5 Jews left in Egypt as pillar of Cairo’s Jewish community dies

Marcelle Haroun, 93, was the mother of current JCC president Magda Haroun. 

By World Israel News Staff 

Marcelle Haroun, one of the “pillars” of the Jewish Community of Cairo (JCC) has died at the age of 93, reports the Egyptian Watani newspaper. She was the mother of the current JCC president, Magda Haroun, it reports. She died on Saturday, according to the newspaper.

“The Jewish Community in Cairo has regretfully lost one of its pillars who will be sorely missed,” JCC Cairo posted on Facebook.

“With the passing away of Marcelle Haroun, the total number of the once-flourishing community of Jews in Egypt is down to five,” says Watani.

“Following the U.N. decision of the partition of Eretz Israel (November 1947), the Jews of Egypt became hostages of the authorities, their property was confiscated, and many were arrested. About half of the 80,000 Jews emigrated to Eretz Israel,” says the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot in Tel Aviv.

“In 1956, only about 40,000 people remained,” the museum says in its records, adding that many more Jews escaped following the 1956 war between Egypt and Israel.

“In 1967, only about 2 500 Jews had remained in Egypt. When the Six Day War broke out, all Jewish men were arrested. They were released and expelled from the country only in 1970. In 1996, only some 100 Jews were living in Egypt, in two communities, Cairo and Alexandria,” says the Museum of the Jewish People.