Congress Moves to Recognize November 30th as 'Jewish Refugee Day' to Commemorate 900,000 Exiled Post-1948

This resolution officially recognizes November 30th as "Yom Haplitim," or Jewish Refugee Day. The core purpose is to commemorate the approximately 900,000 Jewish people who were exiled or forced to flee from Arab nations and North Africa following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. This is a purely commemorative measure, establishing a day of recognition and calling for specific educational efforts.

The History Behind the Date

For most people, the immediate post-WWII and post-1948 period is associated with the establishment of Israel, but this resolution highlights a less-discussed demographic shift. It formally acknowledges that Jewish communities had lived continuously in places like Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, and Morocco for over 2,500 years, contributing significantly to those countries. The resolution states that these communities were forced out following the rise of political tensions and conflict, marking a major uprooting of ancient populations. Many of these refugees eventually found their way to Israel, where they became citizens and an "indispensable part" of the society, while others migrated to the U.S.

What This Means for Education and Policy

Since this is a resolution, it doesn't create new laws or allocate funding, but it sends a strong signal about historical recognition and policy focus. The text specifically calls for educational efforts across the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa to teach the history of this forced displacement and exile. For educators, this could mean integrating this specific historical event into curriculum discussions about post-colonial history, refugee crises, and Middle Eastern conflicts, adding depth to existing lessons.

Beyond education, the resolution takes a firm stance by condemning antisemitism in all its forms and supporting efforts to safeguard the well-being of the Jewish people against current and future threats. It also explicitly affirms Congress’s continued support for the security of the State of Israel and the Jewish people globally. While this doesn't change current foreign policy, it formally reiterates these commitments, aligning the U.S. government with the historical narrative of the Jewish exile from Arab nations.