I always thought that the story of our community had to be studied and researched as our fathers made enormous contributions to their host country, Egypt as it was being modernised last century by the enlightened leaders of the time.

The advent of Arab nationalism saw an end to the existence of Jews who had resided there for generations. The process was cruel and violent and more than 80,000 souls had to find refuge abroad (Israel and other countries) where they had to start from nought.

Except for a few initiatives, the Jews of Egypt have no academic institution, no dedicated chair at any university, no centre, no museum and the memories are dying with the ageing of the remaining witnesses.

The story of our community is rich and glorious and it is worth studying it and conducting research to inscribe it in the family of diasporas around the world.

Media in Egypt describes our community in very negative terms. This must be corrected and there could not be a better way than by encouraging study and research by academics.

The endowment I am proposing will establish a fund which income will fund a chair, a centre and maybe a museum in perpetuity.

I encourage you to browse through this web site and discover the terms of my agreement with the University of Haifa. This University is superbly placed to run the proposed institution. It has a large number of academics specialised in the history of the Middle East and of the Jews of Arab countries. It has also an outstanding record of multiculturalism reminiscent of the tolerant and diverse society that existed in Egypt before it was forcibly dispersed and scattered around the world..

I hope you will find the contents interesting and that you will support this initiative.

Joe Barda