Egyptian Jewry and Zionism

A: Jewish schools: Jewish schools were financed by the Jewish community. Some schools followed the French syllabus. Some schools provided meals, had a small synagogue for the pupils, and a sports club open to all Jewish children. The pupils belonged mainly to the lower and middle classes. Rich Jews usually preferred to send their children to non-Jewish schools. There were no tuition fees for needy children; social equality was achieved by wearing uniforms; twice a year the pupils received clothes and shoes. Girls learned separately from boys. Avraham describes the school day - studies and meals and optional lessons. Students learned Hebrew, French, Arabic and English. Some of the Hebrew teachers came from Palestine; local male teachers were sent to a yeshiva in Rhodes where they trained as Hebrew teachers. In non-Jewish schools, students could choose to study Hebrew. There were Hebrew newspapers for children. During 1947/8 Avraham taught Hebrew and Jewish history in the Menashe school, and Hebrew and Arabic in another school. From 1946 non-Jewish children went to the Jewish community school which slowly lost its independence. Avraham then talks about the emissaries from Palestine and the local instructors that worked within Hechalutz Hatzair, mentioning names and activities. One important subject for talks and discussions was socialism and the synthesis between universal socialism and Zionism. ; They discussed the books of many prominent Jewish philosophers including Moshe Hess, Leon Pinsker, Theodor Herzl, Max Nordau, Dov Ber Borochov, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, and studied critically the theories of Vladimir Lenin and Josef Stalin, thus developing a liberal socialism. After the assassination of Lord Moyne, all the Israeli emissaries returned briefly to Palestine, returning with "new" names. Meanwhile the local instructors continued the work; they received new and updated material from Palestine. Different views were amicably debated. ; B: Jewish youth movements in Alexandria: When Avraham was 14, he and his friends established a Jewish library. Knowing what was happening to the Jews of Europe during World War II, he decided that he had to be active. Zionist youth movements were then being organized by emissaries (Akiva Eiger and Rafael Recanati) and soldiers from Palestine. Aged 18 he joined Hechalutz Hatzair in Alexandria. His older brother had gone to Palestine for the Maccabiah and settled there. That influenced Avraham's decision. He describes in detail the composition and activities within Hachalutz Hatzair in Alexandria. Although the Jewish community in Egypt was made up of people from very different origins, it grew into a very homogeneous community.