Nehardea Magazine

Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.13, Summer 2001

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. ABRAHAM KATAN

On the 26th October 2000, the Babylonian Jewish Community in Los Angeles lost one of its finest members, Dr. Abraham Katan.
Dr. Katan was born in Baghdad on 21-9-29, the third child of ten brothers and sisters. He lived with his family in Basra from 1938 to 1951, graduated from high school and settled with them in Israel during the functioning of "Operation Ezra & Nehemya"; they lived at first in an immigrant transition camp near Haifa.
Dr. Katan was always thirsty for knowledge and a man of action. In 1956 he graduated with honors, studying chemical technology at the Technion. Three years later, in 1959, he met and fell in love with Suham, his future wife. He worked at the Ministry of Defense and completed his Master's Degree in chemical engineering in 1961. At the Ministry of Defense he developed lots of important defense technologies, some of which are still being implemented today. However, his achievements were no match for his young and ambitious spirit and in 1961 he began to study for his Doctorate at the John Hopkins University in Maryland. Soon afterwards the university recognized his talents and gave him a scholarship. In 1965, he got his Doctorate and since then he worked in his field in London, Birmingham and at the Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio. The Shell Oil Company appointed him to a few important positions, where he worked simultaneously in offices in New-York, San Francisco, California and Houston, Texas.
Out of vision and high inspiration for self-fulfillment, he moved to Miami, Florida, where he built his own chemical factory, with a branch in Jamaica. Two years later he finally moved to Los Angeles, where he invested in real estate.
In addition to his devotion to his family he was active and popular among the Babylonian Jewish Community in Los Angeles, who honored and respected him for his knowledge, gentleness, calmness and brilliant ideas. Until his death at his home in Beverly Hills, he was a member of the "Kahal Yosef" Sephardic Synagogue Committee.
In 1966, he founded an agency that supplied medical services for patients at home. His son, Allen, continues to manage this agency.
Dr. Katan left behind a wife, Suham, and two sons: David, a medical doctor and Allen, a chartered accountant. During the Shiva'a a large crowd of community members visited, to offer their condolences. His absence will be felt by the Community. May God bless his soul.

Prof. Lev Hakak, Los Angeles

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IN MEMORIAM
Dr. ABRAHAM KATAN
On the 26th October 2000, the Babylonian Jewish Community in Los Angeles lost one of its finest members, Dr. Abraham Katan. Dr. Katan was born in Baghdad on 21-9-29, the third child of ten brothers and sisters. He lived with his family in Basra from 1938 to 1951, graduated from high school and settled with them in Israel during the functioning of "Operation Ezra & Nehemya"; they lived at first in an immigrant transition camp near Haifa. Dr. Katan was always thirsty for knowledge and a man of action. In 1956 he graduated with honors, studying chemical technology at the Technion. Three years later, in 1959, he met and fell in love with Suham, his future wife. He worked at the Ministry of Defense and completed his Master's Degree in chemical engineering in 1961. At the Ministry of Defense he developed lots of important defense technologies, some of which are still being implemented today. However, his achievements were no match for his young and ambitious spirit and in 1961 he began to study for his Doctorate at the John Hopkins University in Maryland. Soon afterwards the university recognized his talents and gave him a scholarship. In 1965, he got his Doctorate and since then he worked in his field in London, Birmingham and at the Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio. The Shell Oil Company appointed him to a few important positions, where he worked simultaneously in offices in New-York, San Francisco, California and Houston, Texas. Out of vision and high inspiration for self-fulfillment, he moved to Miami, Florida, where he built his own chemical factory, with a branch in Jamaica. Two years later he finally moved to Los Angeles, where he invested in real estate. In addition to his devotion to his family he was active and popular among the Babylonian Jewish Community in Los Angeles, who honored and respected him for his knowledge, gentleness, calmness and brilliant ideas. Until his death at his home in Beverly Hills, he was a member of the "Kahal Yosef" Sephardic Synagogue Committee. In 1966, he founded an agency that supplied medical services for patients at home. His son, Allen, continues to manage this agency. Dr. Katan left behind a wife, Suham, and two sons: David, a medical doctor and Allen, a chartered accountant. During the Shiva'a a large crowd of community members visited, to offer their condolences. His absence will be felt by the Community. May God bless his soul. Prof. Lev Hakak, Los Angeles
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