Introduction
The Jewish community remains one of the communities in the world that has faced many forms of injustices and atrocities. Jews also known as Jewish community is regarded as an ethno religious group of people who follow and observe Judaism traditions and customs effectively. Over the years, historians and scholars from varied disciplines have argued that Jewish community originated from Israel during the ancient time before spreading to other parts of the world. Historians also articulate that origin of the Jewish community can also be traced from patriarch lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; who are often mentioned in the Bible and in other Christian teachings. Based on the biblical teachings, it was foretold that Jewish community will be subjected to many forms of injustices for many years, but God would restore and replenish their lives by returning them to Israel; a Holy nation. This explains why Israel remains one of the states in the world with the highest number of Jews.
Statistics indicate that Jews population has increased tremendously in the last few decades. Before the eruption of World War 1 and 2, there were more than fourteen million Jews in the world. However, the number decreased steadily during the war when six million Jews were killed in Holocaust attack in Germany. A recent report released by North America Jewish Data Bank (2010) affirm that there are more than thirteen million Jews living in various parts of the world; an affirmation that Jewish population continue increasing despite the historical injustices committed to this community. The report further articulate that more than forty percent of Jewish population reside in Israel, thirty nine percent in United States and rest living in Canada, Europe and in the Middle East (Lucien 77).
History paints a clear picture on how Jewish community has suffered in the hands of many political rulers and leaders in various countries in the world, but more importantly in the Middle East region. Studies affirm that Jewish people have lived in the Middle East region for more than two thousand years ago before they migrated to Israel in 1948. Jewish community lived in the Middle East; that comprises of Arab countries such Yemen, Aden and Iraq; a small portion of North Africa and Gulf region that encompasses countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya. Majority of the people in these countries are Muslims and follow the Muslim Sheria law coupled with teachings of the Quran. Based on this fact, it preempts that Jewish community; that observed Judaism faith tradition had hard time trying to relate with Muslims who were the majority.
The question on how Jewish community was social represented in the Middle East region before establishment of Israel on 14 May 1948, raises a heated debate among historians and members of the public. A given segment of historians articulate that Jewish community was oppressed persecuted and presented as minority group in the society. On the other hand, some of the historians oppose this predisposition. The latter group believes that Jewish community was respected, valued, and well integrated in the Muslim community. Despite these varied reactions, history has strived to unravel this puzzle by providing facts and evidence that paint a clear picture on how Jewish community has suffered throughout history.
Before the establishment and declaration of Israel as a sovereign state on 14 May 1948, there were more than one million Jewish people living in most of the Arab countries in the Middle East (Donald 56). However, this number has continued to decrease over the years. Today, less than five thousand Jewish people live in Arab countries and other parts of the Middle East. Historical injustices and persecutions remains one of the factors that compelled Jewish people to migrant from Arab countries to other countries of the world.
A century before declaration of Israel state, Jewish community living in the Middle East nations had the opportunity to practice Christianity and Judaism religious practices, but after following stringent conditions formulated by Arab governments. Most of these conditions escalated Jewish sufferance, oppression, and intimidation in the society; an idea that contributed in violation of human rights. Although Jewish community had freedom of worship, Jewish men had to pay jizya, which was form of tax payable to the ruling government (Lucien 96). Any person who failed to comply with this order remained subject to sanctions. In certain instances, violators were sent to extermination camps where they were excommunicated and survivors subjected to harsh living conditions.
Jewish community lived under the Islamic rule for many years where they were regarded as a second class of citizens with limited rights and privileges. The community was restrained from owning land and other factors of production. Arab governments permitted Jewish community to operate businesses, practice Judaism religion, and acquire education, but denied them opportunities to hold government position. The same trend prevailed in the job market because Jewish people only held subordinate positions at the work place.
History point out that the Jewish community was referred by the word “dhimmis,” which showed that the community belonged in the second class of citizens because it was inferior. Dhimmis had inferior status in the society and they were deprived rights of owning firearms for defense. Arab governments formulated and enacted laws that prevented Jewish community from presenting evidence in the court of law, especially when the case involved a Muslim (Donald 85). This provision denied the Jewish community justice, as they deserved. This move also lowered peoples’ trust and loyalty towards the judicial system in the region.
Arab governments oppressed the community by introducing distinctive clothing. These policies articulated that Jewish people cloth in certain garments that distinguished them from the rest of the people. For instance, Jewish men had to wear a Jewish cap that helped in identification; an idea that created a rift between Jewish and Muslims in the region.
Political leaders in the region enacted policies that denied Jewish freedom of movement. Jews were concentrated in campus commonly referred as ghettos. Life at these campus was difficult and fully of challenges because of overcrowding, high level of insecurity, harsh living conditions and poor sanitations. Based on this fact, many Jewish died from water-borne diseases and other contagious illnesses.
Violation of human rights prevailed before and immediately after Israel became an independent state. In a similar vein, security and rights of Jews living in most of the Arab countries was affected. For instance, 7,000 Jews fled from Syria in 1947, following the enactment of anti-Jewish Pogroms by the Syrian government. In the same year, more than 100 Jew were killed through bombing in Egypt. Similar cases of injustice took place in Yemen and Aden where Muslim protestors killed more than 70 Jewish. Therefore, this is clear indication that Jewish community has been subjected to many historical injustices in the Middle East throughout history.
In conclusion, I support the assertion that Jewish community remained a vulnerable group in the Middle East before Jews moved to Israel in 1948. History articulate that the community was deprived freedom of movement, right to own land and offer evidence in the court of law, subjected to distinctive clothing, discriminatory taxes and other form of inhumane acts.
Works cited
Donald, Quataert. The Ottoman Empire 1700–1922. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.
Lucien, Gubbay. Sunlight & Shadow: The Jewish Experience in Islam. New York: Other Press, 2000. Print.
