Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.16, Spring  2008


 

 Mordechai Ben-Porat:

AZIZA BAHER

 

 

 

A large crowd attended the funeral of Aziza Baher (Twena) on Friday, August 17, 2007. She was loved by all the friends and acquaintances who had accompanied her throughout her life, since she came to Israel in “Operation Ezra and Nehemiah”, while she lived and worked in the “ma’bara” (transit camp) in Or Yehuda, and after she moved to Ramat-Gan following her marriage. Aziza Baher was born in Baghdad, into the prominent Twena family. At the age of three her mother passed away, and she lost her father a short time after she came to Israel. She was a relative of Rabbi Shelomo Twena of Calcutta, and of the educator Abraham Twena, author of the book series Dispertion and Liberation. She married Yosef Baher, who is related to the Shrida family from Singapore. Her brother Na’im Twena remained in Iraq after the mass emigration. Her concern for her brother was the initial cause of our acquaintance.

When I was head of the Or Yehuda Municipal Council she was my secretary. We were next-door neighbors in Or Yehuda, and so she and my late wife Rebecca would often meet over a cup of coffee.

We maintained contact also after she left the city. She accompanied me in various stages of my public career, including when I decided to establish the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center.

Aziza was very popular in Or Yehuda. She always had excellent relations with others and always took care to foster her ties with her acquaintances, by showing an interest in what they were doing and coming to their help in times of need. After she retired she continued her community activities and constituted a source of information for all those who knew her. She was also very devoted to her home, to her husband Yosef and her daughter Orly.

After her brother Na’im passed away she coordinated the activities for his commemoration. At first she gave the Center the impressive musical collection he had brought from Iraq, and then she, together with her sisters, contributed the money needed for setting up the Na’im Twena Music and Multi-Media Room in the Center’s library.

Aziza was very devoted to the Center. She encouraged contributors to give, and mobilized volunteers. She continued her activities on behalf of the Center even when she was already suffering from a fatal illness which she hid from her acquaintances.

About a month before her death she complained to me of back pains. I told her she should go and see a doctor. But it turned out that her pains were related to her illness.

Aziza is survived by her devoted husband and daughter. We will all miss her. May her memory be blessed.