The Jewish people have survived numerous atrocities, from slavery in Egypt, to the Spanish Inquisition, to the Farhud in Iraq and the Holocaust.  This history of struggle shows that it is necessary to stand up against hatred and evil.

Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa (JIMENA) is an organization with an important mission. JIMENA raises awareness of the plight of Jewish refugees and other minorities of Sephardic and Mizrahi origin. This past April, a JIMENA representative spoke to students at a University of Southern California event hosted by CAMERA-supported group, SC Students for Israel. The event, “Erev Edot” or “night of nations” in Hebrew, was a multicultural program that encouraged students to reflect on their ancestry and learn about the heritage of others Jews.

JIMENA’s presentation at the event was very important—in general, the Ashkenazi Jewish narrative is more commonly known, especially among American Jews.

Just as the USC students learned at Erev Edot, here are the main reasons why it is important to educate yourself about Middle Eastern and African Jewish history: