Arab Jews - A Forgotten Exodus

Jewish communities that have survived in Arab countries for centuries are under a new threat. In the second part of a two part series Magdi Abdelhadi tells the story of the last few thousand Jews that remain in Arab countries and how they are surviving in “hostile” territory.

Travelling to Tunisia, he visits one of the oldest and most traditional Jewish diasporas in the world, a society that has stared threats in the face for centuries and is now being endangered once again.

Following the revolution that took place in the country eighteen months ago, an alarming brand of extreme Islamism has emerged. There have been a number of Salafist demonstrations calling for death to the Jews and attacks on synagogues, which have spread fear and concern amongst this 1500 strong Jewish community.
Magdi looks at how they are coping, whether their existence is under threat and what the future now holds for them as this new Islamist threat increases.


Image shows 85 year old Lily, the chef of Mamie Lily restaurant. Her son, Jacob Lellouche, says "she is the heart and memory of Jewish cooking in Tunisia.