Thousands of graduates from Shamash, Alliance and other schools in Iraq came to Heikhal Hatarbut to participate in the historical meeting, which was organized by the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center, to reminisce and to renew the contact with schoolmates as well as to enjoy the artistic program on the schools in Iraq.
The Conference opened on Thursday 13 June 1996, after two years' preparation in locating and contacting the numerous graduates all over the world and preparing the conference program. After two hours of nostalgic meeting between old friends, the artistic program, conducted by Mr. Daniel Peer, began with Babylonian songs sung by the Naharayim Choir and cond-ucted by Mr. Isaac Aviezer.
The introduc-tory speech was delivered by Mr. Mordechai Ben-Porat, Chairman of the Center, who referred to the importance of the Conference and invited the graduates to continue and hold social and cultural activities within the limits of the Center.
Speeches were given by: Dr. Shaul Sehayik representing the Shamash and who was from its first graduates, Advocate Shimon Ben-Yaacov, representing the Alliance, and Prof. Daniel Khazzoom from U.S.A. representing the Diaspora graduates. Right after the introductory speeches, a film on Jewish education in Babylon was screened, reviewing the history of the Jewish education system for nearly 2000 years. The film was based on the research of Dr. Zvi Yehuda, and directed by the producer Yitzhak Haloutzi. It won the approval of the audience.
The main part of the envening was short plays depicting various aspects on the life in School directed by Prof. Yitzhak Avishur. The actors who took part were Yitzhak and Shlomo Battat, Salman Abdalla and Shosha Goren, together with the graduates Ada Zakaria, Oved Elbeg and Ovadia Goorji. The musical part of the evening was uniquely rich and included performances given by Naharayim Choir, Ramat-Gan Oriental Band, and the singers Avi Cohen, Iman and Yosef Baghdadi.
A colorful album was printed especially for the conference, which included rare photographs of the students from different schools in Baghdad edited by Dr. Zvi Yehuda. The evening's events were all videotaped. The album and the video cassette can be purchased in the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center:
83 Hahagana Street Or-Yehuda 60261
tel: 03-5339278-9 Fax: 03-5339936.
For the success of the evening we would like to mention the volunt-eers, Mr. Abraham Shashua, Mr. Yosef Meir, Dr. Shaul Sehayik, and Mr. Yitzhak Salman. Many thanks go to Mr. Yigal Loushi, Director General of the Center, Prof. Yitzhak Avishur, Academic Director, and Dr. Zvi Yehuda, Research Institute Director, together with the staff of the Center who dealt with the preparation of the Conference. Among the guests were also Mr. Shlomo Hillel, President of the Jewish Foundation Fund, Prof. Gideon Golani from the U.S.A., Mr. Latif Hoory from London and Members of the Executive Board of the Center: Mr. Arie Shemesh, Deputey Chairman, Mr. Eliyahou Hoory, Treasurer, and Mr. Jacob Haham and Mr. Avner Basri, Members of the Board.