Personal Stories
Of the 38,000 who left Libya, each one carries with them a unique collection of memories and stories that have all too often been left untold. With each passing day, another memory of Jewish life in Libya vanishes and another story is permanently lost. The rich splendor and tragic legacy of Libyan Jewry must be documented and preserved before it is too late.
JIMENA was created to preserve and share the personal stories of Jews who were compelled to flee Arab lands. Since our inception we have been documenting the personal stories, and often times painful testimonies, of Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews. Our archives are continuously growing and we are committed to continue collecting and preserving as many stories as we can.
Here you will find a sampling of personal stories from some of JIMENA’s members. If you are interested in delving further into the personal histories of Jews who fled Libya, we encourage you to contact our office as our Oral History library includes additional transcripts and video footage. We are also happy to connect you to Libyan Jews for speaking engagements, research, and/or interviews.