Boston, Massachusetts – CAMERA on Campus is proud to announce the launch of our latest iteration of Mizrahi Stories, an educational campaign aimed at raising awareness about the rich history, vibrant culture, and struggles of Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This initiative also combats the narrative that Israel is a settler-colonial state by highlighting the diverse origins of its Jewish population, which includes Jews from the MENA region, Europe, and beyond.
The Mizrahi Stories campaign features engaging content on CAMERA on Campus’s revamped campaign website (mizrahistories.com) and social media platforms. Through personal narratives, educational videos, and informative graphics, the campaign showcases the heritage of these communities and brings attention to their displacement, integration into Israel, and ongoing contributions to Jewish and Israeli society.
For decades, the experiences of Jews from the MENA region have been underrepresented in mainstream discussions about Israel and Jewish history. Mizrahi Stories brings these narratives to the forefront, countering claims that Israel is solely a product of European migration and instead reflecting the multi-ethnic and historical reality of Jewish return to the land.
“Israel is not a settler-colonial project but rather a return home for Jews from all over the world, including many who were expelled from the Middle East and North Africa,” said Sasha Chernyak, social media manager for CAMERA on Campus “By telling the stories of these Jewish communities, we can better understand Israel’s founding and challenge misleading narratives.”
The campaign is driven by the passion of students involved with CAMERA on Campus across North America and beyond. Through on-campus events, educational panels, and social media engagement, students are sharing personal stories, curating exhibitions, and leading discussions to amplify these voices.
As part of the campaign, CAMERA on Campus is pleased to bring social media activist Adiel Cohen on tour to college campuses across North America. Adiel has gained wide acclaim as a fierce Israel advocate, weaving in his Mizrahi heritage as a Yemenite Jew, to lead conversations where he expertly tackles lies and myths about Israel and the Jewish people. On campus, Adiel will bring his unique ability to educate, to speak with students on Mizrahi heritage and reclaim the narrative on Jewish indigeneity to Israel.
“After tabling for several hours and interacting with the student body, Adiel spoke to a crowd of students and community members about his Yemeni family history and their arrival in Israel. It was wonderful to hear from such a strong speaker about firsthand experiences of a history that often goes ignored.” said Joachim Sciamma, 2024-2025 CAMERA Fellow at the University of Chicago, where our national tour kicked off on October 28.
“We are changing the conversation,” said Lexi Yaghoubi, president of Mustangs United for Israel, a CAMERA on Campus coalition group at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where Adiel is scheduled to speak on November 13th, “When people hear about the Jewish communities of Iran, Egypt, Morocco, and elsewhere—and the hardships they faced—they realize that Israel’s existence is about the survival of an indigenous people, not colonialism. This campaign makes that message clear.”