When We Were Arabs

When We Were Arabs is a memoir that traces three generations of the author's Jewish Arab family across Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, and Los Angeles. Through personal histories and archival research, Massoud Hayoun reconstructs the stories of his grandparents Oscar and Daida and their life before leaving North Africa. The narrative follows the family's experience of colonialism under European powers and their later migration to the United States. Hayoun examines the erasure and preservation of Arab Jewish identity through language, food, music, and social customs maintained by his relatives. This work challenges contemporary assumptions about the divisions between Jewish and Arab identities in the modern Middle East and North Africa. By exploring his family's past, Hayoun presents a portrait of a once-flourishing Arab Jewish culture and considers what its loss means for understanding present-day conflicts and identities.

Readers found this memoir offered a fresh perspective on Arab Jewish identity and colonialism's impact on North African Jewish communities. The personal family stories resonated with many reviewers who appreciated learning about Arabness beyond typical religious and ethnic boundaries. Readers liked: - The detailed family history spanning Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco - The exploration of cultural identity before European colonialism - Historical context around Arab Jewish communities - The author's writing style and personal narrative voice Common criticisms: - Too much political commentary that overshadowed the family story - Repetitive points about colonialism - Some found the narrative structure disorganized - Several readers wanted more depth about family members' lives Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Beautiful tribute to a vanishing cultural identity, though sometimes gets lost in political messaging" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 Author Massoud Hayoun draws from recordings left by his grandmother Daida, preserving her stories of Jewish life in Egypt and Tunisia before the mass exodus of Jews from Arab lands 🌟 The book challenges the modern perception of "Arab Jews" as a contradiction, highlighting how Jews were integral to Arab culture and society for centuries before the creation of Israel 🌟 Hayoun's family spoke Arabic, French, and Judeo-Arabic at home, reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of early 20th century North African Jewish communities 🌟 The author's grandfather Oscar was a Jewish musician in Shanghai during WWII, demonstrating the far-reaching connections of Arab-Jewish diaspora communities 🌟 The book's title serves as both a personal memoir and a political statement, reclaiming an identity that has been largely erased from contemporary discussions of Middle Eastern history and politics