Only 2,500 Jews Left in Egypt; Expulsion of Stateless Jews Reported

The ancient and once flourishing Jewish community in Egypt, which today numbers about 2,500, is being further diminished under the effects of a new harassment technique, according to a report received here by the American Jewish Committee.

During the past three months, the report states on the basis of interviews with recent arrivals in Paris as well as with relief agency officials, about 150 Jews left Egypt. Some were expelled, others apparently were affected psychologically by these expulsions and decided to leave, still others had planned to leave for some time but only recently were able to acquire shipping space, always in short supply over the summer months. Of those who left, about 100 have come through France.

Of the 2,500 Jews remaining in Egypt–1,800 in Cairo, the balance in Alexandria–the majority are either stateless or of foreign nationality and so require residence cards. The new technique of the Egyptian Government involves the expulsion of those Jews who are both stateless and have properties under sequestration. As a stateless person seeks renewal of his residence permit, the expulsion order follows.

Papers given to expelled Jews under the new technique have differed from those usually carried by Jews who decide to leave Egypt. The usual documents simply say that the bearer cannot return to Egypt. Expellees’ papers are now carrying a stamp reading, “Must leave Egypt by…” with a reference to a specific date. At first some of the persons expelled were placed under house arrest and escorted to the pier because they could not get booking prior to the deadline imposed for departure. With the easing of the shipping shortage, this is no longer necessary.

COMMUNITY PROPERTIES UNAFFECTED; INDIVIDUAL JEWS LIVE IN FEAR

Recent arrivals from Egypt have confirmed to AJC officials in Paris that known patterns of Egyptian attitudes toward Jews are continuing. According to these arrivals, there is no popular feeling against Jews despite diatribes against Israel both by the Government and the Arab League. Nor, the report continues, have Jewish community properties in Egypt been affected in recent years. In Alexandria, for example, when the Jewish community sold its hospital to the Government several years ago for nearly $250,000, this sum was turned over to the Jewish communal authorities.

The Alexandria community continues to own apartment buildings and other real estate. It maintains a Jewish old-age home with 50 places that are generally filled; a refuge with 30 rooms for those without the means to rent lodgings; and title is retained to modern school buildings, built originally to accommodate 2,000 students, as well as to synagogues and grounds.

The number of synagogues is too large today for the size of the Jewish community but daily services are held in them, in rotation, so that no question of abandonment should arise. Only 37 Jewish children attend school in the buildings, along with 600 Moslem children, with teachers and a director furnished by the Ministry of Education, with only one Jewish religious teacher in attendance. But the community is willing to meet a deficit of several thousand dollars a year, in order to assure retaining title to the school, which abuts the ground of the main synagogue.

“The pressure on Jews is as individuals,” the AJC report points out. In addition to expulsion, other harassments exist: government bodies and many nationalized industries will not hire Jews while private employers are afraid to Jewish businessmen live in constant fear that their businesses will be sequestered; businessmen having to deal with the authorities–and all do–must use an Arab intermediary.

The older Jews, the report continues, seem to wish to live out their lives in the land and surroundings to which they are accustomed. But while there is no discrimination reported against Jews in schools and universities, and Jews can apply for business licenses and gain entry into the liberal professions, the feeling among Jewish youth is that there is no future for them in Egypt. They can be expected to leave at what they consider the most favorable moment, the report states.