"Yosef Hayim" is the title of a new newsletter of the Iraqi Jewish community in Los Angeles, edited by Prof. Lev Hakak. The first issue (Summer 1996) is replete with reports on what is taking place in the community and thus substaniates the vitality of the Iraqi tradition among the members of the community in Los Angeles. Introducing the newsletter, the Editor writes: "We are in the process of expanding our list of readers among the Babylonian Jews in Los Angeles. In November 1995, we found out that our community is larger than we thought. This newsletter is being sent to about 1,000 families".
In the main part of the issue there are detailed reports on two major events: the first is a review by Dr. Abraham Kattan of the Babylonian Heritage Gala Night and Exhibition, held on 11 November 1995. The report contains many pictures. Present that evening were Mr. Yoram Ben-Ze'ev, the Consul-General of Israel in Los Angeles, Mr. Akram Chitayat, President of the Jewish Babylonian community of New York, and many other guests. Among the peak moments of the musical section was the performance by the singer Aziz Jalal and a select ensemble of musicians from various countries of the Middle East.
The second event reported at length in the first issue of "Yosef Hayim" is the "Iraqi Night", held on 6 February 1996 at the Sepharadic Temple "Tifereth Israel" (review by Dr. Elizer Chammou). The "Iraqi Night" was a cultural evening which was intended to educate the Jewish community at large about the contributions of the Iraqi Jewish community to Jewish civilization. Present at this event were about 350 people, who listened to the lecture on Iraqi Jewry delivered by Dr. Chammou and Prof. Yona Sabar. The musical interlude included sacred songs from Babylonia.
The first issue of "Yosef Hayim" also reports traditional celebrations among the members of the community, which were held in true Iraqi traditional way. Such was the henna ceremony and engagement party of Dr. Shiree Samouha and her fiance Dr. Andy Sauer. Other articles in the newsletter are: the results of the elections for the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Sephardic Congretation Kahal Joseph; "Iraqi Jewish Women: Career vs. Family", by Yvette Debby; and other features.