News and Events form our Communities
Iraqi Experience Weekend
A weekend featuring the Jews of Iraq was organized at the Shearit Israel Congregation in Manhattan on January 22-24, 1999. The busy weekend included a number of lectures and presentations, concerning both the Iraqi Jewish heritage and history and personal stories; Shabbat services beginning with Shabat evening prayers; Iraqi style food throughout the event and an "Iraqi Cabaret"evening featuring music (Chalghi) , singing and Shesh Besh games. the weekend concluded simboically with a presentation of a video telling the story of the 54 Jews remaining in Iraq today, titled "May God Protect Them".
A Memorial Evening in London
The Sepharadic Congregation in London, "Sha’ar Shamayim", has conducted a memorial service, marking the 30th anniversary of Iraqi Jews executed in Baghdad in 1969. The evening took place on January 1999, in the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue. The service included Hashkabah prayer, Psalm reading and candle lighting for the 9 Iraqi-Jews excuted in Baghdad on 27 January 1969.
Hong Kong Jewry - a New Publication
The Jewish Historical Society of Hong Kong recently published a new resource book: A Resource Guide on The Social History of Hong Kong Jewry by Dr. Caroline B. Pluss, The Hong Kong Society’s research Fellow. Dr. Pluss has conducted an extensive research in an effort to locate all the existing resources on the under-researched subject of Hong Kong Jewry.
A Gala Evening in L.A.
The Babylonian Jews of Los Angeles assembeled on June 6, 1999 in a Gala evening for the benefit of the Babylonian Jewry Hertage Center in Israel. Mordechai Ben-Porat, the Center’s Chairman, was an honorary guest in the evening. The distinguished guests, introduced by Mr. Victor Ozair, also included Rabbi Ben Zaken, Rabbi Hillel Ben Chimol, Hazan Sason Ezra and three Iraqi origin consuls from the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles.
The evening was organized by Prof. Lev Hakak, the editor of the Los Angeles Jewry Journal Yosef Hayim.