Introduction
Massoud Hayoun’s analysis sheds new light on the fate of Arab Jews in the 20th century, rejecting the myth of inevitable exile. The author argues that the exodus was not a matter of fate, but the result of colonial social engineering, European antisemitism, and aggressive nationalisms. The reader will learn how the concepts of double homelessness and the somatic archive allow us to reclaim the memory of a multicultural identity that became a "system error" within modern political structures.
The myth of inevitable exile: how the world of Arab Jews fell apart
The exodus of Jews from Arab countries was not a natural consequence of age-old hostility, but the result of colonial powers systematically weakening social bonds. Dearabization and European influence destroyed centuries of coexistence. Jewish-Arab identity became a battleground because nationalisms—both Arab and Zionist—demanded clear-cut allegiances, rendering multiculturalism a "systemic error." For the exiles, this was a tragic amputation rather than a mere migration, as they lost not only their homes but also the right to their own language and heritage.
Double homelessness: exile from the land and exile from language
In the new state of Israel, immigrants from Arab countries faced exclusion, as their culture was viewed through the lens of folklorization and civilizational backwardness. Their Arabness became a figure of the enemy, leading to a deep class-based wound. Family memory, preserved in the somatic archive—in tastes, scents, and daily rituals—became the only safe refuge from the state-sponsored myth. It is these peripheral carriers of memory, such as notebooks or old recordings, that challenge the algorithmic and colonial classification systems that fail to categorize the "Jewish Arab."
The counter-archive of memory: how to reclaim Jewish-Arab identity
Language and cinema serve as tools of resistance against assimilation. Phonetic patriotism allows for the preservation of individual sovereignty, while bootleg VHS tapes become evidence of a multi-confessional Middle East. Reclaiming this heritage is an act of decolonization that undermines political fatalism. The shared culture of daily life between Jews and Arabs exposes the falsehood of narratives regarding inevitable conflict. Hayoun’s project is crucial for a contemporary understanding of identity, as it shows that reclaiming complexity is the only path toward justice for our ancestors and a future free from imposed divisions.
Summary
History is not a dessert to be decorated according to political needs, but a foundation that demands recognition in all its messy complexity. Although empires and nationalisms drove people from their lands and languages, memory returns without a passport, ignoring borders. Saving the Jewish-Arab identity is an act of defiance against systemic degradation and proof that culture is stronger than division. Are we ready for a world where identity no longer requires us to renounce our own ghosts at the dinner table?
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