List of Jews from the Arab World - Definition and Overview

From the Arab Expansion until the late twentieth century, Jews were a significant part of the popluation of Arab countries. Many sought refuge there from persecution in Europe. Before 1948, an estimated 900,000 Jews lived in what are now Arab states. Here is a list of some prominent Jews from the Arab World, arranged by country of origin.

Algeria

• Alexandre Arcady, film director
• Yvan Attal, film director, actor (Algerian parents)
• Jacques Attali, economist, writer
• Baruj Benacerraf, immunologist, Nobel prize (1992) (Algerian mother)
• Paul Benacerraf, philosopher (Algerian mother)
• Jean Benguigui, actor
• Eric Benhamou, CEO of 3COM
• Lili Boniche, musician
• Patrick Bruel, singer, actor
• Hélène Cixous, feminist writer
• Robert Cohen, boxer: World Bantamweight Champion
• Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, physicist, Nobel prize (1997)
• Cy Curnin, lead singer of The Fixx (Jewish Algerian mother, non-Jewish father)
• Jacques Derrida, deconstructionist philosopher
• Alphonse Halimi, boxer: World Bantamweight Champion
• Roger Hanin, film actor & director
• Claude Lelouch, film director (Algerian father)
• Enrico Macias, singer
• Patrick Timsit, humorist, actor

Egypt

• Alain de Botton, writer (Egyptian father)
• Eric Hobsbawm, historian (Egyptian-born)
• Edmond Jabès, poet
• Benny Levy, author & secretary to Jean-Paul Sartre
• Ranan Lurie, political cartoonist
• Layla Murad, singer
• Claudia Roden, chef
• Haim Saban, TV producer
• Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist for New York Dolls
• Bat Ye'or, historian

Iraq

• Jack F.R. Jacob, Indian general & politician
• Elly Kadoorie, Shanghai-based businessman
• Anish Kapoor, sculptor (Iraqi mother, non-Jewish father)
• David Saul Marshall, Chief Minister of Singapore (Iraqi parents)
• Daniel Pearl, journalist (Iraqi mother)
• David & Simon Reuben, bussinesmen (Iraqi parents)
• Maurice & Charles Saatchi, advertising executives
• David Sassoon, Anglo-Indian merchant
• Alan Yentob, television executive
• Khedoury & Selim Zilkha, businessmen

Lebanon

• Edmond Safra, banker (Lebanese-born)

Morocco

• Arthur, radio and TV host
• Natacha Atlas, singer (Moroccan jewish father, non-jewish mother)
• André Azulay, advisor to Kings Hassan II and Mohammed_VI
• Baruj Benacerraf, immunologist, Nobel prize (1992) (Moroccon father)
• Paul Benacerraf, philosopher (Moroccan father)
• Emmanuelle Chriqui, actress (Moroccan parents)
• Edmond Amran El Maleh, writer
• Gad Elmaleh, humorist, actor
• Dunash ben Labrat, grammarian, poet
• Maurice Lévy, head of Publicis Groupe
• Layla Murad, singer (Moroccan father)
• Monique Powell, singer in Save Ferris (Moroccan mother)
• Sapho, singer
• Abraham Serfaty, political activist
• Mordechai Vanunu, Israeli dissident (converted to Christianity)

Sudan

• Nessim Gaon, financier

Syria

• Paula Abdul, singer (Syrian father)
• Dan Hedaya, TV actor (Syrian parents?)
• Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer (Syrian parents)
• Edmond Safra, banker (Syrian parents)
• Jerry Seinfeld, TV actor (Syrian mother)

Tunisia

• Alain Boublil, lyricist
• Michel Boujenah, actor
• Dany Brillant, singer
• Claude Challe, club impresario and DJ
• David Charvet, TV actor (Tunisian father)
• Pierre Darmon, tennis player
• Agnès Jaoui, director & actress (Tunisian parents)
• Albert Memmi, novelist & sociologist
• Raphaël Mezrahi, humorist
• Victor Young Perez, boxer: World Flyweight Champion
• Nick Valensi, guitarist for The Strokes (Tunisian father)

Yemen

• Yosefa Dahari, Israeli singer (Yemenite parents)
• Ofra Haza, Israeli singer (Yemenite parents)
• Ahinoam Nini (Noa), Israeli singer (Yemenite parents)
• Rabiah ibn Mudhar & Dhu Nuwas, kings of Himyarite

See also

• List of Jews, List of Egyptians, List of Lebanese people, List of Syrians