*Our Guestbook has been updated! 
New Guestbook
Comments from 2008 onwards have been added to a new section- (New Guestbook)
We will be happy to add your your comments too!!!
If you wish to contact the person who wrote a comment or if you have info that can help locate his lost friends, please contact us.
Copy of a document listing names of some of the Jews who fled Iraq in 1970
the document states that their properties have been sealed and seized.
Event in honor of Set Simha at Bar-Ilan University
Please tell us what's happening in our community!
News / Congratulations:
July 2010
*Researchers and writers remember Meir Basri- in Baghdad!
article1
article2
*Sit Simha receives Bar Ilan University's President honor certificate, Israel
for her lifelong achievements in education.
Pictures from the event
With thanks to Oded Amit (Adil Muallem) for taking the pictures
*Gilda (nee Abda) and husband from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
June 2010
*Home and Identity: Baghdad and Exile: The Dove Flyer, London- June 17
Eli Amir, Israeli author of Iraqi origin will talk about his latest translated novel
for details write to: iraqijews@yahoo.com
*Baghdad and beyond. Eight-week course on Baghdadi Jews, London
at the London School of Jewish Studies
*Video in Memory of Louise and Salman Kattan
made for the scholarship event 2010
Video
*Lily (nee Mandalawi) Shor from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the wedding of her daughter Yael
May 2010
*The Last Tango in Baghdad By Dr. Albert Khabbaza Book launch, New York- May 5
at the Babylonian Jewish Center
*Sign the petition to save Ezekiel's Shrine in Kifl
Petition
*Sylvia (nee Peress) and Fuad Musaffi from Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Layla (nee Doori) Paniri and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Carmen (nee Korine) and Jack Korine from Montreal
on the wedding of their daughter
*Yvette (nee Arab) and Adel Darwish from London
on the engagement of their son
April 2010
*Al-Arabiya TV interview with Iraqi Jews in Britain
with Niran (nee Bassoon) Timan, Elias Timan, Emile Cohen,
Daoud and Eilene (nee Dangoor) Khalastchi, Edwin Shuker
Al Arabiya
*Classic Voices of Baghdad, London- May 22
Iraqi Maqam Group, Ahmed Mukhtar and the Baghdad Ensemble
at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
for details write to: iraqijews@yahoo.com
March 2010
*The speeches at the event in honor of Sit Simha have been translated into English!
Go to Event for details
*"The Dove Flyer" - Book launch by Eli Amir at Ohel David Synagogue, London
Eli Amir's well known hebrew book has finally been translated into English
The event- under the auspices of the Ambassador of Israel.
Later, a Purim party was held with everyone playing Dossa
*Article in arabic by Linda Menuhin
article
February 2010
*Event in honor of Sit Simha at Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Details of the Event
*Memories of Bataween- study evening, Or Yehuda, Israel- Feb. 8
Lectures about the Bataween district in Baghdad
*Trip to Eilat - Israel, Februray 18
with Iraqi Jews who left in
1970-71. Includes Chalghi and other events
*Article by Linda Menuhin
article
January 2010
*Transcripts of records from Frank Iny / Shamash school!
Frank Iny/Shamash
*College of Engineering (Baghdad University) website
for the period from 1967 to 1972
Engineering
December 2009
*Nadia (Nee Muallem) and Sabah Nathan from London
on the wedding of their son David to Caryn Horowitz from South Africa
video clips from the henna and wedding
November 2009
*Baghdad Twist by Joe Balass from Montreal is now available online!
You can watch the whole film for free on the web.
Listen to Joe's mother Valentine remembering Baghdad of the 1960's,
Watch our friends dance the twist!
Baghdad Twist
*Paamei Iraq- Trip to Eilat, with option to Petra, Nov 15-19 - Eilat, Israel
Iraqi and arabic music and songs, belly dancing, documentary films,...
with Yaacov Nashawi, Yossi Bagdadi, Milo Hamama, Sabri Ashur, Gul,
Carmeli Yehezquel, Eliahu Nawi and more
*Article on Salim Al Bassoon -by Mazin Latif
Salim Al Basson (1927-1995) was a well-known journalist in Iraq.
He left Iraq in 1973. His widow is Sit Mariam from Frank Iny.
article - you can add your comments
picture
*Articles by Linda Menuhin
article 1,
article 2,
article 3,
article 4
*Nadia (Nee Muallem) and Sabah Nathan from London
on the birth of their grandson Joseph Shalom Nathan
*Saleh Shemie and wife from London
on the wedding of their daughter
*Gisele (nee Dangoor) Fattal from London
on the bar-mitzvah of her grandson,
grandson of Mirey (nee Shemtob) from Montreal, Canada
*Guilda (nee Shemoon) and Sabah Naim Shemel from New York
on the engagement of their son
October 2009
*Movie clips from everyday life Jewish Baghdad in the 1960's!!!
Clip 8
Clip 7
Clip 6
Clip 5
Clip 4
Clip 3
Clip 2
Clip 1
Among those seen in the clips (as pointed out by visitors to the website):
Hakham Sasson Khedhourie, Naji Paniri and parents of many of those listed below:
Elis and Dany Dellal, Albert Selman, Daoud and Sally Samra, Joyce Hakham, Ivy+Mayer+Nabil Rabee, Odette and Norma Ishayek, Suad and Yvonne Al Kateb, Elsie Solomon, Linda Abdul Ezeir, Lisette Shashua, Abe+David+Nabil Daly, Edna Gabbay, Sas Timan, Ronny Rashti, Vivianne Bakhash, Suad Dannous, Linda Shemtob, Charlie Shohet, William Noorallah, Vilma and Dora Dellal, Norma Aboodi, Dorit Shemie, Sami Masri, Odile Dallal.
If you can identify more people, please tell us their names and in which clip they appear.
*The forgotten Exodus-Jews from Islamic Lands, Oct 21- London
*Lily (nee Mandalawi) Shor from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the engagement of her daughter
*Rita (nee Bakhash) and Abraham Muallem from New York
on the wedding of their daughter
*Joyce (nee Lawee) Mani and husband from Israel
on the birth of their grandson and granddaughter
September 2009
*Linda Menuhin (nee Abdul Aziz)- article in the Jerusalem Post
Linda remembers the terrifying times during the late 1960's in Baghdad, and her escape
Anne Frank from Baghdad
*Grand Hillulah for the Ben Ish Hai, Sept 1- West Los Angeles
Evening of Sephardic music with a full band and Arabic singer
Piyutim with Rabbi Hagay Batzri of Kahal Joseph Synagogue,as well as food and an open bar
*Zionist Federation Israel European conference for young professionals, Sept 4-6, London
Edwin Shuker, President of Justice for Jews from Arab countries is among the speakers
*Guilda (nee Bakhash) and Shua' Mashaal from Long Island, New York
on the wedding of their son
August 2009
Poem in arabic dedicated to Linda Menuhin (nee Abdul Aziz)
by D. Jabbar Jamal AL-Din
poem
*Yvette (nee Atrakchi) and Joseph Dabby from Los Angeles
on the wedding of their daughter Nadine to Peter Beller
*Joyce (nee Hakham) and Zuheir Hakham Sasson from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
July 2009
*New section added to our website
Testimonies
We will be happy to add your testimony too! Why did you leave Iraq?
Please send us your account of what happened to you, your family or friends, in any language, and we will be happy to upload it to the website.
*Poem in arabic dedicated to Maurice Shohet
by Jabbar Jamal Al Din
Poem
*Al-Hikma University Reunion - Detroit, Michigan
Al-Hikma
*Son of the late Linda (nee Reuven Mezain) Zohar - from Israel
on his wedding
Linda
June 2009
*Conference in Cambridge, England- June 22-24
Jews of Arab Culture, 1948-2009
Speakers include Professors Shmuel Moreh and Sasson Somekh
Program
*Hilda (nee Dabby) and Saeed Hakim from Jerusalem
on the wedding of their daughter, niece of the late Sit Saeeda
*Rachel (nee Shaaya) and husband from Jerusalem
on the wedding of their daughter, granddaughter of Janet and Salim Shaaya
May 2009
*Prof Shmuel Moreh's articles in Elaph, Israel- May 19
Study evening regarding Prof. Shmuel Moreh's reminiscences of Baghdad
as published in the Elaph website
details
*Lag BaOmer at Kahal Joseph Congregation, Los Angeles
Lag BaOmer
*The Jewish Naqba
article
*Nadia (Nee Muallem) and Sabah Nathan from London
on the engagement of their son David to Caryn Horowitz from South Africa
*Saleh Shmie' and wife from London
on the engagement of their daughter
*Joyce (nee Hakham) and Zuhair Hakham Sasson from Israel
on the engagement of their daughter
April 2009
*Iraqi Jewish woman who left after 1968 gets her house in Bataween back
article in arabic
*Iraqi government refuses to compensate the Jews
article in hebrew
*Film on the Farhud, TV Arutz 1- March 30 and April 4
You can also watch it the same week on
Arutz 1
*Study day on the book- Iraq's Last Jews, Israel-April 13
about Iraq's Last Jews
*Talk by the editors of Memories of Eden, London- April 19
book by Violette Shamash
Talk with editors Tony and Mira Rocca
*Screening of the film The Jewish Refugees, NY-April 23
*Ferial (nee Shamash) and Kamal Sawdayee from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
March 2009
*Purim at Kahal Joseph Congregation, Los Angeles
Purim
*Listen to Selman Dahud Sasson on the Escape from Iraq
As interviewd by Eli Timan from London
Escape from Iraq
*Lydia (nee Abda) and Selman Sasson from Israel
on the wedding of their son
February 2009
*Watch Adel Muallem (Oded Amit) singing EleBnat
Adel Muallem
*Watch Edwin Shuker speaking at the Herzlia Conference
Jewish Refugees in Arab countries
conference
On the toolbar, click on 3/2/2009, then click on Ivcher
On the right go to the session 15:30-17:00 then click on Edwin Shuker
Click on Hebrew or English. Best seen with Internet Explorer
January 2009
*Watch Adel Muallem (Oded Amit) singing Elbohi Kentu
Adel Muallem
*Rosa (nee Shaaya) and husband from Rehovot, Israel
on the wedding of their son, grandson of Janet and Salim Shaaya
December 2008
*100th anniversary celebration of Saleh Al Kuwaity, London- Dec. 3
Films and lectures in the afternoon, followed by Chalghi in the evening
article in arabic
article by Ivy
*Tikva and Reuven Noonoo from Israel
on the birth of their grandson
November 2008
*Baghdad Memories book launch- London, Nov 20
by Ivy Vernon (nee Rabee)
the book is about our era: 1950's, 1960's and 1970's
Baghdad Memories
Picture taken at the book launch event
*Screenings of the documentary "Baghdad Twist" -London, Nov 9, 11
film by Joe Balass
for more details see August 2008
*US tour re the book Memories of Eden by Violette Shamash-November
Maryland- Nov 2, Washington- Nov 5, New York- Nov 9
by Mira Shamash and Tony Rocca
*Joyce (nee Lawee) Mani and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their son
October 2008
*New Book - Iraq's Last Jews
Stories of Daily Life, Upheaval, and Escape from Modern Babylon
by Tamar Morad, Dennis Shasha, Robert Shasha
about Iraq's Last Jews
*US tour re the book Memories of Eden by Violette Shamash-October
Los Angeles- Oct 23, New York- Oct 27, New Jersey- Oct 28
by Mira Shamash and Tony Rocca
*Stella and Yehuda Yehuda from Israel
on the wedding of their son Meir
September 2008
*Yvette (nee Atrakchi) and Joseph Dabby from Los Angeles
on the wedding of their daughter Lisa to Brian Joyce
*Tikva (nee Attar) and Sabah Shamash from London
on the bat mitzvah of their daughter
*Simha Peress and husband from Tel-Aviv
on the wedding in of their son
*Ban and Farouk Peress from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Emil Korin and wife from Israel
on the bar mitzvah of their son
*Rosa (nee Shaaya) and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Ben Zion Salman and wife from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter (or son)
Until a few years ago Ben Zion was director-general of the ministry
of transportation.
The wedding was attended by 4 israeli ministers.
*Screenings of the documentary "Baghdad Twist" -Toronto, Sep. 6, 7
filmmaker Joe Balass will attend
for details see August 2008
August 2008
*Screenings of the documentary "Baghdad Twist" -Los Angeles, August 22-28
by Joe Balass from Montreal
Baghdad Twist is a visual memoir of a family's life in Iraq until 1970, as seen through
the eyes of the filmmaker’s mother Valentine. Featuring a collection of archival images,
home movies, and family photographs from Baghdad
watch friends dancing the twist during the 1960's (at the wedding of Ferial and Sami Balass):
Baghdad Twist
about the film
for dates and place of the screenings write to: iraqijews@yahoo.com
July 2008
*Listen to Sit Simha!
as interviewd in January 2007 by Eli Timan from London.
the interview was uploaded by Eli a couple of weeks ago
Sit Semha
*Edwin Shuker and Carole Basri at a European Parliament Hearing - July 1
Among the organizers of the Hearing - European Friends of Israel, B'nai B'rith,
Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC). Edwin is co-Chair of JJAC
Picture
*Chalghi- Nadhim Al Ghazali and Fairuz songs- London, July 17
for details: iraqijews@yahoo.com
*Conference- Or-Yehuda, July 14
on the occasion of the publishing of the book on Rabbi Eliahu Nahum and Avraham Sasson families
*Conference- Or Yehuda, July 15
on the occasion of the publishing of the Sagiv arabic-hebrew-arabic dictionary by Dr. David Sagiv.
participating- Eli Amir and Salim Fattal
for details: iraqijews@yahoo.com
*Chalghi and lecture- Ramat Gan, July 17
on the occasion of the publishing of the book Perah Dodim by Shaul Haddad
greetings by Prof. Shmuel Moreh, Hafla mizrahit
for details: iraqijews@yahoo.com
June 2008
*Fourth International Congress for the Study of Babylonian Jewry- Israel, June 15-18
for full details write to: iraqijews@yahoo.com
*Halahel- Celebrating the heritage of the Jews of Iraq- London, June 22
with thanks to the Exhilarch's Foundation of Dr. Naim Dangoor
for their spnsorship of the event, and to Mr. Ghassan Cohen for providing the venue.
About
Program
Impressions from the event by Khalid Al Kastini
*Establishment of the World Organization of Jews from Iraq - London, June 23
Among the aims of the organization-asserting ownership of the Jewish Communal property in Iraq.
link
*Founding meeting of the JJAC International Council - London, June 23-25
included a hearing at the House of Lords
Among the organizations represented: World Organization of Iraqi Jewry,
Iraqi Jews of Montreal, Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
Among those elected to the Board of Directors: Gladys Daoud, Emile Fattal (Linda Daly's husband),
Linda Mnuchin, Maurice Shohet, Carole Basri, Edwin Shuker
Pictures from the Congress:
Maurice Shohet interviewed for BBC TV
Delegates (left- Maurice Shohet)
Edwin Shuker
Carole Basri
*Performance by Israeli Comedian of Iraqi Jewish origin, Kobi Pasha - Montreal
*Chalghi with Aziz Jalal, Israeli Jewish Iraqi singer- Montreal, June 30
Ahla Bl'Habayib
*Exodus from Iraq- book currently being put together
by Iraqi Jews from Canada
Send your story too.
for more details: iraqijews@yahoo.com
*Article by Aida (nee Basri) Zelouf on the Jews of Iraq
includes great pictures
Article
*Joyce (nee Lawee) Mani and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter to Eva (nee el Ani) Daloumi's son
January - May 2008
will be updated shortly
December 2007
*Maurice Shohet meets President Bush
picture
article
*Habiba (nee Sheena) Shaaya from Tel-Aviv, Israel
on the birth of her grandson, son of Dalia, in Los Angeles
Novenmber 2007
*Aziza and Saeed Darwish (Sit Serafin's nephew) from London
on the wedding of their daughter in Acre, Israel
*Yolande and Itzhaq (Riadh) Twaig from Israel
on the birth of their grandson (in Shanghai), son of Ronit and Ilan Mann
October 2007
*Leila (nee Abdou from Basrah) and Tammy Khamara from Montreal, Canada
on the engagement of their son Adel to Laurie,
daughter of
Lydia (nee Korine) and Sami Sourani from Ottawa, Canada
September 2007
*Olivia (nee Shamash) and Sabah Rashti from London
on the wedding of their daughter
*Doris (nee Sheena) and Oudi Zilkha from New York
on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter
*Arlette (nee Bakhash) and husband from California
on the wedding of their son
August 2007
*Lily (nee Intisar Khlastchi) and Yaacov Akirov from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Sabah Dabby and wife from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter to Sweiry
*Simha Peress and husband from Israel
on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter
*Rita Peress and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Nomy and Abe Daly from Montreal, Canada
on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Daniel
*Vivian (nee Muallem) and Nir (Khlef) Bechor from New York
on the wedding of their daughter Sharon to Navon Somekh,
son of Nissim and Nili Somekh from New York
July 2007
*British Health minister studied at Frank Iny School, Baghdad
He is about 47 years old today, his name at the time was Ara Wartakis Tarzian
Those who knew him, please write to us.
article
*Rina and Ygal (Wassim) Twaig from Petah Tikva, Israel
on the birth of their grandson Tamir
June 2007
*Linda (nee Abdallah Obadiah) and husband from Montreal
on the wedding of their daughter with Mr. Shiri from Los Angeles
*Ferial (nee Mussaffi) Balass and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Hanna (nee Chitayat) and husband from Shaare Tikva, Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
May 2007
*Article on Max (Fuad) Sawdayee's book "All Waiting to be Hanged"
The writer remembered the book after the hanging of
Taha Yassin Ramadan last month
Article in Haaretz
About the book
*Marina Benjamin about her book - London, May 12
Marina wrote "Last Days in Babylon: The story of the Jews of Baghdad"
*Mansour Shlayim and wife from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
April 2007
*Talk on genetic diseases of Iraqi Jews, April 15 - New York
The NYU School of Medicine and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
would like to conduct a research project to identify genetic traits to
which
Iraqi Jews are prone.
Thirty families are needed to volunteer for this project (Mother,
father
and one child). Volunteers will be asked for a blood sample.
*The Forgotten Refugees, April 17- Montreal
The film is about the mass exodus of jews from Arab Countries.
It includes
interviews with Jews from Iraq who left in the early 1970's
March 2007
*Screening of the film "The Forgotten Refugees", March 27- Montreal
February 2007
*Talk by Marina Benjamin, Feb 3- London
on her new book "the last days of Babylon"
*Condolences to the family of Yassa Twaig (Sit Yassa),
a beloved teacher at Frank Iny School,
who died in Tel-Aviv on February 15, at the age of 85
*Daisy (nee Rahmin) and Yousif Dangoor from Bat Yam, Israel
on the birth of their grandson
*Rachel (nee Bakhash) Sapir from Ramat Gan, Israel
on the birth of her granddaughter
January 2007
*Carole Basri from New York
on the wedding of her son in Jerusalem, Israel
*Vera Meir from New York
on the wedding of her daughter in Israel
*Claire (nee Shamash) and David Sasson from Rishon Le Zion, Israel
on the birth of their grandson
*
Yvette (nee Kashkoush) and Noury Maine from Rochester, NY
on the birth of their first grandson Zachary Reuven, son of
Drs. David and Rachelle Maine of Baltimore MD.
December 2006
*Saddam Hussein is executed - Dec 30, Baghdad
His death marks the end of an era- It was because of his atrocities that we were forced to escape from Iraq,
leaving our property behind. We are now dispersed all over the world, living far away from family and friends.
Many suffered enormously under his regime, lost dear loved ones or were tortured.
35 years later, the cruel man responsible for all of that is executed... arousing memories of that dark day in
january 1969 which marked the beginning of a series of executions of jews (and of non-jews) and the eventual
escape of the rest of our community, after 2000 years of living in the land of the Tigris and Euphrates.
*Copy of a document listing names of some of the Jews who fled Iraq in 1970
the document states that their properties have been sealed and seized
*Blanche Alkibir from Israel
on the wedding in Israel of her son from London
November 2006
*Maurice Shohet on getting the ASF leadership award, Nov 30- New York
Pictures from the event
*Back to Babylon, Nov 2-5, New York
2600 years of jewish life in Baghdad- Conference and Exhibition.
*The Last Jews of Baghdad, Nov 8- London
Showing of the film by Carol Basri
*Iraqi Jewry and the Farhoud, Nov 9- London
Film and discussion by Salim Fattal from Israel
*Ameera (nee Habba) and Shaul Noonoo from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Naooma (nee Noah, from Basra) Yosef and husband from Tel-Aviv, Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Yvonne (nee Khlef) and husband from Rishon Lezion, Israel
on the birth of their grandson
*Vera (nee Saeed) and Isaac Chitayat from Israel
on the birth of their grandson, son of Sandra and Avi
*Orit (nee Houda Shamash) and Moshe Sasson from Bat Yam, Israel
on the birth of their grandson Yuval, son of Ilanit and Alex Goldenstein
from Nes Zionna (Israel), and brother to Noam and Ofir
October 2006
*International Rights and Redress Campaign, Jerusalem
Forty leaders from Jewish communities from ten countries in Israel, North and
South America, Asia,
and Europe took part in an effort to register jewish
property left by refugees from Arab countries and Iran.
Among the participants: Maurice Shohet, Linda Menuhin and Edwin Shuker.
The Israeli government pledged to support and finance the worldwide registration effort.
For registration details write to us.
*Orit (nee Houda Shamash) and Moshe Sasson from Bat Yam, Israel
on the birth of their granddaughter Yaheli, daughter of Galit and
Avi Sasson from Modein (Israel)
*Hanna (nee Shabi) and Moshe Evron from Fort Loderdale, USA
on the wedding of their son Ron to Efrat. The Hina and wedding
ceremonies were held in Israel.
September 2006
*Daina Naji Saeed from London
on her wedding
*Edna (nee Gabbay) and Fouad Noonoo from London
on the birth of their grandchild
*Olivia (nee Shina) Shashoua from New York
on the birth of her grandson, son to her daughter Keren
August 2006
*Norma (nee Peress) Oved and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Rita (nee Peress) and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*Edna (nee Gabbay) and Fouad Noonoo from London
on the engagement of their son Shai
July 2006
*Al-Hikma University Reunion, Chicago
*Cruise Ship with Iraqi Jews and Chalghi, Israel
Ship leaves Haifa to ports in Turkey and Cyprus.
*Ivy (nee Shamoun) and Kamil Shashua, New York
on the wedding of Kamil's son
*Linda (nee Eliahu Masri) and Ramzi Hakim from London
on the wedding of their son in New York
June 2006
*Iraqi Music Week, London- June 19-23
Includes lectures by Yeheskel Kojaman, author of
The Maqam Music Tradition of Iraq,
Sarah Manasseh
on Music in the Iraqi-Jewish tradition, concerts and more.
*Iraqi Welfare Association, Community Gathering- London, June 4
with officials from the Iraqi Embassy in the UK
for more details click on the link
*Shoula (nee Moshe AbuThalj) and Raymond Gabbay from Montreal
on the birth of their grand-daughter, sister to Samuel,
and daughter to Paula and Gil Gabbay
*Nina (nee Rashty) and Menashe Shabi from Ramat-Gan. israel
on the birth of their grandson, grandson to Hanina and Moshe Gourji.
*Claire (nee Shamash) and Daoud Sasson from Rishon Letsion, Israel
on the wedding of their son Gil
May 2006
*Sue (nee Suad Peress) and Jamil Khazzoum from London
on the wedding of their daughter Sharon
*Rita and Sabah Peress from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*David Dabby and wife from Modiin, Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Eli Mandalawi from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on his wedding
*Carmella (nee Attar) Shashua and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Vera (nee Saeed) and Isaac Chitayat from Israel
on the birth of their grandson, son of Joy and Guy.
*Orna (nee Shemoon) and Ghassan Cohen from London
on the Bat-Mitzvah of their daughter Dina Leah
*Emil Soffer and wife from Miami, Florida
on the Bat-Mitzvah of their daughter
April 2006
*Screening of the film "The Forgotten Refugees", New York
About the mass exodus of up to one million jews from arab countries
The film opens with the personal account of the arrest and rape of
an jewish teenage girl from Iraq in 1969
*Annual Event at Khan Hadekel, Or Yehuda, Israel
Festive Dinner and Chalghi with singers Samir Abu Faris and Yaakov Nashawi,
and Iraqi comedian Kobi Pasha
from the show "Iraqi Pijama"
*Ameera (nee Haba) and Shaul Noonoo from Ramat-gan, Israel
on the engagement of their daughter
*Carmella El-Any and husband from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
March 2006
*Screening of the film "Last Jews of Baghdad" in Hartford, UK- March 19
End of an Exile, Beginning of a Journey, by Carole Basri
*Oshrat Berko (nee Suad Frayem, daughter of Lulu) from Eilat, Israel
on the wedding of her son Menashe
*Vivian (nee Muallem) and Nir (Khlef) Bechor from New York
on the engagement of their daughter Sharon to Navon Somekh,
son of Nissim and Nili Somekh from New York
*Daina Naji Saeed from London on her engagement
February 2006
*Shoula (nee Abuthalj) and Raymond Gabbay from Montreal
on the the birth of their grandson Shayne Nathaniel,
brother to Joshua, son to Rinat and Philip Murad.
*Shoula (nee Paniry) and Menashe Chitayat from London
on the birth of their first grandson
*Yvette (nee Kashi) and Joe Pein from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter Alona on Feb. 13
*Iris (nee Tefeh Ezra Muallem ) and Sami Gedalia from Israel
on the Bar Mitzva celebration of their son on Feb. 15
*the Forgotten Refugees" on Feb 5 and 7, New York
during the Sephardic film festival
*Yair Dallal- concert on Feb 9, Israel
at the Givatayim theatre
*Last Jews of Baghdad- Feb. 21, New York
"End of an Exile, Beginning of a Journey" -
Screening of the film by Carole Basri
A historical and personal journey into their world
of persecution, torture, escape and exile.
*Yair Dallal- concerts on Feb 23-26, London
Iraqi Jewish music
January 2006
*The Holocaust Museum and the Farhud- Jan 18, Washington D.C .
Maurice Shohet will discuss the need for the Holocaust Museum to mark
the 65th anniversary of the Farhud massacre, when thousands of Iraqis,
in a show of solidarity with Hitler, instigated a pogrom against Baghdad's
Jews, murdering men, women and children in their homes.
*Interview with the Late Sit Saeeda's son in Baghdad
Link to the article
*Shoula (nee Abuthalj) and Raymond Gabbay from Montreal, Canada
on the birth of their first Grand-daughter, sister to Oriel,
daughter to Hagit and Moshe Gabbay.
*Condolences to Meir Basri's family.
Meir Basri died on January 3d this week in London. He was in his nineties.
Mr. Basri was the head of the jewish community in Baghdad in the 1970's,
until he left to England.
Until recently, he hosted literary events where he was sought by
Arab and Jew alike who wished
to listen to his poetry,
historical perspective and literary contributions.
Condolences to his wife and to his daughters Nora, Aida, Mona and Farah,
and to his grandchildren.
They can feel justly proud of him.
Obituary in the Times (go to January 25, third item)
Article in ASharq-Al-Awsat
Obituary in the Scribe
December 2005
*Israelis can vote in Iraqi elections
article in the Jerusalem Post
*The Forgotten Refugees- San Francisco, Dec 12 and 13
Broadcasting Station KQED will be showing the film "the Forgotten Refugees"
a documentary about jewish refugees from arab countries.
*Rosette Moshi Gourji and Samir Tricot from Israel and London
on their wedding in Israel
*Natalie and David Tahan from London
on the birth of their son Joe, grandson of
Vera (nee Shimoun Murad) and Yusuf Attar from Israel
and of Suham and the late Yoseph Tahan
*Jeannette (nee Rahmin) Akeirov from Raanana, Israel
on the birth of her granddaughter
(grandchild of the late Nissim Akeirov)
November 2005
*By the Rivers of Babylon- Nov. 7th, London
Personal and emotive stories that will enlighten the mind and delight the senses
Recounted by Edwin Shuker and based on his life and his experiences in Iraq
*Harif - Jews from Arab Countries Week, Nov. 14-20, London
Harif is a new Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa.
Iraqi born novelist Eli Amir among the lecturers.
Film- The Forgotten Refugees.
*Tikva (nee Shohet) and Yamen Frank Yamen from New York
on the wedding of their son Arik to Michelle Blat on Nov. 12
*Eli (Noori) and Ilene Bakhash from Hod Hasharon, Israel
on the birth of their grandson
*Reouben Saleh and wife from New York
on the wedding of their daughter
October 2005
*Interview in the Jeusalem Post with Habiba (nee Hilali) Hanuka from Israel
remembering the hanging in 1969 of her late brother Naim
link to article
*Igal (nee Wassim) Twaig and Rina from Petach Tikva, Israel
on the wedding of their son Oren, grandson of Sit Yassa Twaig
and the late Salach Naim Twaig
*Dalal (nee Noonoo) and Eliahu Shamash from New York
on the wedding of their son Yigal to Caryn Koster
*Iden Sion Moussa and his wife Norma from Kfar Saba, Israel
on the wedding of their son
*Nina (nee Rashti) and Menashe Shabi from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the bar-mitzvah of their grandson
*Condolences to the family of Shaoul Hakham Sassoon,
who died in London this month.
Shaoul Hakham Sassoon, known as 'Abu Zuhair', was the son of the of the last
Chief Rabbi in Baghdad,
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri.
He wrote a book about his traumatic experience in 1968: "In The Hell of Saddam Husayn-
365 days in Kasr Al Nihaya".
A service will be held in his memory on October 30th
Article in ASharq-Al-Awsat
September 2005
*Donate to Bene Naharayim Katrina Relief Fund
Bene Naharayim Congregation from New York, in partnership with the
A. A. Society, Inc. and the Babylonian
Jewish Center sent a message
asking Iraqi Jews to donate to the hurricane victims.
for Cong. Bene Naharayim contact details write to iraqijews@yahoo.com
*Meeting of leaders of Iraqi Jewish Communities (except Israel)- Sep. 18-19, London
The purpose of the meeting is to plan a strategy to demand compensation
for lost assets from the Iraqi government
Article in the Jerusalem Post
*'2003 Return to Baghdad'- Sep. 20th, London
Speech by Edwin Shuker on his trip to Baghdad two years ago.
*Khalida (daughter of Dr. Violette Tweig) and Samir (Shahrabani-Khlastchi)
from Baghdad,
on their wedding in Amman
* Lydia (nee Abda) and Salman Sasson from Israel
on the birth of their granddaughter, daughter of Idit and Dudi Sasson
*Yousif Sheena and wife from New York
on the wedding of their son Michael to Desiree Sarraf
* Linda (nee Chitayat) and Oz Nakar from Israel
on the wedding of their son Peri
*Hilda Naji Daniel and husband from Israel
on the bar mitzvah of their son
* Viva (nee Dangoor) and Moshe Meni from Israel
on the wedding of their daughter
*David Dabby and wife from Modiin, Israel
on the birth of their grandson
*Stella Aghababa from Miami, Florida
on the wedding of her daughter in Ramat-Gan, Israel
August 2005
* Linda (Eliahou Masri) and Ramzi Hakim from London
on the engagement of their son to a girl from New York
*Nadia (nee Muallem) and Sabah Nathan from London
on the wedding of their son Simon to Diana, daughter of Aviva and Meir Fattal
*Vivian (nee Muallem) and Nir (Nazih Khleef) Bechor from New York
on the wedding (August 28th) of their daughter Sandy to
Yaron Burko from Ra'anana, Israel
July 2005
*Frank Iny School Reunion, Montreal- July 23d
Read about the reunion and see video clips and pictures
Reunion in Montreal
*Property Claims Submission Deadline- Extended!
the Iraqi Parliament voted to extend the deadline for submitting
property claims,
which expired on 30 June 2005- by another two years!
*Jews who left Iraq after 1963 eligible for Iraqi citizenship
Dual Citizenship still denied to most Iraqi-Israelis - link
Dar Al-Hayat article
*Jerusalem Post article
Iraq split on rights of Jewish minority
link
*Maurice Shohet, President of Congregation Bene Naharayim, New York
on his wedding to Ann Kort from Washington, DC on July 10th
Video Clip from the wedding
*David Dangoor and his wife meet King Abdallah in Amman
David was a part of a british jewish delegation
picture
*Samir Samra and wife from London
on the wedding of their son
*Kahraman Bassoon and husband from Petach Tikva, Israel
on the bar mitzvah of their son, grandson of Sit Mariam
*Jane Sadka and Farah May (nee Basri) Dallal are writing a book about
the last generation of Iraqi Jews.
They are seeking to contact those born between
1957 and 1963
and who left Iraq in the 1970's
to get Jane Sadka's email write to iraqijews@yahoo.com
June 2005
*Jerusalem Post article "The Iraqi Jews Dilemma" by Orly Halpern
On the Iraqi Property Claims Commission and the June 30 deadline
the article includes interviews with Sami Hilleli, Linda Mnuchin and Avraham Eini
for the full article, click here
*P.S. An Iraqi Jewish lady (from Melbourne, Australia) who read the article
offered her home
address for use to any Iraqi Jew who does not wish to give
out his current address in the claims forms.
If anyone interested, please write to us.
*Property Claims (for those who left after 1968 only) submission deadline- June 30th!
Claims should be submitted at the IPCC bureaus in Baghdad or any other city in Iraq,
or sent by mail to Geneva, Switzerland (see link below)
This month members of the Iraqi Property Claims Commission had a news conference in Baghdad where they announced that the IPCC had already received
more than 68,000 compensation claims from people who were deprived of real
property due to confiscation, control, seizure and appropriation for Iraqis who suffered after July 17,
1968 for political, religious or ethnic cleansing. So far 5422 claims had been solved.
IPCC website
Claims Forms
Procedures for persons living outside of Iraq
for more details write to: iraqijews@yahoo.com
*The Iraq Story, June 8- London
a talk by Edwin Shuker on the history of the iraqi jewish community
*An evening with Sami Michael, June 26- Tel Aviv
on his new book- pigeons in trafalgar
*Souad (nee Paniri) and husband from Modiin, Israel
on the wedding of their son
May 2005
* Iraq Property Claims Commission: No restitution of looted Jewish property
Globes article from May 16, by Itamar levin
*The Forgotten Refugees- May 1, San Francisco
A one-hour documentary covering the history and eye-witness accounts
(including of jews from Iraq) of the expulsion of
800,000 Jews from the Arab world.
*The last jews of Baghdad, May 5- New York
Q&A Session with the producers will follow the screening
*The last jews of Baghdad, May 10- Toronto
Q&A Session with the producers will follow the screening
*From Abraham to Saddam, May 16- London
with David Dangoor
*Linda (nee Shmuli) Bakkal and husband from Israel
on the marriage of their son
*Daoud Salim Dallal from Israel
on his wedding
*Janet Gahtan from Montreal
on the wedding of her daughter
April 2005
*Condolences to the family of Isaac Cohen (Ustath Ishaq),
the former principal of Frank Iny School,
who died in London at the
age of 82 after a long illness
In Memory
* Film about an iraqi jewish family- Tel Aviv, April 13
The film tells the story
of an iraqi jewish family
(emigrated to Israel in 1949) from 1915 till today.
*Amal Muallem from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the wedding of her son
*Samir Tricot and Rosette from Israel
on their engagement
March 2005
*Maurice Shohet meets President Bush! the White House, Mar 29
Maurice at the White House article and pictures
Maurice shakes hands with President Bush
*Fairwell party to Maurice Shohet, New York, Mar 27
Congregation Bene Naharayim is holding a farewell party in honor of
Maurice Shohet for his dedicated
services as president of the congregation.
Maurice moved to Washington, DC after his engagement to Ann Kort.
*Orly and Samir Izat Muallem from Ramat-Gan, Israel
on the bar-mitzvah of their son
February 2005
*Jewish property in Iraq on tv- Israel Arutz 1, Feb 28, 21:30
Mabat Sheni- on jewish property in Iraq and the possibility of compensation
*Samir and Ingrid Samra from Finchley, London
on the engagement of their daughter Joanna to Ellis Ward.
The wedding is expected to take place this summer
January 2005
*Elections in Iraq- ALL of us can vote!
Candidates for the elections
Iraq out-of-country voting program
Elections website (in arabic)
Iraqi Elections Broadcasts
An Israeli of Iraqi origin votes in Amman!
Iraqi-born Jews have mixed feelings about voting
interviewing Edwin Shuker and Neeran Bassoon
Jews of Iraqi descent follow election
interviewing Maurice Shohet and Carole Basri
*"Banking on Baghdad" by Edwin Black
The International Society for Sephardic Progress awarded Edwin Black the 2004
Dona Gracia Medal
for Best Book of The Year for his book Banking on Baghdad.
Edwin Black's work evoked widespread discussion, by both Jews and non-Jews,
about the events (farhud) that
unfolded in Iraq between the Arabs and their
partnership with Hitler, and culminated in the expulsion of 120,000 jews.
*The Silent Exodus- New York, Jan. 9 and Jan. 23
Pierre Rehov's documentary film on jewish refugees from Arab countries
*Photo Baghdad- Israel, Jan. 17
Drama- the story of a jewish Bagdadi family in the late 1940's
*Nadia (nee Muallem) and Sabah Nathan from London
on the engagement of their son Simon to Diana, daughter of Aviva and Meir Fattal
*Olivia (nee Shina) Shashoua from New York
on the engagement of her daughter
December 2004
*Shoula (nee Paniry) and Menashe Chitayat from London
on the wedding of their daughter
*Samira Samra and husband from London
on the wedding of their daughter
*Trip to Eilat - Israel, Dec. 9-12
with Iraqi Jews who left in
1970-71. Includes Chalghi and other events
November 2004
*Maurice Shohet, President of Congregation Bene Naharayim, New York
on his engagement to Ann Kort from Washington, DC
*Viva (nee Dangoor) and Moshe Meni from Israel
on the engagement of their daughter. The wedding will be in september.
*Yousef Nissim Shina and wife from New York
on the wedding of their daughter Lisa
*Cafe Baghdad- Tel-Aviv, Nov. 4
Chalghi- musical event by Kanoon Association at Susan Dallal Center
*The Forgotten Exodus- London, Nov. 4
Testimony of Jews from Arab lands, talk by Moise Rahmani.
*From Abraham to Saddam- NW Surrey, Nov. 14
Talk by Edwin Shuker.
*Ruth (nee El-Ani) and Anis Shashoua from New York
on the birth of their grandson
October 2004
*Lydia (nee Samra) and Azzouri Attar from London
on the wedding of their son. The wedding ceremony is in Berlin.
*Samir Samra and wife from London
on the weddings of two daughters.
*Eli Nakash (sit Leonie and sit Yvonne's brother) and wife from Israel
on the wedding of their son. The wedding will take place in Petach Tikva.
September 2004
*The Silent Exodus- online on your computer!
Free of charge until September 12
Pierre Rehov's film- the true story of jews from arab countries
includes testimonies of jews who lived in Iraq in the late 1960's
http://www.phyllis-chesler.com/video/pierre_rehov_films.htm
*article in Haaretz newspaper
Strong Baghdad lobby wants ties with Israel
Interview with Iraq's ambassador in Britain
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/472998.html
*Cafe Baghdad- Jerusalem, Sep. 11
Chalghi- musical event by Kanoon Association
August 2004
*Frank Iny Reunion, Israel - week of August 8th
limited to class graduates of 1970/1971 and their families.
*David Gabbay from Montreal
on his election as President of the Spanish-Portugese Synagogue.
*Lydia (nee Samra) and Azouri Attar from London
on the wedding of their daughter. The wedding ceremony is in Tel-Aviv.
*Lily (nee Al-Ani) and husband from Israel
on the bar-mitzvah of their son.
July 2004
*Frank Iny and Shamash School Reunion - New York, July 11
School anecdotes, music, culture, entertainment and dinner.
Pictures from the reunion
*Al-Hikma University Reunion - Boston, July 15
It will probably be the last reunion of Al-hikma graduates.
*Shoula (nee Moshe AbuAlthalj) and Raymond Gabbay from Montreal
on the birth of their grandsons, Joshua son of Rina and Philip Murad,
and Samuel son of Paula and Gil Gabbay
*Yvette (nee Kashkoush) and Noury G Maine from Rochester, New York
on the birth of their first granddaughter Chaya Bracha, daughter of
Lina (Maine) and Aron Spokony.
*Fouad Abboudi Abu el Jam and wife from London