egypt, from Cairo's old Jewish quarter to cosmopolitan Alexandria.

Food

Discover traditional Egyptian Jewish recipes, from ful medames to Passover charoset made with dates.

Videos

Watch talks, interviews, and programs on the history and heritage of Egypt's Jews.

Music

Discover the Egyptian Jewish singers and composers who helped shape twentieth century Arabic music.

Relevant Articles

Read scholarship, journalism, and personal essays on the history, culture, and rights of Egypt's Jews.

Bibliography

Explore books, scholarly works, and memoirs documenting the history and heritage of Egyptian Jews.