The Jewish involvement in the fields of commerce and finance in Iraq as well as their successful integration into these fields in the State of Israel are well known. Despite this however, the information on the character of this activity and its scope as well as the rewards reaped over the last one hundred years and its influence on the Jews of Iraq has almost never been studied or researched.
A study evening held at the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center on May 16, 1995 and which was honored by the presence of the Minister of Police, Mr. Moshe Shahal, was dedicated entirely to the subject of: "Jews in Banking and Finance in Iraq and Israel". The evening was opened with greeting from Mordecai Ben-Porat and Dr. Zvi Yehuda who organized and arranged the meeting.
Dr. Tikva Lecker-Darwish made introductory remarks and at the head of the two sessions that took place sat Mr. Oved Ben-Ozair and Mr. Edward Mandlawy (Accountant).
The speakers included: Yehuda Assia, Shlomo Moriel, Yaakov Lev, Attorney Nuri Zilkha, Edward Mandlawy, Yizhak Gabbai, Morris Kane (Accountant) and Yaakov Bechor. The lecturers, all outstanding figures in the fields of finance and industry, illuminated various aspects of the general activities of the Jews of Iraq using their personal experiences in these fields to emphasize their points.
The lectures drew a complex picture of the commercial activities of the Jews of Iraq and the educational, economic and political factors which enabled such a successful and outstanding involvement in the field of finances. Above all, the lectures emphasized the characteristics of the Iraqi Jews which enabled this to happen: the industriousness, stubbornness, the ability to change and adapt to new situations
We are presenting in this issue three lectures among those given. The other lectures also had interesting insights, important and stimulating especially on the subject of integration into Israeli society. We hope to bring these to you, as well, in future issues.