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Jewish communities in North Africa and the Middle East have deep-rooted histories that intertwine with those of the local populations and the peoples who passed through these regions over the centuries. In modern times, Jewish life on the southern shores of the Mediterranean has been profoundly affected by European imperialism, world wars, and political and military tensions. The growing instability that characterized the second half of the twentieth century led many Jews to leave their countries of origin. Some found a new home in Italy, contributing to the diversification and enrichment of the local Jewish community.

Chiara Renzo

Throughout the twentieth century, Italy played a strategic role in Jewish migratory processes, gradually transforming from a place of transit into a space of stable settlement. Initial migrations—limited in scope and driven by economic and geopolitical factors—intensified with the rise of totalitarian regimes and racial persecutions. The postwar period marked a turning point: thousands of Jewish refugees passed through the country, which became a logistical base for clandestine aliyah to Mandatory Palestine. From the 1950s onward, new migratory waves from North Africa and the Middle East profoundly reshaped the composition of Italian Jewry.

Dario Miccoli

The origins of the Jewish community in Egypt date back to antiquity and extend into modern times. During the Ottoman period, the Jewish presence was primarily concentrated in Cairo and the Nile Delta. Later, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the British rule led to a significant increase in the Jewish population, with migrants arriving mainly from the Ottoman Empire and across Europe. In the twentieth century, the Egyptian Jewish community thrived both economically and socially, contributing to the country’s cultural and commercial life. However, the rise of Egyptian nationalism and tensions related to the creation of Israel resulted in mass emigration, particularly after the Free Officers’ Revolution in 1952 and the Suez Crisis in 1956. Today, the Jewish community in Egypt is nearly extinct, but its cultural legacy endures through the diaspora and works that preserve the memory of Jewish life in Egypt.

Paolo Zanini

For centuries, Italy has served as a point of reference—cultural, political, and often even legal—for Jewish communities across the Mediterranean. From Livornese merchants in Ottoman ports to the spread of European citizenships, and up to the “Sephardic policy” of the early twentieth century, there emerges a web of affiliations and influences in which Italy engaged with the growing French hegemony and British strategies. These ties, layered over time, prepared the ground for the migratory movements of the twentieth century, which brought Jewish groups to Italy from the Balkans, the Levant, and North Africa.

Martino Oppizzi

The Jewish presence in Tunisia dates back to the second century BCE, with historical records highlighting the Jews’ integration into Islamic society and their significant role in trade and craftsmanship. In the eighteenth century, the arrival of Iberian Jews from Livorno divided the community into two groups: the Twansa (Tunisian Jews) and the Grana (Jews of Livornese origin, who enjoyed greater privileges). During the French protectorate (1881–1956), Tunisian Jews experienced significant social progress, gaining access to new professions and modern education. However, mass emigration began after World War II, spurred by the creation of the State of Israel and Tunisian independence. Today, the Tunisian Jewish diaspora is primarily concentrated in France and Israel, with a reduced presence in their country of origin. Despite this dispersion, the community preserves a rich cultural heritage, evident in its language, music, and cuisine. Although relations with the Muslim population are generally peaceful, occasional terrorist attacks have sometimes strained coexistence.