Commemoration held for Jews expelled from Muslim countries

For the second time, a special commemoration was held for Jews who were exiled from Muslim regimes after Israel declared independence in 1948:

Israel officially commemorated the tragic persecution and forced expulsion of almost one million Arab and Iranian Jews from their homes and countries of origin starting in 1948, after Israel declared independence as a Jewish state.

Israel held, for the second time in its history, an official commemoration for the Jews expelled from Arab countries and Iran in the years surrounding the Zionist initiative in Israel and after the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948.

Nearly 80 years ago, Arab countries began the exile of what would amount to 850,000 Jews, some from communities that existed for 3,000 years. The story was silenced by the world. Nearly 50 percent of the Jewish refugees made their home in the State of Israel.

Thousands attended the official commemoration event in Jerusalem on Monday. The event, titled “Longing for Home,” began with a moment of silence for Jews killed in pogroms in Arab countries and Iran.

Amazingly enough, the event was held even at the UN, which is surprising, given that none of the Muslim autocracies there have a care in the world about the fate of Jews who once lived in their lands. The WJC also hosted the event.