JewishArab

JewishArab is a term used to describe a person who identifies with both Jewish and Arab identities, or a community that blends Jewish and Arab cultural inheritances. It can refer to Jews who originated in Arab-speaking lands—often categorized as Mizrahi or Sephardi Jews—as well as to contemporary individuals who navigate cross-ethnic heritage, language, and religious practice. The exact meaning varies among speakers and contexts.

Historically, sizable Jewish communities lived throughout the Arab world for centuries, including in Iraq, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, and Lebanon. They contributed to local culture, commerce, and scholarship, often speaking Judeo-Arabic dialects alongside Hebrew. Beginning in the mid-20th century, political upheaval, rising nationalism, and antisemitic persecution led to large-scale emigration. Many Jews from Arab lands resettled in Israel, Europe, North America, or other regions, while a small number remained in the region.

In contemporary discourse, Jewish-Arab identities appear in discussions of multiculturalism, intercommunal dialogue, and coexistence, especially within Israel and Palestinian society, as well as in diaspora communities. Some individuals emphasize shared Semitic heritage, while others maintain distinct religious or cultural practices; both coexistence and tension shape experiences of identity, memory, and belonging.

Related terms include Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, Arab Jews, Judeo-Arabic languages, and Jewish-Arab dialogue organizations. The label is not uniform and is used variably by scholars, communities, and individuals to describe heritage, self-identification, and cultural practice.