The Jewish community of Egypt which ten years ago numbered 66, 000 men and women is currently down to 13, 000 or 14, 000 concentrated in Cairo and Alexandria and communities of Jews in the smaller cities and towns of Egypt no longer exist, Chief Rabbi Haim Nahoum of Egypt told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Rabbi Nahoum made his statements in an interview with Mrs. Tullia Zevi, JTA correspondent in Rome, who was one of the journalists to accompany Italian Premier Amintore Fanfani on a five-day visit of state to the United Arab Republic. Mrs. Zevi also interviewed the Jerusalem ex-Mufti and the Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt.
Rabbi Nahoum, who expressed regret and concern over the economic discrimination suffered by Egyptian Jewry, asserted that “real religious persecution does not exist in Egypt. Jews are free to celebrate their festivals, “he continued.” For Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the government sends an official representative to the services.
“When the chief of a foreign state arrives in Egypt, the Chief Rabbi is invited to official receptions like the leaders of other religious groups, ” the Chief Rabbi reported. “At official dinners special kosher food is prepared for the Chief Rabbi.”
CHIEF RABBI NAHOUM CONVEYS MESSAGE TO THE JEWS OF THE WORLD
Turning to a discussion of the hardships suffered by Jews in Egypt as a result of economic deprivation. Rabbi Nahoum said that the “tragedy” of Egyptian Jewry is that the young people, for whom it is practically impossible to find work, must emigrate. The older generation, left behind, finds itself in an extremely difficult economic situation.
The Chief Rabbi asked the JTA correspondent to transmit the following message to the Jews of the world:
“I wish for peace between nations and men. The progress of science has decreased physical distances, but has separated hearts. Love is necessary so that hearts may come closer again. I have hope, because every religious man who has faith in God and confidence in himself must be optimistic. Let us hope that everything will become normal again. I am convinced that there will always be Jewish communities in Egypt.”
Other leaders of Egypt’s Jewish communities, with whom Mrs. Zevi spoke, expressed greater apprehension over the continuation of Jewish community life in Egypt and advocated greater economic and spiritual assistance by Jewish organizations. They revealed that most Jews in Egypt are now living out their savings since more than 80 percent of them have lost their jobs. They expressed the hope that representatives of Jewish organizations would visit Egypt soon to learn the desperate economic situation of Egyptian Jewish institutions.
PAPAL NUNCIO IS PESSIMISTIC ON SETTLEMENT OF ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT
Monsignor Oddi, the Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt, in his interview with the JTA correspondent, was pessimistic about the possibility of a solution of the Arab-Israel conflict in the near future. He acknowledged Israel’s eagerness to reach an agreement while, at the same time, the Arabs are delaying until they can grow stronger vis-a-vis Israel.
The Vatican’s representative also expressed the view that a decision over the status of the Holy Places in Palestine must also await developments. He expressed deep concern over Soviet infiltration of Egypt, but advised the West to be cautious in criticizing President Nasser. In his opinion, the Apostolic Nuncio continued, Arab aspirations toward unity are legitimate and “I do not see who could do better for Egypt than Nasser.”
The ex-Multi of Jerusalem, who collaborated with Hitler, told the JTA correspondent that the only possibility of reaching a solution of the conflicts in the Middle East is “to give the cause of Palestine complete justice.” He added: “Imperialist and Zionist aggressions must be prevented. Palestine is a part of the Arab countries and must live like the others. It is impossible to accept the present situation which the Zionists have created in Palestine. The Jews must go and all the (Arab) refugees must return to their homes.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
