La Matrone: My סבתא (grandmother) was born in Nedroma, Algeria in 1928 to a family that had lived in Algeria since their expulsion from Spain. Finding life in Vichy controlled Algeria unsafe, she fled to Morocco, which retained some autonomy, in the 40’s. /1

In Morocco, she happened upon the Islamic world’s largest Jewish community. She settled in Tangier, where she met my סבא (grandfather). They eventually had 5 children, including my mother. /2

Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, Jews in Muslim countries faced increasing social and systemic oppression at the hands of their governments and unfortunately, many of their fellow citizens. This only escalated following the 6 day war in 1967. /3

They had long contemplated moving but one night, in 1969, my grandfather’s business partners attempted to murder him in the middle of the night, attempting to steal the money he had worked hard to earn. In the middle of the night, taking nothing with them, my family fled. /4

My family eventually arrived in France, where many Moroccan Jews had fled in previous years. Finding opportunities scant, they split up. Half of them went to Israel, and the other half, including my סבתא went to the US. /5

She found life in the US unbearable and alien. She was unable to speak the English and she never felt at home, feeling isolated and stripped of her culture. Eventually, she was able to join her children in Ashdod, Israel. /6

Ashdod was home to a large community of French-speaking Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian Jews. She was finally able to gain a sense of community that had been stripped from her. /7

She was the matriarch, “la matrone”, she spoke 4 languages, the only thing she knew how to say in English was “sit down” and she made the best food in the world. Her story is special but unfortunately, it is extremely common. /8

MENA Jews are often glossed over by those seeking Israel’s destruction because in a world lacking nuance and dimension, MENA Jews fleeing oppression doesn’t fit their narrative. Her story is one of many, and just like many Jews, she was able to rebuild her home in Israel. /9