Nehardea Magazine

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

Ceremony to unveil the plaque
from Mordechay Ben-Porat Boulevard

Among the hundreds who participated in the ceremony of unveiling the plaque of the Mordechai Ben-Porat Boulevard as well as that of Heritage Square, which took place in the spacious yard of the Center, there were many guests from outside the city. Advocate Yitzhak Bokhobza, Mayor of Or-Yehuda said: "The first mayor of Or-Yehuda salutes the first Head of the Regional Council of Or-Yehuda, Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat, who built the city from scratch in the years 1955-1969". He added that Mr. Ben-Porat worked hard to mould, shape and consolidate the heritage of the Israeli people and was the major promoter of Operation Ezra & Nehemia. Mr. Ben-Porat was quite moved at the unexpected surprise that was sprung on him. He could not hide his emotions in his responses to the congratulatory speeches. He added "We in Or-Yehuda, then, were the first to build kindergartens for the 3&4 year-old children and the first to arrange transport for our youth to distant high schools." "The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center is a cultural jewel and the symbol of Or-Yehuda. Among 260,000 citizens who visited the Center, there were 110,000 pupils. This is an achievement of which we are all proud, since this Center succeeded in preserving and imparting 2,600 years of history extending from Israel to Babylon, and to future generations." Mr. Ben-Porat expressed his gratitude to the Mayor of Or-Yehuda, the City Council and all their guests for the honor extended to him.
The ceremony included the unveiling of a scale model of Heritage Square. The model was created and donated by the artist Yitzhak Hayik. The scale model shows an Ark of the Law in the Grand Synagogue in Baghdad, crowned with the symbol of the State of Israel and with quotations from the book of Yehezkel engraved on its four wings.

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Ceremony to unveil the plaque from Mordechay Ben-Porat Boulevard
Among the hundreds who participated in the ceremony of unveiling the plaque of the Mordechai Ben-Porat Boulevard as well as that of Heritage Square, which took place in the spacious yard of the Center, there were many guests from outside the city. Advocate Yitzhak Bokhobza, Mayor of Or-Yehuda said: "The first mayor of Or-Yehuda salutes the first Head of the Regional Council of Or-Yehuda, Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat, who built the city from scratch in the years 1955-1969". He added that Mr. Ben-Porat worked hard to mould, shape and consolidate the heritage of the Israeli people and was the major promoter of Operation Ezra & Nehemia. Mr. Ben-Porat was quite moved at the unexpected surprise that was sprung on him. He could not hide his emotions in his responses to the congratulatory speeches. He added "We in Or-Yehuda, then, were the first to build kindergartens for the 3&4 year-old children and the first to arrange transport for our youth to distant high schools." "The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center is a cultural jewel and the symbol of Or-Yehuda. Among 260,000 citizens who visited the Center, there were 110,000 pupils. This is an achievement of which we are all proud, since this Center succeeded in preserving and imparting 2,600 years of history extending from Israel to Babylon, and to future generations." Mr. Ben-Porat expressed his gratitude to the Mayor of Or-Yehuda, the City Council and all their guests for the honor extended to him. The ceremony included the unveiling of a scale model of Heritage Square. The model was created and donated by the artist Yitzhak Hayik. The scale model shows an Ark of the Law in the Grand Synagogue in Baghdad, crowned with the symbol of the State of Israel and with quotations from the book of Yehezkel engraved on its four wings.
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