THE BABYLONIAN JEWRY HERITAGE CENTER

The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center was founded in or-Yehuda in 1973.
For the purpose of memorializing the heritage of the Babylonian Jews
throug research, preservation of artefacts of historic and cultural
value pertaining to the Babylonian Jews throughout the generations.
The Center is a non-profit association whose members elect a management
headed by it's founder, Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat.

The Center engages in a wide range of activities including research,
cultural activities, as well as conventions and congresses and study
sessions. It provides material and gives advice to individuals and
institutions, colllects documents, manuscripts, books and other
publications, artefacts and photogaphs, it documents on taped recordings
and with video camera, as many aspects as possible of the life and culture
of the Babylonian Jews.

These large and varied collections are asorted, catalogued and documented
by precise scientific methodology and are available to researchers and
interested parties in Israel and abroad. The results of research on the
Babylonian Jews is made available to the public through the publication of
books and manuscripts, audio and video tapes, congresses and study dessions
and through the Center's museum that was opened in April, 1988.
This museum exhibits scenes of life in the Babylonian Jewish Community over
the past 2,700 years. This museum attracts large numbers of visitors from
all over the world and especially school children from all over Israel.

The museum is supported by a professional committee composed of public
figures, researchers, artists and museunologists. The Center is currently
undergoing the expansion of its activities to include the enlargement of
its physical space, to provide areas for additional exhibits, study rooms
and study sessions.

This center's activities serve as a hub for the Babylonian Jewish community
in Israel and abroad and is a center for research and study
concerning the Babylonian Jews.

The Center holds training sessions for teachers in coordintion with the
Ministry of Education. In addition, there are evenings of music and plays
to document the role of musicians and actors in the culture of the
Babylonian Jews.

Mr. Yigal Loushi
General Director