Sat, 4 Oct 2003 Dear friends after 11 emotionally exhausting days i am back at home in london safe and sound .Physically baghdad was but few thousands kilometers away but it feels more like i was in another world.a world we used to inhabit a long time ago and at times we tried to forget and sweep aside the memories as we busied ourselves building a new life for us and our families .a world that most of us were convinced will never see again.yet there i was on a fine september morning flying over baghdad with the Tigris in full view winding its way through the city and in its reflection i began to connect with the past and my heart started to beat loud and fast in anticipation . landing at baghdad international airport i was unable to control the tears.i cried for our ancient and noble community now spread across the world cut off its roots and in danger of disappearing within a generation or two .i cried for my father who passed away less than a month ago without the opportunity of visiting his birthplace and that of his ancestors for 2500 years . i cried for our malaab ,frank iny,our synagogues,our homes,our prophets and our legacy.i cried for those who were tortured and killed and never saw the end of saddam . i cried tears of joy and gratitude to the almighty for granting me this wish to reconnect with our roots and our history. right now i am too overwhelmed with the experience to be able to describe it coherently but i will do so in few days and will share with you pictures and stories. i am touched by the dozens of e mails i received by readers of this website . each one of them gave me pleasure and strength. i am certain many of you will do this journey over the next few years and we pray for a free and safe iraq for all its inhabitants. edwin shuker

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