Algeria 1962: In a Few Months, the Jewish World Disappeared
Algeria 1962: In just a few months, the Jewish community disappeared. In only a few months in 1962, one of the world's oldest Jewish communities — nearly 130,000 strong, with roots going back 2,700 years…
Assessment
The piece examines the abrupt end of a Jewish community in Algeria that had existed for millennia. It highlights how a population of nearly 130,000 vanished within months in 1962, a rapid dissolution tied to the end of French colonial rule. The text points to the community's ancient roots and its complex history under both Muslim and French governance. The key question is what specific events or pressures in 1962 caused this total demographic collapse, a story that remains a stark chapter in modern Jewish history.