Joseph Abdel Wahed and his family were expelled from Egypt in 1952 because they were Jews. Wahed was one of thousands of Jews given a "one way ticket" out of the country and forced to leave behind family, friends and personal belongings.
Despite the horror of this forced removal, little is known of what Wahed calls the Forgotten Exodus.
Fourth-year Commerce student and president of Hoos for Israel Matthew Rubin was touched by Wahed's story, printed in National Review. To bring more attention to the Forgotten Exodus, Rubin invited Wahed to share his story at the University.
Wahed will speak this evening from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Dome Room of the Rotunda.
Rubin said he thought college students would feel passionately about Wahed's story.
"I just thought it was something that would move students and compel them to tell others about the event," Rubin said.
Rubin said Wahed's uniqueness comes from his devotion to this cause.
"Even though [Egypt] is a place where he doesn't live any more, he has fond memories of the pyramids and the Nile in his homeland," Rubin said. And this is despite "the horrible condition he was left in and the feeling that his own country didn't want him."
Rubin also said he thought it was courageous of Wahed to form JIMENA, a group representing Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, in 2000 at age 65.
"It still meant so much so many years later," Rubin said.
Rubin also said that, as a refugee, Wahed is an ambassador about what needs to change.
"I am hoping his speeches will be a catalyst for countries to change their behavior and live in peace and acceptance," Rubin said.
To read more about Wahed, see http://www.jimena-justice.org/personal/personal_stories.htm.
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