Commemorating the 1948 forced exodus of nearly a million Jews from Arab countries, Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and the Sephardic Community Program partnered with the consul general of Israel in New York to pay tribute to the rich cultural heritage of modern Jewry in Arab lands. Held on December 5, the event featured an address by Dani Dayan, consul general of Israel, and a lecture by Dr. Daniel Tsadik, associate professor of Sephardic and Iranian studies at YU.

Dr. Tsadik discussed the life and exodus of Jews in Arab lands throughout the ages. Noting the importance of remembering these Jews and the many aspects of their unique cultures, he highlighted their activities in literature, theater, cinema and sports. “There were once impressive, multifaceted, lively and creative individuals and communities that lived in Arab lands,” said Dr. Tsadik, whose research focuses on the modern history of Iran, Shi’a Islam and Iran’s religious minorities.