Nehardea Magazine

Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.15, Winter 2005/2006

BABYLONIAN JEWS IN THE DIASPORA

IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING THE HERITAGE AMONGST THE
FORMER BABYLONIAN COMMUNITY
Dr. Zvi Gabay
Former Ambassador & Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel

Last year, with the fall of Saddam Hussain's autocratic regime, the unfortunate reality of the remaining Jewish community in Iraq was revealed. The descendants of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon following the fall of the second temple, about 1300 years before the occupation of Babylon by the heirs of Muhammad Ð father of Islam, were witness to the extermination of the Diaspora, and before that to the expropriation of their possessions and spiritual assets. Without a doubt, this was a unique historical saga.

The Jews of Babylon returned to their historical homeland about 2500 years after they were exiled from it, and became a chapter in the history book of the Jewish people. Nevertheless, their spiritual legacy, which shaped the community and contributed a great deal to the preservation of the unique Jewish style in the Diaspora outside of Babylon, was still alive and well. This was the most important contribution by the Babylonian Jews, and their greatest achievement. It was due to the famous Talmudic Academies: Surah, Nehardea, Pumbeditha, and the Confederation of the Babylonian Talmud. This is how the Jews of Babylon were able to establish their communities throughout the country and beyond, and to enable it to withstand times of hardship and problems of welfare. The teaching of the Torah to their children was a holy task all parents took on themselves.

In the years 1950-1952, the majority of the community, which amounted to about 130,000 people, arrived in Israel, and the rest emigrated to the United States, Canada, England, Australia and other countries. The members of the community were able to integrate into these countries, and they achieved distinguished intellectual and economical status, and occupied central key positions in the business world.

Dr. Z. Gabay (Left) wIth Mr. A. Gabbai
in the Sephardic Synagogue, Sydney

During the course of my visits to the countries of Asia and the Pacific in the last few years, I was interested in the situation of the former Babylonians, some of whom had already arrived in Asia and Australia in the 19th Century. I visited the Babylonian communities and synagogues in India, Bombay and Culcutta; Singapore, Minamar (formerly known as Burma), Yangun (formerly known as Rangoon), Indonesia - Sorabia, China - Hong Kong and Shanghai, and in Australia - Sydney and Melborne.

Dr. Z. Gabay (Left) wIth Mr. S. Sofer,
The head of the Jewish Community, Bombay

These communities are not large and most of their members do not identify with their past. The majority of them are a part of an older age group, some of the synagogues can not maintain a Minyan (10 males for prayer), and the remnants of the Babylonian cemeteries are neglected and abandoned. In Australia Ð a land of plenty, the young generation of Babylonian descendants hardly remember any thing from their forefather's heritage, and some have even assimilated into the surrounding population.

Fortunately, the Jews living in exile these days enjoy personal security. This is a positive historical phenomenon, but also a challenging one: How to keep the Jewish heritage connection within the younger generation, and how to eliminate the destruction of the heritage which took many generations to shape, and which had become the foundation of the entire Jewish people?
The Babylonians living in Israel enjoy the existence of a heritage Center in Or-Yehuda, which does a great deal to perpetuate the heritage and strengthen the connection between the past, present and future - between fathers and sons. In addition, the Center possesses a Museum that foretells vividly the cultural and spiritual side together with the community's way of life up to their immigration to Israel. The Center serves as a magnet for visitors, youths among them, who listen and learn of their ancestor's heritage.

It is imperative that the Babylonians living in the Diaspora do their utmost as well towards the preservation of their heritage, by keeping a strong connection with Judaism and the Israeli people. In this regard, worthy efforts are being made in New York and Los Angeles - Professor Lev Hakak's book ÔBudding of Modern Hebrew Creativity in Babylon' (Research Institute of Babylonian Jewry, 2003), constitutes a great and meaningful contribution to these efforts in these communities, but it is not enough. The Babylonian Jews created a unique chapter in the history of the Israeli people, the preservation of which is most important for the coming generations.
This Jewish community, who formed the first Jewish Diaspora, had courageously maintained its religious, traditional and language survival.

Therefore, an important task stands before us, especially for the future of the next generations, as without knowing their past legacy, the future will become vague. It is important that the Babylonians living in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, Asian countries etc., will continue keeping their heritage and pass it on to their sons and grandchildren.

It is important that the community heads encourage the younger generation to visit Israel and also enjoy a tour of the Kucha Ð the reconstructed alley of a neighbourhood in ancient Baghdad, or in the Great Synagogue, which is reconstructed at the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center in Or-Yehuda.

The descendants of Babylon who live in Israel, can help a great deal with the mission of drawing the young generation closer to their heritage by encouraging their relatives to visit Israel and the Center. After all, this is the one and only heritage Center for Babylonian descendants in the world.

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BABYLONIAN JEWS IN THE DIASPORA
IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING THE HERITAGE AMONGST THE FORMER BABYLONIAN COMMUNITY Dr. Zvi Gabay Former Ambassador & Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel
Last year, with the fall of Saddam Hussain's autocratic regime, the unfortunate reality of the remaining Jewish community in Iraq was revealed. The descendants of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon following the fall of the second temple, about 1300 years before the occupation of Babylon by the heirs of Muhammad Ð father of Islam, were witness to the extermination of the Diaspora, and before that to the expropriation of their possessions and spiritual assets. Without a doubt, this was a unique historical saga. The Jews of Babylon returned to their historical homeland about 2500 years after they were exiled from it, and became a chapter in the history book of the Jewish people. Nevertheless, their spiritual legacy, which shaped the community and contributed a great deal to the preservation of the unique Jewish style in the Diaspora outside of Babylon, was still alive and well. This was the most important contribution by the Babylonian Jews, and their greatest achievement. It was due to the famous Talmudic Academies: Surah, Nehardea, Pumbeditha, and the Confederation of the Babylonian Talmud. This is how the Jews of Babylon were able to establish their communities throughout the country and beyond, and to enable it to withstand times of hardship and problems of welfare. The teaching of the Torah to their children was a holy task all parents took on themselves. In the years 1950-1952, the majority of the community, which amounted to about 130,000 people, arrived in Israel, and the rest emigrated to the United States, Canada, England, Australia and other countries. The members of the community were able to integrate into these countries, and they achieved distinguished intellectual and economical status, and occupied central key positions in the business world. Dr. Z. Gabay (Left) wIth Mr. A. Gabbai in the Sephardic Synagogue, Sydney During the course of my visits to the countries of Asia and the Pacific in the last few years, I was interested in the situation of the former Babylonians, some of whom had already arrived in Asia and Australia in the 19th Century. I visited the Babylonian communities and synagogues in India, Bombay and Culcutta; Singapore, Minamar (formerly known as Burma), Yangun (formerly known as Rangoon), Indonesia - Sorabia, China - Hong Kong and Shanghai, and in Australia - Sydney and Melborne. Dr. Z. Gabay (Left) wIth Mr. S. Sofer, The head of the Jewish Community, Bombay These communities are not large and most of their members do not identify with their past. The majority of them are a part of an older age group, some of the synagogues can not maintain a Minyan (10 males for prayer), and the remnants of the Babylonian cemeteries are neglected and abandoned. In Australia Ð a land of plenty, the young generation of Babylonian descendants hardly remember any thing from their forefather's heritage, and some have even assimilated into the surrounding population. Fortunately, the Jews living in exile these days enjoy personal security. This is a positive historical phenomenon, but also a challenging one: How to keep the Jewish heritage connection within the younger generation, and how to eliminate the destruction of the heritage which took many generations to shape, and which had become the foundation of the entire Jewish people? The Babylonians living in Israel enjoy the existence of a heritage Center in Or-Yehuda, which does a great deal to perpetuate the heritage and strengthen the connection between the past, present and future - between fathers and sons. In addition, the Center possesses a Museum that foretells vividly the cultural and spiritual side together with the community's way of life up to their immigration to Israel. The Center serves as a magnet for visitors, youths among them, who listen and learn of their ancestor's heritage. It is imperative that the Babylonians living in the Diaspora do their utmost as well towards the preservation of their heritage, by keeping a strong connection with Judaism and the Israeli people. In this regard, worthy efforts are being made in New York and Los Angeles - Professor Lev Hakak's book ÔBudding of Modern Hebrew Creativity in Babylon' (Research Institute of Babylonian Jewry, 2003), constitutes a great and meaningful contribution to these efforts in these communities, but it is not enough. The Babylonian Jews created a unique chapter in the history of the Israeli people, the preservation of which is most important for the coming generations. This Jewish community, who formed the first Jewish Diaspora, had courageously maintained its religious, traditional and language survival. Therefore, an important task stands before us, especially for the future of the next generations, as without knowing their past legacy, the future will become vague. It is important that the Babylonians living in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, Asian countries etc., will continue keeping their heritage and pass it on to their sons and grandchildren. It is important that the community heads encourage the younger generation to visit Israel and also enjoy a tour of the Kucha Ð the reconstructed alley of a neighbourhood in ancient Baghdad, or in the Great Synagogue, which is reconstructed at the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center in Or-Yehuda. The descendants of Babylon who live in Israel, can help a great deal with the mission of drawing the young generation closer to their heritage by encouraging their relatives to visit Israel and the Center. After all, this is the one and only heritage Center for Babylonian descendants in the world.
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