Jews of Egypt in the twentieth century

Why do we write about Egyptian Jews now, after their departure from Egypt six decades ago? Is it due to their close connection to their homeland Egypt psychologically, historically, and religiously, or because it relates to citizenship as a shared identity with a meaningful significance for all national ethnic groups? Were the Jews of Egypt truly Egyptian? And if they were, why did they leave their homeland? Wherever they migrated to, what did they say about Egypt? And what are their feelings towards it? Has this feeling changed over subsequent periods? Do they now feel a sense of returning to Egypt and living there? These questions and others are answered in this important book, in which the author, Dr. Mohamed Abu Al-Ghar, relied on in-depth studies published in different languages, live interviews with prominent Egyptian Jewish figures residing in Geneva, Paris, Florida, and Egypt, on Jewish documents and newspapers covering different historical periods, on the oral history of Egyptian Jews recorded and documented in various research centers, as well as on the proceedings of the Jewish community sessions from 1886 to 1961, and on the works of Egyptian Jews who emigrated to France, held prominent positions in French cultural circles, and received valuable awards. Therefore, Dr. Mohamed Abu Al-Ghar’s book is scientific, objective, and keen to critique the ideas and assumptions surrounding Egyptian Jews, and to present a fair and truthful social history of Egypt based on diversity and pluralism, and acceptance of the other. He believes that "history belongs to all of us; we know it and remember it so that we can learn lessons and take lessons from it," and that what he writes about the history of Egyptian Jews "provides a new, neutral source for us and for our children."