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There are many Jews (or were) in Syria, Baghdad and India whose roots trace back to Spain and the expulsion of Jews. Many Iraqi Jews settled in Bombay and other Indian cities, as did a number of Persian Jews. An entire community of Iraqi Jews settled in Teheran in the 1950s, while others went to New York or to Israel. The Jewish people of Syria, Baghdad and India (mainly of Iraqi origin) are not Sephardic Jewish people, but Mizrachim (Eastern) Jewish people. From a posting by Udi Cain chaikin@netvision.net.il on March 02, 2002. The Ancient Near East - The History of the Ancient Near East, Ancient Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Arabia, Cyprus, Bahrain and Western Iran The Modern Middle East at various times, Holocaust Maps and many more links Centennia
A map based guide to the history of Europe and the Middle East from the beginning of the 11th century to the present. It is a dynamic, animated historical atlas. You can watch over 9,000 border changes occur as the map reshapes itself from date to the next. This is a commercial product, but is worth looking over. The company allows a download copy to use to try out. This 'Working Model' covers the period from 1790 to 1819. This was the era of the French Revolution, the Partition of Poland and the Napoleonic wars and is free for as long as you want. MAC models are not supported for the free download.
"Locked Doors: The Seizure of Jewish Property in Arab Countries" - authored by Itamar Levin and published by Ministry of Defense Press and Praeger Publishers in 2001. In English. A review of this book can be found in the B'nai B'rith Magazine, Spring 2002 issue on page 9. The book can be purchased by using my amazon.com link to the left of this page. "My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq" - authored by Ariel Sabar and published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. The Jewish people of Syria, Baghdad and India (mainly of Iraqi origin) are not Sephardic Jewish people, but Mizrachim (Eastern) Jewish people. From a posting by Udi Cain chaikin@netvision.net.il on March 02, 2002. The Ancient Near East - The History of the Ancient Near East, Ancient Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Arabia, Cyprus, Bahrain and Western Iran The Modern Middle East at various times, Holocaust Maps and many more links
Maps Art Source International offers a selection of antique maps, prints and globes at Art Source International Afghanistan The Jewish community dates back more than 800 years. Jews were first mentioned in an Afghan document of the 7th century, which speaks of a people called Bani Israel settling in Bhor, and later, in the 12th century, famed traveler Benjamin of Tudela counted 80.000 Jews in the country. Archaeologists have found Jewish tombstones in various parts of Afghanistan. The stones offer not only the names of the deceased (in Hebrew, Aramaic and Judeo-Persian) but also their titles and status in the Jewish community. Similar tombstones were found in China, where the community was apparently founded by Jews from the Persia-Afghanistan area. The first known oleh from Afghanistan, Mula Beyamin Gul Shaoulof, settled in Jerusalem in 1892, and Jews continued to trickle in over the years. But most came to Israel after the State was established in 1948, and shortly thereafter official permission to emigrate was given. Much of the above
information was obtained from reading an excellent article in the May 2009
issue of the Orange County Jewish Life written by Nechemia Meyers who
lives Rehovot, Israel and is a syndicated columnist for many Jewish
newspapers and magazines throughout the US. In 1948, there were some 5,000 Jews living in the country, but the majority emigrated to Israel in the 1950s. Most of the remaining Jews live in Kabul where there is one synagogue. In Afghanistan
today (2009) there is only one Jew left. See and listen to his story. Herat Located in western Afghanistan. Many generations of Jews had resided here over the past 2,000 years and possibly from the period of the Babylonian Exile and the Persian conquest. Egypt Information can be found at my Africa page Iran
"From Persia to
Miami: A Journey for Survival" The Persian Jewish community is over 2,500 years old, dating back to the 6th century B.C.E., but has been dispersed to Israel, California and New York. Before the 1979 revolution, the Jewish community numbered 80,000. Today there are still about 25,000 Jews left. There are some 18,000 Jews in Tehran. There are also 20 synagogues, all of which are full during the Jewish holidays. There are also 10 Jewish schools in Tehran. Another 12,000 or so Jews live elsewhere Iran, mainly in Isfahan and Shiraz. Iran bans Jews from any correspondence with relatives in Israel, though Jews can receive incoming phone calls from Israel. Yivo's holdings include items in Judeo-Persian (Farsi in Hebrew characters). Used by the Jews of Iran for speaking and writing, including centuries-old poetry, prose and even a very early 20th century Teheran newspaper, it is barely spoken by today's modern community.
"An Unknown Episode", the history of an encounter of thousands of Polish This is an amazing true story of Jewish brotherhood and how the Iranian "The Comprehensive History of the Jews in Iran" - authored by Dr. Habib Levi and published by Mazda Publishers "Full Circle -
Escape from Baghdad and the Return" - authored by Saul Silas Fathi Hamadan (Echatana) Population in
2009 was 400,000. It is located 375 km SW of Tehran.
Scenically situated at 1870 m it has a relatively cool climate in spring and
autumn but is extremely cold in winter. Allegedly the oldest city in
Iran. Note what is said about the alleged tombs of Esther and Mordachai. Under a simple brick dome, two ancient wooden tombs lie side-by-side. One, draped in shimmering cloths is labeled "Ester" in English and Hebrew; the other, also covered in color cloth, reads "Mordekhay". There is a tiny (25) Jewish population remaining here and the Rabbi will ask you for a biro for his exotic collection. Some interesting excavations going on at Hegmataneh Hill provide a reminder of Hamadan's very ancient past Mashad - in 1736, Nader Shah, the ruler of Persia, enticed 40 Jewish families with promises of privileges and financial incentives to move to his new capital. But the Jews were confined to ghetto-like neighborhoods in the fervently Muslim city. In 1839, a pogrom incited by rumor resulted in a decree against the Jews: conversion or death. Over 200 families converted but continued to practice Judaism secretly, marrying within the community to preserve their Judaism. Although they now can practice Judaism openly, they remain a tightly knit group wherever they live today. Shiraz - had a Jewish presence and is almost 120 miles north of Hamadan. Shushan - Ester, of Purim fame, lived here. There was once a large Jewish presence Translating Services - Click Here Just in case you didn't think of it, contact a nearby university or college's foreign language department. They may offer to write letters and translate letters into English. A nominal fee is usually charged.
With this LingvoSoft smart dictionary software on your computer, you can easily switch between English and Yiddish, Farsi to English (and many other languages) for prompt translations of 400,000 words both ways! Download Free Trial now Iraq
Jews have deep roots in Iraq going back more than 2,500 years and belonged to the oldest Diaspora community, with a very strong Jewish tradition. Here was the birthplace of Abraham. Jews can date their community back at least to the First Babylonian Exile in 586 B.C.E. Some cite the even more ancient date of 732 B.C.E., when the Israelite tribes of Samaria were expelled by the Assyrians. The community never assimilated, produced great scholars, rabbis and learned books, and for some 800 years, from 200 to 1038 B.C.E., represented the intellectual center of the Jewish world, according to Lev Hakak, a professor of Jewish studies and literature at UCLA, who was born in Israel of parents who were part of the great exodus in 1951-51. In the 1940s, there was a once thriving and influential community of 130,000 Jews and today there are fewer than 50. In 1932, when Iraq gained its independence, all progress for Jews came to an abrupt and violent end. Laws were passed restricting employment for Jews, as well as where Jews could live and travel. The Baghdad Jews are not Ashkenazim (Jews from Northern and Eastern Europe) or Sephardim (descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews) but part of a third major branch of Judaism, the Mizrakhim (Middle Eastern Jews). Emigration was prohibited so many Iraqi Jews escaped through an underground Jewish community. In 1951-52, there was a great exodus of some 110,000 Iraqi Jews to Israel. Today the estimated 250,000 Israelis with Iraqi roots has become the third largest Jewish Community in Israel. Those who were left after the Six Day War in 1967 were arrested and dismissed from their jobs. Many had lived in the Beitawin district, still known as Thawrat (Torah) because of the Jews who once lived there in Baghdad. "Many Jewish people of Iraq and Kurdistan, are referring themselves as of "East of Eretz Israel" origin, and I gave the example of my father-in-law's parents, who like huge amount of people who came from Kurdistan right after the British conquered Israel, and took the surname Mizrachi because they came from East of Israel, and today we have thousands of people with the surname Mizrachi (Eastern) which was given to their ancestors in the 1920s, since they came from "East of Israel." From a posting to JewishGen by Udi Cain on 3/9/02 Iraq 1940 - Movie Clip "Searching for Baghdad: A Daughter's Journey" - authored by Adriana Davis and produced by D-Squared Media E-mail adavis@dsquaremedia.com - a story about a number of prominent Baghdadi Jews in the 1800s sailing for Southeast Asia where they established a trading empire. Carole Basri, a descendant, journeys East to discover what may have been preserved of the Iraqi Jewish essence in this documentary.
"From the Tigris to the Mississippi: My Road to Maturity" - authored by Violet Kandoory. Violet is an Iraqi Jew who now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota and tells her story from the time she was born in Baghdad in 1927 to her escape to Israel, then to Egypt and Switzerland and then to New York and finally to St. Paul, Minnesota "Jewish State, Iraqi Contributions" - an article about the Jews from Iraq and what they brought to Israel - the sounds, smells and tastes of their centuries-old culture. Authored by Loolwa Khazzom and published in Hadassah Magazine of November 2003 page 26 "Surviving Saddam - Memoirs of an Iraqi Jew from Baghdad" - the story of his escape in 1970 and life for Jews in Iraq "With Baggage from Babylon" - an article published in the November, 2003 issue of Hadassah Magazine and authored by Rahel Musleah. Page 13. Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center - although I haven't studied the site very much, there seems to be quite a bit of information about the Jews of Iraq at this site which offers an insight into the 2,700 years of Babylonian Jewish history since they were exiled from the land of Israel and until their eventual return from Iraq to their former homeland. Iraqi Jews genealogy - from Baghdad to links to family trees at http://thesite2000.virtualave.net/iraqijews/genealogy.html There is a book entitled: "Jewish Schools in Baghdad: 1832-1974; Picture Album", Hebrew-English edited by Yehuda Z. Or Yehuda, Babyl. Jew. Herit. Ct, 1996 114 pages. This information was supplied by Carol Rombro Rider CRomRider@aol.com This site is dedicated to the Jews of Iraq who left Baghdad during the 1960's and 1970's. We are dispersed all over the world: Israel, UK, USA, Canada, Holland, Australia, ... This is the place to share memories and stories and to look for lost friends. Los Angeles - There are some 3,000 Jews of Iraqi origin and descent in Los Angeles. Members of the Iraqi Jewish community, the largest such enclave in the U.S., belong to various synagogues, but the center of their religious life is Kahal Joseph, on the West Side of the city. The Sephardic congregation consists of some 400 families, most of whom have either descended from or had emigrated to India, China, Singapore and Burma in the early 1900s. Rubin Mass Ltd. P O box 990, Jerusalem 91009, Israel Telephone: 972 2 6277863 Fax 972 2 6277864 Their web site is #87126 Annals of Iraqi Jewry Melameda, Ora (ed.) Melamed, O. (ed.) $60; ETSI - Sephardi Genealogical and Historical Society - The purpose of "ETSI" is to help people interested in Jewish Genealogical and Historical Research in the Sephardi World. "ETSI's" field of study covers the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Greece, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Egypt); North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia); Spain, Portugal, Italy and Gibraltar. The study of every Sephardi community or family who lived in other regions is equally within the society's aim. Email laurphil@wanadoo.fr Sephardic Sites - Translating Services - Click Here Just in case you didn't think of it, contact a nearby university or college's foreign language department. They may offer to write letters and translate letters into English. A nominal fee is usually charged. Lebanon The Sephardic Communities of Lebanon and Lebanese Sephardim Deportees from France. Libya
ETSI - Sephardi Genealogical and Historical Society The purpose of "ETSI" is to help people interested in Jewish Genealogical and Historical Research in the Sephardi World. "ETSI's" field of study covers the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Greece, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Egypt); North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia); Spain, Portugal, Italy and Gibraltar. The study of every Sephardi community or family who lived in other regions is equally within the society's aim. Email laurphil@wanadoo.fr Libyan Sephardim Deportees from France North African Jews in Israel
Family history through the story of Simon Benzimra Syria
General Information - Syria There were about 30,000 Jews around 1948, however since the founding of Israel, the amount has dwindled to an estimate 25 Jews - all in Damascus, the capital city. It is possible to visit the country, even if you are Jewish, though if you have visited Israel in the past, and your passport is stamped by Israel, you will have difficulty unless you are willing to lie about any previous visits to Israel. The story of the beginning of Syrian Jews is that Joab, one of King David's lieutenants, started the first Jewish settlement in Syria about 3,000 years ago. More certain is the Jewish presence in Roman and Medieval times, and after the Inquisition in 1492 as Syria was then part of the Ottoman Empire. Aleppo "Jews of Aleppo: a Historical point of view" - authored by Sarina Roffe may be viewed at Issue 17 of ETSI. also a list of the pupils who attended the Alliance Israelite Universelle School of Aleppo before 1879 "Aleppo Tales" - authored by Haim Sabato and translated from the Hebrew by Philip Simpson. Published by Toby Press. The three tales told in the book are tied together by their reminiscences of Syrian Jewish life. Bosra Located south of Damascus (about a 2 hour drive), there is a magnificent Roman theatre in a near-perfect state of preservation. A large citadel was built around it several centuries later, and there are also the remains of the old Roman town along with some interesting mosques and churches. http://www.hsje.org/jews_kicked_out_of_arab_countrie.htm Damascus This city was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome and was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence. In Hebrew/Arabic it is known as Damesek. It is the capital of Syria. Even in Polish, the town name is known as Damaszek. It was apparently the surname of some Syrian Jews much as European Jews adopted similar geographic names. http://www.oldamascus.com/jews.htm ETSI
Sephardi Genealogical and Historical Society - The purpose of "ETSI" is to help people interested in Jewish Genealogical and Historical Research in the Sephardi World. "ETSI's" field of study covers the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Greece, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Egypt); North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia); Spain, Portugal, Italy and Gibraltar. The study of every Sephardi community or family who lived in other regions is equally within the society's aim. Email laurphil@wanadoo.fr Jodensavanne A synagogue still stands in this village. National Museum Located in Damascus, has on display the first complete alphabet in the world going from left to right and incised into a clay tablet. It also holds an ancient synagogue dating from the third century C. E. and transported to Damascus from Durs Europos on the upper Euphrates river. Palmyra This was a Roman city around 200 AD. It is located in the desert, about 4 hours north east of Damascus. The Arabic name is Tadmor. There is a museum and the Temple of Bel and the two tombs in the Valley of the Tombs which are open to the public. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0019_0_19508.html Sephardic Sites http://www.jewishgen.org/sephardicsig/ Syrian Jewish Community Located in Brooklyn. Translating Services - Click Here Just in case you didn't think of it, contact a nearby university or college's foreign language department. They may offer to write letters and translate letters into English. A nominal fee is usually charged. Tunisia
Most of Tunisia's Jewish population has relocated to other countries, its synagogues are thriving from international tourism. President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali authorized funds to restore these historic monuments to Tunisia's heritage. One such restored synagogue is Ghrebet El Yahud which is the oldest in North Africa (located in Le Kef's Kasbah, a small village Hara Sghira) of 120,000 where Jews once lived. None have lived here since 1984 though visitors from such countries as the United States, Europe, Lebanon and even Libya appear in the synagogue's Guest Book. Djerba - an island that is home to around 1,000 of Tunisia's 1,500 Jews. Houmi Souk, is where the Jews have small shops alongside their Muslim neighbors. The Jewish shops are distinguished by the addition of Hebrew lettering. La Goulette - located near Tunis, has a Jewish presence. Le Kef's synagogue has one of the most unusual features - a 600 year old Torah scrolls, written on sheepskin. There is also a wooden circumcision chair displayed near the entrance and black and white photos taken at various stages during the 1994 restoration. It is located in the northwestern part of Tunisia where a Muslim man named Mohamed Tlili restored the abandoned old Jewish synagogue, also called the Ghriba, because he thought it was the right thing to do. Nabeul - once had a Jewish population of nearly 1,200 Jews, a quarter of the population of the city. It is a five minute drive from the popular Mediterranean resort of Hammamet. There was once a Great Synagogue that would hold up to 400 Jews for Yom Kippur services and six smaller shuls were also filled. Currently, there are about four Jewish families Yemen As of January, 2009, there are approximately 280 Jews remaining in Yemen. Another source counts 400 Jews. Raida - a northern city that has some Jews
Information about Yemenite Jews - The Last Jews of Yemen - an audio
Secret
Mission Rescues Yemen's Jew more to come ....
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