JOURNAL OF BABYLONIAN JEWRY PUBLISHED BY THE EXILARCH’S FOUNDATION

Now found on www.thescribe.uk.com ISSUE 73 - AUTUMN 2000 Established 1971

A Happy New Year 5761 to all our Readers and Friends

The procession of His Royal Highness The Exilarch on his weekly visit to the Grand Caliph of Baghdad, ALMUSTANJID BILLAH, accompanied by Benjamin of Tudela (12th Century) who wrote in his diary that the Caliph knows all languages, and is well-versed in the law of Israel. He reads and writes the holy language (Hebrew) and is attended by many belonging to the people of Israel. He will not partake of anything unless he has earned it by the work of his own hands. The men of Islam see him once a year.

In Baghdad there are about 40,000 Jews “dwelling in security, prosperity and honour and amongst them are great sages, the heads of Academies engaged in the study of the Law. At the head of them all is Daniel, The Exilarch, who traces his pedigree to King David. He has been invested with authority over all the Jews in the Abbassid Empire.

Every Thursday he goes to pay a visit to the great Caliph and horsemen, Gentiles as well as Jews, escort him and heralds proclaim in advance, ‘Make way before our Lord, the son of David, as is due unto him’. On arrival the Caliph rises and puts him on a throne, opposite him, which the prophet Mohammed had ordered to be made for him. He granted him the seal of office and instructed his followers to salute him (the Exilarch) and that anyone who should refuse to rise up should receive one hundred stripes.” THOUGHTS & AFTERTHOUGHTS by Naim Dangoor REFLECTIONS ON T H E as martyrs for the free world and should that G-d cannot do wrong, they try to put HOLOCAUST be remembered and honoured throughout the blame on the victims themselves. the world as such. They say for example that it was the vain The murder of the six million hatred among Jews that caused the Jews by Germany during World War II Naim destruction of the second Temple and that was not just an anti-semitic and racist the laxity in Torah observance was the genocide. Hitler was under the delusion His reply: cause of the Holocaust. This is not that it was the Jews who were the acceptable and adds insult to injury. It enemies of Germany and who made Dear Naim also makes Hitler an agent of G-d's Germany to lose World War I. In his punishment on the Jews which is absurd. attempt to re-kindle the flame of German Thank you for your interesting Our religious leaders have to think again aggression, he saw the Jews standing in and important letter. Yes, I agree. The and come out with a credible and his way. So, in 1939, as the signs of war prime purpose of our Holocaust meaningful explanation. Did the Allies were looming in the horizon, Hitler made Memorial Day is precisely along the lines know? the clear threat that if World Jewry and in you suggest - together with our hope that Recent revelations have shown particular American Jewry, shall embroil by remembering what happened to the that British and American intelligence Germany in another World War, then Jewish people, we may do something to were aware in 1943 that the German Germany would exterminate all the Jews prevent any future recurrence of this government ordered the military in Rome of Europe. hideous tragedy. to round up the Jews of Rome and send It is clear therefore that Thank you again for writing and them to the concentration camps, but the European Jewry were held hostages for with best wishes. Allied authorities did nothing to alert the the free world and, as often happens, Jews and give them a chance to save hostage takings end up in tragedy. This is Greville themselves. the significance of the Holocaust to the This is not surprising because free world and this is the basis on which Naim Dangoor's reply: throughout the war the Allies were very all people should commemorate and careful not to let Germany know but they observe the massacre of 6 million Thank you for your letter were able to break its code. A day before innocent Jews by Germany. regarding my suggestion that the victims Pearl Harbour, The State Department of the Holocaust should be treated as became aware that Japan was about to having died as hostages for the free launch a surprise attack but decided to do Letter sent to The Rt Hon The Lord world. In your reply you say that this nothing about it in order to continue to J a n n e r, Chairman of The Holocaust idea is interesting and important, but you break Japanese secret messages Educational Trust: go on to say that "The prime purpose of throughout the war. our Holocaust Memorial Day is precisely M o r e o v e r, the liquidation of Dear Greville, along the lines you suggest". European Jewry suited the wartime I should be very grateful if you policy of the Allies in the thought that by When a Holocaust memorial would kindly let me know how this idea letting Germany be busy with the Jews was created in Hyde Park, I asked myself, is being presented by The Holocaust would detract her war effort. That is why "Why should Britain be involved in that Memorial Day since I have never heard it the Allies refused to bomb Auschwitz and crime, since Hitler's genocide never mentioned that the six million were taken refused to publicise what was going on reached these shores?" as hostages by Hitler at the beginning of there. The explanation usually given is the war, and that he put them to death to The mass murder of ten that the purpose of remembering the fulfill the threat that he made in early thousand Jews a day was an open secret Holocaust is to prevent it happening 1939. German treatment of the Jews is fully known to the media, diplomatic again. This explanation fails on two further demonstrated by the demand in missions and the Church. I lived in counts. Firstly, there are not enough Jews 1944 for military trucks in exchange for Istanbul during the war and I could see in Europe for another Holocaust, and saving the lives of the Hungarian Jews. from time to time Jewish refugees secondly, ethnic genocide has been taking When the free world rightly declined to arriving from Europe with terrible place throughout the world regardless. give the trucks he sent 300,000 stories. There is in fact another Hungarian Jews to the death camp. ¨ I can go further and say that the significance to the Holocaust which is second world war was engineered or overlooked. In 1939 Hitler threatened to manoeuvred into being by the oil interest kill all the Jews of Europe, if World ADDING INSULT TO INJURY of the West in order to get rid of the Jews Jewry would embroil Germany in another "And you who are attached to the of Europe in the mistaken belief that they world war. He was thus holding the Jews Lord your G-d are all alive today" would thus save the vast oil reserves of of Europe as hostages for the free world the Middle East from falling into the in an attempt to achieve world Jewish religious thinkers often hands of a new Zionist state populated by domination. try to find some explanation and East European Jews who were regarded The Six Million, therefore, died justification for all tragedies befalling the as Communist sympathisers. Jewish people. Starting with the premise When I was a student at London Page 2 University in the early 30's, I was where was G-d at the Holocaust, the I thank you for telling my life tormented by the case with which Hitler answer he gave was where was man at story in "The Scribe"(No. 72, P. 38). I was allowed to re-arm and prepare the Holocaust? This may appear to be an must say it was beautifully presented and Germany for a major war when he could evasive reply but what Lord Jacobovitz I am proud to have a presence in the have been knocked out by a feather in his was saying is that the Holocaust was not Sephardi community, which I love and early days. the act of G-d but the act of man which admire. ¨ My own teenage explanation at may mean if you like that since G-d gave that time was - either that the Allies man freewill, he takes no direct interest in London Freddie Knoller wanted to bring a decisive end to the First the day-to-day events of history. World Wa r, or that the merchants of This fact can only be ignored at armament were again getting active to our peril. ¨ BONANZA TO UK profit from selling their deadly weapons, or that the whole purpose was to liquidate CHARITIES the Jews of Europe under the cover of WHERE WAS GOD? war. In the event, the last probability was How a Charity can receive £50 for every £10 you give away the only concrete result came out of the When I shall go to the Second World War. ¨ Synagogue on Yom Kippur, when the The Finance Act of March 21 gates of Heaven are wide open, enabling 2000 contains a little-noticed sensational us to communicate directly with the THE DILEMMA OF clause whereby a charity can receive £50 Almighty, I shall ask G-d one question for every £10 one gives away. This is OVADIAH YOSSEF and then leave, "Where were you during how it works: the Holocaust?" ¨ If one holds a quoted share that Baghdad born, 80 year old, has gone up £50 in value, one sells the Harav Ovadiah Yossef has made a great share to the charity at cost price. The name for himself as the highest authority THE SAMSON OPTION charity makes £50 and one loses £50 less on Halacha and the sources. He has tax equals £30. In addition one receives become the rallying point of the Sephardi Let me die in Palestine tax relief on the £50 the charity receives, majority of Israel which gave his Shas equal to £20 thus losing only £10, while party no less than 17 seats in the the charity receives five times that Knesseth which may become one day the amount. largest party in the Israeli Parliament. It has become customary for all Donors should now make full In his regular Saturday night officers graduating in the Israeli Defence use of this generous bonanza. radio programme, he recently had to Forces to be taken to the fortress of answer the question - "Where was G-d Massada and made to swear an oath there London Naim Dangoor during the Holocaust?" By taking a that Massada shall not fall again. narrow view of this controversy Rav That is a reference to the besiege The above letter appeared in the London Ovadiah had only two options: Either that of Massada in the year 70 by the Roman Jewish News. ¨ the Holocaust was an act of G-d, or that army who were unable for two years to G-d does not take any interest in human take that hide-out of some 200 Jewish affairs. fighters. When in the end they occupied NOTHING NEW Rav Ovadiah was obliged to opt the fortress they found all the people for the first option stating that the there had committed suicide, rather than A long time ago, an enterprising Holocaust was an act of G-d and was a be tortured by their Roman enemies. grocer in Baghdad claimed that he punishment for the sins by these people This has become known as the invented a powder that can be used to get in previous lives. This immediately Massada option. But why should this be rid of mosquitoes which used to plague caused a huge furore everywhere which a model for the Israeli army? I prefer the the city during the hot, dry summer obliged the learned Rabbi to retract his Samson option when the hero of ancient months and was the cause of spreading regrettable statement which still left an Israel managed to bring the Palestinian malaria. unpleasant impression all over. Some Temple down and thus kill with himself One Shabbath, an people saw in it an attack on Ashkenazim thousands of the enemy. announcement was made as was the who were the main victims of the To d a y, Israel is one of the custom to inform the people about the Holocaust. Others thought it would strongest military powers in the world new powder, adding that the direction for promote atheism. By claiming that the and should try to flex her muscle when use would be announced as soon as a Holocaust was an act of G-d, he made dealing with her neighbours. sufficient number of people had bought Hitler and his Nazi criminals the agents Barak or Mu-Barak? The Arabs the packet of powder. Three weeks later of G-d. have found Prime Minister Ehud Barak the announcement was made of how to Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks tougher than Netanyahu, knowing Israel's deal with the powder as follows: catch expressed the view that the Holocaust nuclear potential and military superiority, the mosquito then open its mouth and put must remain a mystery. But how can the Mubarak has been calling for a nuclear- a little of the powder in the mouth. It is Chief Rabbi follow a mysterious religion free Middle East hoping to achieve by a guaranteed that the mosquito would die which he cannot explain or understand? little hot air equality with Israel. But in a very short time! On the other hand, when the late former according to an Arabic proverb "You Chief Rabbi Lord Jacobovitz was asked cannot fry eggs with hot air". ¨ Continued on following page Page 3 I remembered the above JUDAEO ARABIC anecdote when I heard on the radio the other day that New York City had been infested with deadly mosquitoes, causing panic in the city, so that Central Park closed to the public. At the same time an American scientist announced his method in dealing with the epidemic: catch the mosquito and have it operated upon to change one of its genes so that it no longer remains a carrier of malaria and other diseases. Then release the mosquito in the air in the hope that other mosquitoes will follow suit! ¨

KOSHER THIGHS

The Jews have a capacity for creating problems for themselves, and Jacob was no exception. One night, while sleeping in the open, he felt a slight cramp in his thigh. As he was in the middle of an important dream, the reality got mixed up with the dream, as often 50 years ago - on his long honeymoon travels with his wife Renée, Naim Dangoor was happens, and he thought the angel had careful to keep a detailed account book of their daily expenditure. It is noteworthy touched his thigh. Sure enough, he had a that the entries were written in Judaeo Arabic, as shown in the page above. This form temporary limp when he woke up, and he of writing was used in all his communications with the family, and must now be came to believe that the Angel had regarded as completely obsolete. ¨ touched his thigh. Thus it became a tradition that Jews remove (porge) the leg dispose of the hindquarters in the general TOTAL ECLIPSE sinew of animals before cooking. It was food chain. not a commandment but merely a Jewish communal authorities tradition. (Asimple cure for cramps is to In our offices, we have a are considering going to the Court of handyman whose job it is to replace used drink Indian tonic water). Europe on the grounds of discrimination. Since the war, however, porging electric bulbs. He goes around, carrying This approach is certain to fail: the Court a ladder, and looks up to see which light became unreliable and it was decided to cannot oblige anyone to buy the rejected discard the whole hindquarter of the bulb needs replacing. parts of Kosher meat. What are the At the rare total eclipse of the sun, last carcass by selling it to non-Jews who alternatives? could thus enjoy at reduced prices the August, as the moon slid to cover the 1. To sell the hindquarters to our sun's disk, a most poignant scene was the best cuts of the meat - steak, kidney, etc., Moslem brethren who would enjoy while driving kosher meat prices higher. sight of our handyman outside my excellent shish-kebab at even window with his ladder under his arm, So far so good. But there has lower prices. been a movement in Europe to ban looking up in the direction of the 2. To consider taking a rabbinic darkened sun, as if thinking "Do I have to Jewish methods of animal slaughter decision that Jacob's vision altogether, as inhumane because it did climb the ladder to replace that bulb?" concerning the thigh sinew was just a bad Some Ladder! Some bulb! permit pre-stunning of the animal. The dream and that all parts of kosher animal ban started in Nazi Germany; while can be eaten. N O T E : Until recently, electric bulbs forbidding the Jewish Shechita, wicked If the European Court has any Germans, at the same time, slaughtered used to go off very frequently, and the sympathy on us let it remove the total ban l o n g - s u ffering British public never six million Jews. They proved on shechita that is now in force in many themselves to be lower than animals. complained. Since Britain joined European countries. ¨ Repeated attempts in the British Europe, specifications have been noticeably improved. ¨ Parliament to ban Jewish Shechita failed Please if possible send us any because it could not be proved that this copies of The Scribe you can spare. We method was not humane, but also because are in Jewish sheltered accommodation in of the 2 million Moslems who could also Religion goes further and deeper Manchester. We had two copies late last than reason, but Religion must not be affected. So now the Anti-Shechita year and since not heard from you. lobby want to try a new tactic. They wish contradict our G-d given Reason. May we wish you all the very Religion must adjust to to require Kosher and Halal meat to bear best and go from strength to strength with a label stating its method of slaughter. scientific discoveries. ¨ your wonderful magazine. ¨ This will only affect Kosher meat because it would make it impossible to Manchester R J Marshall Page 4 THE DANGOOR SYNAGOGUE

In March 2000 an agreement was signed between the Spanish and Portugese congregation and the Exilarch’s Foundation for the construction to establish within the main synagogue complex the Dangoor synagogue in memory of the late Khatoun and Eliahou Hakham Ezra Dangoor. The Dangoor synagogue, seating over 100 worshipers, is intended to be used for weekday morning and evening prayers and for children’s services on Shabbath, as well as Thursday Barmitzvah and Sunday Batmitzvah services. The Dangoor Synagogue is part of a major development costing £1 million. The above photographs show Mr Lucien Gubbay, President of the Elders with Mr Naim Dangoor, Head of the Exilarch’s Foundation at the signing of the agreement at the offices of the Foundation, taken below the portrait of Hakham Ezra Dangoor, Chief Rabbi of Baghdad in the twenties. ¨

The opening of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (painted between 1925-1927)

The painting shows The Earl of Balfour addressing the 7,000 people present at the opening of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Mount Scopus on 1st April 1925. Among the dignitaries present were the British High Commissioner Sir Herbert Samuel, Field Marshal Viscount Allenby, Chaim Weizmann, Ahad Ha'am, Chaim Bialik, as well as representatives from many governments, universities and academic institutions worldwide. ¨ Page 5 JEWISH ASSETS IN ARAB COUNTRIES Abridged from Jerusalem Report September 1999 After the establishment of the with this issue. But in a month, or a year, the context of hundreds of billions being Jewish state in 1948, and the wave of we will be sitting with the Palestinians mentioned by both sides in the final Arab nationalism and decolonisation ...... and negotiating. The issue of settlement negotiations." sweeping the Middle East, the Jews of the restitution will come up. T h e The human, cultural and region were uprooted and most made Palestinians are going to say, 'You owe us economic tragedy that befell the Jewish their way to Israel, abandoning assets X-amount.' That's the moment that the communities in Arab countries was ranging from modest family homes to Jewish side must say, 'There was a war. profound. Although circumstances prosperous businesses, as well as We also have claims. And these must act varied from country to country, whole communal property like schools and as a counterbalance.' We have to find a communities, some over 2,000 years old, synagogues. Since then, a wall of war rough justice on both sides." were uprooted. Some Jews managed to and enmity has separated them from Sephardi activists in Israel fume sell their homes - often for far below the those former assets. Nevertheless, these that their community is going to be short- market value; others managed to ferret families, many reduced to working-class changed by the government for a second out valuables, stuffing jewels and gold status, have always hoped that with the time: A generation ago, their parents were coins into their pockets. But most lost advent of regional peace they would be settled in remote development towns, and almost everything and, like the refugees able to claim their rightful inheritance. condemned to second-class status, from from war-ravaged Europe who had Except that now incensed which many of them are still trying to preceded them, arrived in Israel destitute. Sephardim in Israel and abroad are escape. Now, they fear, the government In Iraq, for instance, on March claiming that the Israeli government - is playing big brother again, seeking to 10, 1951, a new law impounded the with neither the legal nor the moral use their inheritance for its own ends. property of all Jews who had renounced authority to do so - is getting ready to "The government will evaluate citizenship and planned to go to Israel. bargain away those personal inheritances. the property of, say, the Iraqi Jews and This included many Jews who, although In a trade-off for the Palestinians' then use it to counterbalance the not Zionists, fled persecution which grew dropping their gigantic property claims Palestinian claim." with the establishment of Israel. To agianst Israel, they say, is preparing to "The property of the Jews of the ensure that the Jews could not use the waive future Jewish claims to assets in Middle East is not a matter for the State brief time-lag between passage of the the Arab countries - assets worth billions, of Israel," says Yehouda Shenhav, an legislation and its implementation to sell maybe tens of billions, of dollars. associate professor of sociology and their homes and businesses, the Iraqi Work on the register of Jewish anthropology at Tel Aviv University, government shut down the banks for assets in Arab lands began toward the end himself of Iraqi descent. "They are three days. Jews' shops were sealed and of the Netanyahu administration. But it is manipulating me for an ulterior motive," their possessions were confiscated. quietly continuing under Ehud Barak's says Shenhav. Jewish merchants and jewellers had their government - as a way of countering, a For Jews from the Middle East homes searched. similar project by the Palestinians, begun and North Africa who live outside Israel, In 1945 there were 870,000 several years ago, to list assets left behind the notion is even more absurd and Jews living in the Middle East and North by Palestinians in Israel in 1948. And untenable: How dare the Israeli Africa. By 1952, hundreds of thousands although individual would-be Sephardi government, which cannot conceivably had arrived in Israel, and tens of heirs contacted by The Report are assert that it represents them in any way, thousands had reached Western Europe horrified by the equation, and dismayed they ask, try to usurp their property and North and South Africa. Estimates too at the prospect of countries like Iraq, claims? on the collective value of the property Syria and Libya getting off the hook, Some Israeli officials have they left behind vary wildly - from a few several Sephardi organisations are co- argued over the years that, since the billion dollars to more than $100 billion. operating: "We are performing a service government spent billions absorbing the Moroccan-born Amram Attias, for Israel," says Leon Levy, president of Sephardi Jews here, they can hardly who heads the U.S. based Committee of the American Sephardi Federation. consider themselves shortchanged by Jews from Arab Lands - set up to help For their part, Palestinian Israel. That argument, too, is rudely spearhead the registration project- claims officials insist that they have no intention dismissed by Sephardim abroad. "They that the 130,000 Jews of Iraq, the of reducing their demands for financial certainly didn't spend billions on me," wealthiest Jewish community in the compensation from Israel because Jews snorts Naim Dangoor, born in Iraq in Middle East, lost nearly $100 billion, lost assets in the Arab world. "There is 1914, who left behind factories and a while Egypt's Jews lost more than $60 no linkage here. Israel has to negotiate house when he moved to London in 1959. billion. directly with Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt," Naim Dangoor says, "I happened to be in The idea that Palestinian says Daoud Barakat, the Palestinian Co- London with my family in 1964 when all demands for property taken over by Israel ordinator of Refugee Negotiations. "I the Jews were given three months to could be countered by Jewish demands don't represent those countries." return to Iraq or lose their nationality and for abandoned property in Arab lands has Says Bobby Brown, who deals their property. Although I had extensive been bandied about for years. But few with Diaspora affairs in the Prime interests in Iraq, I decided not to return, people, even those directly affected, are Minister's Office, "An injustice was mindful of the Talmudic dictum of not aware that this hitherto theoretical committed to the Jews from A r a b taking personal risks for the sake of "linkage" is becoming real - with work on countries, and for 50 years we've been money. Although I can now justify a the register under way and the final status saying that it's not the right time to deal claim of $5 million, this is insignificant in talks imminent. Page 6 When it does become more grandfather was arrested on suspicion of hard at work compiling their own widely known, the issue could exacerbate allowing Israeli spies to operate in the property register for use in the final status Ashkenazi-Sephardi tensions. David Tal, casino, and then forced to leave Egypt. talks. "We knew," says Brown, "that this a Knesset member from the ultra- After Israel and Egypt made peace in would be the time to put our claims on the Orthodox Shas party, of Tunisian descent, 1979, she and her grandfather travelled to table." warns that if the Sephardim are left Cairo, and found that the casino building Without going into detail, empty-handed, "the bitterness will come had become an office of the Moslem Brown adds that, if the mutual claims are to the surface, with serious public Brotherhood. ultimately written off against each other, implications." " We're Zionists. We'll do Israel will have to "find a way to provide Adds a government off i c i a l anything for Israel", she says. "But this is compensation to the Sephardim." whose parents immigrated to Israel from like a stab in our back. How can the For Shas's David Tal, that vague Baghdad, and who asked not to be named government of Israel bargain away commitment represents the best hope of in this article, "Sephardim will say that something it has no jurisdiction over? preventing an outburst of Sephardi anger Israel didn't want to bring them in the But other Sephardim overseas over the issue. "If Israel resolves this first place, that it then put them in transit are willing to have the lost Jewish issues with the Arab world, that's fine. camps, then in development towns - and property used as a bargaining chip. Take But that's not the end of the account. that now we're being used as a bargaining the American Sephardi Federation's Israel would then have to give some chip. This will create an explosion. I Levy, who was more than happy to oblige compensation to the Sephardim. I don't can't say how big. But it will." when, earlier this year, he was want to draw comparisons, but the Jews Barak's Labour Party is approached by Israeli government who fled Germany and Eastern Europe particularly vulnerable to Sephardi rage. o fficials and asked to help run the got compensation. That money helped Soon after taking over the party registration drive. The Israelis, he them establish themselves here. T h e leadership in 1997, in an effort to rid recalls, were "alarmed by the Jews who fled Arab lands have never got Labour of its elitist, Ashkenazi image, sophisticated search that the Palestinians anything." Barak issued a formal apology to were undertaking. They wanted to be Sephardi immigrants for what he able to balance those Palestinian claims." Naim Dangoor writes: acknowledged was the suffering and lack WOJAC was set up in 1975 of respect they endured here at the hands precisely to push Sephardi claims, but The assets I left behind in Iraq of the Labour governments of the 1950's. with no conspicuous results. comprise among other things the He owed his election victory last May, in The Camp David framework following: no small part, to the defection of agreements, signed in 1978 by Anwar A match factory. thousands of traditionally Likud-voting Sadat and Menachem Begin, did provide A l a rge furniture factory Sephardim. A misstep on the restitution for a "Claim Committee for the mutual imported complete from issue could aggravate old wounds. settlementof all financial claims" England. In the eyes of some Sephardim between Israel and Egypt. But Israel has Half share in Dry Cleaning who live abroad, the linkage equation is never pursued the matter with the company. especially alarming. Even though they Egyptian government; it may be that Shares in many industries. chose not to make their homes in Israel, Israel feared undermining the delicate Half share of two freehold they are now facing the possibility of diplomatic relationship. blocks of flats in 1.5 acres of their restitution claims being cancelled But if the details were lacking, prime land in Baghdad. out in Israel-Palestinian negotiations. the principle of "linkage" was already Half share in various houses. Why, they ask, should they, of all people, being set in place. In a 1951 address to An office building in the cover the cost of Palestinian losses? the Knesset, after Iraq nationalised business district. Professor Heskel Haddad, in Jewish property, foreign minister Moshe Half share in a 1,000 Dunum New York, says he had to leave Iraq Sharett declared, "An account already farmland not far from Baghdad. "illegally" in 1950 as a young man, and exists between us and the Arab world: the that his parents followed - "leaving account of compensation that accrues to At the depressed level of behind our house in Baghdad, my father's the Arabs who left the territory of Israel 150,000 Dinars for all the above, that plumbing business." and abandoned their property...The act amount would have grown now to $5 It would be a terrible injustice to that has now been perpetrated by the million. let countries like Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Kingdom of Iraq...forces us to link the In Judaism we believe that Yemen and Morocco get off scot-free. two accounts...We will take into account riches are a gift from G-d, so I abandoned "They owe us a debt. They should be the value of the Jewish property that has it all back into His care, and was not made to pay it. They shouldn't be let off been frozen in Iraq when calculating the disappointed. ¨ the hook because Israel wants to make compensation that we have undertaken to peace with the Palestinians in a hurry." pay the Arabs who abandoned property in Deborah Srour, a 37 year old Israel." WORRY New York lawyer, chuckles incredulously This policy, aimed at offsetting at the thought that the Israeli government Palestinian refugee claims, has remained wants to bargain away the casino her consistent over the years. Why do we worry? grandfather owned in Cairo. King Diaspora affairs adviser Brown We worry because our mind is trying to Farouk used to gamble there, she says, says that the issue took on real find a solution to a problem, along with other celebrities like singer importance 18 months ago, when it We should give it a chance and wait for it Um Kalthoum. In 1950, she says, her became clear that the Palestinians were to come up with a solution. ¨ Page 7 ASSETS LEFT BEHIND BY JEWS AND PALESTINIANS by Naim Dangoor

As a major potential claimant for my assets in Iraq and on behalf of thousands of Iraqi readers of my Journal, The Scribe, I wish to make the following statement: In 1951, Foreign Minister Moshe Sharet stated in the Knesset that when the time comes to settle Palestinian claims for property they left behind, account will be taken of Jewish assets left in Iraq. Above - Prime Minister Ehud Barak greeting Mr Naim Dangoor who had forcibly stated the strong case of territorial and financial Jewish claims on Iraq. ¨ Q.1 Since Israel admits holding substantial Palestinian assets, the Israeli COMPENSATION FOR JEWS OF ARAB COUNTRIES Government should be able to pay Iraqi immigrants something on account. For fifty years while Palestinian Minister Yossi Beilin. "It could help Repeated approaches elicited the reply refugees were drumming up their right of people accept the agreement. It would be that no payment can be made to the Iraqi return to their homes and their right for something tangible." immigrants since billions were spent on compensation in accordance with UN Jews all over the Arab world resettling them in Israel. security council resolution 242 and 338, faced persecution, fear and anti-Semitic claims by Jewish refugees from Arab attacks after the establishment of Israel in Q.2 Is Israel justified in charging countries fell on deaf ears. Even 1948. Community ties that were 2,000 Iraqi immigrants for three years of WOJAC, the world organisation of Jews years old packed up en-masse in the squalor in tents and transit camps, while from Arab countries, which was following few years and moved to Israel. later immigrants from other countries established with so much fanfare some Some of the expulsions were were given the red carpet treatment? thirty years ago, turned out to be no more accompanied by government seizures of than a tool in the hands of the Israeli property, from the Iraqi regime in 1951 to Q.3 The above position can only government in an attempt to bury the Muammar Gaddafi's Libya in 1972. apply to Iraqi immigrants who came to rights of Jewish refugees as a way of It is clear, therefore, that the Israel. What about the thousands who cancelling Palestinian claims. promise of compensation is no more than went to Europe and America, whose But now with America getting a carrot, a bribe, dangled in front of potential claims are more substantial? more and more involved in the Middle Mizrahi Jews to enable them to swallow How can their confiscated assets be East peace process, plans for establishing the bitter pill of the peace process now cancelled against the Palestinian assets? an international fund to pay being negotiated, after which the Arabs compensation to both Jews and will keep asking for more and more. If Israel succeeds in setting-off Palestinians are being talked about quite Where did Israel go wrong? Palestinian assets on the strength of seriously. Since the establishment of the State in Jewish assets left in Iraq and other Arab President Clinton has said in an 1948, Israel fought several major wars countries, the net result would be that interview on Israeli Television that the not with the Palestinians but with the Israel will have confiscated Jewish failed Camp David summit, at least neighbouring Arab countries. There can assets, and makes a present to Saddam brought good news for the more than be no lasting peace in the Middle East and others of Palestinian assets in Israel. 580,000 Jews who immigrated to Israel unless all these Arab countries are H o w e v e r, Palestinian claims from Arab countries. Palestinian dragged to the conference table and made will not go away, they amount to negotiators agreed that these Jewish to bear their share of a peace settlement. hundreds of billions. Israel will have to refugees should be compensated for the Old Yemtob in Baghdad had a pay them something in the end, but will property they left behind or were forced cock who used to perch on a high wall have lost in the process all Jewish claims. to give up, he said, apparently by a kind and crow loudly in the early morning. Jewish claims must include our of international fund suggested in His owner used to remonstrate with him share of the mineral wealth of our Clinton's remarks. saying "Lo beek khair unzel Jawa" countries of origin. These can amount to Now the cat is out of the meaning "if you are brave come down astronomical sums. At the first WOJAC cellophane bag. If the compensation is and shout". Mubarak and Assad, Fahad conference in Paris in 1975, this principle forthcoming, it could help the Israeli and Saddam, Gaddafi and Lebanon are all was endorsed and adopted and must not government sell a peace deal package to prompting Arafat not to soften his be overlooked. Justice demands that voters of Middle Eastern and North demands. They should all be made to individual claims must be recognised, if African origin, who are a slight majority take part in the sacrifices that have to be only on paper for the time being. ¨ among Israelis. They are also largely made in achieving a just and lasting right-wing and usually suspicious of peace. ¨ prospective agreements with Arabs. "It Page 8 will be very important", says Justice From Time Magazine CLAIMS OF JEWS FROM ARAB COUNTRIES Letter to Mr Abraham D Sofaer in something should be done. one claim against another? California The problems are numerous, but the biggest is getting some person and 6.What sort of initial commitment are Dear Mr Sofaer, team committed to the project. you looking for, for the bulk benefit to the Recoveries from the Swiss banks, and the lawyers will have to be by a percentage You may remember that we met German companies and government, of the amount achieved. This principle of a few years ago at 25 Albert Hall were made possible because lawyers "no win, no pay" is quite common in Mansions, when we discussed the claims were given authority to represent groups America. of Jews from Arab countries. At that time of Jews, and they brought cases and I look forward to meeting you you did not want to move against Israel's worked with the US government to bring again on your next visit to London. policy of setting off Jewish claims about the pressures necessary for against Palestinian claims. Now things settlements to occur. I am prepared to Naim Dangoor have changed, and it appears that even round up a team, but you and the Arafat admits that Jews from Arab lands community would have to commit to that Historical note: US Judge Abraham have as much right to compensation as do team or they would not be willing to Sofaer served for five years as Legal Palestinians. President Clinton himself work on a contingent basis to bring about Adviser to Secretary of State, James A has said "That's another piece of the good a recovery. Baker and George P Shultz, up to June news that I think I can reveal that came Let me know what you think. 1990. He participated in all military out of the summit...... The Palestinians Meanwhile, I will let you know the next actions taken by the United States against thought those people should be eligible time I am in London. terrorism, the settlement of the Ta b a for compensation as well." dispute between Israel and Egypt. He Assuming, therefore, that both Hoover Institution on War-Revolution visited Baghdad in connection with the Palestinians as well as Jews who and Peace Abraham D Sofaer claim against Iraq for attacking the U.S.S. immigrated to Israel from Arab countries Stanford University Stark. ¨ will get some kind of compensation, this George P Shultz Senior Fellow still leaves Jewish refugees from Arab countries who did not settle in Israel, and Further letter to Mr Sofaer: PALESTINIAN REFUGEES this needs perhaps a special attention to advance their claim for compensation. Dear Abraham, Last November, Prime Minister These people are perhaps the Ehud Barak came to London on an wealthier section of the community and Thank you for your interesting o fficial visit. Some 15 community the total amount of their claims can be letter of 20 August and I am glad to note leaders were invited to his hotel to an very substantial. I for one can easily it may now be possible to take action 'around the table' briefing by Mr Barak substantiate a claim for $5 million of lost regarding compensation. My comments and his numerous advisors. assets to which one may add the general are as follows: Mr Barak touched on the benefits we were deprived of in our question of Palestinian refugees by country in which we lived for tens of 1. Mordechai Ben Porat's area of claim stating categorically the official view of centuries. The climate for pursuing such would be for Jews who settled in Israel. his government that there was 50 years claims has never been more favourable Mine concerns Jews who never went to ago an exchange of refugees - the near and I wonder if you would now re- Israel but who now live in Europe or million Palestinian Arabs who left Israel consider whether you are willing to take America. mainly at the instigation of the Arab up this matter at an early stage so that our governments and the near million Jewish voice can be heard together with the 2. How do you plan to go about it? Will refugees who were driven out from Arab others in this regard. it be through the peace process, through countries by persecution and harassment. With warm regards. the Israeli government, the US This is a fact of life that cannot be government, the United Nations or assailed. There is no question that Jews Yours sincerely perhaps even to sue the Iraqi government. can safely return en masse to their ancient homes, and, likewise, there is no case to Naim Dangoor 3. What are our chances of success? require that Israel should allow Palestinian Arabs to return to Israel and 20 August 2000 4.What amounts are we talking about? If upset the precarious demographic the claims would be for houses and balance of the country. Dear Mr Dangoor, businesses, etc that would not amount to H o w e v e r, for some unknown very much. The ideal would be to claim reason, the government of Israel refuses I remember very well the lovely a share of Iraq which was left behind by to state this publicly, thus encouraging evening I had with you and your family our community which was very the Palestinians to make a strong public and friends in London. The situation has prosperous and very active in Iraq's relations issue of their demands as well as indeed changed, and the time may be ripe economy. That would more than match of wanting to use Jerusalem as the for action on the claims issue. the billions claimed by the Capital of Palestine which should never I talked last week with Ben Palestinians. be entertained even if it means not Porat in Israel about your letter, and he coming to a final agreement with the and his colleagues also agree that 5.Will this exercise end up in a set-off of Palestinians or with Syria. ¨ Page 9 MORDECHAI BEN-PORAT AVE THE BABYLONIAN JEWRY HERITAGE CENTER

Beit Hatefutzot in Ramat Aviv is no longer the only museum in Israel dedicated to the Jewish Diaspora. Since 1988, it has been joined by the attractive, well organized and highly informative Babylonian Jewry Museum. T h i s fascinating institution should become a regular stop on visits to Israel. In the early 1970's, former MK Mordechai Ben-Porat, who had played a major role in bringing the Iraqi Jewish community to Israel after the establishment of the State, proposed the idea of a Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center to the Or Yehuda Council (a town located ten minutes north of Ben-Gurion Airport). The Iraqi-born Ben-Porat was serving at the time as the head of the Council, and his proposal was confirmed. The idea was to establish a museum and a research center devoted to the study and dissemination of information about the first and for many years most influential Disaporan Jewish community. T h e cornerstone was laid in 1973, the academic council began its research in UNVEILING CEREMONY AT OR- and was the centre pillar and the main 1977 and the museum was opened to the YEHUDA wheeler of "Operation Ezra & Nehemia", public in 1988. an operation that happens once in 2000 The Babylonian Jewry Museum Hundreds of Or- Ye h u d a years. provides a fascinating overview of the citizens, as well as many other guests, The honouree of the event, Mr 2,500 years of Jewish history and culture participated in the unveiling ceremony of Mordechai Ben-Porat said: "I pinch in Babylon (modern-day Iraq). ¨ Mordechai Ben-Porat Ave and Moreshet myself to make sure that I am alive (Heritage) Square that took place last because I am used to participate in November at the Babylonian Jewry ceremonies honouring the dead and here OPERATION EZRA & NEHEMIAH Center square. Also participated in the I am, standing in front of you". He added ceremony the Mayor of Or- Yehuda - and said: "We, the people who lived then From 1950-52, Operation Ezra Lawyer Itzhak Buchovza and the "Or- in Or-Yehuda, were the first to arrange and Nehemiah brought almost all the Yehuda Youth Choir" that opened with rides for youth so that they can attend Iraqi Jews to Israel, first by way of the song "It's not a dream". high schools in Petach Tikva and Ramat Cyprus, then directly to Israel. More than The Mayor said: " It is not Gan." 110,000 people made aliyah. By 1967 customary to commemorate a living Mordechai Ben-Porat also said: only 3,000 Jews remained in Iraq. Today person but it is written in the Holy books "The Babylonian Jewry Center and the less than 60 Jews remain, all of whom 'After reaching Jubilee it's allowed to Museum are the diamond of the culture live in Baghdad. ¨ touch'. therefore, I decided that it's only and the symbol of Or-Yehuda - facing all appropriate, especially today, to express the restaurants in the city. So far, over the appreciation we have for the history 260,000 Israelis visited the center, of that Mordechai Ben-Porat generated in which 110,000 are youth. This is an We love receiving the Scribe O r- Yehuda when he established a accomplishment that enables us all to be and thank you very much for a wonderful remarkable town out of a muddy soil and proud of, thanks to over 2600 years of tribute to our Baghdadi community. I the tents site of Chiriya & Zakkia refugee heritage, history that connects Israel to learn something new each time and look camps, until what has become of the city Babel for many generations". forward to the next issue. of Or-Yehuda today. As it is publicly known, Mr Do you know if the Baghdadi Mr Ben-Porat was the first Ben-Porat had many public functions in community has published a book about council leader during the years 1955- Israel, such as a Knesset Member and a dream interpretations? I would love to 1969 an he built it all out of nothingness". Minister in Menachem Begin's get a copy; if not maybe we can start Mr Buchovza added and said: government, alongside Mr Moshe compiling one! ¨ "Mordechai Ben-Porat contributed Dayan. ¨ enormously to the shaping and the Eran Yoels The Babylonian Jewry Center New York Samira Galler (née Balass) establishing of the Jewish people heritage PR Dept Page 10 TIES BETWEEN THE JEWS Aleppo was invited to Baghdad by the between Jewish and Arab populations is OF ALEPPO AND OF IRAQ Jews there. Asked why they turned to a extremely small, considerably smaller IN THE 18th CENTURY rabbi from Aleppo when they could have than that between North and South approached Istanbul, the Jews of African populations, for example. The Abridged from Nehardea (Autumn Baghdad turned to Aleppo and not to study confirms that both Arabs and Jews 1999) Istanbul because of the stronger ties with owe their genes to a common ancestor Aleppo. population that predated the Jewish In Iraq in the 14th-17th religion. centuries there was a spiritual as well as a Scribe: The reasons why the Jews of A second conclusion is that the demographic and economic decline. This Baghdad turned to Aleppo rather than to Jews have maintained their genetic was caused by the Mongol conquests, Constantinople were: heritage to a remarkable degree, given the starting from the 13th century, but chiefly Jewish diaspora and the long isolation of in the 14th and 15th, leading to the 1. that Aleppo was so much nearer small Jewish populations in many places. abandonment of the region by its to Baghdad "Because Jewish religious inhabitants. 2. that the Jews of Baghdad and a ffiliation is assigned maternally, our By contrast, the Jewish Aleppo were Arabic speaking, as also study afforded the opportunity to assess community of Aleppo in that period were the immigrants from Spain, whereas the contribution of non-Jewish men to underwent no degeneration but the the community in Constantinople spoke present-day Jewish genetic diversity, " opposite. The exile from Spain brought Turkish said Michael Hammer, the study leader. new forces to Aleppo, which burgeoned In time, the movement between "It was surprising to see how significant and became fortified in spirit, Aleppo and Baghdad became a two-way the Middle Eastern genetic signal was in organization, and economy. traffic, with Baghdad gradually becoming Jewish men from different communities From the start of the 18th the dominant partner. So much so that in in the diaspora," he said. century the Jewish community of Iraq the Far East the term "Baghdadi Jews" The latest human chromosome underwent very significant developments came to refer not only to Jews from Iraq to be deciphered in full suggests that in demography, as more and more Jews but also to Jews from India, Persia, Syria human beings may have many fewer entered the region of the Iraqi delta, and even the Yemen. Communities in genes than previously supposed. Basra, and Baghdad. The Ottoman most of these areas turned to Baghdadi Chromosome 21 contains only 225 active conquest of Iraq in 1638 brought about Rabbis for answers to various religious genes. The finding suggests that the stability to the region and encouraged enquiries. entire complement of human genes may Jews to settle there. The reason why the Portuguese total nearer 40,000 rather than the The region from Baghdad closed the route through the Persian Gulf, previous estimates of between 70,000 southwards, namely the Iraqi delta and was to promote the sea route round the and 140,000. the Persian Gulf, had been closed to Cape which had been discovered by the Huge areas consist of apparently commerce for centuries. The trade route Portuguese Vasco de Gama and was worthless DNA. In one stretch of seven from the Far East to the Persian Gulf and entirely under their control. ¨ million base pairs (the letters of the thence to Basra and Aleppo was sealed by genetic alphabet), a stretch longer than the Portuguese who ruled the area. They the entire genome of E.coli, there is only stationed warships and cannon at the JEWS AND ARABS UNITED a single gene. The full sequence of entry to the Persian Gulf with the aim of BY GENES Chromosome 21 is published online controlling the trade route between the today by Nature. Indies and Europe. The Portuguese were taken from The Times 9 May 2000 followed by the Dutch and the French, Jews and Arabs are extremely closely Scribe: It is now clear that the Arab is our and only during the 18th century did the brother, and we have no other. ¨ British gain mastery of the shipping in related, a new genetic survey has shown. Wherever in the world they now the Indian Ocean. It was they who ÃÃÃÃÃÃ reopened the trade route from India via live, Jewish men carry the same Y Basra, the Euphrates river or the Western chromosome as Palestinians, Syrians and Desert to Aleppo, and thence to the Lebanese. Actions speak louder than words Mediterranean, Palestine, Egypt, and "Jews and Arabs are all really It is what we do that really matters, not Europe. children of Abraham and all have just what we say. These factors led to the preserved their Middle Eastern genetic economic growth of Iraq, and Basra and roots over 4,000 years," said one of the ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Baghdad became increasingly populated. scientists involved. Harry Ostrer, There are data from the 18th director of the Human Genetics A bad workman always blames his century attesting to a strong connection Programme at New York University tools with Aleppo. Both local and foreign School of Medicine. The team analysed Good workmanship depends no more on sources that I found in the archives of the regions of the Y chromosome in 1,371 the quality of the tools than it does on the powers that ruled the region then, namely men from 29 populations worldwide. way in which they are used, so to blame Britain and France, provide proof that The Y chromosome passes larg e l y the tools for bad workmanship is to Jews from Aleppo reached Iraq, mainly unchanged down the male line. attempt to excuse one’s own lack of skill. Basra and Baghdad, and assumed very The results, published in important functions in the community. At Proceedings of the National Academy of ÃÃÃÃÃÃ this time Rabbi Sadka Bekhor Hussin of S c i e n c e s, show that the diff e r e n c e Page 11 1998 and his visit to India in February 1999 can be regarded as a sequel to the historic visit of the well-known 12th century Jewish traveller, Benjamin of Tudela, who over 14 years journeyed through Europe and the Middle East to record the life and activities of Jewish communities there. In the case of Mr Ben-Porat his travel had a happy ending in that he married his secretary soon afterwards (see photograph Scribe No. 72, page 30). ¨

The exterior of the Iraqi Synagogue called Babylonian Jewish Centre - in Great Neck N.Y. fully described on page 15 No. 72. ¨ PALESTINIAN POPULATION GROWS AT U N R I VA L L E D MY VISIT TO INDIA we visited the Magen David Synagogue. RATE We visited Miss Sophy Kelly by: Mordechai Ben-Porat from New York Times who used to be the wealthiest person Abridged from "Nehardea" No. 12 Sent in by Salim Khabbaza - Great Neck, among the Jews of Bombay but is today NY The trip began on February in painfully straightened circumstances. In Poona we went to the Ohel 1999 on an El-Al flight to Bombay, now The population explosion in the David Synagogue, an impressive Mombai. Palestinian-governed Gaza Strip appears structure, within and without. In Poona We met the President of the to be unrivalled in the world. Its there are three Baghdadi families. It is Baghdad Jewish Community, Mr population of 1.1 million - half under 15 heartbreaking to see how badly the Solomon Sopher, who had remained in - is expected to double by 2014, which Synagogue was burned, together with the Bombay and who also serves as the would pose almost unimaginable strains Torah Scrolls, by Iranian ruffians who Trustee of the David Sassoon Fund. He on what is already a highly congested broke in through a window one night and is a pleasant, kindly man who has a great area with few jobs, severely inadequate set fire to the building. This was during deal of energy and who devotes much of housing and almost no natural resources. the Gulf War when missiles were being his time to the service of the community. (The current population of just over 3 fired on Israel. He is also the Cantor for the Magen million in the West Bank and Gaza In Calcutta we visited the old David Synagogue in Mombai. combined is expected to rise to 5.5 and beautiful Magen David Synagogue The Israeli Consul in Mombai, million by then). with the President of the Community Mr Mr Walid Mansur, is a Druse who has Gaza's extremely high fertility David Nahoum. From there we served many years in the Israeli Defence rate of seven children per woman is proceeded to the Beit El Synagogue. Forces and was retired as a Brigadier comparable to Somalia's or Uganda's. This synagogue has a ritual bath, an oven General. He is well loved by the Jewish But unlike those countries, almost all the for baking matzot and a winery for Community and has a great babies survive and adults live a relatively preparing raisin wine. Outside the understanding of them. On the Sabbath, long life, fuelling a boom that is now synagogue is an area for erecting a I visited the Eliahu Synagogue with Mr forcing difficult choices on Palestinians tabernacle (succah). Inside there are Mansur. There were about three minyans and their leaders. some twenty Torah Scrolls. Mr Nahoum and a similar number of women. Among Family planning is a central told me in great distress that in order to the men were representatives of the issue in Gaza - central, at least, to many save what is left of the Community's American Joint who had come for the young Palestinians who say they do not property there is a plan to turn it all over dedication of a new building for the want their children to suffer as they did in to the care of the government: it will then Jewish Community. In Mombai there are oversized poor families. But, for the be designated as a protected site. about fifty people of Baghdadi origin young Palestinian government, with its There are still about 60 Jews in who were born in India. In all of India conservative, male-dominated Islamic Calcutta and all are over 65 years of age. there are some 5,000 "Bnei Yisrael". In s o c i e t y, family planning is culturally Each week on Erev Shabbat, prayer this Synagogue, in the 1950's there were sensitive and politically complex. Large services are held, alternating between the about 700 worshippers. In those days the families are not only traditional but a Synagogues. Bnei Yisrael were not a part of the point of nationalist pride. On our return to Mombai, we Baghdadi community but today the For the five year old Palestinian were invited by Mr Sopher for Friday Baghdadi Jews are very much helped by Authority, the population issue has been a night kiddush and dinner. He invited 12 the Jews of "Bnei Yisrael" in many ways. challenge, although one that has not been guests, and there were 15 varieties of We visited the library named for publicly acknowledged. Off i c i a l l y, food well-loved by those from Iraq. David Sassoon, the Sassoon family has Palestinian leaders have long advocated about 17 trust funds. At the entrance to population growth as a way to outnumber Scribe: Mr Ben-Porat's visit to Hong the library is a statue of David Sassoon the Israelis on the land the two groups Kong, Singapore and Australia in March and many things written about him. Then share. ¨ Page 12 MIDRASH BEN ISH HAI

I enclose as promised, the report of the commemoration by Midrash Ben Ish Hai in New York of the 90th Anniversary of Hakham Josef Hayyim. with three photographs taken on the occasion.

London Rachel Manasseh

The Yom Hillula of Morenu Rabbenu Hakham Yosef Hayyim 'a"h was commemorated at a special event held by Midrash Ben Ish Hai on 13 Elul 5759, the 24th August 1999 in New York. Members of the Hakham's family came Left to right: especially from Geneva and Montreal, Abdallah and Francine Simon; Naim Levy; Jouri Lawi, his son Roget Lawi; Hakham with guests and friends from England, Ya'aqob with Rabbanith Ruth Menashe ¨ Canada and the United States. A crowded audience, including a number of Rabbis, gathered to pay tribute. Mr Naim Levy from Montreal and Mr Jouri Lawi from Geneva, great grandsons of the Ben Ish Hai - as Hakham Yosef Hayyim is known, after his most famous work - both addressed the gathering with deep emotion. While some of the elder members of the family were unable to come and were missed, some of the younger generation were present, and all were together in spirit. Mr Salman Abraham, also a great grandson, and family were also present. The brothers Jack David and Joseph Hayyim David in London, known as "Beit el Hakham", great grandsons from the male line, though unable to come, appeared on video addressing the Reciting the Hashkabah prayer for Hakham Yosef Hayyim audience each with a special message Standing in front row from left to right: Jouri Lawi; Salim Abraham; Naim Levy; from the life of Hakham Yosef Hayyim, (great grandsons of Hakham Yosef Hayyim) and Hakham Ya'aqob Menashe ¨ 'a"h. Dr Samuel E Moshe presented the packed programme, and related several stories from the life of the Ben Ish Hai. The Midrash Ben Ish Hai choir directed by Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe - ages ranging from 7 to 70! - presented a lively selection of some of the many shbahoth (pizmonim) written by Hakham Yosef Hayyim, with a specially prepared music accompaniment, and was enthusiastically applauded. One guest in the audience even telephoned her father in Brazil during the performance so that he could hear the shbahoth being sung! Videos were shown, courtesy of Mr Jouri Lawi, of his participation in a Hillula a few years ago in Jerusalem - The Midrash Ben Ish Hai Men and Boys' Choir under the direction of Hakham Ya'aqob reciting Qaddish at the memorial grave at Menashe, performing Shbahoth and pismonim penned by Hakham Yosef Hayyim, the the Mount of Olives and the blessing of Ben Ish Hai ¨ Continued on following page Page 13 the Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu at Hekhal Shelomo. Hazzan Hayim Salman who had come from Israel for the occasion rendered a song he had especially composed in the Iraqi tradition in honour of Hakham Yosef Hayyim, the Ben Ish Hai. A video presentation of Rabbi Sinai Halberstam, supporter and guide of Midrash Ben Ish Hai since its inception, stressed the universal regard for Hakham Yoseh Hayyim 'a"h not only in Babylonian and Sephardi communities but also in Western and Hassidic Jewry. Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe spoke quietly and feelingly of the long regard for the Ben Ish Hai he had imbibed from his father, and the special choice of the name when founding his Midrash over ten years ago. Then followed the lighting of candles and Qaddish recited by the three grandsons present, Mr Naim Levy 24 November 1958 - Picture taken in Baghdad at a birthday party for Abe Yousef Dali. and Mr Joory Lawi, and Mr Salman One is reminded of the school song, "Forty years on when far and asunder parted are Abraham, and the Hashkaba by Rabbi those who are singing today". ¨ Ya'aqob Menashe. The warmth and deep reverence was felt by all the standing audience. d i ff i c u l t y, we purchased the three staff of educators. The Centre is open The wonderful atmosphere of historical buildings we had been leasing year around and is ready to meet the the evening was enhanced by the songs for twenty years from the Government of needs of your community - whether it be and music of the times, the much Israel for $7.5 million payable over three in Jerusalem or in your own city. appreciated Baghdadian catering of Mr years. We have been paying on time Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah at the Aodi Zilkha and a display of the life and except for one of the payments that was Kotel, which is just steps away from the works of Hakham Yosef Hayyim due last April for $1.1 million. Centre, is an experience that is especially prepared by Mr Hayim Unfortunately, we were only able to raise unforgettable and can be arranged by the Habousha. The Hillula reflected the $350,000 by the due date. We are doing SEC staff. In September we begin an organisational expertise of the Hillula everything in our power to awaken and accredited One Year Programme in committee and the care and devotion of energise the 1.5 million Sephardim living conjunction with the Hebrew University Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe and Rabbanith in the Diaspora so that we can complete of Jerusalem. Ruth Menashe. As our guests remarked, the payments and avoid risking the loss In Diaspora the branches "It was beyond all expectations" - a fine of this campus to the many other Jewish continue to flourish and we have lectures, tribute to the living heritage of our organisations who are clamouring for the shabbatons and yearly conventions in g reat spiritual leader and sage, opportunity to bid on this phenomenal North and South America. Over 600 Hakham Yosef Hayyim 'a"h, the Ben piece of real estate in the heart of married couples have met at our activities Ish Hai. ¨ Jerusalem. over the years, and now form young The SEC needs you and married groups in their communities. everyone you know to make this building Opportunities are now available campaign smooth and successful. The for you to have your name inscribed in To: Friends and Supporters of the architectural plans call for a complete these buildings in Jerusalem for as little International Sephardic renovation of the campus that will make as $1,000.00. We invite and expect Educational and Cultural it a world class centre attracting people everyone to participate in this special Center (SEC), a Center for from around the world, whether on one of project that will keep alive the legacy of all Jews our programs or simply touring our parents in a place they always Jerusalem. The SEC will soon be the dreamed of and mentioned in their daily From: Jose A Nessim, M.D. beautiful gateway to the Jewish Quarter meditations. Founder and President and the Western Wall. Remember that our only goal is Aside from the physical to unite and organise the 1.5 million This report is to update you on premises, the SEC is now a world Jewish Sephardim living in the Diaspora in order what is happening at the SEC in movement that is tolerant, not to create the necessary org a n i s a t i o n a l Jerusalem, as well as the branches in the judgmental, and has enriched the lives of structure that will ensure the Jewish Diaspora. The success is unequal in tens of thousands of young people around survival of our children and their contemporary Sephardic history. For 21 the world. To get better acquainted, descendants. All Jews are invited to join continuous years we are becoming larger, please go to the internet and look up this noble and sacred cause. For more better and stronger. w w w. s e c w o r l d w i d e . o rg. Specialised information, please e-mail us at In February 1999 after programmes for all sizes of groups can [email protected] or visit us on the negotiating for years with a great deal of be arranged with the SEC's experienced web at www.secworldwide.org. ¨ Page 14 YEHUDI MENUHIN AND MILLENNIUM DOME, REVIVING THE DEAD THE NAZIS FAITH ZONE In our thrice daily prescribed Perhaps the reason why, unlike Quotations from the Faith in the Future prayers, and on all other occasions, we Jascha Heifety, Yehudi Menuhin was not section bless our Creator for various mercies, averse to appearing in Germany and adding, "Blessed art thou O Lord who playing under a Nazi conductor, and that Baha'i revives the dead". Where is the Menuhin was not a Rabbanite but a "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother evidence? Most people take this blessing Karaite Jew. before himself." - Baha'u'llah, Tablets of with a grain of salt, perhaps as a later During the war the Nazis did not Baha'ullah, 71 insertion to promote the Religion and as a harass the Karaites, and gave them sop for people's sensitivity. Thus, it is complete freedom to practice their Buddhist noteworthy that people never bow at this religion and carry on with their lives. "Do not hurt others that which hurts blessing, as they do for all other They apparently had a certificate from yourself." - The Buddha blessings. Cathryn the Great that they were not Thus, when Rabbi Ezra Basri, ethnic Jews and were tolerated in Russia, Christian Chief Justice of Jerusalem, offered to while the other Jews underwent recurrent "Do unto others as you would have them write an article for The Scribe, I readily pogroms. (See Scribe No. 63). do unto you." - Matthew 7.v12 asked him to write an article on the The Karaite movement began in revival of the dead as appears in our Baghdad in the 8th Century by Anan Ben Hindu liturgy. What he wrote was taken from David and was the Spiritual successor to "This is the sum of duty: do nothing to mythology and as he would readily the Sadducees, whose party were others which would cause you pain if appreciate, could not be accepted as an paradoxically in power in Judah at the done to you." - Mahabharata, XIII:114 evidence in a Court of Justice. time of Jesus. ¨ H o w e v e r, thinking again and Jain again about the subject myself, I came to "In happiness and suffering, in joy and what may be a proper answer and a MOHAMMED GOT IT RIGHT grief, we should regard all creatures as satisfactory explanation. The answer is in the question or, Continuation of Thoughts & Afterthoughts we regard our own self." - Mahavira perhaps, in the bones of the dead. The Jewish Bible tells us how our ancestors were "What is hateful to you, do not to your very careful to preserve the bones of their Much has been written about the fellow man. That is the law: all the rest is dead and to carry them with them when Golden Rule, namely, "Love thy commentary." - Talmud, Shabbat 31a they journeyed to other destinations, such neighbour as thyself". But this is a tall as when the children of Israel carried order, as no-one can love a neighbour, Muslim with them the bones of Joseph when they less so a stranger, as oneself. Moreover, "No-one of you is a (true) believer until left Egypt. They knew that the remains this is not what the Bible says. The he desires for his brother that which he were merely bones and yet they attached words are - VE AHAVTA LE REAKHA desires for himself." - Prophet great importance to them. KAMOKHA, and not ETHREAKHA. In Muhammad The Prophet Ezekiel when other words, the true meaning of the visiting a mound of bones in Babylon Golden Rule is to wish for your Sikh asked himself, "can these bones really neighbour or even for a stranger as you "Don't create enmity with anyone as G-d come to life again?" wish for yourself. is within all." - Guru Granth Sahib p. 258 It appears that the Persians and It appears that the true meaning Babylonians, at that time used this got lost in the translation from Hebrew to Zoroastrian method of burial in the open so that Greek and from Greek to other "That nature only is good when it shall vultures would pick off the flesh and languages. But the Koran got it spot-on; not do unto another whatever is not good leave only the bones as the valuable it says, for its own self." - Dadistan-i-Dinik, 94.5 remains of the deceased, and thereby (a Moslem has to desire for his brother as ¨ avoiding polluting Mother Earth and the he desires for himself). environment. Likewise, Jewish religion It is interesting to note that this does not allow cremation so as not to destroy the personal identity of the Arabic dictum is one of the versions of The Arabic paper F ree Iraq the Golden Rule inscribed on the walls in deceased. published in London, has re-printed in its Science has now demonstrated the Religion Section of the Millennium October issue 1999 an Arabic translation Dome. that each individual has a specific of the last letter which the late Sasson number consisting of millions of digits. On the occasion of the death of Dallal wrote to his brother David the President Hafez al Asad, we publish the A milestone has recently been achieved, night before his execution. considered to be the most important of all above picture which shows the Syrian That moving letter appeared on dictator shaking hands and welcoming time in discovering and tabulating the page 25 of The Scribe No. 71. It reflected complete human genom. From this it the Chief of the Syrian Jewish the strong character of the writer and his Community Council, Yousef Kh. Jajati, follows that eventually a dead person devotion to freedom, democracy and may be recreated from the DNA taken who gave us this photograph on a visit to peace. ¨ London a few years ago. ¨ from his bones. Isn't that fulfilment of G-d's promise of the future revival of the dead? ¨ Page 15 My father once told me when I I enclose an article which written Torah continues to shine today. was very very young, that his grandfather appeared in the American Jewish paper For many years they glorified who lived in Baghdad was the Hakham "Yated NE'EMAN about my grandfather the eastern side of the Torah world with Abraham Sofaer and that my mother's (my mother's father) HARAB SHIMON gedolim and chachomim, great poskim, grandfather was the Hakham Haron AGASSI Z.L., as well as a photograph at Kabbalists and paytanim whose songs are Aghasi of Iraq and the surrounding areas. the unveiling of a street in Jerusalem still sung today in Iraqi communities. And that Hakham Aghasi was so well- named after my grandfather. "There was a man in Baghdad, known and respected that when he died, a HaRav Shimon Agassi, whose light of l a rge part of the Middle East New York Violet Gabbay (née Torah spread through the hearts of that neighbouring Iraq went into mourning. Shashou) entire generation and the those after it. I am 83 years of age and before Gadol bakol mikol kol," HaRav Yaakov I leave this earthly domain, I shall be HAKHAM SHIMON AGASSI Hillel, rosh yeshiva of Ahavas Shalom most grateful if you could enlighten me zt'l wrote about him, "in the revealed and as to who were these two great hidden Torah, in his vast knowledge and gentlemen. depth of understanding. A great posek For your information, the actor The year was 5600 (1840). and d a r s h a n, a great p a y t a n a n d Abraham Sofaer, who died not so long Thousands of pure Jewish children were philosopher, a great leader in chassidus ago in the USA was my cousin. His faithfully learning Toras Hashem in the and perishus, great in his tzedaka and father and my father were brothers. Also, various branches of Beit Midrash Talmud kindness, great community activist and the ex-Judge Abraham Sofaer who ruled Torah that were established by Rabbenu great in understanding and vision, great on Ariel Sharon's case against the "Time" Abdulla Somech zt'l, considered one of in accepting affliction with love, publishers, is my nephew, my elder the greatest Iraqi rabbonim of recent overcoming nisyonos, and above all and brother David's son. times. Baghdad's children, who had in spite of everything, he was a great I thank you for all the issues of previously learned at home were now masmid", The Scribe you have been sending me streamlined into a Torah school system. In 5615 (1855), the sun began to which as a source of information and And then, like a thunderstorm shine with the birth of a son to Reb comfort I could now never do without. on a clear day, the agents of Alliance Aharon Agassi zt'l, whose parents came Israelite Universelle (Kol Yi s r a e l to Iraq from Persia. The Agassi family Shoresh, Israel Sassoon MeyerSofaer Chaveirim) stormed in to trap the pure had a paint business, which was an souls of the young children. "We only ancient Turkish profession, and wanted Scribe: For full information please refer want to promote Torah with d e re c h the thirteen year old lad, who had just to the book entitled "Yehude Babel" by eretz,"they claimed. Rav Yosef Chaim finished talmud To r a h, to join the Dr Abraham Ben Yaacob. We have also spoke against it. Baghdad, a large city business. sent you some information on Hakham residing in glory in the middle of Babel The struggle, as the reader can Shimon Haron Aghassi Ben Aba Ben Aba was a Torah center for hundreds of years. well understand, was difficult. T h e taken from Yehudé Babel by Dr Ben Even after the Talmud was sealed in the young Shimon was up against the rich Abraham Yaacob and from Quez time of the Rabbonon Saborai, it family and their tremendous pressure to Hayamim - history of Babylonian Rabbis continued carrying the flag of Torah in utilise his talents, as well as the fact that Ancient and Modern. ¨ full strength. For five hundred years the all his frineds decided to continue their geonim of Babel lit up the Jewish world studies in the new secular school of with their Torah, and the light of their Baghdad. In spite of everything, Shimon pursued his one and only goal - Torah! His parents, who encouraged him the entire times, supported his decision. The decision enriched Klal Yisroel with one of the foremost geonim of the generation. In the end, he benefited materialistically too. When his parents observed in wonder how their young boy was growing into a mighty giant, they decided a few years later to give him their house as a sign of appreciation for his great accomplishments. He began to realise his brave decision in Beit Zilkha: the city of Baghdad's huge beit midrash established by HaRav Abdulla Somech zt'l, which became a place where hundreds of talmidei chachomim studied To r a h Above : At the unveiling of the plaque of Hakham Shimon Agassi Street in diligently, twenty-four hours a day. Jerusalem. On the left is Aharon Shashou, a grandson. ¨ Rabbenu was twenty-six years old when he started writing his peirush on the Torah, an explanation that began a Page 16 long chain of outstanding seforim: Zahav Shevo, Imrei Shimon, Bnei Aharon and Shem MiShimon which encompass all parts of the Torah in breadth and depth. As the years went by, Rabbenu became one of the important ones. Rabbenu did not have pleasure from Olam Hazeh, and he described the terrible tragedies that befell him in a sea of tears and blood. He witnessed the tragic death of his three sons, one after the other. Rabbenu refused to be comforted. His students related that Rabbenu did not accept comfort for his oldest son until his last son Ezra Tzion grew up and married his brother's intended wife. Only then, on the day of his wedding, did Rabbenu remove the black turban from his head and rejoice happily. The above picture shows Iranian President Mohammed Khatemi (Centre) receiving His son's death gave Rabbenu Chief Rabbi Yousef Hamdani Cohen of Iran and Jewish member of Parliament the impetus to toil in the Torah of gilgul, Maurice Mutamed. They were among a delegation of Jewish leaders visiting the Head creating for later generations the of State. outstanding sefer Bnei Ah a ro n w h i c h took him nine years to write. Khatemi declared that Judaism is an officially recognised religion in Iran and that the In 5659 (1899), Rabbenu turned 30,000 Jews living in the country represent the highest number in any Moslem State. his house, which he inherited from his He claimed that religion played no part in sentencing 10 Jews to various prison father, into a beit knesses. Six years later, sentences as spies for Israel. These sentences are being appealed. ¨ he gave it to a gemilus chesed organisaztion to establish a school for orphans and poor children. Many of Firstly may I say a big thank you For some reason, I have not Baghdad's poor who were in danger of for the latest edition of The Scribe which been receiving The Scribe, for what shmad were saved by this outstanding I'm enjoying reading over the web - it's seems to be a long time. The Scribe has school and eventually developed great - well done to the Team! been one of the magazines that I enjoy beautifully. i m m e n s e l y, and in fact, among the With chasidei Hashem, a I believe it was the last edition where we numerous publications that I receive, The philanthropist was found in the city who found arabic proverbs and sayings. Scribe is the only one that I read from the agreed to Rabbenu's request to dedicate a first letter in the first page to the last letter l a rge portion of his riches to build I enclose some anagrams which I enjoy in the last page. It is indeed a shining star educational Torah institutions for the and thought I might share them with you amongst the Iraqi Jews publications. If young. In a number of places in his and your Editorial Team. possible, please resume sending it to me. seforim, Rav Shimon mentioned the gvir My best wishes for your continued Meir Eliyahu "who poured money out of I especially enjoyed the article on stamps success. Your service to the Iraqi Jews is his pocket to raise the flag of Torah and in this edition - if ever you need any priceless. ¨ return the crown to its former glory." information on stamps from around the This mesiras nefesh saved the generation world please don't hesitate to ask my Greenlawn, NY Joseph M Koreen, MD from the clutches of those who sought to father Joseph Murad as he collects uproot religion from the youth. stamps of the world from when they first Rabbenu succeeded in hiding appeared to today. himself so well that when he went up to I receive regularly The Scribe eulogise Rabbenu Yosef Chaim zt'l in Dormitory - Dirty Room which I find extremely interesting - I 1909, some of his neighbours were Desperation - A Rope Ends It have no connection whatsoever with surprised to see a man whom they The Morse Code - Here Come Dots Babylonian Jewry, my family (on both considered a simple merchant among the Slot Machines - Cash Lost in 'em sides) being typical Italian Jews for at chachomim eulogizing. Hakham Shimon Mother-in-law - Woman Hitler least 600 years, possibly more. died peacefully in 1914. ¨ Snooze Alarms - Alas! No More Z's Alex Guinness - Genuine Class The articles in The Scribe are The Public Art Galleries - Large Picture very interesting and the book reviews better than in many leading papers. ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Halls, I Bet A Decimal Point - I'm a Dot in Place Please keep me on your mailing Princess Diana - Ascend in Paris list. ¨ Better late than never It is better to do a thing after much London Joy Dangoor London John S Montefiore procrastination than not to do it at all. ¨ Page 17 George Bush Junior is running as the Republican candidate for President of the United States. The above picture, taken recently at The Dorchester in London shows George Bush senior and Mrs Bush, after a meeting with Renée and Naim Dangoor, the day Mr Bush received a knighthood from the Queen. ¨

To: Dr Zvi Shtauber Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister's Office Jerusalem

It was a pleasure meeting you at the meeting with the Prime Minister, and I enclose herewith a copy of my Journal The Scribe, which you may find of interest.

I am glad you took on board the remarks I made at that meeting about the claims of Jews from Arab countries. Not only the personal assets of those who were forced to leave, but the complete rights of our community, which constituted nearly a third of Baghdad's population and was predominant in the Shanghai Public School for Girls Reunion economy and finance of Iraq. While the London, 27 November 1965 Palestinians clamour to return to their homes in Israel, we cannot now go back FRONT ROW, L to R: Mrs F M Gavan (J M's Mother), Mrs D Moffatt, Miss M C to Iraq, but there is no reason why our full Munday, Mrs Aitchison, Miss M Rudge, Mrs A S M Hawkins (Alex), Mrs D Parrott, rights are not taken into account in the Miss Margaret MacGregor, Miss D Fredericks, Joan MacKenzie, Renée Dangoor context of a comprehensive settlement in MIDDLE ROW: Frances Bomko, Delia Colombo, Mireille Middleton, Fre n n y the Middle East. ¨ Karanjia, Peggy Clements, Mabel Chard, Connie Hayward, Betty Parsons, Adriana & Jaooba van Herwijnen, Sarah Ahmed, Madeleine Hardoon, Iris Krass Naim Dangoor BACK ROW: Mr Hawkins, Margaret Heath, Margaret Davies, Lorraine Henderson, Anne Archer, Beryl Davies, Jean Aitchison, Johanna van H, Edith Quayle (obscured), Shirin Petigura, Mr Ernest Parrott ¨ Page 18 Last February, the wedding took place in London of Robert, younger son of In September 1998, the David and Eileen Khalastchy to Fiona, daughter of Desmond and Anne Rule. Government of Venezuela issued 10 commemorative stamps, as shown, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the State of Israel. All designs carry background Israeli flag motif. ¨

Sent by Freddie Khalastchy

The above picture shows the couple with Robert's parents and uncles. Left to right: Naim and Renée Dangoor; David and Eileen Khalastchy; Robert and Fiona; Abdullah and Claire Dangoor; Sasson and Stella Dangoor.

As evidence of the rapid growth of the Iraqi Jewish community in London, the picture below shows all of Robert's cousins with spouses.

Left to right: Standing; Daniel Dangoor; Robert Dangoor; Anna Dangoor; Leif Engdahl; Bibbi Engdahl- Dangoor; Judy Dangoor; Audrey Dangoor; Michael Dangoor; Elie Dangoor; David Dangoor; the couple Robert and Fiona; bridesmaid Gaby Khalastchy; Freddie Khalastchy; Frank Khalastchi; Eric Dangoor; Reuben Dangoor; David Dangoor; Robin Engdahl; Eddie Dangoor; Robert Dangoor; Gary Fox. Sitting: ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Daniella Dangoor; Joy Dangoor; Sandra Dangoor; Eileen Khalastchy; Linda Khalastchi; Astrid Fox; Rosie Khalastchy; Hilary Dangoor; Natalie Engdahl. Ninety percent of inspiration is Sitting on the floor: perspiration Lauren Dangoor; Jacqueline Engdahl; Alexandra Dangoor; Stephanie Dangoor; Inspiration is useless without an aptitude Sarah Dangoor. ¨ for hard work; hence the perspiration! ¨ Page 19 VIZNITZ TALMUD TORAH'S RELIGIOUS Let religion take its full place within civil FIND SHABBOS AT CARMEL DISCRIMINATION society, a voice and a presence to be Taken from the Jewish Tribune 21.1.00 by Rev. Dr. Leslie Griffiths reckoned with in the search for justice and the common good. It doesn't need to Shabbos Parshas Bo will be In a debate in the House of be cushioned or treated in a special etched for a long time in the memories of Lords two nights ago, Labour peer Lord category or given special protection. And the close to 100 children and staff of the Ahmed called for a new law outlawing when religion loses those swaddling Viznitzer Talmud Torah in London, who religious discrimination. He's rightly bands of special status, that's when it can spent this memorable Shabbos in Carmel pointed to a number of anomalies in the stand up on its own feet and offer its College near Oxford. The idea, fostered way religions are treated. Only unique attractions to a generation which, by the Menahel and nurtured by a Christianity is protected by blasphemy I'm as convinced as can be, needs them dedicated team of Mechanchim and laws, for example; Jews are defined as a now more than ever. ¨ assistants, came to successful fruition race rather than a religion (even though after many weeks of preparation both by this race includes, as Lord Ahmed put it From BBC - "Thought for the Day" the children and the organisers. on this programme the other day, black Participation by the children was only Falashas, white Russian and brown possible by collecting tokens over a Lebanese Jews). In Northern Ireland period of 10-12 weeks. These were there's already a law against religious Hafiz al Asad with Jewish Leader awarded for a variety of discrimination. But not on the mainland. accomplishments (according to age and He wants to put an end to these ability), such as successfully being tested differences; he wants all religious groups by heart on Perokim of Mishnayos, protected by the law. achieving a certain level of marks in the Begging his Lordship's pardon, weekly tests of their Limudim learning but I think he's barking up the wrong tree. whole Sedorim without interruption, Anomalies do exist and they definitely behaviour in class, during Davening and need dealing with. But I'd go in exactly meal times and Derech Eretz. the opposite direction from the proposals At 4:00 pm on Friday all boys were he's making. It's my view that religions assembled in the spacious Beis shouldn't seek any special privileges or On the occasion of the death of President Hamedrash to say Shir Hashirim and protections. People should be free to Hafez al Asad, we publish the above have a learning session to welcome criticise us, misunderstand us, and even picture which shows the Syrian dictator Shabbos Hamalko. After Mincha they make fun of us. Sometimes, no doubt, shaking hands and welcoming the Chief were treated to an inspiring Drosho by we'd deserve it whilst at others we of the Syrian Jewish Community Rav Shmuel Stern. Mashgiach of the wouldn't. We should earn any respect Council, Yousef Kh. Jajati, who gave us Viznitzer Yeshiva Ketana. accorded to us and work hard to make our this photograph on a visit to London a A thoroughly uplifting Seudas contribution to the good of society few years ago. ¨ Shabbos was experienced by all, understood and welcomed. We should interlaced with Zemiros and Divrei always be invoking the Gamaliel Torah. Reb Chaim Moshe Feldman principle: if what we're all about is of demonstrated his enthusiasm and merely human origin then it'll enjoy its The last number of The Scribe which we appreciation to both the children and moment in the sun before fading away. have received is no. 72 of September Mechanchim by honouring the event with If, on the other hand, G-d has something 1999. his presence and delivering Divrei Torah to do with it, then it's going to be part of during the Seuda. the scene whether people like it or not. In order not to discontinue such an During the Seuda, Divrei Chizuk were Or, put in a somewhat different way, and interesting magazine which is constantly heard from Rabbi Dovid Chaim Katx, as I heard a ninety four year old Cardinal used by our Rabbis and Professors, we Maggid Shiur in Viznitz Yeshiva Ketana suggesting the other day, The Christian would appreciate it very much if you and, similarly during Sholosh Seudos, Church is facing its second Constantinian could send us the missing issues at your from Reb Yisroel Zieg. Rebbe of the top moment. In the fourth century, with the earliest convenience. class. Following Sholosh Seudos, the conversion of the Roman Emperor, highlight and keynote speech was given Christianity began a long flirtation with Thank you very much for your co- by Rabbi Shimon Hirschler. secular power which, many would argue, operation. ¨ Motzoei Shabbos was honoured by a has had a disastrous effect on our actions Melava Malka and Siyum for the and led to the accommodation of huge Rita Saccal Mishnayos (in excess of 1000 Perokim) privileges across the centuries and around Head Librarian learnt by the boys. the world. But now, the church is fast Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano After a full day's programme on reaching the point when secular "Marshall T Meyer" Sunday, the boys returned in the early government, post-Christian realities and Jose Hernandez 1750-4o. Piso evening, tired but happy and spiritually pluralistic societies make it highly 1426 Buenos Aires, Argentina fulfilled, attesting without exception that unlikely that such privileges will Phone Nos. 54 11 4783-2009/54 11 this was a most enjoyable Shabbos in all continue. Good. Let believers in any 4783-6175 respects. religion seek their proper protection Fax No. 54 11 4781-4056 Reb Herzi Stern and Mrs Stern worked under the Civil Law. Let all e-mail: [email protected] selflessly and tirelessly to achieve the discrimination on grounds of race, [email protected] resounding success of the event. ¨ gender, orientation or class be anathema. AFRICAN HEBREWS THE URGENT SEARCH FOR systems of law and authority in Israel and JEWISH UNITY each imperialistically believes that its I am a Canadian citizen as well Extracts from an address by Professor laws and norms must supercede all as being an African born on the island of Moshe Kaveh others. Jamaica, West Indies. As the last bit of President of Bar-Ilan University According to Isaac Luria, the information indicates, my ancestors As delivered in Cleveland, Ohio last 16th century Kabbalist, when G-d arrived in the Western hemisphere via the January created the universe he had to withdraw, slave trade. What you may not know, make tzimtzum, from some parts. either by choice or ignorance, is that My speciality as a physicist is We Israelis - and other Jews also many of the people groups/tribes/clans the study of stable and unstable systems. - could use a little tzimtzum right now. If that were the victims of the african slave And I am constantly asking myself: Is everyone reduced and contracted their trade were from tribes that the local Israel a stable state? Are the Jewish ambitions a bit, if everyone withdrew a African tribes viewed as recent historical people a stable system? Will Judaism step or two, if each side stopped trying to arrivals. Thus the intense animosity that and Jewish identity be preserved over impose its view of the world on our was present among them. Some of these generations? complex society, then we might be able to foreign/alien black tribes were known in To answer those questions, first avoid the explosion of raw hatred that the African dialects as Hebrews, Jews, we need to acknowledge the dangerous threatens us now. etc. It is also a suppressed fact that many gaps between Jews, because reducing This means that the rabbis of the Africans who were enslaved, these gaps is the way to unity. I think this should stop using the halacha as the basis besides speaking A f r i c a n is the need of the hour, this urgent search for statements about political issues. languages/dialects, also spoke Arabic as for unity. They should restrict themselves to the well as Hebrew. Many of their traditions More and more Israeli halachic point of view on Shabbat, on and attitudes were also very "Semitic"(?), columnists, politicians and ordinary prayer, on what the Torah and Talmud say but were suppressed by their European people on the street denounce all the about contemporary life, but not politics. and Jewish oppressors and enslavers, Orthodox as medieval or uncultured, to That's tzimtzum. mostly by very brutal means. treat everyone who wears a kippa as In the same way, the Israeli Therefore when I read about the some kind of dark and evil force. Supreme Court doesn't need to Lemba people's struggles to be Lately the behaviour of the aggressively and defiantly apply civil law acknowledged by their fellow Hebrews I Supreme Court of Israel is troubling to to every aspect of life. In a democracy instinctly (sic) understand, because we many religious Jews, who feel it the decisions of the Supreme Court must are living in a very white-souled world, shouldn't be ruling on religious issues be obeyed, and for this reason it must and most of the white Jews from the like conversion and matters of Jewish abstain from ruling on spiritual matters, Diaspora have been greatly affected by identity. I myself believe that our activist that too is tzimtzum. their long stay among the Europeans. We Supreme Court is moving into corners Our religious schools also know that birds of a feather flock where it shouldn't go. How do we close increasingly are afraid to confront or deal together - but so too do people of like the dangerous, growing gaps that with secular culture, which is perceived souls. We also know that what is a Jew is separate Jews from Jews, especially as inherently corrupt and opposed to a one thing, but what is a Hebrew is quite religious Jews and the non-religious? Jewish way of life. As a result, young a n o t h e r. If the right standard of And how do we build a state that is both people in those schools are sheltered and measurements were used, namely from Jewish and democratic? We need cut off from mainstream Israeli life. the Torah, rather than recently developed concrete ideas and concrete action. Likewise, most of our secular and anti-Hebrew/Torah standards, then Right now, in Israel, there is a shelter and cut off their students from any the Hebrews from the Sudan to the very battle between the extremists of both the contact with Jewish tradition and Jewish extremes of Africa, including the African religious and secular camps. T h e wisdom. The idea that the Torah and the Diaspora, would be welcomed home. majority of people - who are moderates - Talmud have profound wisdom to offer Maybe it's not our time to be unfortunately are getting swept into the all Jews, whether or not they believe in revealed to the world due to fray. G-d, seems to have escaped many of socio/economical/ political implications One source of the problem is Israel's educational leaders. but we know that as long as the ONE who that there are too many rabbis who We now have in Israel a small by prophecy scattered us thousands of believe that halacha is everything in life, but growing number of wonderful years ago, know who we are, and where that halacha is all encompassing. If so, dialogue programs. Secular and religious we, the sons of Abraham are, then at least there is a problem with the notion of a students are meeting each other. They are our children or their children will be democratic state. talking, studying together, developing finally welcomed home by his prophetic On the other hand, the judges in tolerance, discovering that they have pre-determinations. ¨ our Supreme Court and many of our much in common, and Bar- I l a n politicians and intellectual leaders University professors are actively Canada Derrick McEwan believe that civic law and democratic involved in many of them. We teach that norms are everything that you need in a Judaism and democracy are ÃÃÃÃÃÃ country. complimentary values. In physics, we know that you Even in the haredi world, there is a growing understanding that the tools All that glitters is not gold cannot have two bodies occupying the same space simultaneously. And that is of the modern world - like math, like Do not judge a thing by its attractive social work, like computers - will help appearance. ¨ the nature of this conflict. We have two Continued on following page Page 21 young Jews without depriving them of pregnant and had an abortion and then universe and the scientific theory of the their Jewishness. she became religious and married an ultra formation of the Sun and the Moon. We need to develop a stable Orthodox, then gave birth to a "first born" The universe originated about society whose basic values are shared by son. There is a special redeeming 15 billion years ago in a violent those who keep kosher and those who ceremony (Pediom) which we conduct explosion, popularly known as the "big don't, by the young people in the cafes of for first-born sons. Except that the bang". Immediately after the big bang, Tel Aviv and the yeshivah scholars. woman knew that this child was not the the entire universe was filled with An important rule of Jewish life "first-born fruit of the womb", she had radiation. Part of the radiant energy was should be the primacy of Klal Yisrael, the never told her husband of her previous immediately and spontaneously community of Israel. life, pregnancy and abortion. Should she transformed into the elementary particles In Jewish tradition, we place a now? She asked Rabbi Obadia Yosef, the of matter, and after only one second (!), great emphasis on the sanctity of life. leading Sephardi halachic decisor of our protons and neutrons were formed. The sanctity of life supercedes the Torah, generation: "Should I tell my husband? It Three minutes after the "big we are taught Jewish wisdom and Jewish will cause tremendous pain and conflict. bang", the first atomic nuclei were law indicate that Klal Yisrael supercede "Rabbi Yosef's wise response: formed, primarily helium. At that time, Jewish life. We go to war and risk our "Whenever you have a conflict between the temperature of the universe was one life to protect our loved ones and friends peace and truth, peace prevails. Don't tell billion degrees! Great drama! T h e and neighbours and Jews we don't know. your husband". physics of electromagnetic waves, But since Jewish life is secondary to Klal Dr Kaveh's general advice to elementary particles, and nuclear physics, Yisrael, then Klal Yisrael supercedes the resort to lies for the sake of harmony and which constitute about 75% of the Torah. peace is hard to swallow. physics curriculum for the B.Sc degree in It's unfortunate that some Moreover, Dr Kaveh who is an every university, all originated within sectors in the Jewish world believe they Orthodox Jew was speaking to an three minutes! and they alone are Klal Yisrael, that they American audience composed mostly of The rate of the subsequent and they alone are the Jewish community. Reformed Jews and his whole lecture development of the universe was greatly In fact, in Israel, Klal Yisrael includes the shows that he was playing to the slowed. About 300,000 uneventful years heredim, the dattim or national-religious, gallery. ¨ were to pass after the "big bang" as the and the secular sectors, each and every universe gradually cooled down. Jew. In the United States, Klal Yisrael H o w e v e r, when the universe finally includes the Orthodox, Conservative, reached a temperature of about 6000 Reform, Reconstructionist and the HISTORY OFTHE UNIVERSE degrees, dramatic events again began to unaffiliated. Imagine what our life would happen. The first signs appeared of the be like if our Israeli rabbis understood from a booklet by Professor Moshe the present-day structure of the universe, that Conservative and the Reform Jews Kaveh which consists of different materials. are also Klal Yi s r a e l. Imagine how President of Bar Ilan University These scientific findings imaginative their rulings would be if they aroused great excitement seven years believed that, when dealing with the ago, when the results of the COBE conversion of Reform Jews, Klal Yisrael When a child enters primary satellite reached the Earth. This satellite, is the supreme value. Imagine how much school, and finally begins to learn Rashi, launched into space in 1989 with the more welcoming they would be to he encounters Rashi's commentary on the most sophisticated equipment on board, Orthodox women who want a bigger role verse "And G-d said: Let there be succeeded in measuring the radiation that in Jewish rituals. luminaries in the heavens"(Genesis 1:14). reaches our planet from a distance of over Right now, in Israel, we teach The Talmud (Hullin 60b) quotes Rabbi 500 million light years. (One light year is our children to die for Klal Yisrael but not Shimon ben Pazi: "It is first written ' the the distance travelled by light in one year, to live for it. We do not teach them how two great luminaries', and then it is nearly 10 trillion kilometres). T h e to devote themselves to making sure Klal written 'the great luminary.' How is this photographs taken by COBE showed the Yisrael is preserved in times of peace, as explained? The Moon said to the development of the universe starting well as in times of war. Almighty: 'Master of the World, is it from 300,000 years after its origin. How possible for two kings to rule under one much time had to pass until the formation Scribe: The virtue of lying. crown?' The Almighty replied: 'Go and of atoms, the study of which constitutes It is noteworthy that the Ten diminish yourself'." the remaining 25% of the university Commandments do not contain a Although this parable has an physics curriculum? The first atoms prohibition on lying. But some Rabbis important moral lesson for all were formed about 10 million years after believe that a commandment "Thou shalt generations, it is also interesting to ask the "big bang". not lie" is equivalent to all the whether there is any relation between the When were the Earth, Sun, and prohibitions of the Ten Commandments. Genesis text and science, or at least the Moon formed? Physicists have learned In his speech at Cleveland, science of the ancient world. The idea that the solar system came into being Ohio, Bar-Ilan President, Dr Moshe that the Earth was destined to revolve about 10 billion years after the "big Kaveh, came out with another advice, around the "two luminaries" generates bang", that is, about five billion years namely that when you have a great curiosity. Is such a thing possible? ago. The Sun and planets appeared first, confrontation between peace and the Before providing answers for but the Moon was not formed until about truth, peace is more important than truth. legions of kindergarten teachers and their 50 million years after the planet As an example he goes on to cite pupils to the questions listed above, it is Earth. ¨ the case of a woman who became useful to survey briefly the history of the Page 22 From: Professor Moshe Kaveh (http://bar-ilan.edu). years, the more exuberant 1,000. The President of Bar-Ilan University I can only be grateful for G-d's abolition of mortality is now semi- Ramat-Gan, Israel blessings and the friendship of our o fficially envisaged on some distant supporters around the world. We have horizon. It will be achieved by meddling achieved so much. around with genes, which will improve When I look back on the past At this time of the year my the quality of life as well as its quantity. year in Israel, a year of many new thoughts also turn from the university to Many will greet this putative beginnings. Last year we launched our the broader, the Jewish world beyond - victory over death as a potential triumph. major project for the next fifty years - our and I find cause for concern indeed. I believe that it would be a tragedy. For $500 million campus extension in Ramat We seek to bridge between Jews death has a purpose, and without it, our Gan - with advanced construction on the and Israelis of all persuasions by teaching lives on earth would be meaningless and first four buildings. Jewish tradition and ethics in an open, devoid of value. Four historic lead gifts, all from critical manner. Bar-Ilan University's This is not the popular view of friends of the university in the United more than 45,000 graduates are testament death. The decline of religious belief in States have jump-started construction on to our success in this regard. ¨ western Europe has contributed to the Gonda (Goldschmied) Brain uncertainty of what becomes of us after Research Center, the Ann and Marcus I WOULD CHOOSE it. We fear the unknown, and death itself Rosenberg Music Building, the Anna & may hurt. Mortality militates against the Max Webb & Family Psychology DEATH OVER ETERNAL desire to control our own destinies. A Building, and we shall finish the Jack and LIFE predictable death, as in terminal illness, Gitta Nagel Family Jewish Heritage from The London Daily Telegraph seems no more palatable than the surprise House this year. demise of a heart attack. Life is fun and, We have also made significant even when foul, preferable to the progress in advancing essential academic "Death may no longer be inevitable," writes Dr John Harris, alternative. There were relatively few goals in a number of key disciplines. The suicides in the extermination camps. The Center for the Study of Dead Sea Scrolls Professor of Bioethics at Manchester U n i v e r s i t y, and a member of the neo-Darwinists see us as robots whose and Jewish Epigraphy was established in defining genes are simply selfish survival partnership with David and Jemima Government's Genetic Commission. I never expected to read such words mechanisms. We are programmed to Jeselsohn of Switzerland and a new avoid death. No wonder we recoil from chemistry library and research wing is written by a serious scientist in my lifetime. it. being established by dear friends of the But do we? Should we? Will University from Australia. I am proud to Of course, no one is suggesting the imminent demise of the Grim Reaper, we? If death is no longer inevitable, will note that our campaign to establish it acquire some attraction? Perhaps our doctoral fellowships is gaining Male life expectancy since 1900 has increased by about 25 years. Announcing distaste for it is coloured, if not caused, impressive momentum. by its supposed inevitability. Imagine if We also made a major decision the results of the Human Genome Project this week, Bill Clinton gave young Leo death were a choice. Would it lead to a to open a new School of Hi-Te c h breakdown or to a strengthening of the Engineering, and we launched our Virtual Blair an extra 25 years on the spot. Others are already talking about 150 brotherhood of man? I suggest the Jewish University on the Internet former. The earth's resources are finite and would concentrate in the hands of the Last March was the super-vital, super-aged, to the chagrin of wedding in London of Dr their great, great, great grand-children. Amira Naseem Sopher and Who can doubt that, even today, children Frankie Sweiry. are often ambivalent about their aged Frankie who is an parents' continued existence? accountant is the son of Isaac Governments, and the dictators we seem and Rahma Sweiry who came to have forgotten about so swiftly, would f rom Bahrain but were soon be busy organising "forced originally from Iraq. Dr retirement". Life would quickly become Amira is now a partner GP in nasty, brutish and long. a London suburb (see also Crammed together like sardines, picture gallery in The Scribe and competing with our own progeny for 70, page 6). limited space and material resources, we The picture left shows the would be alive, but dead from déjà vu. couple with the bridesmaid Everything of value would have died Gaby Khalastchy. ¨ except for us... fun, excitement, love, hope, sex, pleasure. It seems certain that our desire for life would not long outlast the knowledge that our wish for immortality would soon be eternally gratified. Mistrust and fear of death depend on another assumption that may Continued on following page Page 23 not be true. Is life really good? the result of an act of creation did not Himself who, like a croupier, keeps Optimists, answering yes, would point to seem obvious to everyone. It was arrived moving these stars around. (say) beauty, love, the joy of children, or at by our ancestors but was rejected We know now, of course, that the kindness and moral goodness of man. elsewhere. As recently as 330 BCE when the Universe is self-sustaining and does Research into happiness is narrowly on Alexander the Great visited Israel, he not need anyone to direct its movements. the side of those who say that, on wrote to his mentor, the philosopher In fact, any outside interference would be balance, they are contented. In our Aristotle, asking him what he thought of disastrous. There is no need, therefore, cultural climate, to admit that life is the Jewish idea of Creation. His reply for G-d to take any part in the running of unpleasant is construed as a sign that we was, "What creation? The world has his Creation. Thus, if G-d created the have failed in it. But the last century saw always been there!" It was for this that Universe but is no longer there, when did horrors unlike any the world has known. the prophet said: He pass away? Surely, G-d who created But if life is, on balance, bad, "Darkness shall cover the earth, and deep time could not have disappeared at a and eternal life as unattractive as it is darkness the nations but on thee G-d moment in time. G-d could only have insupportable, what then of death, the shines and his glory will be seen upon disappeared with the Big Bang. It was great deliverance? When no longer thee." the simultaneous moment of G-d's natural and inevitable, might it at last be Modern science has confirmed demise and the Creation of the Universe. considered good? For believers in G-d the inspired knowledge of our ancestors In other words, the Universe is G-d's and Heaven, how can it not be a regarding the origin of the Universe and wonderful memorial. wonderful thing to die? its creation out of nothing which started What about all the instances that In truth, death defines our life as with the Big Bang. Encouraged by this G-d spoke to Moses, the experience at a full stop does a sentence. Death alone, information, even serious Bible scholars Mount Sinai, the parting of the Red Sea, by providing an ending, makes sense of are trying to find scientific proof in every the miracles? How did all these events our birth and the drama of life in word of the Bible which is overdoing it. come about if G-d was no longer there? between. We have a limited time to plan The idea of the One True G-d The answer is that all these events were our legacy, to play to the best of our came about by reasoning that if there pre-recorded, pre-destined. ability the cards we have been dealt. were more than one G-d, soon they would More and more, scientists and Death gives value to our times. Those compete with one another and in the end philosophers are coming to the who have brushed with it, and survived, one of them would have emerg e d conclusion that every event, past present talk of its pleasantness, and yet return victorious and thus became the One True and future, since the Big Bang and until from the brink born again, determined G-d. the end of Time was programmed at the not to waste now precious years. They The idea of G-d the Sustainer, time of Creation. It is also the experience see purpose and meaning in those things One who does not sleep or slumber but of old people that what happens has to they had taken for granted and are keeps the Universe going, the Living G- happen because it is the destiny that it determined to leave their mark of d, was arrived at in Babylon by Abraham should happen. goodness on the microcosmic moment of who was an astronomer and whose ideas Where do we go from here? We forever that is human existence. A surfeit are the foundations of all three believe that man was created in the image of life will sicken our appetite for it. monotheistic Faiths. According to of G-d and I therefore believe that man Rationing it naturally sharpens our desire Josephus, the first century Jewish unless he will destroy himself by to leave our echo in eternity. Wi l l military commander and historian, committing an error, is eventually somebody tell the scientists that death is Abraham noticed that some stars were destined to become G-d himself which is not our enemy? It is our friend. ¨ not fixed in the sky, but continued to not impossible in a world of infinity and move from one place to another and came eternity. to the conclusion that it must be G-d I am writing all the above in the Jewish tradition of investigating and THE DEMISE OF G-D enquiring without any intention of Continuation of Thoughts & Afterthoughts irreverence. ¨

Eternal life is equivalent to a THE LESSON OF T H E perpetual life imprisonment - a fate worse HOLOCAUST than death. Should G-d, then, be denied the luxury of dying? In recent years much has been The extermination during the written and said about the death of G-d, war in cold blood and with impunity, by apparently because nothing has been the beasts of Germany and its allies, of heard of Him or from Him for some time. six million Jews, is a crime unequalled The G-d referred to is obviously the G-d since the dawn of civilisation. It is an eye of the Bible, our G-d. opener for those with intelligence. The idea of G-d took many As he witnessed the daily millennia to develop - first G-d the consignment of ten thousand men, Creator, then the One True G-d, then G-d women and children to the gas chambers, the Sustainer, who keeps the Universe one Rabbi remarked “If G-d does not ticking. intervene in this massacre, then take it The fact that the Universe was from me that, as far as we are concerned, there is no G-d!” ¨ Page 24 NEW EVIDENCE OF THE This area of inert darkness is most of the patients at Hazon Petaya known as an abyss that is anoxic, remain dependent for the rest of their GREAT FLOOD meaning that the trapped water could not lives, but a number do go on to find jobs from The Sunday Times - 27.9.99 circulate and has lost its oxygen, "Such outside, get married, begin studying and conditions exist nowhere else in the even start their own businesses. world," Dr Ballard said. In recent years, however, Compelling evidence that there The theory supposes that in this government support for Hazon Petaya was a Great Flood, as told in the Old dead zone wooden ships will be has been cut and increased competition Testament story of Noah's Ark, has been preserved intact, possibly still with their has made it more difficult to obtain work found far below the waters of the Black Bronze Age sails, and just waiting for Dr for the patients. As a result, the Hazon Sea by an American expedition. Ballard and his team. The explorers are Petaya Center has built up a huge debt Underwater surveyors, led by convinced that there may be many ships and can only accept a fraction of all Robert Ballard, the renowned on the bottom because the Black Sea potential patients. oceanographer who found the Titanic and served as an important commercial By sending your contribution to other sunken ships of the 20th century, waterway. Hazon Petaya today, you will help us to have discovered an ancient coastline at a Dr Ballard has participated in continue to provide "rehabilitation depth of 450 ft. 120 deep-sea expeditions. He found two through work" - the best medicine for "I am not sure whether it is Phoenician vessels more than 3,000 years those who need to feel self-esteem, self- Noah's flood or not Noah's flood, but I do old. worth and pride in their buy that there was a flood," said David accomplishments. Mindell, one of the surveyors. The Ballard team was working Scribe: In response to our enquiry, the from a theory about the biblical flood of British Admiralty have confirmed that Scribe: How Rommell was halted. antiquity propounded by two marine water flows from the Mediterranean On her visit to our offices, Mrs geologists from Columbia University in through the straits of the Dardanelle and Petaya related that in 1942 Rommell and New York, William Ryan and Wa l t e r the Bosphorus into the Black Sea. This his German army were advancing rapidly Pittman, in their new book, Noah's Flood, clearly indicates that the Mediterranean along the Egyptian coast towards reviewed in Scribe No. 71, page 3. receives much more river water than does Palestine. The Jews there became afraid As Dr Ballard explained; the Black Sea which supports the of the consequences of falling into the "During the last great Ice Age glaciers assumption that when the Dardanelle was hand of the Nazis, and many thought of advanced across the surface of the world. closed in ancient times, the water level of d i fferent ways of committing suicide. That lowered the sea level 400ft. Then, the Mediterranean became much higher Shaoul Petaya went to the British 12,000 years ago at the end of the Ice than that of the Black Sea.¨ Commanding Officer and asked him to Age, the glaciers began to retreat". let him use an aeroplane to save the With its lower sea level, the situation by prayers and supplications. eastern Mediterranean was cut off from As the situation was desperate the officer the Black Sea so that when the oceans THE HAZON PETAYA agreed, and Shaoul Petaya took 12 white started to rise, the Black Sea did not. chickens and flew around the country Dr Ballard continued: "Around REHABILITATION CENTRE killing the chickens one by one as 7,600 years ago, guess what happens? by: Mrs Simcha Petaya-Ovadiya, sacrificial offering for the safety of The Mediterranean breaks through a Director of the Hazon Petaya Centre Palestine and throwing them out of the natural dam at the Bosphorus and window on the ground below. It appears catastrophically floods the land surface. For over 25 years, the Hazon that soon thereafter Rommell's advance People living there are 400ft below sea Petaya Rehabilitation Center in was halted and the tide began to turn level and in trouble. They are facing a Jerusalem has been providing against him. The Jews of Palestine drew flood equal to 10,000 Niagara Falls." rehabilitation through work for men and a deep sigh of relief, while the Arabs This flood was on a far greater women who cannot hold jobs any place became greatly disappointed. They had scale than the one described in Genesis, else, because of physical problems or been chanting everywhere, "Hasten your which is said to have lasted for 40 days emotional disturbances. Since its steps Rommell". and 40 nights, covering every living thing founding by my late father, Shaul Petaya, A similar incident was recently on Earth beneath 24ft of water other than the Center has taught a trade and helped reported by the BBC during the long Noah, his family and his pairs of animals rehabilitate over 2,000 psychiatric winter drought in Israel. Ten Orthodox carried to safety on the ark. patients. Rabbis took an aeroplane with live In the new theory, it is believed At Hazon Petaya, each chickens and performed a similar ritual. that each day for two years ten cubic individual does real work in packaging, Two days later, reported the BBC, the miles of ocean water cut through the sewing and print production finishing. rain began to fall and the drought came to widening Bosphorus channel as it flowed The work is supervised by a professional an end. into what was then a fresh water lake, s t a ff, with counsel provided by Nevertheless, the Arabs, who raising the level by six inches a day. psychologists and social workers. were on the side of Hitler, received all the The incoming salt water, more Patients receive salaries which benefit of the Second World War, while dense than the fresh water it displaced, are most often not covered by the actual the Jews who were on the side of the plunged to the bottom of the lake bed, work done. At Hazon Petaya, the work is Allies are still struggling for a coastal transforming it into a sea where the never an end in itself, but a therapy strip of rocky territory. ¨ depths support no life. leading to healing and recovery. In fact, Page 25 INTEREST FREE MONITARY SYSTEM Dear Dr Soros It was a great pleasure to read Letter sent to: THE SCRIBE, issue 72. I see from this The Rt Reverend Dr Richard Harries My wife and I and our son were issue that interest-free lending is a matter Bishop of Oxford very fortunate to attend the dinner at Park close to Mr Naim Dangoor's heart. Lane Hotel, London on May 4th given by I have been working on this Dear Bishop the Board of Deputies in your honour, matter for many years and I believe that and to listen to the most interesting interest-free linkage to the average wage Why are the poor, poor? answers to the various questions which or income is a practical way of lending, were put to you. Allow me to put to you and is in the spirit of the Miswah: "If thou I was interested in your my own question, kindly requesting your lend money to My people, even to the "Thought for the Day", this morning, opinion on this important issue. poor with thee, thou shalt not be to him as especially as that question has been on In view of the recent final a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him my mind for 70 years. Since the late demise of the gold standard, the gradual interest" [Exodus 22-24]. twenties I have been thinking over the phasing out of gold reserves by central Interest-free loans linked to the problem of poverty and its possible banks, and of the gradual transition to published average wage would give an solutions. paper money, firstly by the issuing of average yearly return of about 1.5% Communism succeeds in gold certificates, then by promissory above the price index to the lender. making everyone poor, and this cannot be money (I promise to pay the bearer TEN Erosion of the lender's money is the answer. Capitalism fails to make POUNDS)...... do you think that prevented, but there are risks. everyone rich, and it too cannot be the the time has come for mankind to achieve I look forward to hearing from answer. Helping the poor, while a virtue the biblical dream of Moses and work out you. in itself, the need for it is a loud an interest-free monitory system? This condemnation of our economic system. can simply be done by accepting the Israel Raphael B Yehezkel Sooner or later mankind, after principle that promissory paper money decades free of major warfare, will come needs to be issued - not in the name of the to realise: money lender nor of the central bank, but Scribe: 1. The need to restrict the ability to store by the consumer, or in the name of the Thank you for your information wealth. The Bible deals with that point, consumer. on interest-free loans. Your solution, limiting the ownership of landed property In moving from commodity however, is cosmetic. You just try to get to 50 years. money to promissory money, economists around the biblical ban on usury by 2. Money is a form of credit, and did not take the right step. Moses various means. This is like Islamic promissory money must be issued in the identified the problem of the need for an banking. When a person deposits money name of the consumer and not by the interest-free medium of exchange, but no with an Islamic bank, instead of receiving money lender. The amount of interest solution was possible at that time. interest, he receives a share of the bank's paid by the community for the use of Moses left only a pious wish profit. This is like curing the symptoms promissory money is staggering and against usury, taken up by the Christians instead of curing the illness. My solution crippling. The Bible condemned in the Middle Ages and also by the is more genuine, more radical. It goes to usury but unfortunately does not offer a Moslems. Ironically Jews became the the root of money. Money must be issued solution. The solution is that money money lenders to the Gentiles with great in the name of the consumer, instead of in should be issued by the consumer based riches and persecution. Present Islamic the name of the money lender. on ability to repay. banking is only cosmetic. If promissory money is issued Jubilee Dot Com may yet be the My Foundation is able and by or in the name of the consumer, greatest spinner of them all! willing to devote the necessary funds for interest suddenly disappears. This is the the promotion of this idea. real money, not commodity money. Naim Dangoor Where mankind went wrong was to treat Yours sincerely Naim Dangoor paper money as commodity money. Reply letter from the Bishop of Oxford: Promissory money was not possible at the time of Moses, so the To r a h Dear Mr Dangoor Dear Mr Dangoor mentioned the problem but could not Thank you for your letter of provide a solution at that time. Now we Thank you for your letter. It was May 9th. I am afraid I am not in a can have the solution. good to receive your thoughts on this position to answer your question about an You still talk about a lender and important subject. interest free monetary system. a creditor which is directly contravening With all good wishes. the Miswah you quote. The Rt Reverend Richard Harries With best wishes. I believe that the greatest danger George Soros in the world is not the atom bomb, not S c r i b e : Bishop Harries re c e n t l y Soros Fund Management LLC global warming, but compound interest. informed his congregants that any Open Society Institute Christian who cannot believe in the New York divinity of Jesus should not revert to Unitarian Christianity but should take up Scribe: Dr Soros is known to give an For a full explanation of Mr Yehezkael's Judaism - a religion which has been abrupt comment on matters in which he is ideas please refer to his home page: successfully tested and has survived for not an expert. ¨ http://shekel.jct.ac.il/~rafi ¨ 4,000 years. ¨ Page 26 ONE GENERATION GOES AWAY AND A NEW GENERATION MOSHE KATZAV - ISRAEL'S ARRIVES 8TH PRESIDENT by Percy Gourgey MBE On 15 June a son was born to David and Ide Dangoor of New York, a brother to his three sisters. He was named Selim Eliahou Edward, being the grandson of Selim The election in August 2000 of Eliahou Dangoor who passed away two years ago and of Eliahou Edward Weitzen. Moshe Katzav as Israel's 8th President, defeating the famous Shimon Peres in a Knesseth vote, 63-57, surprised e v e r y b o d y. The vote coincided with dissatisfaction over Prime Minister Barak's handling of the failed Peace talks at Camp David earlier in the month. Barak had backed Peres. Katzav was born in Iran in 1945 and came to Israel in 1951 where his family had settled in the religious town of Kiriat Malachi. Katzav's rise to eminence may be compared to the American process of log cabin to White House! He graduated from the Ben Shemen Agricultural School and, after military service, obtained a degree in economics and history from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. At the age of 24 Above: picture of the new born he became (Likud) Mayor of Kiriat Malachi, the youngest mayor in Below : the Torah Crown which was donated by the family to the Great Synagogue of ministerial posts in Likud governments Stockholm in memory of Selim Dangoor. culminating as Minister for Tourism and Trade in Netanyahu's government from 1996-1999. I met him in Tbilisi, Georgia in September 1998 when he led a large delegation of Georgian businessmen from Israel which contracted billions of dollars business between Israel and Georgia. I was a member of the World Sephardi Federation delegation. The President of Georg i a , Eduard Shevardnaze. the penultimate Soviet Foreign Minister under President Gorbachev had decided to celebrate the forthcoming millennium in a unique way. As members of the Georgian Orthodox Christian Church, they decided to honour their 2,500 year old Jewish community, which had never suffered anti-Semitism, through four days of state celebrations. It was a wonderful experience with many notable events organised by the Government. It concluded with a State Banquet. ¨

GOURGEY FELDMAN WEDDING

The wedding took place recently at the London Savoy Hotel of Gabrielle G o u rg e y, (daughter of my brother Reggie) with Andrew Feldman. The toast was proposed by Mr James Wolferson, President of the World Bank in At the presentation of the Torah Crown, the Chief Rabbi emeritus, Morton Washington, a personal friend of Reggie. Narrowe made a moving sermon in the presence of Ruth, children and grandchildren. ¨ London Percy Gourgey OBITUARIES promoting a strong connection with the life. Eliyahu Hillel ZL Jewish community in the Land of Israel. He built his house in North Tel During those years, while the British Aviv, a house that many remember as an mandate was still in effect in Iraq, one open house known for its hospitality. could engage in Zionist activity more or Another chapter in my brother less legally (though under the Eliyahu's life began when I was recruited intimidating, hostile surveillance of the into the Mossad for Aliyah Bet and sent local Muslim population and the on missions to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon government institutions). When Iraq and Egypt. It was clear that Eliyahu was became independent in 1932, it became the only one in the family to whom I clear that the Zionist movement could no confided the secret of my leaving on longer operate, due to the extreme confidential missions, and his infinite nationalistic attitudes of the rulers of Iraq. love and concern always accompanied And the movement did indeed break up, me on those missions for many years. with some of the members immigrating One of the veteran members of the Aliyah to Israel, while others who remained in Bet group said to me on the day of place becoming submerged in the Eliyahu's funeral: "You thought it was problems of day to day existence. only you who were recruited into the Eliyahu, the son of a well-to-do Mossad for Aliyah Bet, but no less than businessman, decided that he wanted to you - Eliyahu was also recruited. His immigrate to the Land of Israel and to home and his office in Wesco (opposite realize the ideal he had believed in and the old central bus station in Tel Aviv) exhorted others to realize. This was a served us at the Mossad for Aliyah Bet as true revolution in the Hillel family. His a second office that was always at our five older brothers had already left Iraq, disposal, day and night". And that was I have written a small article in but not for the land of Israel but rather for so, not just his office but also the home of memory of my Brother, Eliyahu ZL. I countries all around the world, where Eliyahu and Renee became the home of had it translated to English, which you they conducted extensive business. This the people of the Aliyah Bet group. may wish to print in The Scribe. I believe was the role designated for Eliyahu when Many emissaries, when they came to Eliyahu deserves it. Moreover, I believe he finished school - to take his place in Israel, were hosted for days at their home his story is the story of a whole the family business. But he stood his on Ben Yehuda 121. At that time, it was generation, your generation, that is ground: neither business, nor commerce, not customary for emissaries who came worthwhile to tell. instead - the Land of Israel and the to Israel to stay at hotels and they were studyng of agriculture - of all things - at glad to sleep on the rugs in Eliyahu's Jerusalem Shlomo Hillel the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School, as house and to be hosted at his generous preparation for realizing the dream of table, abundant with the good food being pioneering farmer in the Land of prepared by his wife Renee. Many On the 2nd of Shevat (January 8, Israel. He was 18 years old when he left immigrants who came to Israel also knew 2000), Eliyahu Hillel passed away at the his parents' warm, comfortable home to their address, found their way to it, and age of 84. cope with a new and unfamiliar reality of were given help. Testimony of that may Those passing by his grave in dormitory life in an agriculture school in be found by the many people who the Yarkon Cemetery might not know the Land of Israel. attended his funeral or who came to that there lies a precious man, a man of Eliyahu's aliyah symbolised a comfort the family during the shiva great deeds, a man who loved his fellow turning point in the life of the entire period. man and who was loved in return. They family and perhaps even contributed to it. Eliyahu left a wife and three couldn't have known that there lies a Except for those who had already struck loving sons, two of them living in Canada fascinating life story - the story of a roots in the various foreign countries , but the youngest son, Mickey, lives in pioneer whose life symbolises the around the world where they were living, Israel and is raising his family here. The beginnings of the redemption of the the entire family immigrated to Israel, three children of Mickey and his wife ancient Babylonian Jewry, its one after another, became deeply Orli, Eliyahu's grandchildren, were a immigration to the Land of Israel, and involved in the life of the country, and source of joy and delight to Eliyahu in his becoming involved in building it. became an address for many of the Iraqui last years. With the good feeling that his Eliyahu ZL was one of the Jews who later came to Israel and sought children, grandchildren, relatives and founders of the Ahiever Movement in out good advice and guidance in friends loved him, he left this world. For Baghdad and a key activist in it at the end becoming successfully absorbed in the us, his family, his wife, his children, his of the 20's and the beginning of the 30's. country. brother and sisters it is hard to say Together with friends, most of them Eliyahu's marriage to Renee of goodbye. The pain is deep, the loss is youths at the Jewish school "Shamash" the Twena family and the outbreak of the great. he established a dynamic Zionist Second World War which severely hurt movement which dedicated itself to the citrus export industry (one of the May his memory be blessed. ¨ teaching Hebrew, speaking Hebrew, and major agricultural crops at that time), put an end to Eliyahu's dream of agricultural Page 28 Niazi Sion Dangoor overnight but they retained the song polite and promised that Niazi would not without mentioning the author. Almost be bothered again. This promise was every foreigner had to sport a badge of kept for many years to come. He took the his country and even members of the unprecedented step by standing up, shook diplomatic corps with dark complexions his hand, greeting Grosse Got and Gutten were molested. But Niazi was bold to Tag, and not raising his hand in the Nazi walk the streets without fear. With his salute. angelic good looks, wave hair and blue It was at the racecourse that Inge eyes, he became like an icon in a drab Hansen Niazi's then girlfriend and one of city. Dressed in a Savile Row suit by the most beautiful women in Germany, Henry Poole and driving in a smart was brought to the attention of Dr Ley, Mercedes Benz coupé, he was courted by the Labour Minister and one of the most the intelligentsia as the first man from far repulsive types of German corpulents. away Iraq in their midst. Among them He asked to see the woman and after was Professor Landsberger the meeting her he fell madly in love with archaeologist and the greatest her, divorced his wife and married her. Assyriologist of the century who was to His strength through joy cruise ships compose the Assyrian-English dictionary. swarmed up to Westminster pier just It was during my school holiday before the war and in 1940 he promised in Leipzig that my brother took me with his workers trips to the beauty spots of his girlfriend and a couple of German conquered Britain. However, with acquaintances to the races. Soon after Reichs defeat he was indicted as war our arrival, the military band struck, the criminal in Nuremberg and hanged THE BEAUTY AND THE BEASTS Nazi anthem was sung by the crowds himself in his cell. by Abdulla S Dangoor who raised their hands in the Hitler salute In 1938, after the Munich with shouts of Heil Hitler and Sieg Heil. conference, Niazi was on a business trip Niazi Sion Dangoor who died It was a daring do of Niazi and I at his to London. When he phoned his office in recently in Tel Aviv at the age of 90, was side, giving the old fashioned military Leipzig, he was told by his secretary that born in Baghdad in 1910 when Iraq was a salute. The racegoers looked somewhat he cannot speak freely as the premises province of the Ottoman Empire and was surprised at our bold and defiant attitude. were occupied by the Gestapo and all named after Niazi Pasha the leader of the A few days after this episode, communications were cut off with the young Turks who staged a revolt against Niazi was summoned to the Gestapo outside world. Niazi's first reaction was the Sultan. Niazi showed his skill in Chief Obersturmerbannfuhrer. Facing not to go back and was so advised by his languages and at an early age mastered the man with his intimidating physical friends and relatives. However, the next four languages: Arabic, Hebrew, English presence, he deployed the strategy that day and on the spur of the moment, he and French and latterly German. He was the first part of defence is attack. He took the plane and went straight to the a brilliant entrepreneur and with the help upraided him for keeping him waiting on Gestapo headquarters. He barged in of his brother-in-law, Jacob Mashaal, a a primitive and uncomfortable bench. unannounced and demanded to see the racing man and a member of the Racing The blond beast, pompous, arrogant and senior chief who became his friend. He Board, he secured a concession for a bombastic became docile. Eventually the stood before him, indomitable, unbent betting office in town. A year later, at the wolf turned into a little twerp. The Chief and courageous and berated him for their age of 21, he realised that there was a asked him silly questions. Is Meyer the aggressive raid. The man was trade opening with Germany and with the senior partner of your company a Jew? dumbfounded and after consulting his encouragement of Dr Grobba, the Yes he is. Does he worship in a colleagues, he apologised profusely that German minister in Baghdad, travelled to synagogue? I have no idea. Do you the action was undertaken by far away city of Leipzig and established a know him well? "No. I have never met subordinates without his knowledge. branch office to one of the biggest him." How is that? Because he lives in Why were the ruthless Gestapo companies in Iraq, Meyer Toeg and Basra and I am from Baghdad. Ach so! cosying to a man who cocked a snook at Joseph Moshi to trade through the newly Where is Basra? It is the main port of them with a brash manner? Niazi had the established Havara Mark which enabled Iraq. He never asked Niazi whether he patronage of Dr Grobba and was a friend German exports to be very competitive. was a Jew for fear that he might tell him of the Emir Zaid the Iraqi envoy. Also Within a year he became fluent in to mind his own business. When alerted they did not want to upset the notorious German and achieved a great success in by an aide that he may be dealing with a King Ghazi who was anti-British and his business enterprise. Jew, he rebuked him by telling him: It is broadcasting pro-German propaganda In 1931, Germany was in a state I who decide who is a Jew. A f t e r from his palace. of tranquillity and Jews flourishing in the gruelling on petty and irrelevant subjects, At this juncture Niazi came to arts, music and business. The Lorélei, the Niazi could not contain his irritation, lost the conclusion that it was time to go. He poem written by the Jewish poet, his patience and threatened to complain realised that war was imminent as he Heinrich Heine, was the most popular to the Wilhelm Strasse (The Foreign watched from his office in Nicolai song at the time: "I know not why I am so Office) that the Chief overstepped his Strasse the queues of the contingent of sad; I cannot get out of my head a mark by his intrusive interview. The workers, and was told that these can be fairytale of Olden Times". But with the Chief has realised that he cannot draw transformed within hours into a fighting advent of the Nazis things changed swords with a man of intelligence, force. He thought how naive and learning and charisma. He was now so Continued on following page Page 29 ignorant the Western leaders were. The OBITUARY imaginative businessman, it was not the French Prime Minister boasted that Hitler by Stella Shamoon desire for success that drove daddy. It treated him as an equal and Chamberlain was an inborn boundless energy and a proclaiming that he can trust the Fuhrer hunger for challenge. He met each and that he is a man of his word and he NIAZI SHAMOON challenge and often conquered. can do business with him. Niazi was born in Baghdad in He said goodbye to his tearful 1914 to a family of seven children. He German staff who regarded him as a was four when he lost his father. foreign protector and his being in His grieving mother turned to Germany was reassuring of continued her father, a man of high moral rectitude peace. In fact some of them wrote to him and sense of duty whom Niazi greatly after the war seeking his help. Although admired and respected, and who from most of them were Nazi sympathisers, that day was to become provider, they felt very vulnerable and looked at protector and head of the young bereaved him as a father figure and foreign family during the rest of his days. protector. Niazi's great grandfather One final noble act was to Shamoon was a brother of the famous obtain a visa and work permit in France David Sassoon the First. But when the for his Polish Jewish employee by the Sassoons offered to assume responsibility name of Fischleiber, mindful of the of the young widow and her children, his ancient Rabbinic teaching that he who maternal grandfather was too proud and saves a single life, saves the world. ¨ said he did not want any outside help. My father had a remarkable memory and was a wonderful storyteller. He was a proud man, tall and Edmond Safra dignified but utterly unpretentious, Niazi (Abraham) Hayim possessed of infectious friendliness and a Shamoon, beloved husband of Teff e h powerful urge to communicate with SUICIDE OUT OF FEAR (née Iny), father of Olivia, Stella and others. He approached everyone with Hilda, and grandfather of Guy respect and an open mind. I knew an elderly gentleman, let Greenberg, Dahlia and Benjamin Dana Whether to charm, to persuade us call him Jim, who had a morbid fear of and Samuel Setton (Smouha) passed or to argue his corner, my father was an hanging himself if left alone in the house, away on 2 September at the age of 86 eloquent advocate who delighted in and insisted on having someone stay with years. words, had a keen sense of humour and him at all times. Being an intelligent Rabbi Levy and Rabbi Gubbay quick wit. He was as awesome in person, he reasoned with himself as to the led the prayers at the burial. argument as he was persuasive in praise. cause of his anxiety. He came to the The immediate family was With his partner, the late Ghali conclusion that he felt he would be joined by relatives from Paris and from Shamash, my father built up a chain of vulnerable, if left alone, to anyone Geneva, along with life-long friends from London-based hotels and serviced forcing himself into the house or opening our community based in London. apartments, The Embassy Group, which the door by some means. As a result he Rabbi Levy said Niazi was a was sold in 1976. decided to put the chain on the door and patriarch and dynamic man who although He was an old man but to the his problem came to an end. not strictly speaking religious, had a deep end retained a young person's hunger for In the case of Edmond Safra, sense of tradition and family values. He life and a keen sense of fun. there is no doubt that he was in a terrified gave fulsome praise to Teffeh for her My father was unusually open- state, hiding in the bathroom. His fear unswerving devotion and love. minded and tolerant towards people was if he opens the door he might fall into Niazi used to tell how he met his whose cultures and principles were the hands of his imagined enemy with the wife Teffeh. "I met Teffeh at a wedding different to his own. He was born in the result that he might be tortured and be party. The minute I arrived, two beautiful sometimes sympathetic and tolerant and forced to pay out millions. He came to eyes fixed on me, they stunned me, I sometimes persecuting regimes of Islam. the conclusion that his best escape route couldn't believe them, I looked at her and We were all deeply touched by the fact would be to die in one piece and leave his she smiled". It was love at first sight for that so many of his friends came to pay money intact. both of them. They married in 1942. In their respects to my father and each told In the event, there was no enemy 1948 the family moved to London. us "He was my best friend". ¨ waiting at the door and the honest This is what Niazi's daughter Edmond Safra was only the victim of his Stella writes about her father: own imagination. My father was of a generation of ÃÃÃÃÃÃ His successful life story was great, tough and courageous men who adequately covered in the last issue of lived a turbulent but rich life that Absence makes the heart grow fonder September 1999. straddled East and West, Old and New. We feel more affection for our relatives It is a case when money, which His death marks the passing of an era. and friends when we are parted from is supposed to be a good servant, became Family and friends were indeed his most them. ¨ a bad master. ¨ precious values. Although a talented and Page 30 NATHAN SAATCHI tradition. We are something like an because of his continued activities within Upper East side synagogue for singles" the Jewish Community in Australia. He its Rabbi Pini Dunner said. He added, was elected the first Chairman of the "Nathan Saatchi was most personable, association, a position he held for a bright, sharp, cheerful, until the last week number of years. In 1960 he was asked to of his life." help the association once again and was He is survived by his wife Daisy President until 1964. Aaron A a r o n and four sons. ¨ served as an executive member of the Zionist Organisation of Sydney. He was Abridged from Forward of New York also Treasurer of the Federation of Orthodox Synagogue and a member of the Kashrut Commission of New South From David Elias, BEM, MWS, FSWO Wales and was elected Vice President in 1975. The following is a tribute to the He represented the association Late Aaron Aaron. Some of the of the Zionist Federation of Australia for information was collected by Mr Nissim a number of years and was a delegate of Judah who has done a great deal of the New South Wales Jewish Board of research on Mr Aaron. Deputies. He has been a trustee of the Sephardi Community Centre and Prayer Nathan David Saatchi passed AARON AARON was a great Hall and the Sephardi War Memorial. away on May 31 after a short illness. leader, doing a great deal of work for the Aaron Aaron worked towards the Born in 1908 to a well-known Baghdadi Jewish Community all over the world. If formation of the Sephardi Federation in family, he established himself as a textile it were not for his determination and Australia and was the first Chairman and merchant, importing mainly from perseverance the Sephardi community in also a trustee of the Sepher Torah Trust Manchester. In 1945 he saw that there Sydney would not have existed as it is Fund. During his term of office as was no future for the Jews in Iraq, and today. President, he had the foresight to moved to England before the Iraqi He arrived in Sydney in 1950 purchase the property on which now government instituted stringent anti- and wasted no time in organising the stands the synagogue and the next door semitic laws. He settled in London and Sephardi community because of his vast property on which stands the Sephardi purchased wool and textile factories. In experience in community matters in War Memorial. 1947 he sent for his family. The Saatchis Calcutta, India. He was the chief He came, he saw and he integrated quickly into English society. architect in the formation of the Hebrew conquered. He knocked on many doors Despite the corporate success of Association and New South Wa l e s and finally the office of the late Prime Saatchi and his sons, the family patriarch Assoociation of Sephardim. As a bush Minister of Australia, the Rt Hon Harold found immigrant life to be lonely and lawyer he drafted the first Constitution of Holt. longed for his Sephardic roots. Several the association where it was laid down It can be said of him that his years after settling in London, Nathan that the Association would affiliate with foresight and vision opened the way for became involved in the city's Spanish and the New South Wales Board of Deputies, the entry to Australia of Sephardim from Portuguese Jewish community. For years the New South Wales Zionist all over the world. Gone but not he was considered to be among the elders O rganisation and the World Sephardi forgotten. He was born 15 January 1914 of the community. He was often called Federation. and died 30 July 2000. His wife, who upon to read the Haftara. Two years ago With his drive and foresight he was a great help to him in his communal his sons established a synagogue in rallied men and women to the cause of work, died two years ago. There were honour of their parents. "While the building the first Sephardi Centre and three children, a daughter who pre- family has Sephardic roots, the Prayer Hall in Sydney, Australia. Aaron deceased him and two surviving sons synagogue follows the A s h k e n a z i Aaron was a great communal worker who live in Australia. ¨

November 1974 at the Gardenia Iraqi Club in London Harab Obadia Yosef; Nathan Saatchi; Haham Dr Solomon Gaon; Dayan Dr Pinchas Toledano ¨ Page 31 From Mr Shlomo Hillel of well-to-do traders in Baghdad. As was and the reality was too great. Former Speaker of the Knesset the custom there, after finishing his He returned to New York and studies at the high school, he followed in buried the dream of immigrating to Israel, Thank you for encouraging me the footsteps of his older brothers, but his link to Israel and what was to write about my brother Frank z"l. We travelling around for the purpose of trade. happening there remained always in his were very close to each other. Since my In this way he reached India, China and thoughts. childhood he was very kind to me but, Japan, where he settled for a number of Eventually, in the 1960's, when I certainly during the period that I served years. often used to meet him in New York, as a member of our Knesset Mission to Like many young Iraqi born when I was there in the capacity of my the UN in New York we became really Jews, he believed that he could only work in the Israeli Foreign Service or in close to each other. I learned to marry one of the girls from the my many visits afterwards, I was appreciate his special personality. community in Baghdad. In the mid surprised each time anew by his detailed Dear Naim: I know you also 1930's, when he decided that the time had knowledge of what was happening in appreciated him and loved him and this come to set up his own family, he Israel, and by his strong opinions on each was reciprocal. returned to Baghdad and married Violet, and every issue. By writing this small article that a member of the Dellal family, an Ephraim was not at all religious, I am enclosing, I am paying a debt to his attractive and educated woman who was and did not give his children any m e m o r y, a debt of appreciation, of prepared to follow wherever he led. religious education, but he was a Jew to gratitude and of love. Meanwhile, his parents and his fingertips, and his ties to the Jewish other members of his family had moved people and the State of Israel were strong to the Land of Israel, and he too was and solid. Frank (Ephraim) Hillel z"l inclined to settle there. In the Zionist He suffered a great deal because archives there is a record of his of his eyes, apparently as a result of correspondence with the Jewish Agency defective treatment he received during concerning the possibilities of making his youth in Baghdad in the early days of Aliyah and settling in the country. He the 20th century, and there were periods reached the country with his young wife when he suffered from complete at the height of the bloody events of blindness. But with his strong self 1936-1939. discipline, he would get up early each It was impossible to think of morning, sit upright at his table and listen doing business in the Land of Israel in to all the news broadcasts on the radio, those days, so he turned his steps towards particularly anything concerning events New York. This large and bustling city in Israel, and for many hours would listen was good for business, but not good as a to recordings of books on topics of place to live in his opinion. It was a place Judaism and Jewish history. to make a living, but not for living in. Whenever I visited him he He bought a house far from the would shower me with questions, not busy town, facing a large, open and green only about what was happening in Israel, field, with a little piece of land to grow but also about chapters of the history of vegetables and flowers, something he the Jewish people, and would show signs remembered from his parents' home in of anger and disappointment if my Baghdad in which they cared with love answers did not seem sufficient, or if I and fostered every plant or flower that showed my ignorance of some parts of grew there, and that he had dreamt about our long history. We can say that Ephraim Hillel when he thought of the Land of Israel. Ephraim was a fighter. Nothing was a man of the 20th century. He was Every morning, in the sweltering summer came easily to him, but only after effort, born at the start of the century, in 1906, in or the freezing, snowy winter, he rose perseverance and stubbornness. Even in Baghdad, and died in Boston, United early in order to reach the local railway his last struggle with illness he did not States at the beginning of the 21st century station in good time, and from there give up. The last years of his life were (January 2000). travelled to Central Station in New York d i fficult years of continual struggle, He knew how to adjust to all the and to his place of work. He believed the which caused him great physical and dramatic changes that occurred during his e ffort was worthwhile, because at mental suffering. But as usual he refused lifetime with his own strength, by making weekends he could work in his garden. to give in or surrender, and fought his demands of himself and with an iron In the second half of 1949, after illness with all his strength, with his last inner discipline. He refused to go easy on the establishment of the State of Israel ounce of strength. himself, and he was just as demanding of and the end of the battles of the War of By now he could not walk or other people, particularly those who were Independence, he visited in Israel, with a see, and Parkinson's Disease had badly close to him, his wife Violet, and the four renewed hope of settling there. But the affected him, but I remember him from sons who were born to them in New conditions in Israel at the end of the my visits, even in this condition, sitting York. Three of these grew up to be forties, a tiny and newly born country from early morning in his wheelchair successful doctors, and the fourth became with problems of shortages and economic next to the table, listening to the radio or an economist. restrictions, were incomprehensible and a tape recorder with additional chapters Ephraim was the son of a family unacceptable to someone from the United from the history of the Jewish people, States. The distance between the dream that he so loved to hear. Page 32 Finally he surrendered to the enterprise for many years in Baghdad. VICTORIA BASHI angel of death, knowing that he was He became interested in the Jewish surrounded by a family that loved and communal affairs and was elected a admired him, in spite of his strictness, member, and then Vice-Chairman of the and perhaps because of his strictness, Jewish Council. When Meer Basri left which they knew how to appreciate. His Baghdad in October 1974, he became wife, his four sons and his grandchildren President of the Jewish community and knew that underneath this strictness was a continues to hold this office until he husband, father and grandfather with a finally left Iraq in 1997. He went to live loving and sensitive heart, who was ready in Amsterdam with his family, but he to do anything for his family and his visited London often. people. He died in Amsterdam on 27th May his memory be for a August 2000. ¨ blessing.

Naim Dangoor writes: I was closely Tribute to David M Schayek associated with Frank for many years. In 1936, on my return from London I was MC, MA (Cantab) - died 1 October 1999 I am enclosing a picture of my with him frequently in Tel Aviv where he sister Victoria who passed away in New once rushed to my help when I was in by: Percy Gourgey MBE York recently at age 93. d i fficulties while swimming in the She was pre-deceased by her Mediterranean. During the war, we did Brought by his parents as a husband, Sassoon Aboody Bashi, who an extensive trade between Turkey and young child from Baghdad where he was was a senior financial officer at the the United States and in 1948 during our born on 29 December 1919, David Rafidain Bank in Baghdad until forced stay in New York on our long Schayek went to Harrow Public School out during the purge of Jewish employees honeymoon, Reneé and I were very and later studied law at St Catherine's by the Iraqi government. grateful for the help and attention that College in Cambridge University from After moving to the States, Violet and Frank gave us. ¨ 1937-40. After the war he became a Victoria continued her academic studies successful solicitor. He had celebrated and received a scholarship from the US his barmitzvah in the house of the government. She also took up artistic renowned Mrs Flora Sassoon, in Bruton painting as an avocation. NAJI ELIAS Street, Mayfair, London. She is survived by her three He had a distinguished war children, Betty (Angele) Shear of the UK, career, winning the Military Cross while and Abbood and Menashi of the US and serving as a junior officer in the Royal her grandchildren. ¨ Inniskillen Fusiliers. He singlehandedly captured a German machine gun Montreal Naim S Mahlab emplacement in Italy. The award citation read: "Lieutenant Schayek led his platoon with distinction onto the first objective - Tribute to Maurice Nathan who a low ridge known as Hill 40 - which he was the first to reach. Single-handed he died in London on 28 October attacked one of the enemy machine-gun 1999 posts and with his tommy-gun killed the by: Percy Gourgey MBE crew. Although wounded twice himself, he continued to command and lead his Maurice Nathan was born in platoon until the objective had been Basra in 1920 but as a child attended the finally cleared. Lieutenant Schayek had Cathedral Boys High School in Bombay. previously shown himself as a In 1946 he worked in London before courageous and inspiring leader, both in going to Israel in 1949 where he married the North African and Sicilian Rebecca who was born in Baghdad. He campaigns." served in the Israel Army. Later he and He married in 1949 and with his his wife and children eventually settled in Obituary by Meer Basri wife, Lillian, celebrated their golden Stanmore, London. He was much wedding in June 1999. He was a popular respected by his colleagues in his Reuben Naji Elias was born in and well-liked among the Iraqi Jewish business life, and ex-students from 1910. His father Sasson Elias was a community in London and was Bombay who had settled in England, landowner in Bagubah, a township east of knowledgeable about its history and Israel, Australia and the United States. A Baghdad on the road to the Iranian customs. He was devoted to his family well-known Talmudic dictum border. and is survived by his wife, daughters summarised his character: "Say little, do He studied in Baghdad and went Valerie and Deborah and grandchildren. much and receive all with a cheerful into business with his late brother After his retirement he remained active countenance". Yehuda. With an Arab partner they built and worked voluntarily for the T h i r d He will be sorely missed by his the first cinema house in Bagubah. World charity, "War on Want". ¨ devoted family and a wide circle of He continued his commercial friends. ¨ Page 33 SALMAN SHINA From ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ISLAM New Edition Sent in by Prof. Shmuel Moreh

SALMAN SHINA(1898-1978), was Iraqi Jewish journalist, lawyer and a member of the Parliament. Born in the Jewish quarter of Baghdad, he received a conventional religious Jewish education in a Heder (Stadh) and then continued his primary and secondary studies at the secular Jewish school of the Alliance Française Israëlite in Baghdad, and excelled in languages. Later, he joined the Ottoman Secondary School in Baghdad and was recruited to the Ottoman Army as a reserve officer during the First World War, as an adjutant and interpreter to the German General von Becker at the Turkish Headquarters. After the defeat of the Ottoman army in Iraq he was taken prisoner, but refused to join the British forces on the grounds that the Ottomans had always helped the Jews, especially after their Above : The late Lord Runcie chatting with Naim Dangoor at Lambeth Palace expulsion from Spain in 1492. He Below : The late Dr Robert Runcie on a guided tour of Lambeth Palace. became a prisoner of war in India, but was re-patriated to Iraq in February 1919. In 1920 he joined the Law College in Baghdad . On 10 April 1924 his weekly magazine al-Misbah was first issued, subtitled in Hebrew letters Ha- Menorah ("The Candelabrum"), with its Jewish emblem. This was the first Jewish literary and cultural weekly magazine published in literary Arabic in Arab script in Iraq. Shina edited his magazine, writing its main articles and translated many news items and articles from European and American magazines concerning Jewish and Zionist activities and achievements, in the Holy Land and abroad. The young poet and writer, Anwar Shaul joined him in editing the literary part of the weekly, and many other young Jewish poets and writers became contributors. Their works were among the first romantic poems and short stories published in Iraq, being influenced both by European literature Lord Robert Runcie honoured to meet you" his reply was "I and by the Arabic Mahdjar school in the too am greatly honoured to meet you". USA. Shina and Anwar Shaul also Lord Runcie, former Then we spent some time chatting and I encouraged theatrical activities among Archbishop of Canterbury, died of cancer told him that I was writing an article on the Jewish community in Iraq, and at the age of 78. He was likeable and free will and wanted his opinion on the among the plays performed was an pragmatic and led the Church of England subject. His reply was "As a Christian," Arabic translation of Corneille's Le Cid through a difficult time. he said, "I believe in free will; as a (1925). He also established, with other When I had dinner (strictly philosopher, I don't. It is a dilemma." Zionist activists, The Hebrew Literary kosher) at Lambeth Palace some eleven At the dinner was the late Rabbi Association as a club and library, where years ago I was received at the door by Dr Hugo Gryn as well as the Chief Rabbi Jewish journals in Hebrew, English and Robert Runcie, (later Lord Runcie) and and the atmosphere was very friendly and French were received. when I told him that "I am greatly jovial. ¨ In 1925 Shina started practising as a lawyer, serving the Jewish Page 34 community and defending its interests was dangerous) and a Mr Zevulun Erez The Colossus of Rhodes was a after the rise of the Nazi and Palestinian who had a considerable knowledge of the splendid bronze state of Helios, their Sun national activities in Iraq, where there cemetery, and we proceeded to the Mount G-d. It stood 100 feet high at the were many Palestinians headed by the of Olives. Mr Erez said "We will start entrance of the harbour, one foot on each Mufti Amin al-Husayni who were later, here" and within ten minutes he had side. Its building took twelve years circa in October 1939, joined by their leader. found the grave, which was in perfect 280 BCE. It was recognised as one of the Their activities culminated in the coup order. Unfortunately we could not gather Seven Wonders of the World, and was d'etat of Rashid Ali al-Gailani, defeated a minyan but a Hashcabah was said. destroyed by an earthquake in 227 BCE. in May 1941 by the British A r m y, The grave was in an area which Alas, it cannot be retrieved from the followed by the Pogrom against the Jews had not been desecrated, but from about bottom of the sea as thieves had stolen its of Baghdad on 1-2 June 1941. three metres to the left the whole area had pieces and sold them as scrap. In 1947 Shina was elected a been destroyed. Had my grandfather Being a small island in an member of the Iraqi Parliament and been buried about two years later then his important trading seaway, it was served until 1951, the most critical years grave would have been destroyed. occupied by all the powers that in the history of the Jews of Iraq, which The following is the text dominated the area. Including Alexander ended with their mass immigration to engraved on the tombstone: the Great, The Byzantines, Haroun al Israel. Shina himself resigned from the Rashid, the Crusaders, and the Italians of Parliament and emigrated to Israel, where Genoa who sold it to the Knights of St he worked as a lawyer, serving his John in 1306 after the defeat of the community and protesting against what Crusaders. In 1522 it became part of The he termed "discrimination against the Ottoman Empire. The Italians took it Jews of Iraq, whose properties were back in 1912 until World War Two. We frozen in Iraq and who were without saw the house built for Mussolini at the community leaders in the new Israeli top of a mountain, where he spent several society. In 1956 he unsuccessfully stood holidays. In 1943 the Germans rounded as a candidate for the Knesset. He up all the Jews, about 2000, and sent continued as a lawyer and activist until them to Auschwitz. There are now 40 his death at Ramat Gan in 1978. ¨ Jews in the city and one synagogue that we saw, being looked after by an old Jewish lady who speaks Ladino. One of the highest mountains in the Island is called Prophet Elias. I don't The Grave of Ezra Horesh know of any other prophet with that name but ours. As you are publishing the Rhodes is infested by poisonous "Horesh" family tree I thought your snakes. In old times the farmers brought readers might be interested in how we London Joshua Stanley Horesh deers into the island to kill the snakes. It found the grave of my paternal seems that the deer, being afraid of the grandfather, Ezra Horesh, who was born snake, kicks it until it kills it! Therefore in Baghdad in 1850. deers are sacred and no-one is allowed to A devout and orthodox Jew he A VISIT TO RHODES ISLAND kill them. emigrated from London about 1930 for The largest tourist group who Palestine as it was his wish to be buried Going on a holiday in this Island occupy the best hotels are, believe it or there. He was buried on the Mount of does not sound much of a historic not, Israelis! Many signs in the shops and Olives 29th Adar 1938, aged 90. destination let alone, of a Jewish hotels are in Hebrew. ¨ We were worried that the grave connection. It is the largest of the had been desecrated by the Jordanians Dodecanese Islands. Its history goes London Elias Dangoor during their occupation. So about 1992 back to four thousand years when, we started making enquiries and according to their mythology, a fortune eventually made a search. The problem teller told the King of Crete that he will was enormous because originally we did be murdered by his son. The son, who I am a Senior Writer with the not know the exact date of death. loved his father very much, was horrified, American newspaper, The Wall Street Furthermore, the burial registers do not fled with his family and friends Journal. I write feature stories. I have an show the location of the graves, there are northwards, and settled in Rhodes. He interest in Judaism, because I was raised no row numbers and graves are not dug in surrounded his area by magic silver bulls Jewish. Harry Korine who is a professor chronological order. that bellowed whenever the island was in at the London Business School, and is of We were told it was an danger of attack. Iraqi descent, told me about your Scribe impossible task as there were some His father, growing old and newsletter. I am writing to ask if you 10,000 graves in just the most likely hearing that his son was living in Rhodes might send me a few copies. I am curious section of the Mount of Olives. came to look for him. It was dark when about the Iraqi Jewish community for its We persevered with our the bulls started bellowing and the prince historical roots in Jewish history. ¨ enquiries and in October 1997 I was mistook his dad for a pirate and lopped accompanied by my son, Michael, off his head. So sadly, the prophesy came London Gregg Pascal Zachary Shlomo Bendahan (with pistol as the area true. Page 35 EZRA HADDAD - AUTHOR, language, Haddad was in full command folklore, and Arabic-Hebrew dictionary, HISTORIAN AND of English, Hebrew, French, German, and he also translated to Arabic many EDUCATOR Turkish and Farsi. articles from Hebrew literature. In 1971, Haddad's knowledge about the he published his last book in Hebrew, by Avner Meiri (Fouad Saigh), history and culture of the Iraqi Jewish "Milestones, The History of the Jews in Canada people during the last two centuries was Babylon-Iraq", which covered the history vast. He was born in Baghdad in the year from the Babylonian captivity in 597 1900, from a traditional family with low BCE to the mass exodus to the State of income. His parents sent him to study Israel, in 1951 CE. Torah and the Talmud with the greatest Ezra Haddad passed away in Rabbis in Baghdad. In 1917, he joined 1972, leaving us with great memories as the Teacher's Seminar in the city. A year an individual, who devoted most of his later he was appointed as a teacher at the life to promote education, culture, and Talmud Torah School. A few years later, Zionism to three generations of a new school was founded in the quarter Babylonian Jewry. ¨ of Abbas Afandi, which was called Al- Watanya, and Ezra Haddad was appointed to be its headmaster. It is THE SOCIAL H I S TO RY O F interesting to note that amongst the THE JEWS OF HONG KONG teachers of this school were A n w a r Shaool, Murad Michael, Baruch Mizrahi A Resource Guide and Eliahou Samra. During the 1920's, Haddad The above book by Dr Caroline wrote many articles and studies in the B Pluss is being published by the Jewish early Iraqi magazines AL-MISBAH and Historical Society of Hong Kong. AL-HASSED, which were both owned Early Hong Kong Jewish history and edited by Iraqi Jews. He translated to centred predominantly around the same Dr Ezra Haddad 1900-1972 Arabic many articles and books dealing Baghdadi families who were to be found with social, political and historical throughout the Far East and who came to The first time I met Ezra subjects. Hong Kong mainly from Bombay. The Haddad was in 1947. I had just graduated In 1945, he translated from Sassoons were the mainstays of Jewish from the Jewish High School Al-I'idadya, Hebrew to Arabic, the famous book, "The life for many years, donating the first and was recommended by the late Journey of Benjamin of Tudella", the synagogue and the land upon which it principal, Meir Zakaria, to teach in one of great Jewish traveller from Spain. The still stands. They and other Jews from the Jewish Community's Primary introduction to this book was written by Baghdad, mostly in their employ, formed Schools. the well-known Iraqi historian, Abbas Al- the core of religious life not only in Hong One day I was called by Mr Azzawi. The book was translated in the Kong but also in Shanghai, Burma, Haddad, the principal of Al - Wa t a n y a genre of Arab travellers' tales from the Singapore and other far-flung trading School, to meet with him in his office. Middle Ages. The book was welcomed posts in the region. When we got together, his first question by Arab scholars all over the Arab world. In its over 150 years' existence, was, how old I am? I responded, 17 years In 1947, Ezra Haddad published the Jewish community of Hong Kong has old. He said that I shall be teaching many the book, "Chapters From the Bible" to evolved from a small, distant outpost of students who are two years younger than be taught at the Jewish schools in Iraq. the Diaspora into the hub of Jewish life in me and that I was lucky to be tall. He He wrote many books, amongst them, East and Southeast Asia. suggested that I do not tell the students "The History of Jews in Iraq and Their The book on the history of the my age, and also to be firm, but a Folklore". He also translated to Hebrew Jews in Hong Kong has been very gentleman with the students, as it was my part of the book "Ruba-eyat Umar Al- thoroughly researched by Dr Caroline job to educate them and thus increasing Khayam." It is known that at Haddad's Pluss, starting from a very slim base of their knowledge. At that time I was home in Baghdad, he had an extensive documentary evidence in the archives in impressed with Ezra Haddad's and famous private library consisting of Hong Kong. Unfortunately, most personality, knowledge in many aspects Arabic, Hebrew, English, French and documentation did not survive the of life and his sense of humour. Turkish language books. Japanese occupation of Hong Kong During the three months of the In 1951, Ezra Haddad during the Second World War. summer holidays, most of the teachers immigrated to Israel. Soon, he was active We will, of course, send you would come to the Al-Watanya School in the political and social life of the more about the book when it has been almost every day for a few hours, not country. He was elected to the executive published and is available for purchase. making preparations for the next school committee of the labour union, the year, but rather to listen to Ezra Haddad Histadrut, and also to the Congress of the Judith LGreen tell stories and anecdotes about Zionist Movement. Director Babylonian Jewry, his visits to Europe In addition to his public Jewish Historical Society of Hong Kong and Palestine. activities, Haddad devoted a lot of his One Robinson Place In fact, Ezra Haddad was a great time to his favourite literary pre- 70 Robinson Road educator, a leader, an historian and a occupations. He published a book of Hong Kong, S.A.R. researcher. In addition to the Arabic short stories from the Iraqi Jewish China Page 36 ROSH HASHANA SERVICES D I S C O V E RY O F O L D E S T Jewish presence than Amsterdam itself". AT O H E L R A C H E L SYNAGOGUE IN T H E "The most reliable calculations indicate SYNAGOGUE-SHANGHAI AMERICA'S about 1,400 Jews, nearly half its population of free white civilians". But in 1654 the Portuguese From Points East , a publication of the One of the most unusual drove out the Dutch, and fear of reprisals Sino-Judaic Institute, California archaeological projects ever undertaken led to the dispersion of the Jews here. A in Brazil is under way: the excavation group of 23 returning to Amsterdam were J e ffrey Bernstein is General and reconstruction in Recife of the first landed at a fledgling Dutch colony called Manager of EverReach Logistics i n synagogue built in the New World. Nieuw Amsterdam. They were the first Shanghai, China. He informed us that The synagogue, Kahal Zur Jews ever to enter North America. two Rosh Hashana services were held Israel, or Rock of Israel, flourished in the Their difficulties did not end this year at the Ohel Rachel Synagogue, mid-1600's when the Dutch briefly when they reached what is today New one in the morning and one in the controlled this part of north-eastern York City. Peter Stuyvesant, governor of evening. Lubavitch rabbis off i c i a t e d . Brazil and the sugar and tobacco the settlement, sent a letter to the Dutch Men, women and children attended. A plantations that made it rich. West Indies Company recommending meal followed Friday services. T h e Evacuation began in September "most seriously that such hateful enemies Shanghai community torah was kept in 1999 but because the Inquisition had and blasphemers of the name of Christ, the ark throughout Rosh Hashana done everything possible to obliterate all be not allowed further to infest and Shabbat. It is important to point out that signs of the Jewish presence, the dig trouble this new colony." the Ohel Rachel Synagogue was opened began with some doubts. The response he received only for Rosh Hashana. After that it was "We were certain we were in the ordered that the newcomers be permitted closed to the public. Other services and right place when we came across a "to live, trade and travel" freely and be Yom Kippur prayers took place in a hotel. mikvah," the ritual bath used by given a burial ground of their own, which Mr Bernstein described the Shanghai observant Jews. was established near what is today Rosh Hashana celebration in an e-mail to With the support of the Brazilian Chatham Square. It came to be known as his parents who live in California. They government and several foundations, the the Brazilian Cemetery. But it was only kindly agreed to share its contents with small Jewish community here plans to after the English displaced the Dutch that our readers. turn the site into a museum and Cultural the Jews from Recife were permitted to "Happy New Year to you from Center of the Jewish Presence in Brazil. build a synagogue. The congregation, the other side of the world. We wish you Reconstruction of the building's interior Shearith Israel, still exists, with its all a happy and healthy New Year, filled is to be completed this year. synagogue now at 70th Street and Central with many momentous 'firsts'." Brazil's Jewish population Park West, the Spanish & Portuguese We started with a first in today, around 170,000, is barely one- Synagogue. There are still some people Shanghai. The Ohel Rachel Synagogue tenth of 1 per cent of the country's 170 in Brazil's interior who believe they are (one of Shanghai's 7 original synagogues) million people. "There is no doubt that Jewish because they have a menorah or was opened to the Jewish community for Jews contributed greatly to the prayer book handed down to their Rosh Hashona services. This is the first construction of Brazil", especially in the grandparents by their grandparents before time since 1949 that Shanghai Jews could crucial early years of Portuguese colonial them, or following family customs that fit celebrate the High Holidays in their own rule. squarely within the Sephardic tradition." house of worship. The first Portuguese expedition The ability of elements of faith As we walked past the ivy to land in Brazil, 500 years ago included to persist for so long in such isolation is covered walls of the building that had not a Polish-born Jew as its chief interpreter, truly an amazing thing. ¨ been used a Synagogue for the past 50 as well as astronomers and mapmakers years, the strong symbolism of the who are believed to have been of Jewish From New York Times moment struck us. Although the outside origin. Early settlers included many so- walls were darkened by layers of soot, the called marranos, Jews from the Iberian inside was bright and clean, displaying its Peninsula who had converted to I have just discovered you. I old grandeur for the holy days. We are Christianity under duress but were eager have one of the largest Sephardic grateful that the Shanghai City's Bureau to escape the clutches of the Inquisition genealogy websites on the net which you of Education, who occupied the building, to resume openly practising their faith. are welcome to visit. I will be adding a had respected its original architecture and By 1590, however, the link to your website under my section for carefully preserved the original state of Inquisition had installed itself in Brazil Iraq. its interior. and begun persecuting these "new Please consider reciprocating It was exciting to be part of this Christians". So when the Dutch seized and let me know if you decide to do so. ¨ important day. We felt we were the colony of Pernambuco in 1630 and experiencing history in the making." ¨ announced a policy of religious Jeff Malka tolerance, those who moved to Recife ÃÃÃÃÃÃ included not only a Rabbi and cantor "Resources for Sephardic Genealogy" from Amsterdam but many Jewish website: East or West, home is best families from territory under Portuguese h t t p : / / w w w. o r t h o h e l p . c o m / g e n e a l / s e f a r d i Wherever it is, and however far you may control. m.htm travel from it, THERE’S NO PLACE "At the height of the Dutch (Jewish Agency for Israel TOP TEN; LIKE HOME. ¨ period, Recife may have had a larger Britannica 2 STARS) Page 37 Dayan Toledano with the King of Morocco - July 2000 Correction :

The caption of the picture at the bottom of page 21 was incomplete of the last issue (No. 72). The people appearing in the photograph are Moroccan Jewish leaders with King Mohammed V (father of the late King Hassan II) in the circa 1950's:

Left to right: Rabbi Barouch Abraham Toledano (father of Dayan Pinchas Toledano); lay leader, Rabbi Raphael Barouch Toledano; Sidi Mohammed V; Rabbi Joseph Messas, lay leader. Note that the King was standing on a step, to make him appear as the biblical King Saul, first King of Israel, "head and shoulders above the rest".

At the request of the King, Dayan Toledano blessed him in Hebrew and in ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Arabic. The King spoke about Israel and he promised he would carry on the work of his father, namely that a solution should be found between Israel and the Palestinians. Busiest men find the most time Afterwards, the delegation was taken to the Mausoleum where the kings of Morocco People who do a lot are the people who are buried. Dayan Toledano recited Hashcaba, Memorial Prayer, for the King's have most energy. However busy they grandfather, Mohammed V and his father, Moulai Hassan II. Dayan Toledano wore are, they can usually manage to do special robes which the Dayanim of Morocco have been wearing since time something more. ¨ immemorial. Dayan Toledano was also taken to visit the cousin of the King who is not well, as well as to visit the Jewish leaders in Rabat. ¨ ÃÃÃÃÃÃ

REUNION OF THE FRANK INY SCHOOLSTUDENTS OF THE CLASS THAT GRADUATED IN 1962

A reunion was held in London last May of the Frank Iny students of the class that eventually graduated in 1962. The group stayed overnight at Danesfield House, Marlow-on-Thames and then attended a Barbeque lunch at David Gabbay's house in Marlow.

Shown above left to right: Standing:

Ann Shamash; Lisa Hoory; David Gabbay; David Shamash; Sylvia Koreen (née Ibrahim); Desirée Dellal (Shina); Rita Tricot; Sami Tricot; Olivia Shashou (Sheena); Gilda Aslan; Edna Shamash; Laurette Kashi (Nourallah); Ibtisam Shaul (Heskel); Emma Ghazal; Layla Shalom (Rahamim); Jack Shemtob; Faiza Vasely (Jacob); Suad Yohanan (Ibrahim); Joyce Gabbay; Ketty Cohen (Shohet); Emile Cohen; Ingrid Samra (Bekhor); Marsha Yamen (Sassoon); Lydia Jiji (Dabby); Isabelle Bar-Moshe (Twaig); Michael Cowan; Jack Atraghji; Olivia Cowan (Timan); Karim Timan; Ruth Timan; David Shamash; Gilda Shamash; Estelle Shohet; Shoua Jiji; Tommy Vasely; Sami Balass; Aslan Aslan; Yamen F Yamen; Samir Ghazal; Sabah Shamash; Charles Timan; Saïd Hoory; Ferial Balass (Mussaffi); Sasson Yamen; Samir Samra; Samir Shohet; Jimmy Shamash; David Dellal. ¨ R E I N C A R N ATION IS A N punishment imposed upon those inferior sources, which are far more elevating and ALIEN BELIEF, A R G U E S souls that had failed to stop their previous compelling than any of the alternative RABBI DR JEFFREY COHEN bodies from perpetrating particularly traditions on offer. heinous (especially sexual) sins. Out of Like the communication of G-d this came the idea of a dybbuk, a to Moses, the truths of our tradition are The former Sephardi Chief malevolent spirit possessing a person, framed, according to the Torah, "mouth Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Ovadiah Yossef, often to seek some personal retribution, a to mouth, with clarity and not in riddles, was at the centre of a furore last week theme taken up in Yiddish literature from so that the nature of G-d may be clearly over his nauseating suggestion that the the 17th century onward. perceived." six million who died in the Holocaust There is a great danger in Our sources hold that the were "reincarnated sinners". mysticism: that unless one has a firm everyday life that G-d would have us lead Behind his preposterous theory grounding in normative Judaism, it can can be invested with the beauty of lies the mystical doctrine of gilgul, where totally distort one's faith and undermine holiness; that our rational mind is the soul is reincarnated or one's observance. This is what happened sufficient to think spiritual thoughts; and "transmigrated" to reach a new level of to the followers of Shabbetai Zvi, the that our need to interrelate ethically with perfection or to atone for some gross 17th century false Messiah, and to those our fellow-man is far more important imperfection in a previous earthly of Jacob Frank (mid 18th century), who than a leap into the whirlpool of mystic existence. This idea, however, did not was regarded as Shabbetai's speculation. ¨ originate in Jewish sources and is not reincarnation. found in the Talmud, though it was The Frankists paraded Rabbi Cohen is minister of Stanmore widespread in early Christian circles outwardly as Orthodox Jews, but were Synagogue from the second century. committed to a belief in Shabbatcanism Scholars variously trace it to which prompted them to initiate a early Gnostic sectarian teaching, to widespread attack on the Talmud and Greek, Platonic or neo-Platonic thought, Jewish law. Under the influence of the From The Jewish Chronicle, London or Indian philosophy. It was later Zohar, the main kabbalistic work, and promoted by Anan ben David in some distorted Jewish mystical ideas, Rabbi Dr Jeffrey Cohen's article Baghdad, the eighth centry founder of they ignored the Torah's sexual confirming that reincarnation is an alien Karaism (the dissident Jewish sect which prohibitions, adopting at first a synthesis belief is a shining light in the current accepts the Bible but not the Talmud), of Jewish and Christian principles, and darkness of superstitious and magical who may have borrowed it from the the celebration of avowedly religious beliefs still propagated by some Islamic Mutazila sect, and it entered o rgies, and ended up embracing Orthodox rabbis in this country, Israel Jewish Kabbalistic literature in the late Catholicism. and other parts of the world. 12th century work, Sefer Habahir. The result of their attacks on the The late Ernest Wallis Budge, Though it met with trenchant Talmud was that the Church authorities who was a leading Hebrew scholar and opposition from our major medieval carried out a systematic burning of keeper of Egyptian and A s s y r i a n philosophers, this did not prevent its cartloads of Jewish religious works. In antiquities at the British Museum, made becoming a cardinal doctrine in the later addition to the rabbinic cherem, or ex- it clear in "amulets and Superstitions" kabbalistic system of Isaac Luria, leader communication, imposed upon the sect. that the Kabbalah, as we know it today, is of the 16th century Safed circle of Isaac Luria's recommendation that also foreign to authentic Jewish belief. mysticism. It was even defended by such kabbalah should not be studied by those He wrote: "The Kabbalah of Middle Ages sages as Moses Nachmanides and under the age of 40 was vigorously represents a mass of beliefs and traditions Menasseh ben Israel. With the rise of enforced. which the Hebrews adopted from the Chasidism in the 18th century, belief in In our own day, alternative Egyptians, Babylonians and Assyrians, reincarnation was, as it were, religions and cults have mushroomed, Syrians, Zoroastrians, Gnostics, Greeks, reincarnated. some using brain-washing techniques on Arabs and even European peoples." Over the years the g i l g u l recruits, estranging them from their The tragedy for Judaism in this concept underwent various families, and subjecting them to fearsome country is that Rabbi Cohen is one of the developments, such as the notion of the regimentation. Ruined lives, sometimes few Orthodox rabbis who has the transmigration of a soul into the body of even suicides, have been the result. integrity and courage to speak out about lower forms of nature; or the doctrine of Popular mysticism is generally the challenge superstitions impose on the i b b u r, "impregnation", when a incomprehensible to those who merely future of authentic traditional Judaism. ¨ reincarnated soul may enter a host body dabble in it, leading to their potential in later life as an attachment to, or manipulation by charlatans who seek to London Maurice J Summerfield impregnation of, the existing soul. control the minds and pockets of their Its residence, for but a brief followers. period there, is in order to enable some As for the courses in mysticism Isaac Luria's idea that G-d had restless, righteous soul to compensate for being promoted by some in our own to withdraw from part of his Creation, to any particular mitzvah that it neglected to community, while there is no evidence of make room for man's independence is perform in its original incarnation, and so any of the above excesses, our response untenable. The presence of G-d is attain spiritual perfection. should be to spell out, at the very least, everywhere in the Universe. The only A l a rge body of opinion, their philosophical pitfalls. concession that G-d made to man was to however, did not view transmigration so There is a lifetime of spiritual give him a measure of free will. ¨ p o s i t i v e l y. Rather, it was seen as a stimulation in our own traditional Page 39 Et Tu Switzerland? Switzerland. Sweden, like Switzerland, declining to "help people in mortal from: Albert Khabbaza MD had limited Jewish immigration between danger," the report said. 1938 and 1942, but reversed its policy A panel of independent historians has after officials learned of the mass killings S c r i b e : The action of the Swiss concluded that wartime Swiss officials of Jews. Government in denying entry to Jewish refused entry to thousands of Jewish Switzerland followed suit only in July refugees was to satisfy the greed of Swiss refugees even after it was known that 1944, when it declared that persecution bankers who saw in the German they faced almost certain death in Nazi for being Jewish was a valid ground for persecution of Jews an opportunity to Germany. granting asylum. grab their assets which they had trustfully By the summer of 1942 at the latest, Switzerland's governing body, the salted away in Switzerland. ¨ the historians said in their detailed 350- Federal Council, issued a statement today page report, the Swiss authorities were saying the country's asylum policy "was aware that Jews were being annihilated marred by errors, omissions and Pope's visit to the Western Wall by the Third Reich. compromises" - renewing its 1995 The historians also said there was no apology for wartime refugee policy. Pope John Paul II made a special visit to evidence that accepting many more "Nothing can make good the the Western Wall and as is customary on asylum seekers would have put neutral consequences of decisions taken at the such visits, he slipped a piece of paper Switzerland in danger of "invasion by the time, and we pay our respects before the containing a wish and a prayer. It was Axis or caused insurmountable economic pain of those who were denied access to asking G-d for forgiveness for those who d i fficulties." They thus rejected an our territory and were abandoned to caused the Jewish people suffering and a rgument advanced in Switzerland's unspeakable suffering, deportation and pledging 'genuine brotherhood with the defence after earlier disclosures of the death," the seven ministers said. people of the Covenant'. country's treatment of Jews trying to But the ministers said the report I think that this prayer is an escape the Holocaust. ignored "fears generated by the threat important turning point in the inter-action Rather, the report cited anti-Semitism facing Switzerland, the uncertainty of between Christianity and Judaism and and an entrenched fear of foreigners in maintaining, foreign trade to ensure the that everybody should know about it. Switzerland as the reasons the authorities country's survival." Thank you very much for your turned away more than 24,000 Jews. Switzerland took in 51,000 civilian regular sending us our beloved Scribe Swiss officials "became involved in refugees during the war, including some which we enjoy very much. the crimes of the Nazi regime by 21,000 Jews, although many of those had slipped into the country illegally and abandoning the refugees to their Ramat Gan,Israel Dr Raouf Semah persecutors," Jean-Francois Bergier, the were then allowed to stay. Swiss historian who headed the panel, There were some heroes among Swiss Scribe: The Pope first asked the Jewish said at a news conference today. o fficials, particularly among consular people to forgive and forget the horrors The study is part of a larger historical employees who "were very liberal in and the crime of the Holocaust. When he i n q u i r y, commissioned by the Swiss granting entry visas," but the report was told that we can't forget, and that we government, that produced another report details specific instances of serious have no authority from the 6 million last year on Switzerland's gold "human suffering" to highlight the impact victims to forgive, he apparently decided transactions with Hitler's Germany. of Swiss refugee policy. to turn to G-d for his forgiveness. Earlier this week, a separate report by The study cited as particularly We are not sure if our G-d Swiss banks and American Jewish groups egregious the Swiss push for a recognises the Pope. Forgiveness can found that 54,000 Swiss bank accounts requirement, enacted in 1938, that only be obtained from true and genuine might be linked to Holocaust victims. German passports for Jews be stamped repentence, but anti-semitism is as strong The latest report was prepared during with a "J." It also cited the closing of the as ever among Christians and in the border with Germany in 1942 to refugees the last two years by nine historians from Church. ¨ Switzerland, Israel, the United States, persecuted solely because they were Britain and Poland who had Jews. "Without Swiss pressure, the passports At a recent updating of the unprecedented access to the Swiss website for "Resources in Sephardic national archives as part of Switzerland's would not have been stamped until later, perhaps not at all," the report concluded. Genealogy" a link has been placed to effort to come to terms with its wartime your website at the following location: history. Jewish groups praised the new "This would have made it less difficult report, but there were complaints from for refugees to find a country willing to accept them." h t t p : / / w w w. o r t h o h e l p . c o m / g e n e a l / s e f a r d i the government and from some private m.htm#Iraq ¨ grounps that the sharply critical study The report was particularly critical of the 1942 decision to close Swiss borders failed to measure official actions against e-mail Jeff Malka the troubled international situation at the to Jews even though senior officials were "aware of the fact the refugees sent back time. I have just finished reading (for Although the report did not delve were being threatened with deportation to Eastern Europe culminating in death." the third time) "If this is a man". I found deeply into other countries' treatment of your article to be a moving summary, and World War II refugees, the historians said Although there was some public protest, the Swiss authorities stepped up would like to thank you for its at the news conference that Sweden, also information. ¨ neutral during World War II, had been rejections of asylum seekers - even significantly more helpful than denying most the right to pass through the country to other destinations - e-mail (UK) Rachel Spires Page 40 L I T H U A N I A HONORS A citizen who was now a Polish refugee Cross hospital on Kovno's main HOLOCAUST RESCUER living in Lithuania with her husband downtown thoroughfare. Zwartendijk from Points East - a publication of the Isaac and son Nathan, took the gamble of originally had received De Decker's Sino-Judaic Institute, California writing to De Decker, who was still the concurrence to issue phoney visas only Dutch ambassador. She requested for a few of Gutwirth's friends. But In the summer of 1940, in the authorization to emigrate to the Dutch Zwartendijk went on to write Lithuanian capital city of Kovno West Indies. She learned that no visa was approximately 1,300 visas by hand (Kaunas), a Dutch gentile businessman required but that she would need a between July 24 and 27 and another did truly amazing things to assist literally landing permit from the local governor. 1,050 with the help of a rubber stamp thousands of stranded Jews. What was Such permits were only rarely issued. between July 29 and August 3, when the the role of Jan Zwartendijk (1896-1976) Nevertheless the ambassador tried to help Soviets took over Zwartendijk's office, in the Kovno rescue episode? Why has by inscribing in her Polish passport, in obligating him and his family to return to Lithuania now recognized him for French, the statement that "for the Holland. The highest known visa number courage fifty-nine years after the event? admission of aliens to Surinam, Curaçao, is 2,345, issued to Elisasz Kupinski and and other Dutch possessions in the his family. The Kovno Episode Americas, an entry visa is not required." In reality, not a single Jew This stipulation, dated July 11 1940, showed up in Curaçao. This is not By late 1939, under the terms of came to be known as a "Curaçao visa." It surprising because Zwartendijk had made the Hitler-Stalin Pact, Germany had gave the impression of being as good as a it clear to the recipients of his "Curaçao completed its occupation of western visa since it omitted the key phrase that a visas" that this notation would not allow Poland while the Soviet Union took over landing permit was required. On July 22, them entry. They understood very well eastern Poland. By May 1940 at least Isaac Lewin approached Zwartendijk in that the "Curaçao visas" were a ruse to 10,000 Jews had fled from those Kovno. According to Lewin, get out of the U.S.S.R. and, they hoped, occupied zones into neutral Lithuania. Zwartendijk, "after seeing what De as far as Japan, where they could try their On June 15, 1940 the Soviet Union Decker had done, copied (the Curaçao luck at various consulates to get visas for occupied Lithuania and five weeks later visa) into my Lithuanian safe-conduct other countries. About half of the accepted its "request" to be annexed into pass." Armed with this documentation, roughly 2,200 refugees who reached the U.S.S.R., a procedure that was Pessla and Isaac Lewin, plus her mother Japan with Zwartendijk's visas succeeded completed by August 5. and brother who were still Dutch citizens, in moving on to the United States, The Polish Jews who had fled to went to the Soviet and Japanese consuls Palestine, and other final destinations. Lithuania precisely to escape Soviet rule in Kovno and were routinely issued Those not so fortunate were shipped by felt especially vulnerable and desperate seven-to-fifteen-day transit visas the Japanese government to Shanghai, during the annexation process. By July allowing them to pass through each of the only place on earth just prior to the virtually all consulates in Kovno, the those countries. The Japanese consul was Holocaust where a Jew, or anyone else, Lithuanian capital, were in the process of Sugihara Chiune, who has been featured could legally walk ashore without any closing. Panic set in among the Jewish in movies and is far better known than documentation whatsoever. Within a refugees. At the point Jan Zwartendijk, Zwartendijk. Without Zwartendijk's year of the Kovno exodus Lithuania was voluntarily and at great personal risk, fictitious destination visas, however, over-run by the Nazis. The remaining took on a role which quickly evolved into neither Sugihara nor his Soviet Jews of Lithuania were almost entirely the rescue of the Jews. counterpart would have been able to issue annihilated. The thousands of Jews who Since May 1939 Jan had one single transit visa through their escaped with the help of visas from represented Philips, the Dutch electronics respective territories. Zwartendijk would almost certainly have manufacturer, in Lithuania. In May 1940 Unaware of the Lewins' been murdered had they remained in the Germans over-ran Holland and a experience, Nathan Gutwirth, a Lithuania. Dutch Government-in-Exile, technically legitimate Dutch citizen then residing in On June 4, 1999, on the grounds a resistance organization, was established Telz (Telsiai), Lithuania, asked of the Jewish State Museum in Vilna in London. L.P.J. De Decker, the Dutch Zwartendijk on July 24 if several of his ( Vilnius), the present-day capital of Ambassador to the Baltic states who was fellow students, non-Dutch citizens, Lithuania, three stone monuments were based in Riga, Latvia, suspected the then- could accompany him to Curaçao. dedicated in his memory by Lithuania. ¨ Dutch consul in Kovno of pro-Nazi Zwartendijk volunteered to help, sympathies. In June 1940 he asked providing the same notation he had given I would like to trace a friend of Zwartendijk to take over in Kovno as the Lewin's. Gutwirth conveyed this mine from Frank Iny School, Baghdad. consul in Lithuania representing the information to Polish Zionist leader, and His name is Safaa Nadhim Dabbi, 48, and Dutch Government-in-Exile. In spite of later Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs, I heard that he is living in Israel. I have the fact that Zwartendijk had no Zorach Warhaftig. Warhaftig made not seen him in over thirty years and diplomatic experience and a wife and inquiry of Zwartendijk, who let it be would appreciate any suggestions you three young children in Kovno, he readily known that he was willing to give a "Cura might have that could eventually lead to accepted this potentially risky çao visa" to anyone who asked. making contact with him. assignment. Thus, with Zwartendijk's help, Thanking you in anticipation. ¨ Zwartendijk's work almost the Lewins' single-family trip rapidly immediately entailed the even more became a mass exodus of beleaguered E-mail Sabah Ezra Sami Zilouf dangerous task of rescuing Jews. In July Jews. Within hours, dozens of petitioners (Simon) 1940 Pessla Lewin, a former Dutch were lined up at Zwartendijk's Philips Simon Zilouf office, which is today part of the Red Page 41 H O L O C A U S T I G N O R E S I have been an avid reader of COOKERY CORNER: GREEK JEWRY The Scribe for the past 29 years, ever Danish Rum Cream since my father Abraham Sassoon from: Joyce Rose Sir, There are numerous aspects Mukamal received your first issue of this of the Holocaust to which attention wonderful agazine. My Father as well as 5 egg yolks should be drawn to appreciate its all of his children and his brothers and 4 oz sifted icing sugar disastrous consequences. One such is the sisters were born in Baghdad and proud 1/4pt rum extermination of Sephardi Jews mainly to be identified as Iraqi Jews. My brother 1 tblsp kosher gelatine from Greece and other places in the Steven and I have established a website 2 tblsp water Balkans. on the internet: w w w. m u k a m a l . c o m 1 pint double cream, whipped The six million Jewish martyrs which now includes more than 900 5 egg whites, stiffly beaten include over 60,000 Jews of Sephardi family members dating back to the early Raspberry sauce origin, mainly in the Balkans, though 1700's. Some family lineage is most many were from Holland. Most of the complete while other members dating Beat egg yolks with sifted icing sugar and former were transported from Greece to prior to the turn of the past century are stir in rum. Dissolve gelatine in water in Auschwitz in 1943. very skimpy in data. This is due a bowl over hot water. Stir into rum Out of 70,000 Jews in Greece primarily to the fact that old age has mixture until well combined. Fold in the before the Second World War only taken a toll on these patriarchs who never cream, reserving a little for decoration, 10,000 survived. These numbers are passed down in written dorm where they and the egg whites. Pour into a glass small but still significant compared to came from. bowl and chill for at least three hours. those from elsewhere in Europe. This website includes the Decorate with rosettes of whipped cream The courageous Greek spouses and their family of the patriarchs' forced through a pastry tube and serve Orthodox Archbishop, Damaskinos of Abraham Mukamal, a Sassoon Murad with raspberry sauce. Serves 6-8. Athens, wrote a public letter to the Greek and Abdulnabi Chitayat. My brother and Prime Minister at the time signed by I are happy for what we have Raspberry sauce: push one small can of many other public figures stating: "The accomplished so far with identifying as raspberries through a sieve. Bring to the Greek People were rightly surprised and many family members as possible, BUT boil with syrup from the can. ¨ grieved to learn that the German there are so many more family members Occupation authorities have already that are not included. Also, this website: started to deport the Greek Jewish www.mukamal.com was envisioned as a At last I have been browsing community of Salonika to Poland. living family tree of the original through your website and was thrilled "Greek Jews have proven to be Mukamal, a Sassoon Murad and Chitayat and amazed at all that I found regarding valuable contributors to Greek economy patriarchs'. One that could be updated as photos and the contents of the current and have had their full share in the new members are added and the departed issue of The Scribe. Internet is really a common sacrifice of Greece to defend its are recognised. I need the help of The wonderful thing giving the possibility of inalienable historical rights... all the S c r i b e and The Scribe web page reading all the wealth of information and children of common mother Greece are w w w. t h e s c r i b e . u k . c o m to spread the subjects intesting me. I wish to an inseparable unity and we demand that word that www.mukamal.com exists and compliment you, Naim, and thank you the government protest against the that any corrections, changes and/or for all you have invested in this website. deportation of Greek Jews which insults additions to a family such as a birth, My only wish is if it were possible to add our nation's honour and unity." death or special event or occasion. Please to the photos - David and Ide of New The notorious ex-Mufti of e-mail me at [email protected] I York with family, and an old photo of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, in a will be more than happy to include any good times of Salim and Ruth of book by Zvi Elpeleg was quoted as needed changes to the family tree. I Stockholm. Blessed be Salim's memory. saying, "Kill the Jews wherever you find speak for my brother and my immediate them - this pleases Allah, history and family of uncles, aunts and cousins who Yes, it is Ruth's sister writing to you - religion." He recruited Muslim Nazi are proud of where they or their parents with best wishes to you, Naim and Renée, troops in Bosnia to help Rommel rid the came from. Thank you for giving me the for good health and happiness in the Holy Land of Jews. In November 1941 opportunity to share the introduction of coming year 5761. Shana Tova! ¨ he was photographed with Hitler urging the website: www.mukamal.com with him to carry out the extermination of the all The Scribe readership. Bat-Yam, Israel Jews - before the Wansee "Final E-mail from Judy Dattner Solution" conference of January 1942. London David SamierMukamal, On December 15 1942 Winston Churchill Son of Abraham Sassoon Mukamal said in the House of Commons special session: We will pursue the Nazi Scribe: One has to be very careful when going back more than 200-250 years. ¨ I thank you for telling my life criminals to the ends of the earth." As not story in "The Scribe"(No. 72, P. 38). I enough was done, other mass murderers must say it was beautifully presented and did their evil work after the war. ¨ ÃÃÃÃÃÃ I am proud to have a presence in the Sephardi community, which I love and Percy Gourgey Knowledge is power admire. ¨ Sephardi member, Yad Vashem The greater our knowledge, the greater Committee of Board of Deputies our influence on others. ¨ London Freddie Knoller Twickenham The following is an interesting is very different from non-Orthodox another group insists on its nostalgic correspondence between Maurice Sasson congregations wherein the members vision to be implemented then there will Peress and Rabbi Howard Joseph of the often decide on their own what should or be no room for other groups in our Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue of should not be done without reference to Synagogue. Halakhah does not work Montreal which should be of interest to Halakhic procedure. In some cases they only on what was done in the past; it must Sephardim everywhere. may give much weight to Halakhah but decide for the present. Orthodox Jews are also influenced by what they call ask their rabbis if heart transplants and 26 September 1999 History and Tradition (Conservative) or in-vitro fertilisation techniques are Dear Rabbi disregard Halakhah completely in favour permissible. The fact that one hundred or of what is convenient or comfortable five hundred or one thousand years ago We have been enjoying a period (Reform). they were not done does not mean that of peace and harmony under the But again, Orthodoxy has staked they are forbidden. These questions are leadership of our President, Mr Selim its emphasis and commitment to the decided upon using the components of Moghrabi. Prior to embarking on a step Jewish legal tradition as the Word of G-d Jewish law from the Babylonian Talmud towards modernisation, we should take a that must be obeyed. Orthodox Jews and subsequent codes and commentaries long breathe and consider the submit their questions to their rabbi and that relate to these questions. They are consequences. President Moghrabi, in submit to his decisions. interpreted and applied. Sometimes a his address Yom Kippur emphasised the If we are going to have an consensus of rabbis is reached and, fact that our Synagogue needs a man, a Orthodox congregation then we are all sometimes, differing perspectives strong man, a hard-working man to going to work for this principle and remain. succeed him as President. In stressing the realise that the rabbi has a key role to If we wish to create unity in our issue, Mr Moghrabi was trying to avoid play. Neither Maurice Peress, Victor congregation it must be on this playing into the hands of the Maghen Mashaal, Selim Moghrabi, Emile Fattal, fundamental. If we wish to move to a Abraham's' faction who have been David Kauffman or David Gabbay have stricter interpretation of Orthodoxy as advocating the separation of their the expert knowledge required to render noted above we can discuss this. services from the Spanish (in order to Halakhic judgements. I do not know of However, it is improper to conduct these have the possibility of a lady President). anyone else in the congregation who discussions without the Rabbi present. Electing a lady President will no doubt does. If anyone of these or other Otherwise the sources of Torah are absent weaken the position of the members who members wishes to serve in an and the discussion is no longer one based prefer to stay at the Spanish. If Maghen administrative capacity they can so be on Torah and for the sake of heaven. Abraham decide to part away, a minimum chosen by the members. But they cannot On the question of whether or of fifty families, Iraqis and Moroccans function as replacements for the rabbi not a woman can be President of a will join them. The tax base of our and pronounce on what is or is not synagogue both Hazzan Abbitan and Synagogue will be diluted, the beautiful halakhically valid course of behaviour. myself agree that there is no Halakhic Chapel towards Mr Joe Iny and his Furthermore, our congregation objection. An Iraqi rabbi, the late Rabbi brother generously contributed will be is constituted of members who identify Hayyim David Halevi who served as vacant. Victor Mashaal is dreaming in with Orthodoxy and who may wish Chief Rabbi for many years, wrote that in Technicolour when he says one member congregation affairs to be guided by voluntary situations people can give leaves and 699 will stay. Fact is he will Orthodox policies but they themselves authority to a woman to be a judge in a no longer be able to carry the flag unless are not completely observant in an religious court for civil matters, for he coughs amounts commensurate with Orthodox fashion. We call these kinds of example. the honour bestowed on his beloved. All people today the 'non-observant We also have the precedent of we ask you to do, our dear Rabbi, is to Orthodox'. Golda Meir. Orthodox rabbis served in respect our Sephardi traditions and be a In some Orthodox synagogues her cabinet and I do not recall any stabilising factor in keeping us together. none of the above type persons would be objection to her being chosen as a leader welcome to serve in any official capacity. of a Jewish community. In 18th century Maurice S Peress In others they would not even be offered Kurdistan, Asnat Barzani, a scholarly to go to the Torah for an Aliyah. Their woman, succeeded her husband as head 5 October 1999 lack of complete observance would of a Yeshivah. Dear Maurice disqualify them. In these congregations Finally, we have the example of Your recent letters provide me the members readily submit to the Deborah, the Biblical prophet, judge and with the opportunity to offer my views as decisions of the Rabbi. leader who ruled our nation over 3000 to the nature of Orthodoxy and the basis There are other factors in Jewish years ago. of unity in our Congregation. Other i d e n t i t y. These may include an So in my mind there is no matters will be clarified if we can come attachment to community, past and religious Halakhic issue here. If there are to an understanding about these two present; nostalgia for a lost community or other issues to be discussed in this matter fundamental issues. family traditions; attachment to Israel and then they should be brought forth but not An Orthodox synagogue is one charitable concern for Jews everywhere. under the cover of religion. Religiously I in which the rule of Halakhic law and H o w e v e r, for Orthodoxy the primary do not see any issue. tradition is supreme and is interpreted commitment is the observance of G-d's I know that some people are and applied by an ordained rabbi who is commandments in the Torah as uncomfortable with the more elevated trained to interpret and apply the legal implemented in the Halakhah. opportunities women have in Canada and tradition to contemporary issues. So, nostalgia may be important other Western countries. But this is the This fundamental consideration but it is not enough to go on. If one or Continued on following page Page 43 r e a l i t y. If we deny women valid MOSSAD SNATCHES Jews held prominent positions in the opportunities in our communities we will SACRED JEWISH TEXTS country; Sasson Heskail, the first lose the respect of our women for FROM SADDAM minister of finance, was Jewish. Judaism. This would be the end of our The climate turned hostile after tradition for they would not teach their Published in The Sunday Times 7.5.00 the creation of Israel in 1948. About children about something that denies 121,000 of the 137,000 Jews who lived in their dignity. Dozens of sacred Jewish scrolls Iraq were flown to Israel in 1950-1951. I hope that all those who wish to that Saddam Hussein ordered to be There was a further exodus (in 1970-71 see our congregation continue in the destroyed have been smuggled out of Iraq after the Ba'ath came to power and the ways of Orthodox Judaism will rally in an operation masterminded by hanging in Baghdad of 9 innocent Jews), around the proper comprehension of this Mossad, the Israeli secret service. a mere 68 are now left in Baghdad. term and not use it so selectively promote At least 50 manuscripts Israeli sources said last week their own special interests. I hope to containing the Torah, the first five books that efforts to rescue the remaining Torah continue to be able to have the of the Bible, had lain for decades in a scrolls were continuing. "We know opportunities to teach and explain to our warehouse in Baghdad after being hidden where they are. Some of them served the members how an active, serious and by Iraqi Jews who left for Israel in 1950- Iraqi Jewish community for hundreds of devoted Jewish life can enrich their lives. 51. years," said a source in the Israeli I hope we can all work together to Mossad has retrieved 30 of the Ministry of Religion. promote the observance of Shabbat, the scrolls after bribing members of the Iraqi "We will not leave them in the dietary laws, regular attendance at the army. One of them, thought to have been hands of the Iraqis. The state of Israel, Synagogue all year long and all the other hand-written 70 years ago, was put on with the help of all its secret and non- beautiful obligations by which Jews have display last week in a synagogue in secret organisations, will bring the scrolls lived for thousands of years but which Afula, northern Israel. A n o t h e r, 200 back home." now appear to be distant to many of our years old, has been exhibited in New members. We would then be York. Naim Dangoor writes: approaching the ideals of an Orthodox Many more scrolls, some far synagogue. older and more valuable, are still in Iraq. In 1957 my late Father managed "There is a fair chance that we will to export from Baghdad at his own Rabbi Howard S Joseph recover and return them to Jewish hands expense no less than 500 scrolls out of a so that they can be presented in total of over 3,000 that belonged to our Scribe: synagogues in Israel and across the community in Iraq. The 500 scrolls were 1) The occupational diff e r e n c e s world", said one source. duly received by the Sephardi Federation between men and women has been Mossad is believed to have in London. Many of them were then narrowing gradually since the French started the operation after its agents in despatched to various synagogues all Revolution two centuries ago, even more Baghdad learnt of a meeting at which over the world but others unfortunately so in the past 50 years of relative Saddam's generals told him that 50 found their way into the hands of dealers international peace. manuscripts had been found in the city's and collectors. Baghdad was famous for However, even if the difference Battaween district, where the Jewish the quality of Torah scrolls and orders is now very small, we confirm the famous community used to be concentrated. He were received from Eretz Yisrael, having remark of one famous French deputy who is said to have replied: "Burn them". to wait sometimes for up to 3 years for said, "Vive la difference!" In fact, even if The news appalled officers at completion and delivery. ¨ woman can now perform man's Mossad's headquarters in Tel Av i v, functions, can man claim to be able to prompting comparisons with perform the role of the woman who alone Kristallnacht in 1938 when the Nazis is capable of bearing babies? burned Jewish shops, synagogues and 2) As for the Rabbi describing Torah scrolls in Germany. I am sending you separately a members of a congregation as being non- Mossad soon learnt that some of copy of my film "Baklava and the observant Orthodox, this is obviously a Saddam's officers, realising the value of Meaning of Life". In this 23 minute contradiction of terms. How can an the scrolls, were prepared to defy his video, sculptor Helene Simon (my Orthodox Rabbi knowingly lead a orders in return for money. The agency's mother) shares the recipe for her famous congregation that is completely or mainly station in Istanbul, which carries out Baklava and treats us to her wisdom and non-observant. espionage, against Iraq, was ordered to insight on happiness in life. Some people may regard such investigate. Helene was born in Baghdad behaviour as reform through the back It is not known how much and studied art in London, Egypt, and the Mossad paid either to the Iraqi officers or door. ¨ United States. After raising a family, she to merchants based in Jordan who acted became a sculptor, and her pieces are in a as intermediaries. It may have been as Did You Know? number of museums and important much as £30,000 each. collections. Along the way, she also The rescue of the scrolls appears made some wonderful Baklava. Of the 11 British prime to have been part of a much larg e r This video takes a peek into the ministers between 1880 and 1940, none operation to recover artefacts linked to world of a Jewish artist and mother. ¨ wrote an autobiography; of the 11 since Iraq's once sizeable Jewish community. 1940, Blair is the only one who hasn't yet After Iraq declared its Somerville MA Jamil Simon written one. ¨ independence from British rule in 1932, Page 44 MIDDLE EAST CONFEDERATION CO-OPERATION IS BETTER THAN CONFLICT by Naim Dangoor Appeared in "Chronicles" in July 1983 A suggestion was put forward viewed and understood in this light. always be the elimination of Israel as a some time ago that the Kurdish problem After the dismemberment of the Ottoman foreign body, or cancer as they call it. could perhaps be solved by promoting a Empire nothing came out of the self- After the establishment of federation of present-day Turkey, Syria, determination that was promised by the Israel, many Palestinian Arabs fled Iraq and Iran. This is a wishful dream Allies to the various national groups of mainly on the advice of A r a b and unrealistic. Such a federation would the Middle East. It is said that the governments who wanted them out of the upset the balance of power in the region Ottoman "millet" concept, under which a way and were confident to bring them and pose a serious threat to peace. It large measure of autonomy was granted back in triumph. Shortly thereafter, there would be opposed and resisted by Israel to various racial and religious minorities, was an exodus of similar numbers of and its Arab neighbours alike. T h e had to give way to the modern national Jews from Arab countries to Israel and it presence of Kurdish minorities in these concept - but this has not succeeded. was widely recognised at the time by the four countries is not enough reason for "Arabs, Jews, Kurds, Seljuk Tu r k s , powers and indeed by the A r a b uniting them in one entity with one end in Persians, Assyrians, Telkaifis, Armenians governments themselves, who allowed Europe and the other end in Central Asia. - how mould such a composite collection their Jews to leave for Israel, that there But a union of a different configuration of races into a single nation? Sunnis, was thus a logical and desirable exchange has a better chance of resolving not only Shias, Jews, Christians, Sabians, Yezidis of populations - like many others that the chronic Kurdish problem, but also - how to lessen the friction between such took place after the war in Germany, other minority problems there, including a variety of creeds?" (The Heart of the India and other countries. But while the Palestinian. Middle East by Richard Coke). Israel absorbed its refugees after many The area covered by Iraq, Syria, In the end imperial and oil years of hardship in transit camps, the Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Arabia is a policies favoured treating with the Arabs deliberately left theirs unsettled, precise geo-political and historical dominant Arabs and everything was although they had all the money to settle region, being the cradle of civilisation, handed over to them. There has been an them, and kept them as a political weapon the fountain of monotheism, the obsession in the world in modern times and a lever against Israel in their crossroads of three continents and the that democracy means the rule of the continuing effort to defeat the Jewish home of many ancient national groups. majority. Majority rule as an expression state. Its fertility and strategic importance made of democracy only holds true in a The Palestinian refugee problem it the prey of foreign invaders throughout homogeneous society where the was created as the direct result of Arab history. The Arabs were destined to play differences are over minor issues. In a refusal to recognise Jewish political a unique role in the historical society divided by race, language, rights in the Middle East. Zionism was development of this region. Sheltered in religion or colour, the rights of all groups, the liberation movement of the Jewish their desert, they were relatively immune large and small, must equally be ensured people. To the extent that it sought to from foreign invasions, but were always and protected. This principle would destroy the State of Israel, the PLO was ready to pounce at the right time on solve Ireland, Africa, Cyprus and the not a liberation movement, but an arm of neighbouring territories. Thus, after Middle East. Arab imperialism. centuries of warfare between the Of course, once in the saddle, The Arabs say that the Byzantine and Persian empires that the Arabs would not agree to share power Palestinian problem must be solved by sapped their energies, the dessert Arabs, with the other groups or allow them any Israel. The Israelis maintain that it is an under the banner of Islam, could defeat form of self-rule. Hence, the Assyrian Arab problem. In fact, it is a regional both powers. By their ability to subsist in massacre of 1933 and the relentless problem if only because of the interest conditions not suitable to their rivals, the suppression of Kurdish uprisings in their taken in it by all the neighbouring Arabs have been able to retain and struggle for autonomy. In 1918, a few countries. This and other problems in the consolidate their conquests and to fan out months after the Balfour declaration, Middle East cannot be solved piecemeal. into the outlying regions of the Middle Prince Feisal, later King of Iraq, declared The solution must be global, for there can East as the general climate became before a large audience at the Albert Hall, be no peace for the Palestinian refugees warmer. This process has continued both "Palestine for the Jews and Arabia for the while the material and political rights of in peacetime and in the wake of military Arabs." the Jewish refugees are ignored. The action. Likewise, by destabilising the Subsequently Arab attitudes solution must be global for there can be region, the Arabs have succeeded in changed. When the U.N, voted the no peace in one corner of the Middle East creating a continuous flow of emigration partition of Palestine in 1947, the Arabs while 20 million Kurds cannot attain from the Middle East - of Jews, Kurds, agreed to accept a previous plan of autonomy; while the Armenians and Lebanese, Christians, Assyrians, even the Jewish immigration without a state. Assyrians remember their massacres and more advanced Arabs, who are scattered When Israel was established, they agreed their stolen lands; while the Shiah all over the globe but who would have the partition plan. Since the Six Day War, majority in Iraq are oppressed; while the been invaluable to the development of the they have offered to accept the 1967 Arabs control 5 million square miles of region. By the same process a sizeable borders. These are all false promises, for territory and non-Arabs are denied any Israeli diaspora has been mushrooming in the Arabs cannot in the long run accept territory. These are not isolated problems Europe, Canada and the U.S.A. Middle situations which go against the grain of and must be solved together. T h e Eastern politics and events have to be pan-Arabic aspiration. Their aim would Continued on following page Page 45 solution must be global for there can be under foreign domination but were never century A.D., in one of the two great no peace in the Middle East while a few united in freedom could then organise Jewish academies of Babylonia, four Arab rulers squander most of the oil themselves into a confederation that rabbis discussed the question as to why wealth and embark on ruinous would seek neither to Arabise, Islamise or the Holy One, blessed be He, chose adventures. The solution must be global, Sovietise the Middle East; a Babylonia as the place of exile for the for peace, law and order in the Middle confederation that would ensure people of Israel. Rabbi Hiyya, himself a East are indivisible. The Arabs have autonomy, freedom and prosperity to all native of Babylonia, thought it was acted irresponsibly in their attempt to the people of the region who will be free because they would not have been able to Arabise the whole region. As such they to live and work everywhere. A regional survive the severe decrees of Rome. have forfeited the right to lead the Middle development board would ensure that the Another native of Babylonia, Rabbi East. vast wealth of the region is utilised for Eleazar ben Pedath, sought the The reason why the Arab-Israeli the benefit of all. Such a grouping would explanation topographically - namely that conflict has not come to a decisive fit well with the neighbouring pattern of Babylonia was a low-lying land, conclusion, even after four major wars, is Iran, Turkey and Egypt. resembling the nether world, and from that the two sides have not been playing The tradition and personality of such a land the Jews would soon be the same game and it was thus impossible Abraham, revered in all parts of the redeemed. A third sage, Rabbi Hanina to have a meaningful score. The game Middle East, and who is referred to as the bar Hamma, suggested the reason that the that Israel has accepted to play is Russian friend of G-d in the Old and New language of Babylonia was akin to that of Roulette or Yo u - C a n - O n l y - L o s e - O n c e . Testaments and the Koran, can be used as the Torah. The fourth and last of the The game of the Arabs is Winner-Takes- a basis to forge the union, with a federal group, Rabbi Yohanan bar Nappaha, was All. It is clear from this scenario that capital named after him. brief and much more direct: G-d, he said, neither Israeli victories nor Arab defeats Sceptics might say that it will sent the children of Israel back to their can be conclusive. Only Israel's defeat take them ages before everyone mother's home. can be conclusive. concerned accepts this arrangement. But It will be noted that the The minorities of the Middle once the solution is identified the time deliberations of these four worthy sages East must realise that they have to co- element becomes immaterial. There is a took place almost exactly eight centuries operate with one another to achieve a just local saying that he who follows the right after Nebuchadnezzar, drove the regime in the region; if they don't hang path will eventually reach his population of Judah into exile in together they will hang separately. In destination. Babylonia. ¨ 1976 I sponsored, with the help of the Minority Rights Group, a symposium on LESSON OF THE EXILE From The Jews of Iraq Middle East minorities at St Anthony's by Nissim Rejwan College, Oxford, which provided a venue All the four Rabbis missed the for the exchange of views on the point. The reason why the Jews were problems of the Middle East and their exiled to Babylon was to demonstrate BETH HAMEDRASH solutions. It might be useful now to that the Middle East was one region and KNESSET YEHEZKEL undertake a feasibility study and to that the peace of the region is individual. under the leadership of Rabbi Aharon prepare a blueprint for a federal project. In this case the imbalance between the Bassous As a Middle Eastern refugee land of the rivers and that of Palestine myself, I watch with dismay the will always end up in aggression from the The past fifteen years have seen unfolding of events in the Middle East - Babylonian side. The lesson, therefore, is the Sephardim in London make great the destruction, the loss of young lives, that Israel must not embark on a revival strides. New communities have been the waste of money. The central issue is without pacifying the land of the rivers, established, focusing on Torah education, not the artificial Palestinian problem but Saddam's missile attack on Ramat Gan more and more families have come closer Arab refusal to face realities; the trouble during the Gulf War is an illustration of to their roots, and an awareness in the is not Zionism but Arab imperialism, not this point. wider community of the richness of a the Nile to the Euphrates accusation It is said that history repeats religious lifestyle is increasing. levelled at Israel but the dream of the itself. Like a good teacher, History will Our aim is now to accelerate this Atlantic to the Gulf, and beyond, of many keep repeating itself until the lesson is process by providing an all- Arab leaders. As the Arabs face an learnt. The lesson in this case is that encompassing place which will be increasing Iranian threat with increasing Israel must become involved in the reaching out to all segments of the concern, they soon must come to realise politics of Iraq if there is going to be Sephardi community and actively that their only possible saviour is Israel, lasting peace for Israel in particular and catering for their needs. which too would not tolerate Iranian for the Middle East in general. We hope to be able to establish a penetration of the region. Blind Two generations ago the community, returning the pride of the nationalism is not in the best A r a b population of Iraq was 3 million, and now Sephardim in this country to its former traditions and, in the past, Jews co- it is nearly 30 million without any glory. operated closely with Arabs in war and immigration from outside with a potential The Jewish community is peace, especially in the fields of of further increase to 40 or 50 million. witnessing dramatic changes. commerce, agriculture and industry. This and Iraq's wealth in oil and water There has been a remarkable During the golden age of Islam all races will eventually put Israel in the shade. resurgence in Jewish learning and a sense had equal access to wealth and power. This problem should be the top of renewal in all aspects of Judaism. The peoples of the Middle East priority for Israel to tackle. There is a renewed pride in Jewish who often suffered together Some time during the third Page 46 identity in countries where Jewish Sailor", which is one of the most REMEMBERING FOR T H E acknowledging one's Jewishness was interesting books I have ever seen, and is FUTURE 2000 forbidden for decades. There are highly recommended to any readers of thousands of books published in every The Scribe who do not already have it. The Holocaust in an Age of Genocide language. There are schools and The splendid photograph in The Scribe is education programmes appearing also on the front cover of the book. Last July, a conference was held wherever there are Jews to be found. I had the privilege of knowing in London and Oxford to discuss racial And yet increasing numbers of Ashe Lincoln for many years, and had the genocide outbreaks that have been taking people are marrying outside of the pleasure of seeing him regularly at place in various parts of the world since religion, and family life and values are Marble Arch Synagogue, and on Shabbat the end of World War II. being challenged on every level. at the New London Synagogue ("Louis The following letter was This contradiction is perhaps not Jacobs' Shul"). ¨ received from the Executive Chairman of so surprising, but it should not be the conference, Dr Elizabeth Maxwell. witnessed with complacency. There is a London Lou Gorden To The Exilarch's Foundation need for more outreach and development One of the outstanding papers in those parts of the community which presented at the conference was by Dr have not benefited from the huge surge in LETTER FROM ESTHER Mark Levene, Dept of History, optimism within the religion. MERCADO (KHABBAZA) University of Warwick, Coventry. Torah learning and a Jewish way DATED 22 MARCH 1999 Speaking at a session of the conference, of life is the only way to guarantee Dr Levene told academics and survivors: continuity. As I had to undergo a brain "It seems to me to be a paradox. For 50 The experience of the years no-one was really interested in the Sephardim in this country might be tumour operation a few months ago, I will never know what would happen to Holocaust; now it is everywhere." described as that of the minority within a Dr Levene questioned the minority. If it were not difficult enough me. Therefore I wish to offer to you and to my school friends, and all the readers uniqueness of the Holocaust. He to sustain a Jewish identity here, it has considered the invocation, "never again" been still more problematic to sustain the who happen to know me, the following poem in Arabic. ¨ as hollow and crass. traditions and learning from the oriental Dr Levene admitted that the countries. focus on the Holocaust was not There is a history among the necessarily a bad thing, but wondered Sephardim of pluralism and tolerance. where do we go from here? How does D i ffering traditions are sustained and knowledge of the Holocaust make respected. Thankfully, there has been no genocide more difficult? We probably experience of ideological divisiveness don't have an answer for that yet. witnessed elsewhere in the Jewish community. And yet there is a less Scribe: The extermination of millions of obvious threat to be witnessed, as Jews in the German gas chambers is Sephardim gradually forget those specific unique because these Jews died as customs which make the faith their own. hostages for the free world. In 1939, And with that loss, so too there comes a Hitler threatened that if world Jewry loss of identity. ¨ would embroil Germany in another world war, then all the Jews of Europe would be exterminated. That was the price that the ASHE LINCOLN Jews of Europe had to pay, so that people everywhere could live in freedom and There is a splendid and well- peace. Students of the Holocaust are deserved tribute to the late great Captain perplexed by its significance because Ashe Lincoln QC, RNVR, by Abdulla they miss this point. Moreover the Dangoor in the September 1999 (No. 72) Holocaust was aided and abetted by oil edition of The Scribe. interest and by Arab influence in the axis One of many episodes in which countries which needs to be highlighted. Ashe Lincoln was involved during the While "Remembering for the War was when the Royal Navy captured a future" and "never again" may be useless German submarine, which was loaded in preventing another Jewish Holocaust with unexploded torpedoes. Typically, as there are too few Jews in Europe for Ashe Lincoln risked his life dismantling that, it may also be useless in preventing them, and he could have been blown to smaller outbreaks of genocides pieces. ÃÃÃÃÃÃ elsewhere. But the victims of the Ashe Lincoln was awarded the Holocaust died for the free world and King's medal for bravery. and was must be remembered and honoured as mentioned in Dispatches many times. Experience is the mother of wisdom such. That is the uniqueness and that is Probably the best of A s h e Out of experience comes wisdom. We the importance of the Jewish Lincoln's books is "The Odyssey of a learn by our mistakes. ¨ Holocaust. ¨ Page 47 "BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON:" ASPECTS OF BABYLONIAN THE LONGEST DIASPORA JEWISH LIFE IN INDIA based on an article in Wizo Review DURING THE 19TH A N D 20TH CENTURIES by Sara Manasseh The Jewish connection with has played such an essential part in the history of the Jewish people as the Babylonia dates from the time of Religious and communal life Talmud in both its versions, but the Abraham the Patriarch, who started his were of foremost importance in India. Babylonian Talmud is considered journey to the land of Canaan from Ur, The early Baghdadian settlers combined superior to the Palestinian or Jerusalem just south of the city of Babylon. keen business acumen with the religious Talmud. H o w e v e r, it was only after many traditions of Baghdad; commercial centuries, with the exiles from Judea and interests with the study and observance of Islam Arrives Samaria in the years 721 and 733 BCE, the Torah. Houses of prayer were that a Jewish presence was established in established, and in time, beautiful When the armies of Islam began Babylonia. But it was the destruction of synagogues were erected. David Sassoon their triumphant conquest of larg e the First Temple and Jerusalem in 586 built the Maghen Dawid synagogue in portions of what was then the civilized BCE, and the exile of the elite of the Byculla, in 1861, and the Ohel Dawid world, Mesopotamia became one of their nation to Babylon, which created the Synagogue, a famous landmark in Poona, earliest victories. The Jews of Babylonia background for the flowering of in 1863. Later, his grandson, Sir Jacob welcomed the Moslem conquerors with Babylonian Jewry. Sassoon built the Kenesseth Eliahoo relief, since the local Persian Sassanian Synagogue in the Bombay Fort area in ruler had began one of their frequent First Return to Zion 1884. In the same year, in Calcutta, the waves of harassment and persecution. Ezra family built the Maghen Dawid When Babylonia fell to the synagogue, a magnificent structure and Baghdad and the Period of the Geonim Persians in 539 BCE, forty-seven years the largest synagogue in the East. The after the destruction and exile, the victor, Ezra family had also previously built Baghdad founded in 762 A.D., King Cyrus the Great, was quick to issue synagogues in Calcutta, including the soon became the capital not only of the a royal directive giving the Jews Beth El (c. 1861). In 1893, Hakham Moslem Empire but also of Babylonian permission to go back to Jerusalem and Shlomo Abid Twena from Baghdad went Jewish life and scholarship. Shortly after rebuild the Temple. Of the 120,000 Jews to Calcutta, and in time set up a prayer its emergence as a capital and a heavily living in Babylon, 40,000 decided to hall in his own home; he is remembered populated city, Baghdad gradually return to Judea and, eventually, to rebuild for his profound knowledge of Jewish became the seat, first of the Exilarch, and the second Temple, but 80,000 decided to Law and for his inspiring sermons, then of the Geonim, who up till then had remain and prospered there in agriculture delivered in Arabic. resided in the three centres of Jewish and commerce, under the leadership of Philanthropic work by the learning: Nehardea, Sura and Pumbedita. the Resh Galuta, the Exilarch. Sassoon family included the Sassoon The Geonim were the spiritual leaders The destruction of the Second General Hospital in Poona, and in who headed the Babylonian academies. Temple (in 70 CE) strengthened the B o m b a y, the Jacob Sassoon High The two most outstanding and status of the Jews in Babylon, and it School and the Sassoon Mechanics influential Geonim were Sa'adiah ben became, in fact, the spiritual center of the Institute, later renamed the D a v i d Joseph Gaon (882-942) and Hai ben entire Jewish dispersion. For over a Sassoon Library and Reading Room. Sherira Gaon (939-1038). thousand years the Jews of Babylon were In 1994, in recognition of the charitable represented by the Resh Galuta, the works of David Sassoon, the road leading Turkish Revival Exilarch (the administrative head of the from the Library to the Law Courts, was Jews in exile), and great academies of renamed "David Sassoon Marg" (David After centuries of decline, the learning were created in Nehardea, Sura Sassoon Way). In Calcutta, the Jewish fortunes of the Jews of Iraq began to and Pumbedita. Babylon became the Girls School achieved special distinction improve noticeably during the first center for the creation of great works of under Miss Rahma Luddy, who had decades of the 1800's under the Turkish Jewish scholarship. trained in England, and who was Ottoman Empire, which ruled the area for appointed headmistress in 1929. almost 400 years, beginning in 1534. The Talmud In Bombay, the Jewish Women's In the 19th and 20th centuries, League was founded during the 20th the Iraqi Jewish community was noted The highly significant century to assist needy families. Mrs for its highly developed communal contribution of Babylonian Jewry to Hannah Gourgey was one of the early organization. In Baghdad, which had the Jewish life was best expressed and members. The league made major highest concentration of Jews, there were preserved in the compilation of the headway with the coming of Mrs dozens of institutions including yeshivot, Babylonian Talmud (Oral Law), the basis Georgette Ani (my grandmother). Not schools, synagogues, charitable for Jewish law (halacha), philosophy and content with attending to letters of o rganizations, medical institutions and the Jewish way of life - an enormous application for assistance at the other bodies, designed to meet the needs undertaking began at the Academy of committee's meetings, she would visit the of the community. ¨ Sura and was completed in the year 499 poorest families with one or two other CE. It has been rightly maintained that ladies, and talk to them in the Jewish no book, with the exception of the Bible, ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Baghdadian Arabic dialect - the common Page 48 lingua franca. Visiting the Sir Jacob a religious organization. Centers were to know about and respect all the Sassoon High School it was found that opened in Calcutta with the support of constituent groups that constituted the the School Feeding Fund was totally Sir David and Lady Rachel Ezra, and the people of Iraq. Alas, the violent Iraq of inadequate to meet the rapidly rising leadership of Sally Meyer (now Dr Sally Saddam I grew up in (post 1958) had costs in the World War 2 years. Sir Victor Lewis); in Cochin, led by Mr Koder and very few Iraqi Jews, but both my late Sassoon was approached, and with the in Poona. A number of the members later parents spoke fondly of them. I yearned assistance of the E. D. Sassoon funds, a made 'A l i y a h' to Israel. Habonim to hear the Iraqi Jewish dialect. good daily hot lunch was organised for initiated the first Youth Aliyah groups I am an avid visitor of the the whole school. With the coming of the from Bombay to Kibbutz Lavee and other Internet and visited the Babylon Jewry refugees from Singapore, the Jewish religious centers. Heritage Centre site. I also received their Women's League organised the refugee Bnei Akiva was founded by the newsletter Nahardea. I was amazed to centre at Dharbanga Mansions (in Jewish Agency who sent shlichim see so many names I recognised from Malabar Hill; provided by the (emissaries) from Israel to organize the what my parents had told me. I signed government of Bombay), and assisted the work. the guest book and subsequently received families to get settled. The League also Maccabi, founded in Bombay an e-mail from a Ms Helen Bekhor in played its part in equipping children who by Mr Starosta, a European immigrant, Australia. She is of Iraqi Jewish origin went on Youth Aliyah groups to Israel. with Sass Moses, as Chairman, captured and her husband Ken is an Iraqi Jew. She Wizo (Women's International the interest of the youth, and contingents told me that your kind self is an Iraqi Jew Zionist Organisation) was founded in were sent to Israel to take part in the and that is why I decided to write to you Bombay after the arrival of European Maccabiah competitions. both to introduce myself and to offer you Jews before and during World War 2, for In Bombay, for 50 years, Albert greetings. Helen and Ken Bekhor also raising funds for Israel. The Jewish Manasseh (1907-1991) was the Chairman asked me to convey their regards (they Relief Association was set up by and Life President of the Sassoon Trusts - told me to remind you that you had lunch European immigrants to assist members which included the three synagogues - of with them, many many years ago when of this community who had come to which he was the spiritual head, schools you were stationed in Sydney). Bombay as refugees from Nazi and burial ground. He devoted much I pray that our peoples find persecution. attention to youth in school, Bnei Akiva peace in our time and that we all can hear and Habonim. He accompanied the first the Iraqi Jewish dialect spoken again in Relations with Israel Youth Aliyah group to Israel from India the land of Babylon, in a free, democratic to ensure that they were settled in and pluralist Iraq. Please honour me by The Bombay Zionist religious Youth Aliyah centers. In visiting my website at Association was founded in 1920 by recognition of his dedication and h t t p : / / w w w. g e o c i t i e s . c o m / B o u r b o n S t re three young Baghdadians: Judah Gubbay, guidance the trustees of the EEE Sassoon et/Quarter/1803 and feel free to e-mail Joseph S Ezra and Ezekiel S Somekh, school recently opened (c.1993) the me any time. inspired by newspaper reports of events Albert Manasseh Memorial Nursery in London to celebrate the Balfour School. ¨ Shalom / Salam Declaration, 1917. Mohammed H Al-Sadr Dublin The Central Jewish Board of from "The Jewish Babylonian", the Bombay was founded in 1943, with Newsletter of Midrash BEN ISH HAI representatives from the synagogues, 6 May 1999 initially to deal with anti-Zionist or anti- Jewish attacks in the press. It was Dear Dr Al-Sadr succeeded by the Council of Indian Jewry founded 1978. To: H E Mr Zvi Gabay Thank you very much for your Jewish publications included the Israeli Ambassador Dublin letter and the sentiment it contained. I am Jewish Advocate and the Jewish Tribune, following with much anxiety the situation and in later years, The Indo-Israel 20 April 1999 in Iraq and only hope that peace will Review. The BZA arranged lectures and prevail in that country for its people and fundraising for the national institutions in AN IRAQI IN IRELAND the future generation in the Middle East. Palestine, and then Israel, and initially, I enclose a copy of The Scribe, a 'Aliyah (immigration) to Israel. From Your Excellency, Journal of Babylonian Jewry published in 1948-1958 Mr F W Pollack personally London and trust it will be of interest to published and edited a monthly Greetings and salutations. This you. ¨ magazine, India and Israel, which was is but an introductory letter and message highly regarded. of peace. I am Iraqi by birth and have Yours sincerely been an Irish national since 1986. I left Zvi Gabay Dublin Youth organizations Iraq in 1976 and have not been back since. My paternal grandfather Senator ÃÃÃÃÃÃ In 1935, Habonim (retained as a Mohammed Al-Sadr was one of Iraq's religious organization in India, unlike its 1920 uprising leaders, a hero of development elsewhere) was founded in independence, an ecumenist, a political Courtesy costs nothing Bombay by H"R Albert Manasseh, with and religious figure and one of the fathers There is nothing to be lost by behaving in the assistance of Mr Solomon Ezra. The of the Iraqi state. It is because of this a courteous way. Sometimes ‘civility’ or movement grew, and continued always as family background that I was brought up ‘politeness’is used instead of ‘courtesy’. Page 49 JERUSALEM, THE ETERNAL CITY

In 1996 the Khalili Family Trust commissioned the ultimate painting of the City of Jerusalem to be painted with the hope that in the new Millennium it will be possible for Jews, Christians and Muslims to live together in Peace and Harmony. The painting shown below was first exhibited in the "Summer Exhibition" in the Royal Academy of Art London from 29 May 2000 to 7 August 2000 and subsequently will travel to the Tower of David in Jerusalem. Upon the attainment of permanent Peace in the Middle East it will travel throughout all the major Muslim countries in the world and hopefully will become a shining torch of the three faiths. I have pleasure in enclosing a copy (shown above) of the postcard which we have produced which I hope you will find interesting. ¨

London Dr N D Khalili

THE FUTURE OF 1967 began a re-birth that led to the DOME OF THE ROCK JERUSALEM movement to free Soviet Jewry. At Camp Temple-Mount Mosque 'Temporary' David President Clinton proposed that "Yasser Arafat feels he must consult with Israel turn over two quarters of the Old JERUSALEM, 15 Kislev - After a 3 1/2 hundreds of millions of Muslims, before City to Palestinian sovereignty. Prime hour discussion between a Jewish he can make any decisions with respect to Minister Barak did not reject this delegation and representatives of the Jerusalem; well Jerusalem is also the proposal but only asked Clinton to check Moslem government last night, the concern of all world Jewry", asserted with Arafat. Whatever Barak said at Moslems gave assurances that the Ambassador Dore Gold, Israel's former Camp David was oral, was stated to a mosque under construction on the UN ambassador, who spoke at a Friends third party (the US) and was hypothetical Temple Mount is only in the way of a of Yesha meeting at the Hendon United (dependent on achieving Palestinian temporary structure. Synagogue. Gold, who also met with the agreement on all other issues). It cannot The delegation had requested Board of Deputies carried a message that constitute a binding international the interview after construction on the the involvement of the International commitment for future Israeli mosque had begun despite explicit community in the issue of Jerusalem is governments. A major world-wide promises by the authorities that, because likely to increase in the months ahead: information campaign is needed on of the Jews' unhelpfulness in the Up until now the world assumed that Jewish rights in Jerusalem after Camp uncovering of the Foundation Stone, the Israel's insistence on a unified Jerusalem David. Gold now heads the Jerusalem holiness of the spot on which once stood under Israeli sovereignty was carved in Centre for Public Affairs. His writing on the Temple would be carefully stone. The perception emanating from Jerusalem can be viewed on the centre's safeguarded. Camp David is that the Jewish position is website: www.jcpa.org ¨ The Caliph's representatives, on more pliable; this will now invite the other hand, argued that the Jews had pressure on Israel in the future. This The Zionist Standard been granted many privileges, and that it must be revised - the national consensus was "not too much to ask" that the in Israel opposes concessions in Moslems be given the opportunity to Jerusalem. For Russian Jews, for ÃÃÃÃÃÃ erect a "temporary mosque" on the spot example, the liberation of Jerusalem in where, according to Moslem tradition, Mohammed tied us his horse - a spot Page 50 which also happens to be located on the over the years even countries not Leaving aside whether Jesus Temple Mount. controlled by Catholics agreed to use the was a real character in history is certainly Among the "privileges" Gregorian calendar since the incorrectly far from clear to most academics when he enumerated by the Moslems are the calculated Julian calendar was now was born, not to mention how he was friendship of the Caliph enjoyed by the throwing the year clearly out of the track conceived. Jews; the refusal of the Moslem with the earth's rotation. One of the In any case, the Millennium has authorities to be swayed by the nations that delayed converting to the entered the door of history on 1st January arguments of the Christians in the matter new calendar was England and its 2000 but not without a controversy from of the transfer of the Tiberias Academy to colonies, which put it into practice in certain institutions such as the Jerusalem; the appointment of the Jews 1752 and Russia and Finland not until Encyclopaedia Britannica, the US Navel as guardians of the Temple Mount; and 1918, Observatory and the Greenwich the permission granted the Jews to build The changeover in America, as Observatory, as they claim that right date a synagogue next to the Foundation Stone in England, led to a loss of eleven days in had to be 1 January 2001, though the - a synagogue which the Jews were February 1752. This affected among Vatican preferred to announce it in a allowed to complete without others, George Washington, who as a three-cipher-year. interference. ¨ twenty year old in 1752 saw his birthday A book entitled "Zero - the moved from 11 February to 22 February. Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by From Chronicles - News of the Past - This seems quasi as fiction than a fact. Charles Seife (Viking) discussing the Volume II, No. 17 Of course the celebration of Georg e history within the larger context of Washington's birthday has now been alternative numbering systems developed shifted to the third Monday in February - by various cultures, such as the base - 60 "THE NEW MILLENNIUM" which has nothing to do with the Julian or system of the Babylonians who brought Gregorian calendar, but with more us the 60 minute hour and the important one for most people in magnificent zero invented by the Maya, The fact that our planet rotates America: the federal holiday calendar. came down to a statement that the on its axis a little less than the 24 hours, As European power spread absence of nought gave us our "silly" we know as a day (by 3 minutes and 56 around the world, every country calendar system that goes from 1 BC to seconds), and that it travels around the eventually settled on the Gregorian 1AD, guaranteeing that the new sun once every 365.25636 days, created calendar as the way of marking the Millennium actually begins next year. confusion over the centuries about exact change of year. Surely, other ways of My personal view is that dates, and induced calendars to make measuring time are in force. We Jews clinging on to the errors of history in such compromises. shall have our New Year in 2000 on 30th cases, is not worth a dispute especially The Romans may have been September and the year will be 5761, and after the Millennium has already been accurate in building aqueducts and according to Islam what we call year fixed and that the decision should be coliseums, but they erred when it came to 2000 will be 1420, while the Chinese taken as a common sense choice. the calendar. They started with ten New Year in 2000 will be 4th February months, then added two more months, and the year will be 4698. Milan Edward Yamen while fiddling with the numbers of days From the 7th century to the year in February which at one time had 30 1338, the English considered Christmas days. Day to be the first day of the year, and S c r i b e : The seven day week has Just for the record, in 46 BC then it was moved to 25 March for civil remained unchanged for thousands of Julius Caesar reformed the previously purposes and to Easter for religious ones. years. Jewish leaders have successfully erratic Roman calendar. He took the Gregory XIII was a Catholic reinstated any attempt to tamper with that length of the year to be 365.25 days, Pope, and of course his calendar is system, such as not to count one day a beginning on 1 January. As a result of a supposed to have begun with the birth of year in order to have a year of 52 weeks, tremendous mistake by Roman priests, Christ. But most students of the subject so that every month will start on a the calendar had to be reformed again in say the latest Christ could have been born Sunday and so on. Jews have strongly 10 BC. Even so, by 1582 the Spring was 4 BC. Thus, perhaps the Millennium objected to any change in order to keep Equinox had slipped back from 21 March should have celebrated in 1996. the Sabbath in a fixed position. ¨ to 11 March. To prevent further slippage, According to the "New Catholic Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar Encyclopaedia", Dionysius, who has ÃÃÃÃÃÃ and as part of the reforms, ten days of been termed one of the most learned men 1582 were removed with 5 October of the sixth century, made a serious error You cannot make an omelette without becoming 15 October. which, at that time, went unnoticed and breaking eggs But since the Gregorian which, since then, has gone uncorrected. You cannot expect to get something for calendar, as it was called, necessitated the The Catholic Encyclopaedia nothing. You must be prepared to make elimination of a number of days from the says that Dionysius "wrongly dated (the sacrifices in order to gain your ends. ¨ calendar then in use throughout much of birth of Jesus) to 754 A.U.C. some 4 the Western World, a number of countries years, at least, too late. Thus what balked. The ones that immediately went Dionysius said was CE1, should have Better an egg than a hen tomorrow along with the plan were the Catholic been four or more years earlier. A.U.C. is This means the same as A BIRD IN THE countries in Europe, but the Protestant the abbreviation for the Latin anno urbis HAND IS W O RTH TWO IN T H E countries refused. conditae, which means "the year of the BUSH. ¨ Slowly but surely, however, establishment of the City-Rome." Page 51 SIR SASSON ESKELL

Hakham Heskel Shlomo Dawid was a student of Hakham A b d a l l a Somekh. In 1873 he travelled to India to become the Rabbi and Shohet of the thriving Baghdadi Jewish Community there. In 1885 he returned to Baghdad a wealthy man. In 1906 he built Slat The picture above was taken in Baghdad c. 1927 showing left to right, Hakham Heskel which was one of the seated: prominent synagogues in Baghdad. Jack Eskell; Sir Sassoon Eskell; Henry Eskell Sasson Eskell born in Baghdad Standing: David Shaoul Eskell; Frederick Daniel ¨ 17 March 1860 and studied at the Alliance School. He left for Istanbul in 1877 in the company of Menahem Saleh Daniel who had been elected a deputy of Baghdad in the Ottoman Parliament during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. After studying in Istanbul he proceeded to Vienna where he was an outstanding pupil. He returned to Istanbul where he obtained a law degree. He returned to Baghdad in 1885 where he was appointed dragoman for the consular services. On the announcement of the new Constitution in 1908, he was elected deputy for Baghdad in the first Turkish Parliament, a position he occupied until the end of World War I when Iraq was detached from the Ottoman Empire. He returned to Baghdad in 1920 and was appointed Finance Minister in the first Iraq Government. In 1921 he attended the Cairo Conference under the chairmanship of Winston Churchill at which Emir Feisal was chosen for the throne of Iraq. He occupied the position of Minister of Finance during five consecutive governments until 1925. Thereafter he was Member of Parliament until his death in Paris in 1932 where he was buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. ¨ 1927 - Sir Sasson Eskell and his brother Shaoul (standing), with Albert Shaoul Eskell (left) and friend ¨ Page 52 PHARAOH AKHENATEN In the last issue, no. 72 of Eqyptian words, and it had become the September 1999, we wrote about pharaoh common regional language that unified Akhenaten who attempted to introduce in international relations and trade, a lingua Egypt monotheism which he learned franca. from his Uncle, Joseph, son of patriarch Each country outside A s s y r i a Jacob. The following is an abbreviation and Babylon, where Akkadian was the of an interesting article about that first language, had to maintain a staff of pharaoh which appeared in " A r a m c o trusted, educated people who could World" Nov/Dec 1999. interpret and write in Akkadian. For example, when the Egyptian king CORRESPONDENCE IN dictated a letter, his scribe probably wrote CLAY on papyrus. The scribe would then hand by: Barbara Ross his text to a translator, who would inscribe it into clay in Akkadian. The "I am going to have a house- tablet would then be dispatched by royal warming", read the invitation. "Come courier. yourself to eat and drink with me. This was an era in which Twenty-five women and 25 men shall be diplomacy was often urgent, for in attendance." The party favour throughout the Amarna period many of promised was "10 wooden chariots and Egypt's vassals were at war with each 10 teams of horses" - a lavish gift by other. In a tumultuous political sea, ordinary standards, but this invitation Queen Nefertiti was from royalty. It was sent some 3500 what remained fixed throughout years ago by Kadasman-Enlil, king of the king of Mitanni, your father-in-law, Akhenaten's reign was his ardent Babylonia, to Akhenaten (Amenhotep who loves you, your brother. For me all adoration of Aten. Amarna was built with IV), pharaoh of Egypt. The message was goes well. For you may all go well. For roofless courtyards, temples, and shrines inscribed on a pillow-shaped clay tablet, your household, for your wives, for your to facilitate worship directly toward the small enough to be carried easily in one sons, for your magnates, for your sun - although shade was provided for the hand or slipped into a satchel. chariots, for your horses, for your royal family. An Assyrian king protested Akhenaten was the first warriors, for your country and whatever to the pharaoh on behalf of his Egyptian king to worship a single deity. else belongs to you, may all go very, very emissaries: He forbade the worship of multiple gods, well." "Why are my messengers kept and he directed an entire society to The meat of the letter would standing in the open sun? They will die worship one supreme being represented quickly follow. In this case, Tushratta in the open sun. If it does the king good by the sun, which he referred to as announced that he was sending one of his to stand in the open sun, then let the king "Aten". With his wife, Nefertiti, and their mistresses as a gift to the pharaoh. "She stand there and die in the open sun. Then young daughters, the royal family moved has become very mature, and she has will there be profit for the king! But from Thebes, the capital of Egypt, to a been fashioned according to my brother's really, why should [my messengers] die palatial city he had built along the east [Akhenaten's] desire. And, furthermore, in the open sun?" bank of the Nile some 300 kilometers to my brother will note that the greeting gift Although many letters contain the north. He named his city Akhetaten that I shall present is greater than any similarly heated protests of the pharaoh's ("Horizon of Aten"), and today it is before." ways, he appears to have remained known as Amarna. Akhenaten was the richest and largely unmoved, for his power dwarfed P o l i t i c a l l y, Egypt was at its most powerful man in the world, and the that of other empires. zenith, the most powerful kingdom the Mitanni, in western Mesopotamia, were Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti world had known, dominating the lesser among Egypt's most important allies, and had at least six daughters, and reliefs empires of Babylonia, Assyria, Khatti, several princesses had been sent as brides found on shrines, temple walls, and burial Mitanni and Alashiya (Cyprus), and the to marry Akhenaten and his father, sites show hints of intimacy and domestic provinces of Syria, Palestine, Canaan and Amenhotep III. contentment that are unique in pharaonic Kush. These Amarna clay letters were The written word of the time art. In one painting, the king and queen diplomatic correspondence between the was cuneiform, a type of writing that had are seated under a sun-disc whose rays pharaoh and the rulers of these lands, or spread from Mesopotamia beginning in end in tiny hands, which symbolise the the vassals who governed towns and the third millennium BC, and was used to life-giving force of the sun. Their three cities under Egyptian control. write several languages at different times eldest daughters, Meritaten, Meketaten, After a flurry of courteous and places. The Armana Letters are and Ankhesenpaaten, are often depicted salutations, most letters included a plea mostly written in Old Babylonian, itself a in scenes that display an unusual degree for money, gifts or military troops. This dialect of Akkadian, a spoken and written of affection between them and their is a typical introduction: "Say to language that developed in the city of father. Nimmureya [Akhenaten], the king of Akkad, now in Iraq. At the time the Akhenaten died after 17 years of Egypt, my brother, my son-in-law, whom letters were written, Old Babylonian had reign and was succeeded by Smenkhare, I love and who loves me: Thus Tushratta, become infused with West Semitic and who had married Meritaten. Smenkhare Continued on following page Page 53 ruled for 4 years, and was himself THE FOREIGN POLICY OF actors: the State of Israel, the Jewish succeeded by Tutankhamen, who may ISRAEL BETWEEN organisations in the Diaspora and other have been either Akhenaten's younger REALPOLITIC AND JEWISH states that took part in this field of brother, or Akhenaten's son by a minor activity. queen. The nine year old pharaoh FOREIGN POLICY The historical message on which married Akhenaten's youngest daughter, this research is based has its source in the Ankhesenpaaten, and ruled until his Yizhak Mualem Ph.D. central foundations of the Israeli foreign untimely death nine years later. This left Department of Political Studies policy as it was formed in the first his wife a widow while she was still, decade. In that decade the Israeli-Jewish presumably, only in her teens. Yitzhak Mualem completed his studies by politics was based on the statehood During Tutankhamen's reign the means of a scholarship from The principle. This approach considered it capital was moved back to Thebes, and E x i l a rch's Foundation under the necessary to subject all the internal and the old polytheism was reinstated. It is patronage of NAIM DANGOOR external means within the State of Israel widely believed that the young king and the Diaspora for the realisation of the Tutankhamen was manipulated by older, ABSTRACT OF THESIS primary goal of the Jewish People, which craftier advisors who saw a return to past is making the State of Israel a central ways as a means of restoring their own In this paper the purpose was to state factor within the Jewish People. power. One of the closest advisors to the examine whether the Israeli foreign This unique political approach had, king was a nobleman named Ay, who had policy is affected by the fact that the State therefore, impact on the formation of the been a faithful follower of Akhenaten. of Israel is the state of the Jewish People Israeli foreign policy, and it is also But after the political climate or whether this has no impact on the manifested in the illustrative cases, which changed following Akhenaten's death, he conducting of foreign relations of the were examined in the course of this had become sympathetic to the Theban State of Israel. That is, that the Israeli research paper. priests who still prayed to the ancient foreign policy is a policy which is In the first illustrative case there Egyptian pantheon. In the absence of a conducted and based primarily on was an attempt to examine the nature and male heir to Tutankhamen's throne, Ay realistic foundations, its meaning being essence of the Israeli foreign policy in became the designated candidate - but the focused political activities for the two fields of activity which have pre-requisite of his ascent was marriage purpose of realising the state goals in influenced each other. The first is the to Tutankhamen's young widow, who was order to reinforce its independence and field of Israel-France relations, and under at least 30 years his junior. status as nationality-state in the the second we have dealt with the What survives today of international arena. question of the rendering of spiritual and Akhenaten's legacy is but a small part of The theoretical framework material assistance to a non-Zionist what once existed, and Horemheb's which has been adopted to deal with the Jewish community in Algeria throughout destruction is part of the reason that the fact that the State of Israel is both a State the 1950's and early 1960's. The research reign of Akhenaten sank into obscurity and the Jewish State is constructed on in this case focused, as noted, on two until its re-discovery in the early 19th combination of two theoretical parallel lines the first of which and the c e n t u r y. As for the Amarna Letters, approaches, the realistic and that of extra- prominent and significant one being the although the form of communication national relations. The State of Israel, discussion of Israel-France relations doubtless continued, there have been no due to the structure of the Jewish people which has affected the other, more inner corresponding caches of correspondence which is a case that cannot be for the line, which dealt with the relations of found in Thebes, and thus the record ends analysis of foreign policy of a state. Israel and the Jewish community in approximately a year after the capital was Therefore, it is not possible to explain Algeria. moved back there from Amarna, during this policy according to the realistic The involvement of the Israeli the reign of Tutankhamen. model alone. Hence, to be able to present Government in South Africa and in the The Amarna Letters are our only an effective analysis we needed a new states in that continent had influence intimate glimpes into lives lived in a complementary theory. The extra- on the status and welfare of the Jewish world so distant from our own in time, national theory enables us to analyse the community in South Africa. In this case yet so similar in its humanity. ¨ phenomenon of the State of Israel and the the policy of the Israeli Government Jewish world, the structure of which, as regarding the question of preferring the noted, goes beyond the framework of a interest of the Jewish community, which ÃÃÃÃÃÃ regular nationality-state. emanated from the context of the Middle- The empirical framework of the East conflict, over the interest of the Learn to walk before you run research is comparative: three different Jewish community was examined. The Knowledge cannot be aquired all at once; illustrative cases in respect of their time Israeli Government has deepened its it must be gained step by step. Don’t try and place of occurrence. The illustrative political and economic ties with the new to spell ‘catastrophe’ if you cannot spell cases are: A. Israel-France relations and states in Africa and supported motions of ‘cat’. ¨ the future of Algerian Jews between the the UN organisation to condemn the years 1958-1962; B. The Jewish inter-racial separation regime in South Community and the Israeli foreign policy ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Africa and to impose sanctions on this toward South Africa under the Apartheid state, while this notwithstanding the regime 1960-1967; C. The campaign for harming of the welfare status of the South Little and often fills the purse USSR Jews after the Six Days War. This African Jews. The political interest was Small sums of money frequrntly received is while focusing on issues-field which is dominant and essential whereas the soon mount up. ¨ defined by set rules of behaviour of the overall Jewish interest was marginal in Page 54 the interest scale of the State of Israel. According to the findings of this transporation and tourism. Peres, by This is because the harming of the South paper it seems therefore that two things contrast, has held every important job in African Jews was limited, as a result of are present in the Israeli foreign policy, government including Minister of the policy of the Israeli Government, to and these are: the fundamental- Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs and the political and economic fields alone declarative aspect and the operative one. was Prime Minister three times. Peres and did not spread to the physical one. The foreign policy was characterised by was the chief architect of Israel's The tension between the state the declarative aspect in the parallel military-industrial complex, including its interest and the Jewish interest was commitment both to the state interest and nuclear weapons programme, and a key intensified in the campaign for the USSR to the overall Jewish interest. Moreover, drier behind the 1993 Oslo peace accords Jews, especially in the period following in this aspect it has been relatively easy to with the Palestinians, a role that earned the Six Days War when the diplomatic create an overlap between the two so that him a Nobel Peace Prize. ties between these two countries were the realisation of the state interest was Peres' wit and elegance have severed and the bilateral political chains defined as clear manifestation of the made him a favourite among foreign have been removed. The Israeli overall Jewish interest. On the other dignitaries, but those qualities make little Government dared and commenced hand, in the operative aspect there were impression on Israeli voters, who prefer acting decisively on the issue of the discovered contradictions and contrasts their policitians rough-cut and earthy. USSR Jews. It took advantage of the between the two types of interests. Early in his career, Peres gained a structural changes which started to form Examination of those issues is what reputation as a self-promoter, an image at that period, when a new international stands at the heart of this paper. ¨ reinforced by old party rival Yi t z h a k reality started to come into being which Rabin, who reflecting on what he saw as was based on the policy of amelioration - sabotage by Peres during his first stint as the détente - between the two prime Minister, memorably dubbed his superpowers. At that period the Israeli THE ACCOMPLISHED competitor a "tireless subverter". Government laid the issue of the USSR At a Labour convention three Jews openly on the Jewish and even the LOSER years ago, Peres famously addressed the international agenda. It has initiated a crowd: "They say I am a loser. Am I a battle for the granting of immigration- Shimon Peres considers his options loser?" His fellow members thundered permits and not departure-permits and after losing the presidency of Israel to back, "YES!" Yet neither that nor other this contrary to the policy which has been a political lightweight humiliations, including rejection for the determined by the large Jewish p r e s i d e n c y, motivated Peres to quit organisations in the United States, such His opponent was a nonentity. public life. Last week he revoked his as the Jewish-American Committee and The press had predicted victory. His resignation as Minister for Regional the World Jewish Congress. T h e s e political allies had counted more than Development, tendered in anticipation of o rganisations demanded to provide enough votes for a win. All that was left victory in the presidential vote, and assistance to the USSR Jews to run their was for Shimon Peres to wait out the vowed to continue working for peace. cultural life independently, and to official balloting in the Knesset for the There was some speculation Barak might campaign for the cessation of persecution largely ceremonial post of the nation's name him Foreign Minister after David and detention of Jews, as well as for their President, a position well-suited to the Levy quit the post to protest the Prime departure to Western countries apart from country's most senior statesman. But Minister's peace policies. Peres said he Israel. These goals were defined by them when the final tally came in last week, the would not seek the job. But perhaps he as primary and essential goals. result was written all over Peres' stricken has simply learned by now that admitting From the facts which have been face. Contrary to the general expectation, he wanted it would spoil his chances of revealed in those three cases we conclude Israel's new head of state was not Peres getting it. ¨ that the Israeli Government finds it but the underdog, Moshe Katsav, a decent From Time Magazine difficult to conduct foreign policy which guy by all accounts but a political is based on the political realism alone, as lightweight. a result of the international and inter- Actually, the secret 63-57 vote 'Palestine is a myth' Jewish reality. It was forced to take into should not have been such a shock. It account the magnitude and impact of was in keeping with Peres' long and An Arab writer, Joseph Farah extra-state factors in the Diaspora. The inglorious electoral record. Though he is says that prior to the 1967 Arab-Israeli Israeli Government accorded weight to the most accomplished politician in war, there was no serious movement for a the overall Jewish goals, when it has Israel-and a seasoned world figure as Palestinian homeland. defined the shape of the national interest well- Peres, 76, has not once managed to Farah says Palestine has never of the State of Israel as the state of the win outright an election for public office. 'existed - before or since - as an Jewish People. This accession means, In Israel's entire 52-year history Labor autonomous entity'. He adds: 'There is no politically speaking, that the Israeli has lost at the polls only when Peres was language known as Palestinian. There is Government was forced to conduct its leader. The Likud's Katsav, Israel's no distinct Palestinian culture. There has foreign policy that is not focused from eighth President, is the first from a party never been a land known as Palestine the purely state viewpoint, which did not other than Labor. governed by Palestinians.' provide full explanation of this foreign Katsav, 55 who will take over In his scathing article, Farah p o l i c y. Through the complementary from the ailing and disgraced Ezer continues by lambasting the Arabs for model, the real-political viewpoint has Weizman, served as a cabinet minister in 'wanting it all'. 'No matter how many land offered a more precise explanation of the various governments but never rose concessions the Israelis make, it will foreign policy of Israel. above such second-tier posts as never be enough.' ¨ Page 55 From the British Library

THE HEBREW COLLECTION covering all fields of Hebrew literature. placed on open access in the Oriental OF THE BRITISH LIBRARY One of the jewels in the A l m a n z i Reading Room (see below). The most by Ilana Tahan, Curatorin the Hebrew collection is undoubtedly the exquisite important are: Section Golden Haggadah copied and G Margoliouth's "Catalogue of the illuminated in Catalonia in the 14th Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in The history of the Hebrew century. the British Museum", 3 vols. & Index, collection of manuscripts and printed The contents of the collection London, 1965 (reprint) books is rooted in the British Museum was further shaped by two important J Zender's "Catalogue of Hebrew books foundation collections. The libraries of developments, namely the acquisition in the British Museum", London, 1867 Sir Hans Sloane, Sir John Cotton, and between 1877-1882 of nearly 300 mostly (reprint 1964) Robert Harley, the First Earl of Oxford Karaite and Yemenite manuscripts and Van Straalen's "Catalogue of the Hebrew which had been acquired by the British the addition in 1925 or 1300 manuscripts books in the British Museum acquired Museum in the 18th century, contained from the library of Moses Gaster, who, during the years 1868-1892", London, important Hebrew manusripts some of for many years acted as the Hakham of 1894 which finely illuminated. The Sloane the Sephardi and Portuguese community Second Supplementary Catalogue of library yielded some thirteen Hebrew in England. His collection was rich in Hebrew printed books in the British manuscripts, the most notable of which Samaritan works as well as Hebrew Library, 1893-1960. 2 vols. London, being a 14th century translation of biblical, midrashic and cabalistic 1994 Aristotle's Historia Animalum by Samuel manuscripts. ha-Levi Abulafia and the handsomely Today, the British Library holds The Hebrew collection of manuscripts illustrated Leipnik Haggadah, dated one of the most representative Hebrew and printed books forms part of the Altona 1740. The most significant manuscripts collections in the world Oriental and India Office Collection and contribution of Hebrew manuscripts numbering some 3,000 volumes and is housed in the British Library's new derived from Robert Harley's collection about 10,000 fragments deriving from the building at 96 Euston Road, London and consisted of 130 manuscripts. Cairo Genizah. NW1 2DB. Hebrew material can be Outstanding among those were the Besides manuscripts the viewed and consulted in the Oriental lavishly illuminated two volume copy of collection boasts valuable printed book Reading Room, which is located on the Maimonides' Mishneh Torah completed holdings numbering some 80,000 third floor of the building. Admission to at Lisbon, 1471-72, a beautiful 13th volumes. They too came into the the Reading Room is by valid reader's century Biblical Italian codex in two possession of the British Museum at pass only. A display of Hebrew volumes and a large Sephardic Bible various stages after its foundation. At its illuminated manuscripts is on view in the from the 14th century known as the inception in 1759, the Museum owned a Treasures Gallery of the Library, open Harley Catalan Bible. single Hebrew work among its 500,000 daily to the public. One of the most The following decades printed volumes. This was the first beautiful manuscripts in the collection, witnessed a steady expansion of the edition of the BombergTalmud printed in the Golden Haggadah is displayed on the Hebrew manuscripts collection. T h i s Venice 1520-1523, from the library of Turning the Pages interactive electronic resulted partly from the dispersal of King George II. That same year a gift of system, which is accessible free of charge libraries owned by English aristocratic 180 books of great significance was in the Treasures Gallery. ¨ families as for instance that of the Duke offered to the Museum by Solomon Da of Sussex, King George IV's brother, but Costa Athias, a merchant broker from also from the judicious acquisition Amsterdam who had lived in London for policies pursued by some of the Museum many years. A turning point occurred Dear Mr Dangoor Keepers in charge of manuscripts, when the book collection of Michael of particularly Josiah Forshall and Sir Hamburg - 4,420 volumes embracing all It gives me immense pleasure to Frederic Madden. Their major fields of Jewish learning - were write to you to express my thanks for the contribution was the purchase in 1839 of purchased by the Museum in 1848. warm welcome extended to me during the elegant manuscript known as the Subsequent acquisitions have included my recent visit to The Exilarch's North French Miscellany copied around both religious and secular works leading Foundation's offices. 1280, and of the famed Ashkenazi and to further expansion of the collection. It was indeed an honour and a Barcelona Haggadot, which were added Among the printed book material the privilege to be permitted to view the to the collection in 1843. By the mid- most significant category are the Hebrew manuscripts of your grandfather, the nineteenth century the Hebrew incunables (i.e. books that were printed Gaon Rabbi Ezra Reuben Dangoor Z.L., manuscript collection totalled about 300 before 1500), numbering over 100 works. illustrious 20th Century Chief Rabbi of manuscripts, half of which were biblical In the collection there is also a fine Baghdad and provinces, and prolific codices. assortment of 16th century imprints, and editor and printer of Hebrew books. The breakthrough in the many unique examples testifying to Rabbi Dangoor's vast knowledge and development of the Hebrew manuscript Hebrew printing activities over the love of Torah and the superb calligraphy collection occurred in 1865 when the centuries in many parts of the globe. exhibited in all his manuscripts Museum acquired the library of the Most of the manuscripts and particularly impressed me. Italian bibliophile Joseph A l m a n z i printed books have been recorded in Rabbi Ezra Dangoor's recently comprising 332 fine manuscripts scholarly catalogues, copies of which are published edition of 'Adi Zahav’ a copy Page 56 of which you have kindly donated to us, inconvenience to some, but we feel in the community was autonomous, but its legal constitutes an important addition to the fullness of time this will be overcome as position deteriorated under Roman rule. Library's Hebrew collection of printed and when the word has spread as to The Jews aspired to civic rights while the books and is greatly valued. where we are and how they can 'connect pagan Alexandrians, strongly anti- As a token of my appreciation I up' in order to receive what we think will Jewish, objected; against this am enclosing a list consisting of 53 be an even more informative and flexible background, grave riots broke out in 38 Baghdadi imprints held in the Hebrew way of publishing due to its versitility. CE against the Jews. In 66, under the collection, many of which were printed at On the question of visual influence of the rebellion in Judea, your grandfather's publishing house. I pictures, this should not be a problem disturbances broke out among the Jews, would like to take this opportunity to because we are getting an excellent but were suppressed with cruelty by the cordially invite you to visit the Hebrew reproduction on the internet of both Roman governor, the convert Tiberius Section and the Oriental Reading Room. colour and black and white pictures. Julius Alexander. In 115-7, at the time of I will be delighted to show you and your As an alternative to producing the general Jewish revolt, the circle of friends not only books printed at hard copies, we are prepared to provide a Alexandrian Jews were heavily attacked your grandfather's printing press, but also print-out of each issue to anyone and punished, their Great Synagogue some of our treasured manuscripts. ¨ interested at a cost of £10.00 plus being burnt down. As a result of these postage. For your information, the old risings, the Jewish population Hebrew Section Ilana Tahan method of producing The Scribe used to diminished. Their condition deteriorated Oriental & India Office Collections cost £7,000 per edition! ¨ further with the establishment of 96 Euston Road Christian predominance. In 414, owing London NW1 2DB to the inflammatory preaching of the From the British Library Patriarch Cyril, they were expelled from the city, but many evidently returned; as at the Arab conquest (642) their number NEW ALEXANDRIA was again considerable. but by then Dear Mr Dangoor LIBRARY leadership has passed from Alexandria to Cairo. I understand that The Scribe will The Egyptian Government is In 1937, the Jewish population from now on be issued electronically on planning to open later this year the new numbered over 24,000, but after the the Internet. Though I realise the Alexandria Library to be named advent of Nasser only 2,760 remained; importance of keeping abreast of new Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This is an very few remained by the 1970's. technology, I must express my personal ambitious project reviving the famous Septuagint (from Latin), regret that many of us will no longer Library of Antiquity which was destroyed mentioned above, refers to the oldest enjoy the benefit of handling the printed 16 centuries ago. The new library is Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, version of this excellent publication. In being financed by donations from various based on legend according to which 72 the Library's Reading Rooms users and Arab and International countries and is elders of Israel translated Pentateuch into researchers have no access to the Internet planned to contain 2.5 million books and Greek in Alexandria in 3rd century BCE, as yet; consequently none would be able manuscripts for the benefit of scholars for the benefit of the large Greek- to read The Scribe in its new format. This from all over the world. speaking Jewish population of is a great pity indeed! Besides I know of When, during a recent visit to Alexandria. Designation extended to the many library users who would much London, Suzanne Mubarak wife of the entire Bible as translated into Greek prefer leafing through the printed pages President, was asked whether the new during the following two centuries. of a journal than scrolling through library will be subjected to censorship or The United Nations must make endless web pages. One of the sections freedom of expression, she said "I hope sure that the Egyptian Government does of The Scribe most of its readers would so". not gloss over or diminish the no doubt miss is the visual material. The We must recall at this stage that outstanding role of the Jews in the history photographs accompanying the text were Alexandria was the great centre of the of Alexandria. absolutely delightful! Jewish diaspora in classical times. Visiting Alexandria and wanting Would it be at all possible to According to Josephus, the famous to keep up with your e-mail? Take coffee continue sending the Hebrew Section of Jewish historian of the 1st century CE, in the Cyber Access Cafe in the Smouha the Library and other interested Jews settled in Alexandria from its Shopping Mall, in Laurent (Louran) on customers (such as myself for instance) establishment in honour of Alexander the Abdelsalam Aref Street (Tram Street). hard copies of The Scribe? I hope I am Great in the 3rd century BCE. In the Smouha Mall is named after not the only one voicing this request. Roman period, they constituted a Baghdad-born Joseph Smouha who came considerable proportion of the to Egypt in the 1920's and established Ilana Tahan population; of the five districts two were there the modern Smouha City which was Curator in the Hebrew Section inhabited by Jews, totalling nearly a appropriated by Nasser after the Suez million. The Great Synagogue of war. Alexandria was so vast, that the Shamash Abdulsalam Aref was one of the Scribe: We had to go on the internet in had to wave a flag every time the leaders of the 1958 Revolution in Iraq. order to move with the times and go congregation had to say Amen. He was a pro-Nasserite and once boasted forward rather than stay where we were. The Jews of Alexandria played to him regarding one of Nasser's enemies, We acknowledge that this new practice an important economic role. T h e "You want me to kill him? A bullet costs may at the beginning cause only 20 fils!" ¨ Page 57 JOY AND THE JOY OF GIVING I have recently discovered your wonderful publication. When I was a small child in the late 1940's my American mother married the son of a prominent Iraqi politician, and in the early fifties we went to live in Baghdad. I remember driving around the city with my parents looking with a mixture of wonder and vague dread at "abandoned" properties that had belonged to Iraqi Jews. Some houses stood empty for years, tied up in legal wrangling between certain of the rich and powerful who sought possession. Why I remember this so well, at an emotional level, is that a peaceful sector of the community that had been a part of the city for ages could arbitrarily be uprooted and driven out. Since then I learned that Baghdad's Jews Above : Joy Eliahu had constituted a very large fraction of the city's population. With them the city Joy Eliahu, the 31 year old water supply often break down and lost much of its best and brightest, daughter of an Iraqi Jewish family who generally there is nothing to do. especially in terms of culture. immigrated to London a year before her The neutrality of the Now the Jewish victims of birth, is an Israeli citizen and a licensed International Red Cross requires that Joy forced emigration have been joined by lawyer specialising in European and keeps all information she receives strictly new waves, a continuing Iraqi diaspora. International Law. confidential which makes it very hard at One can actually follow the threads on Since last September Joy has times not to be able to share her the internet, as Yezidis, for example, try been living in Kosovo as the Red Cross experiences. to find one another. It is significant that representative. Her nights are spent in a She had gotten used to, she says, many disparate ethnic groups are linked modest room in a bomb-wrecked taking bodies across the border in her car together on the internet's Iraq sites, which neighbourhood, her days bearing the - her perspective has definitely changed. is how I found you. The times are weight of human misery. Joy is the first She is scheduled to spend until changing rapidly. Who could have (and so far only) Israeli to serve as a September 2000 in Kosovo and hopes to predicted the changes in the Soviet representative for the International Red continue working for the International Union? With any luck at all, it will be Cross, the neutral Swiss humanitarian aid Red Cross, perhaps in another country. only a matter of time before the peoples organisation established in 1863. Joy Joy sees her Judaism as one of the Middle East, including those in was relaxing in front of her TV after an source of her altruism - she learnt about current partial diaspora, reconstitute in exhausting, productive day when she the Holocaust in High School where she mutual self-interest to form a brighter, chanced across a documentary about volunteered to help survivors in Jewish more mutually understanding and Kosovo. She contacted the Red Cross nursing homes. tolerant society. With any luck at all. ¨ about doing volunteer work with the She believes that Judaism means Kosovar refugees who were arriving in being able to identify with people's Carbondale, IL Jim May Britain. A few months later she contacted s u ffering - "I hear stories about the them again about becoming their Holocaust and wonder why people did representative in Kosovo. This entailed a nothing to prevent it. I put myself in their series of interviews and a five week place and say: I won't be that way." ¨ ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ training course in Geneva. "They teach you about reuniting families, caring for Abridged from Ha'aretz Magazine prisoners, staying neutral, tracking down missing persons, keeping track of the people held in prison monitoring the adherence to the various Geneva conventions" she says. The goal is to Semna lema serna henaya w'ma lehaqna b'ahlel ataya. provide humanitarian aid without any We fasted until we became hunchbacked but could not catch up with those who make finger-pointing and above all protect the charitable donations. minorities. Joy is not afraid of living on her own in such a dangerous area. She is protected by an unarmed Albanian guard. Generally the workers are treated very well. However, the place is very sad; Ebnel hakham yesoum weysalli w'ebnel rasha'e yerqess weyghanni. everything is in ruins. The power and Son of the Rabbi fasts and prays while the son of the wicked dances and sings. Page 58 THE REUBEN BROTHERS only Michael Cherney wasn't interviewed Reply: We give you below the story as face to face by Fortune. Instead, he we know it. Extracts from the article in F o rt u n e responded to selected questions faxed to magazine dated June 19 2000 him in Israel. "I do not possess any The parents of a Jewish girl exclusive information on the so-called wanted to marry her to an elderly Jew, but Last June F o rt u n e m a g a z i n e Russian mafia", he wrote. As for she was friendly with a young Moslem featured a long article on the Reuben questions about bribes, murder, or money neighbour and decided to elope with him. brothers, David and Simon and their laundering, they "have nothing to do with So she went to the Mufti Muhammed spectacular rise to great fortune in Russia me...... " Faidhi Al-Zahawi for the marriage after the collapse of the Soviet Union, formalities. According to the with the help of two Russians - Lev Scribe: The lucky break came when the arrangement between the Moslem and Chernoy and his brother Michael. bosses of the International Monitary Jewish communities the girl had to stay a The Reubens brothers were born Fund gave Russia a $20 billion loan and week at the Mufti's house who was in Bombay and raised by their Iraqi-born made the foolish stipulation that the required to persuade her to return to her mother and grandmother after their Rouble be made freely convertible into parents and would only marry her if she parents separated. As poor teenagers, Dollars. Many privatised industries and refused at the end of the week to return to like so many ambitious kids in post- businesses quickly obtained heavy her parents. colonial India, the brothers made their borrowings from their banks and When the Mufti was satisfied way to London, where they landed briefly converted the Roubles into safe deposits that the girl had no intention to return to in a Jewish shelter. Simon eventually in Switzerland. The $20 billion were her parents, he advised her that instead of went into the rag trade and scraped cleaned up in a matter of days driving the marrying her poor Muslim friend, she together enough money to buy his first Rouble to an all time low, and businesses would be better off marrying his own (the pieces of real estate. David spent his were thus able to repay their bank Mufti's) son. In fact this is what early years trading in scrap metal, later borrowings in a depreciated Russian happened and that's how the girl married co-managing a Soviet metals-trading currency. ¨ the father of Khaled Al-Zahawi. venture with Merrill Lynch - and We are informed that Khaled eventually laying the groundwork for was born in 1889 and if that is the case Tr a n s World by founding his own THE MARRIAGE OF T H E the marriage of his parents would have company in 1977. PARENTS OF G E N E R A L taken place around 1888, but certainly not in 1803. When the Soviet Union fell, its KHALED AL-ZAHAWI entire military-driven aluminium Khaled Pasha was Governor industry collapsed with it. David Reuben (Mutasarrif) of the Baghdad district at the says he had built TransWorld into one of At a friend's house I recently time of the Farhood in 1941. He came to the largest aluminium traders in Russia came across a few back copies of The our house on the morning of the rioting at by that time, and he seized the Scribe, which I read with great interest, which over 200 Jews were killed, and opportunity to expand into the void. At especially your answers to readers' informed us that although he asked that time everything in Russia was up for enquiries. permission from the British military grabs. It wasn't long before Simon was I would be very grateful if you authorities and Nouri Al-Said to disperse enlisted in the project as well. could help me, too, by providing more the rioters by firing into the air, they Of course, Russia was even then detail about the persons in the following refused to give him permission. a fairly lawless mafia infested society, piece of oral history: with overlapping business rules, rampant In order to escape from an Reply from Lisbeth Zahawi corruption, lax or naïve regulators, and unwanted marriage, a girl from a well- state-appointed factory bosses who known Jewish family sought refuge in Thank you very much for your suddenly found themselves de facto the house of Muhammed Faidhi Al- detailed answer to my letter concerning capitalists - and in dire need of cash. Zahawi (1803?-1891?), Mufti of the marriage of Mufti Al-Zahawi's son. Then, as now, a foreigner soon learned Baghdad. Since the Mufti did not What a lucky coincidence that this story that these stormy seas were far more c o n s i d e r it pro p e r to have an can now be verified from another source. navigable if he had a local partner to help. unmarried girl living underhis roof, he Since I am going to be in As David tells it, not long after he opened married her to his son Mahmood. A London in August, I am planning to his Moscow office, in 1992, a man with a son from this marriage was General contact you then in order to find out heavy cane limped through the door. In Khaled Al-Zahawi, dire c t o r of the whether it would be possible for me to the pre-perestroika shadow economy, military academy in Baghdad in the look at some back copies of your Lev Chernoy had become a big trader in 1930's. publication and maybe have a look at timber and fish, among other things, "Lev Since I do not have regular your reference library. said that only those with money can solve access to The Scribe, I would appreciate As to any photographs that everything", recalls David. "He said, ' it if you could send an answer to my might be of interest to you, I am afraid Fly with me'." Lev soon introduced address. I am enclosing a self-addressed there is nothing earlier than the 1930's. David to his older brother, Michael, now envelope and two international reply I'll bring some group photos with me and 48, who proved a valuable asset to the coupons for this purpose. you can have a look at them. I, on the fledgling enterprise. Michael who speaks other hand, am very hopeful that you no English has useful connections, and a Brisbane, Australia Ms Z Zahawi might have a portrait of the Mufti in your partnership was born. picture archive! ¨ Of TransWorld's four principals, Page 59 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JEWISH GENEALOGY 8 - 13 JULY 2001

Dear Mr Dangoor comparison of Nazi Propaganda Photos Russian and Sephardi Communities with those taken by Jews or witnesses. The Programme Committee for Steve Paulsson the 21st International Conference on Professor Jerry Esterson Jews in Hiding, the actions of "The Joint" Jewish Genealogy, to be held in London Jewish Given Names - A U n i q u e after the Warsaw Uprising from 8 - 13 July 2001 has much pleasure Database in inviting you to present a paper. The One Name Studies - A Methodological Miriam Rodrigues-Pereira Seminar is being organised by members Approach Bevis Marks Records, from the oldest of the Jewish Genealogical Society of surviving London Synagogue Great Britain and will be held at the Anton Felton Intercontinental Hotel at Hyde Park Jewish Carpets - A cultural chronicle for Raphael Siev Corner. 4000 years The Jews of Ireland, a brief history and Over 600 participants from the background 80 member societies of the International Professor Ruvin Ferber Association of Jewish Genealogy A History of the Jews of Latvia Ilana Tahan Societies are expected. We are inviting Illustrated Hebrew Manuscripts in the other European Genealogical Societies to Dr Helen Forde of the Public Record British Libary contribute to the programme. Office The suggested subject for your Problems in the preservation of Archival and with Hazel Dakers paper is Babylonian Jewry but if you Material British Library Genealogical Resources prefer others, this should be no problem. We sincerely hope you will be Karen Franklin Theon Wilkinson able to accept this invitation to speak. Genealogical Holdings at the Leo Baeck Jewish Communities and Memorials, For more information, please contact us Centre and Archives (New York) Cemetries, and Burials in the Near and at the addresses or numbers below. The Centre for Jewish History, Far East, from Aden to Japan ¨ Genealogy Section, New York George Rigal: 14 Pembridge Place, London W2 4BX Fax No: (0)20 7221 7302 Tel. (0)20 7229 D r S t e w a rt Green (Paediatrician, 6845 Birmingham) Arlene Beare: [email protected] Halachic Aspects of Inherited Diseases, SEARCH FOR DON MATVAY Saul Issroff: [email protected] Genes, Jews and Genealogy (MOTTLE)

Some of the Speakers: Nigel Grizzard May I take this opportunity to Who are the British? Who are the Jews? wish you and all your loved ones a Morris Bierbrier peaceful and prosperous New Year, and Tracing your Ancestry in Italy and the Phyllis Horal well over the Fast? Ottoman Empire The Jews of Kaifeng I am writing, firstly to thank you for your most pleasing journal in its Dr Nardo Bonomi Professor Bruce Kahn information on Babylonian Jewry. Italian Jewish Resources for Genealogy Genealogy on the Internet S e c o n d l y, may I enlist your esteemed help? Hal Bookbinder Vice Pre s i d e n t , Ezra Kahn A sad Jewish lady in Israel is in International Association of Jewish Genealogical sources at the library of search of her missing relative. Is it Genealogical Societies Jews College, now the London School of possible that you could give a few lines Changing Borders of Europe Jewish Studies of your journal for her personal search? The Khazars Rabbi Abraham Levy MILYA PECHERSVY, Levanon 21/11, Judith Langer-Surnamer Caplan The Jews of Gibraltar Kyriat Shmona 10200, Israel Tombestone Translation - how to read a is looking for: Hebrew Tombstone almost anywhere in Ros Livshin DON MATVAY (Mottle) d.o.b. 1921/2 the World The Manchester Jewish Museum "somewhere in the London area"

Frederick E Cohen P ro f e s s o r Vivian Moses and Neil If anyone has information please write to Jews in the Channel Islands during the Bradman Milya at above address or P.O. Box 3589 Nazi Occupation of the Islands Genetics of the Jews. The Cohens and or telephone (06) 6943785. Levis I am most grateful to you for kindly Rabbi Frank Dabba-Smith receiving this request. ¨ Photographs of the Holocaust: from Peter Nash of Australia "Propaganda" to "Bearing Witness". A China - Tracing the former European, Gwent, Wales Meg Thomas Page 60 THE ELIAS FAMILY

I have read with interest your magazine 'The Scribe" and am wondering if you have in your archive any information about the Elias family. I enclose the immediate family tree and a photograph of Abdullah Elias with four of the five children (youngest not yet born). I am married to his grandson, David William. I also enclose two copies of photographs taken in Baghdad. Abdullah and his brother Meir were cotton merchants and moved to Manchester in about 1895-1900.

London Jennie Elias

Top right : Abdullah Elias with wife Sarah Flora (formerly Bassoos) with four of their children outside their Manchester home in 1901. Middle right : One hundred years ago - picture taken in Baghdad with teachers and the students of the Midrash Talmud Torah Yeshiva Seated - Abdullah Elias with his son, Eliahoo Victor and his daughter, Messooda Lucy Bottom right : The Turkish Governor of Baghdad with his Cabinet and foreign Consuls in the Sarai c. 1895

S c r i b e : According to our information from the book by Dr Abraham Ben Jacob, Abdullah Elias was the eldest son of Eliahou Shlomo David, (see family tree elsewhere in this issue). Abdullah and his brother Meir were cotton merchants and used to travel to Manchester. In 1892 A b d u l l a h returned to Baghdad to marry Sarah Flora of the Bassous family, and there, three of his children were born. He was falsely accused of insulting Islam, but the Wali Haj Hasan Rafiq Pasha who was a friend of the family dismissed the accusation. In 1899 Abdullah moved to London and appointed his nephew Menashi Saleh as his agent in Baghdad. He donated fifty pounds for the repair of the Shrine of Ezra Hasopher near Basra. Sir Sasson Eskell was a cousin. His brother Meir was also a generous benefactor and in 1910 he built the large Meir Elias Jewish hospital which treated non-Jews also and was only the third in the city. The hospital was opened by the Wali and members of the government and the consular service. He suffered sun-stroke while supervising the building of the hospital and died the same year. After his death his large house was converted into a synagogue bearing his name, where the Emir Feisal was acclaimed on arrival to Baghdad to become King of Iraq. ¨

ÃÃÃÃÃÃ THE NIGHT OF THE HENNA by: Albert Khabbaza, MD, New York Few days before the wedding, it shameful for any woman to sing or play was customary in the Iraqi Jewish society any instrument in the Jewish community, to have a ceremony called the night of the night of Henna was an exception Henna - something roughly equivalent to because, probably, it was originally an 2.Yabu elwared. shower in the USA. It was arranged by occasion for women only. It was even Oh, the father of the flowers. It was the family of the bride as a symbol of approved by the Iraqi rabbinate. addressed to the father of the bride as separation of the bride from them and Another occasion when it was the bride was described as flowers. only close family members were invited. not considered shameful for a woman to It was customary to use Henna - a red sing, even in the presence of men, was at orange solution of leaves of certain trees home when the mother put her child to on the fingers of the bride - so that the sleep and sing the famous lullaby - colour would remain for a few days. "Dillilloli". 3. Yabu el henna ma jouz menna. But the most happy part of the Some of the songs at the night of Oh, the father of Henna, I will not l e a v e ceremony was the special songs and Henna were: you alone. music. The "Deqqaqa" - a professional woman musician who sang and played on But the most famous one is Afaki, Afaki. the drums (Neqqara). She was assisted It is a very long song - part of it is shown by a small group of women who also below. sang in response and played a larg e 1.Ghannu ala elbaidha. tambourine (Daff). Sing for the brightness, (of the white Although it was considered flower) meaning, the bride.

Bravo bravo for the Afaki, Afaki ala elfan le'emeltainu artful trick you used.

Ana t'abtu wana shquaitu I toiled and suffered and Ala l'hadher akhedhtainu You took him ready made.

Sheftainu walad alkaif You found him a very good boy Berritainu menni bilsaif Separated him from me by sword.

Twessalti b'abu yousef You begged Abu Yousef. Ma a'aref ash t'amtainu I do not know what you Enti qelti aridu had fed him. W'hewi amru ma beedu You said I want him. Rabbi ye'eteq wlaidu Hewi elli yesaleenu And he was helpless.

G-d bless his son.

He who will console him. Note that in this song, the mother of the groom complained that her son was taken away, or "stolen" from her and blamed (not seriously of course) both the bride and her mother. ¨

DO YOU PLAY BRIDGE night was a lot of folks dere. As I was twice when you didn't even have a raise" from: Edward Dangoor preparing refreshments, I heard a man Annuder woman was talking about her say: honour. An old, coloured woman was applying "lay down and let me see what you got" Well, I just got my hat and coat for a new position. When asked why she Then annuder man say: and as I was leaving, I hope to die if one left her last place she said: "I got strength but no length" of dem didn't say: Then annuder man say to a lady: "Well, I guess I'll go home now, dis is de "Yessum dey paid good wages, but it was "Take your hand off my trick" last rubber". ¨ the most awful place I ever seen. Dey I near dropped dead when a lady say: plays a game called "bridge", and last " You forced me...... you jumped me Page 62 SIXTY GENERATIONS ROOTS TO BABYLON? I recently found a branch in my 11. John I Phelps b. 1683 40. Sancho Garces I, King of family tree that appears to be Jewish. I Goochland, VA, USA Navarre b. about 0890 Navarre, Spain do not know much about Jewish beliefs 12. William Phelps b. 1656 England 41. Dadilda De Pallars, b. about or customs. I have a couple of questions 13. Elinor Howard b. 1626 England 0870 Pallars, Spain concerning this branch of my tree. There 14. Matthew Howard b. 1609 42. Daughter of Raymond of are about ten generations that were all Wardour, Whitshire, England Toulouse b. about 0800 Toulouse, France born in Babylon, starting in the year 590 15. John Howard b. 1 Dec 1578 43. Count Raymond I of Toulouse b. AD. The first generation found had the Brockdish Hall, Norfolk, England about 0822 Toulouse, France name of "Hanini David" and had the title 16. Robert Howard b. Jan 1537, 44. Countess Senegonde of of "Exilarch". All of the following nine Syon House, London, England Toulouse b. about 0800 Toulouse, France generations carry the surname of 17. Thomas Howard b. about 1512 45. Bertha D'Aube David b. 0775 "David". What is the significance of this Ashwell Thorpe, Norfolk, England Autun, France and what is an "Exilarch"? Unfortunately 18. Thomas Howard b. 1443 Stoke 46. Theuderic Thierry Makir David I live in a small town in Wyoming, USA Newland, Suffolk, England b. about 0720, Babylon and there is not a Jewish Temple close, or 19. John Howard b. 1420 Tending, 47. Habibai Ben Natronai David b. I would turn my questions to the local Essex, England about 0687 Babylon Rabbi. 20. Robert Howard b. 1385 Stoke 48. Natronai Ben Nehemiah David Thank you for your time. Neyland, Suffolk, England b. about 0670 Pembeditha, Babylon 21. John Howard b.1365 49. Nehemiah Ben Hanini David b. Lander, WY, USA Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England about 0650 Babylon Annessa Main 22. Robert Howard b. about 1336 50. Hanini Bar ‘ Adoi David Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England b. about 0627 Babylon 23. John Howard b. 1310 51. Bustani Ben Hanini David b. Scribe reply: Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England about 0590 Babylon 24. Joan De Cornwall b. about 1295 52. Exilarch Hanini David b. about How are you personally Thunnock, Lancashire, England 0590 Babylon connected to this branch of the family 25. Richard De John Cornwall b. tree? "Exilarch" was the title of the head about 1275 Burford, Shropshire, England Does the “ of the Jewish community in Babylon. It 26. Richard Plantagenet b. about David” at the end of these names became extinct in the year 1270 and was 1252 Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, mean they are descendants of David? Do revived by Mr Naim Dangoor 700 years England you have any more of the family line? Is later in the year 1970, and he is the 27. Sancha, Countess of Provence b. Exilarch a religious post or more of an present incumbent. about 1225 Aix-en-Provence, Bouches- appointed leader? If it is an appointed du-Rhone, France post, by who (i.e. G-d?)? Was (Is) it 28. Raymond Berenger V, Count of passed down in an “ eldest Annessa Main's reply: Provence and Forcalquier b. 1198 Aix- Son” manner? Why was the post en-Provence, B o u c h e - d u - R h o n e , eliminated? First, thank you for your France Thank you for your time. This response. I will try to list all the 29. Alfonso II, Prince of Aragon b. has been very helpful. generations that I have to lead to this about 1174 Aragon, Spain family branch. It is quite extensive. The 30. Sancha, Queen of Aragon b. 21 Jewish part of our history was lost a long Sep 1154 Castile, Spain Scribe reply: time ago. 31. Alfonso VII, Pierre Raimund, King of Castile, Leon and Galcia b.1105 The reference to David in the 1. (Myself) Annessa Lynn Huff b. Castile, Spain name definitely means a direct descent 28 Mar 1972 Scottsbluff, NE, USA 32. Urraca Alfonsez of Castile and from King David through King 2. Julia Ann Belden b. 13 May Leon b. 1082 Castile, Spain Yehoyachim and all the previous Kings 1950 Alliance, NE, USA 33. Alfonso VI "The Valiant" King of Judah. We are sending you by post a 3. Vida Lee Hascall b. 20 Mar of Castile and Leon b. 1039 Castile, copy of the Babylonian Haggadah where 1926 Gaston, OR, USA Spain you will find on page 91 the earlier 4. Leslie Earl Hascall 34. Sancha, Princess of Leon b. generations of Exilarchs and on page 90 5. Ray Smith Hascall about 1015 all the previous kings to King David. 6. Sarah Caroline Whitman b. 9 35. Alfonso V, King of Leon b. The Exilarch is a political post Apr 1820 New York, NY, USA about 0989 of Royal descent, but many Exilarchs 7. Martha Patsey Lucas b. 14 Nov 36. Elivira Garcez of Castile b. were eminent Rabbis in their own rights 1796 Harolin County, KY, USA about 0971 Castile, Spain as was Rabbi Makir, mentioned in your 8. Sarah Phelps b. 1771 37. Count Garcia Fernandez of ancestor No. 46, who was sent by Haroun Buckingham County, VA, USA Castile b. about 0955 Castile, Spain Al-Rashid, Calif of Baghdad to 9. Thomas Phelps b. 1725 38. Urraca Garces of Pamplona b. Charlemagne, King of the West at his Albermarle County, VA, USA about 0937 Pamplona, Spain request, who wanted to establish in 10. Thomas Phelps b. 1703 39. Garcia Sanchez I, King of Europe a middle class based on a Jewish Albermarle, VA, USA Navarre b. about 0920, Navarre, Spain Continued on following page Page 63 nucleus. Rabbi Makir was received by FAMILY TREES The Horesh-Baher Family Tree Charlemagne and was given the title "King of the Jews". The office and After meeting you a few years In the last issue of The Scribe dignity of Exilarch was hereditary in the ago, I started to work on a family tree. dated September 1999 I happened to look royal line, passed down not necessarily to Recently you started to print at the genealogical tree of the Horesh- eldest son, but more often to the most various family trees and so I decided to Baher family and was surprised to note suitable candidate. The post came to an send you what I had developed over the that my brother-in-law, Rouben Horesh, end in 1270 following the Mongol last few years. It took time to meet and whose father is Raphael Horesh and devastation of the Middle East. contact family in Israel (the main source brother Charles Horesh (hanged by the We would be very interested in for my information). They were kind Tikrity regime on January 27 1969) were having copies of original documents to enough and patient enough to agonize not mentioned in that genealogical tree. support your family tree. and remember under my persistent I asked my brother in law who dismissed questioning (I guess I could be cited by the whole subject as superfluous. Could Annessa Main's Reply : the Human Rights organizations for my you clarify this to me? Thanks. interrogations). In reference to your e-mail and Anyway, attached is the result of E-mail Maurice M Sawdayee Ph.D August mailing - all received. Thank you my work. It has been suspended due to for the information; it is very interesting. my recent marriage. From The Editor: The information from myself to generation no. 6 is from word of mouth I have researched the following: This is a line we don't know and family history from my grandmother. Father's father's family - Yossef Ajemy- about. Can you send us details going as From gen no. 7 onto gen no. 35 was Chitayat and Baruch Tahan far back as possible - we may then be able found through the Mormon church Father's mother's and Mother's father's to join them to the main tree. ¨ information, in the ancestoral files that family - H'baba and Aziz Peres they have. From gen no. 36 onto gen no. Mother's mother's family - Shelomo and 50 was found in the international Habiba Houri genealogical files found at the Mormon In your Scribe No. 72 I read that website (familysearch.com). T h i s I have enclosed the family list in EliaShahmoun came to open the school information was posted by: tree form and in outline form. bearing his daughter's name: "Rachel Regrettably the program cannot Shahmoun". John Feagin Sr. accommodate first cousins getting I remember my mother used to 9632 Rocksparkle Row married. This leaves us with the problem say that only if "Ezra Joseph Hakham Columbia of names being repeated. Saleh", my father, will take charge of the MD Save the above caveat, I would building, because he trusted my father, USA 21045 love to contact other families who might Elia Shahmoun will accept to have the assist me in seeing where our mutual building done. I have written him a letter and trees intersect. My father accepted to take have not received a response, nor do I I know that the Moreshet in Or charge. have any other way of getting a hold of Yehuda is putting some effort into this My father finished the school him. I came across this information and have sent them the enclosed but he died on the 27th July 1927. looking for the ancestors of gen no. 35 information. Just to be sure however, I Elia Shahmoun came over for and have not come across any other am sending it to you as well. the inauguration of the school - shouldn't information. But, as I have only been Thank you again for your my father's name be mentioned? After all doing this for a little more than a year, continued efforts in maintaining contact Elia Shahmoun trusted my father, he was that may change. with our tradition and keeping us his friend, and he wouldn't have anybody I have never heard of this book. informed. else to be in charge. Why is it debatable? Why is it doubtful Please, I would like you to look that there could be Jewish settlers in S David Moche into the matter and mention that without France? Toulouse borders Spain. I have 1700 York Avenue, 8P, my father the school wouldn't have been found information that states that the New York City, built. Is it also possible to try to find a Count Raymond of Toulouse was a very NY 10128 photo of my father and put it with it? prominent and powerful man who had USA The Scribe this time was several descendants that married into Tel. No. 212-876-3893 wonderful. Yom Kippur helped me Royal families (Biography of Eleanor of Fax No. 212-876-3498 reading all you wrote. I don't know how Aquitaine). I suppose I do not find this you have the time and the energy to find information to be improbable. all these lovely things, to put it so nicely Anyway, as far as paper in my together. hand-proof of this line, I have yet to Scribe: We have passed your family tree You are a genius - G-d Bless receive information from the person who information to Ms Lydia Collins, our You! ¨ posted it in the website. I also hope that genealogy specialist, who would be glad it is not false. to correspond with readers on ancestry London Violette Levy Thank you for your time. ¨ matters c/o The Exilarch's Foundation, 4 Carlos Place, London W1K 3AW, ÃÃÃÃÃÃ Annessa Main USA U.K. ¨ Page 64 The following article is intended snowstorm that day which he so dreaded As a minority in the early '50's not only to remember my beloved father in his last years. He died fighting his own in Westfield and other places in Shaul Darwish, but also to celebrate our battles as the mighty King of Israel, in a America, "Jews found that the United beautiful Iraqi heritage. quiet hospital room in New York. The States Constitution with its noble ideals, King's Chamber was once again silent. nevertheless, was no substitute for by: Tamara Ruben R e c e n t l y, at my role as a Torah." Here too, the Chalutzim, the Westfield NJ Director of Jewish education at Temple pioneers of Temple Emanu-El, listened Emanu-El in Westfield, New Jersey, I to the call of Ezrah the Prophet and his MY KING SAUL wrote the article below. It was written in contemporaries to build a Jewish celebration of the beautiful and fertile community in spite of all the obstacles. In Ramat Gan, Israel, I Iraqi Jewish community, and above all, in With a prophetic spirit and a keen sense remember day-dreaming in Bible classes celebration and memory of my beloved of vision, they set to create various about King Saul, the defeated biblical King Saul, my father Shaul Darwish segments of the Temple. The King, whose tragic destiny alienated him Z"L, the son of Benyamin and Salha of fascinating history of the Temple is a from G-d, from his people, from living Baghdad, Iraq. story of Livnot Ulhibanot, to Build and life to its fullest. I remember thinking be Built. how he had it all but had nothing as he 1950, Baghdad, Iraq. A baby is Two weeks after my birth, my was consumed by an invisible yet born to Shaul and Violet Darwish, a family, along with thousands of other devastating disease of melancholy. Jewish family who was a part of a Jews of Iraq and other countries, set out My thoughts would then drift to splendid Jewish community in this to Israel to realize yet another vision, my own father, Saul, whom I secretly ancestral part of the Middle East. A another dream. A dream that travelled anointed as my King, as early as I can go community which remained intact and with our people since antiquity. back in time. My King also had moments proud of its heritage in spite of being "Veshavu Banim Ligvoulam," and the of melancholy. Moments that seemed exiled from Judah by the Babylonian Children of Israel have returned to their like an eternity to a growing child. When Empire in 586 BCE. While many Land. Jeremiah's prophecy was realized. my King Saul was triumphant over life's returned to rebuild the second Temple Building the country, providing physical yoke, I would rejoice, my soul would with the help of Ezrah & Nehemiah, the and emotional refuge for its wandering celebrate. Our lives would be prophets, a good number of the exiled sons and daughters of Israel were central transformed into exotic trips in northern remained in Babylon/Iraq. to the newly found State. Israel to virgin places, magnificent in 1950, Westfield, New Jersey. A During these years, in Westfield their beauty and simplicity. I recall Jewish congregation in Westfield is too, there was a sense of yearning to laughters, practical jokes, abundance of charted after years of dreams and vision build the newly formed community and fresh food, and the exotic aromas of spicy of its founding members. In her developed it. "The 'togetherness' meals. The King's Chamber would once magnificent Historic Narrative, one of concept perfectly fit the mood of again be bustled with people coming and the founding members and author, Westfield Jews who were searching for going, with rich stories that only my Evalyn Averick, writes: "It seems that identity, who were building a Jewish father, the Master Story-Teller, could tell during a social afternoon...six women community and were concerned about about his life in Iraq. About his life in the turned the conversation to their dreams relating to their neighbors." (Ibid) desert as an officer in the British Oil of starting a Temple in Westfield...They When I assumed the position of Company with his favourite dog and spoke to other women, then to their Director of Education at our Te m p l e horses, his travel to Palestine in the 30's, husbands, and to the other Jews of the Emanu-El in 1989, I was thrilled to his audacity to face some hoodlums in the c o m m u n i t y, resulting in the discover a community infused with deep market place in Baghdad, his firm stand gathering...the first official meeting." commitment to Jewish learning, and an for what he believed was just and right I often wonder about these two unconditional love for its young ones. I even at his own expense and ours, his births and the hand of fate that has linked was excited to join a Temple whose unmatched ability to deal in commerce them together. Two worlds seemingly passion to Israel, to social justice and with people while tending to his apart, yet in many ways connected. Both Tikun Olam are a way of life. Standing unmarried sisters. communities struggled with maintaining on the shoulders of others before me in And we listened with thirst to the their Jewish identity and the continuation Baghdad, Israel and Westfield has been a stories and "travelled" with him until he of Jewish life, while being a small guiding light for me in working with a no longer could... minority. Both communities used their superb staff and most committed parents His profound passion for vulnerable state to build strong and at Temple Emanu-El Religious School. learning, for nature's wonders and healthy societies that will serve them and Together we have transformed it into a animals became his nourishment, the generations that will follow. true Beit Midrash, a House of Learning. sustaining him in those dark moments With the inspiration of the A place where our children and many of when his soul ached. When he felt Prophets in the Babylonian exile, a our parents have evolved to become trapped. When darkness ascended upon profound sense of hope guarded the Jews informed Jews who experience in so his spirit. When even a soft touch of his against despair and extinction. Zeal for many creative ways Judaism as a source child of 5 or 10 was dismissed, unheard. learning and Jewish scholarship resulted of joy, beauty, meaning, consolation and On Tu B'shvat of 1984 at the in the establishment of the Academies for hope. dawn of spring, as nature awakens in the study and interpretation of Torah in At 50, I bless you, Te m p l e Israel with the first signs of spring, my Babylon. The Jewish community there Emanu-El and the entire congregation. King Saul died, spared by the oncoming began to thrive and served as a guiding At 50, I bless myself and those I light to the rest of the world's Jewry. cherish. ¨ Page 65 BOOK REVIEWS To Baghdad And Back such as 'political manoeuverings' and largely on the promise of recovering the by Mordechai Ben Porat maintaining radio communication with territories of Thrace and Macedonia lost Reviewed by: Anna Dangoor Israel, and also has the benefit of the in World War 1. As the war progressed, strong sense of emotion which only a Germany put pressure on its ally to " To Baghdad And Back" by first-hand account can give. implement its anti-semitic legislation and Mordechai Ben Porat is the remarkable One aspect of the book which to send its Jews to Labour camps. In a true story of the mass immigration of Ben-Porat feels especially strongly about concerted effort, the leaders and the many Iraqi Jews to Israel between 1949- is the issue of the bombing of Baghdad. people of Bulgaria resisted bravely to the 52. The book portrays both moments of In 1951 a number of bombs were thrown end. Not one of the 50,000 Bulgarian courage, and loyalty, as well as some of at a synagogue, and a shop owned by a Jews was deported to the death camps. the worst traits of human nature. It is an J e w, amongst other Jewish targ e t s . How could such a small country extremely moving account of the Eventually Yousif Bari and Saleh defy and stand up to Hitler's regime? d i fficulties faced by the Jewish Shalom, both Jewish, were accused of The answer is in Michael Bar- community in Iraq, and those trying to carrying out the attacks, and they were Zohar's book "Beyond Hitler's Grasp". It facilitate the Aliyah of almost 130,000 subsequently hanged for this crime. It transpires that the Bulgarian people and Jewish men, women and children, a was claimed that The Halutz Movement most of their leaders were not in the least number which represented over 80% of were behind the bombs, in an attempt to anti-semitic and not understand the Jews in Iraq at that time. scare more Jews into leaving Iraq for Germany's "problem" with the Jews. In a Sent to Iraq as an emissary by Israel. "To Baghdad And Back" contains letter to his government in Berlin, the The Mossad in 1949, Ben Porat writes the full report of an Israeli Inquiry German Ambassador explains the first-hand, describing the way in which Commission on The Bombing of difficulties his country was to face in he was smuggled into Iraq assuming a Baghdad which was produced in 1960, Bulgaria, false identity. Ben Porat's family had left and since then the Halutz, and all its "The Bulgarian Society doesn't Iraq themselves in 1944, and his Iraqi activists have been 'completely understand the real meaning of the appearance, and fluent Arabic helped him vindicated' of an accusation which to Ben Jewish question. Besides the few rich spend nearly two years there with his true Porat 'is almost like a blood libel'. The Jews in Bulgaria, there are many poor identity remaining undiscovered. book contains an incredibly distressing people who make their living as workers The book begins almost as a spy account of the tortures Basri and Shalom and artisans. Partly raised together with novel, with descriptions of the activities were forced to endure before they signed Greeks, Armenians, Turks and gypsies, of the underground Zionist movement in their confessions admitting to the for the average Bulgarian the racial Iraq, "The Halutz", and the methods of bombings, and it seems highly likely that question is totally foreign to him." smuggling many people illegally across the pair were framed by Iraqi police, We learn that most of the Jews the borders. However this book is also desperate to charge someone for the were non-observant (very few went to much more than that. Ben Porat crimes. synagogue), almost none kept Kashrut describes intricately the way in which Apart from the tragedy of these and most of them worked on the Sabbath. influential members of the Jewish two young men, and others who were The reason for their popularity was their community in Iraq were asked, taken prisoners in Iraq, overall the Ezra "normality", their non-Jewish behaviour, persuaded, and even pleaded with, to use and Nehemia campaign was a success. A if you like. They were totally integrated their connections to put pressure on the huge number of Jews managed to leave Bulgarians. When King Boris wa s asked Iraqi government to allow Jews to Iraq in a short space of time, and settle in by Hitler to transfer the Jews of Bulgaria emigrate. He also depicts the balancing the land of Israel. Ben Porat concludes to German camps, he refused to do so on act in which emissaries from Israel found by hoping that although many Jewish the pretext that they were needed in themselves, juggling the desires of the treasures had to be left behind in Iraq, the Bulgaria to construct roads and railway Jewish community, members of the rich heritage of Babylonian Jewry will tracks. Although King Boris was an ally Halutz movement, and the Iraqi not be lost, and this is something which of Germany, anti-semitic legislation was authorities, all the while pushing the we must all make sure of. ¨ not always observed and many times emigration process forward. ignored. Most surprising was the pro- At points, the detail with which Beyond Hitler's Grasp: Jewish position of the country's leading Ben Porat describes events become The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria's Christian figurehead, Metropolitan Stefan, who voiced his opposition time tedious, although his memory is Jews astounding, and situations he relates can and time again against anti-semitic sometimes be confusing in their by Michael Bar- Zohar actions. c o m p l e x i t y. This is only a problem Adam Media Corporation The feature of this thriller-like towards the middle of the book where the Holbrook Adams Media Corporation- book is that the author, Bar-Zohar, lived busiest period during 1952 of the 'Ezra 268 pp the drama of those times first-hand. and Nehemiah Campaign', as the US $24.95 emigration process became known, is Can $36.95 Scribe: Bulgaria was not without her anti- described. Reviewed by Linda Dangoor- semite in the ranks of power. Overall, this is merely a minor Khalastchi Bulgaria is the only country that fault, in a book which has the qualities of had shot down in the early post-war years covering many attributes of its subject, On the eve of World War 2 an El-Al aeroplane with the loss of the Bulgaria aligned itself with Germany, lives of hundreds of passengers. ¨ Page 66 HITLER'S POPE Catholic church into complicity with the regret. The fight to reveal the secrets that darkest forces of the era. I found The documents also show him threaten the Vatican evidence, moreover, that from an early to be a deeply neurotic, narcissistic and Taken from The Sunday Times 12.9.99 stage in his career Pacelli betrayed an arrogant man in his private life, the very (abridged) undeniable antipathy towards Jews. antithesis of the saintly model he was Ever since a young German Having realised the sort of book said to be - and I intend to reveal details playwright, Rolf Hochhuth, accused that I have written, Gumpel attempted to of these flaws. ¨ Eugenio Pacelli, Pius XII, the wartime wreck it - not on the basis of inaccuracy, Pope, a saint of the Catholic church, of but by legal threats based on the claim Freud, Dora, and Vienna 1900 not having done enough to save the Jews that he had never technically given by Hannah S Decker from the death camps, the debate over his permission for me to use the material in Free Press - 299 pp culpability has gone to and fro. Did his the first place, which was untrue. Reviewed by Linda Dangoor- reticence condemn millions of Jews to Gumpel's anger and dismay Khalastchi the gas chamber? went much deeper than mere A practising Catholic and a disappointment at seeing his hero Everyone has heard of Freud but former seminarian, I always believed depicted in a bad light. The process of no-one has heard of Dora. Who was she? Pacelli was innocent. I could not imagine making Pacelli a saint, a project much Freud's mistress? Daughter? Mother? that a pope of such evident holiness could supported by Pope John Paul II, has No. Dora, alias Ida Bauer, was a patient be guilty of silent complicity in the enormous implications for the future of of Freud for many years and about whom Holocaust and I originally set out to write the Catholic church. the Viennese psychoanalyst wrote a definitive book in his defence. I knew Pius XII has become an icon of extensively. One of Freud's unhappiest of the sworn depositions in the Jesuit's the ever-growing constituency of cases, her case history became a keeping and I was eager to have sight of Catholic traditionalists who want to pioneering vehicle in theory and practice them. After a number of meetings with restore the reactionary policies for subsequent analysts. one of Rome's top prelates, the German abandoned by the Second Va t i c a n But don't let that put you off! Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, at the Council after his death in 1958. A book Although the book is about headquarters of the Society of Jesus critical of him has implications for a Dora, her story (and that of Freud's) is situated next door to the Vatican, he looming titanic clash between Catholic told within the broader framework of agreed to let me read the 1,000-page traditionalists and progressives in the Bohemian and Viennese Jewish history. typed transcript: the testimonies of 40 billion-strong worldwide Catholic From their first settlements in years, his doctor, his nephew and his church. the 11th century, the Jews of Bohemia priest secretaries, as well as various Vatican II urged a decentralised, were a people apart, their lives bishops and cardinals. more democratic church, which admitted hallmarked by unpredictability. While I read the testimonies in an its fallibility and extended friendship to certain stable times allowed them to enormous dust-laden reading room filled other denominations and religions. But practice numerous crafts and trades and with portraits of Jesuit missionary the traditionalists believe that the future allowed them to live "normally" these martyrs. Gumpel agreed to photocopy, and unity of the Catholic church can be were always short-lived. Changing times personally, any of the pages I wanted. secured only by concentrating all brought with them restrictions, special His courtesy was clearly dependent on authority in the person of the Pope. John taxes, physical attacks and repeated his conviction that I would write a Paul II has increasingly endorsed this expulsions. glowing portrait of Pacelli, whom he view. Hannah S Decker with great frequently described as "that beautiful, The canonisation of Pius XII is a insight describes how these anti-semitic saintly man". key move in the attempts to restore a conditions had a lasting and negative Eventually I flew back to Britain reactionary papal absolutism. My book psychological effect on the Jewish with 650 pages of documentation. The shows that the failure of Catholics to psyche which was passed on from material was to give me a deep and resist Hitler, and the failure of the generation to generation. We learn, for unique insight into the personality and wartime Pope to speak out against the example, that in the 18th century a motivations of arguably the most final solution, were precisely linked to programme of deliberate population powerful churchman in modern times. the politics of that same absolutism. curtailment had begun in Bohemia. In After reading through the Gumpel, in a piece of special 1726 a law was passed which caused combined archives alongside a huge pleading, has written that critics of much suffering to the Jewish community. amount of historical scholarship on Pacelli "should realise that they are It disrupted family life by limiting the Vatican diplomacy in Germany during trampling on the sensibilities of Catholics number of Jews eligible for marriage. the 1920's and 1930's - in which Pacelli and in doing so hinder efforts to build Only the eldest son was allowed to marry had been the dominant figure - I found better relations between the Catholic and this not before the age of twenty four myself in a state that I can only describe church and Jews". and only after his father's death. If as moral shock. The material I had After my own journey through children, other than the eldest son wanted gathered, taking the more extensive view the life and times of Pacelli, I am to marry legally they had to leave the of Pacelli's life, amounted not to an convinced that the cumulative verdict of country as marriages not conforming to exoneration but to a wider indictment. history reveals him - on political grounds the new conditions were considered Spanning Pacelli's career from alone - to be not a saintly exemplar for illegal. the beginning of the century, my research future generations, but a deeply flawed The Law had the desired effect. told the story of a bid for unprecedented church leader from whom Catholics can In thirty years the Jewish population of papal power that, by 1933, had drawn the best profit by expressing their sincere Continued on following page Page 67 Bohemia fell by a quarter. Brief Encounters of a Legal ability for perception, and quick thinking. By placing Dora and Freud and Kind He describes how he was approached by their respective families in their by Aubrey Rose a South African mother whose son David historical, religious and socio-economic had been taken into custody in "one of context, the author does a wonderful job Reviewed by: Anna Dangoor J o h a n n e s b e rg's most notorious police in reconstructing Jewish lives, attitudes stations". The reason for his and aspirations and showing how Aubrey Rose's book "Brief incarceration was simply that he had been i n e ffectual conversions to Christianity Encounters of a Legal Kind" is a teaching English to black students, and was as a means to being accepted. wonderful insight into the many different although his mother had mounted an Dora was born at the end of the facets of human nature. Rose talks with a international campaign for his release she 19th century into an upper middle-class frankness and honesty that makes this had had no success; the South African Viennese Jewish family at a time when book almost autobiographical, although I government would not budge. Action masculine qualities and feminine ones found his style sometimes too confident, was required immediately but the English mistrusted and ridiculed. and sure of itself. courts could do nothing to help, and Rose "In Christian society, middle- The book is divided into realised that he would have no sway in class Jewish girls and women felt chapters which consist of an introduction the South African courts either. especially powerless. In addition to the followed by the story of a related legal Inspired by the actions of a continual negative sentiments they had to case. In the introductions Rose reveals Polish lawyer years earlier, Rose decided bear as women and as Jews, they had to his multitudinous knowledge of a great the only course of action was to write to cope with the very real disadvantages that variety of cultures, and communities that the Prime Minister of the time, Margaret barred their admission to higher he worked with closely, and marvels at Thatcher. The timing was perfect, as education and careers." how he was often taken deeply into their Thatcher was due to attend a Heads of the Misogyny (woman hating) and trust, having been invited to become the Commonwealth meeting in which she anti-sensitive went hand in hand, the leader of a Torvil council in England, and was one of the only figures defending denigration of both, women and Jews mediating for a West Indian community South Africa against sanctions. Rose sent being part of social conventions "Even during the fraught time of the Brixton a copy of the letter that he was sending to the most superior woman was riots. Margaret Thatcher to the South African immeasurably below the most debased Rose's own Jewish background embassy, and because the loss of her man, just as Judaism at its highest was also features in the book, Jewish ideas support would have been so detrimental immeasurably beneath even degraded often being turned to, when he is to South Africa, David was released by Christianity". Hannah S Decker explains contemplating the situations he has 2.00 pm that afternoon. As Rose had that it was the general consensus that experienced; situations which have taken expected, a week later he received a reply women were inferior and the insistent him to New York, Paris, Geneva, and from Margaret Thatcher's secretary proclamations of anti-semites that the allowed him to work with Jamaicans, saying that regrettably she could be of no proof of the "Jews' deficiencies lay in Nigerians, Sri Lankans and many other help in the matter. their exhibition of traits commonly peoples. "Brief Encounters of a Legal associated with women. Thus did anti- Of all Rose's "encounters" my Kind" is a book about generosity and feminism and anti-semitism unite at the two favourite are most definitely "A greed, cruelty and kindness, about the turn of the century. A young Jewish Night for St Patrick" and "The One Day best, and the worst sides of human nature. woman like Dora could be filled with Case". "A night for St Patrick" tells of a Through his stories Aubrey Rose more self-doubt, and even self-loathing case in which Rose was acting in defence confirms that time old saying that gives than a Jewish man. of a man called Danny who had been its name to the penultimate chapter of the It is disheartening to learn that involved in a pub brawl in Kilburn. The book, "there's nowt so queer as folk"! an important and influential man such as police had arrived to break up the fight, Naim Dangoor writes: M r s Freud held the same views as some of his and having seen nothing, arrested Danny. Thatcher's reply that she cannot help is contemporaries. "At no time in his The main witness, who had had to have what she is supposed to write, that she c a r e e r, was he prepared to recognise 48 stitches in his face, because a broken cannot interfere in the course of women's sensibilities". bottle had been thrust into it, allegedly by governmental business. However she It begs the question: how much Danny, took the stand. Rose summarises often took action behind the scenes if the harm was done and can be done by what was said, and it quickly emerges case merited her help. psychoanalysts' bigoted views and ideas? much to the embarrassment of the In fact, she helped our Freud, as the author explains, prosecution, that the witness has no idea community in London twice; once by was from a most traditional background, who in fact had injured him. instructing the Inland Revenue not to leading a conforming married life. He Furthermore, even after sustaining his charge us Capital Gains Tax on the profits "cannot be blamed for his conventional injuries he threw himself wholeheartedly of sale of our property and secondly, by views. But his lack of empathy with back into the fight, claiming to have helping us with our planning Dora ...... further narrowed her "given more than I got". The different application. ¨ circumscribed situation.....". perspective that this witness could take Half-way between a on a situation, which to the prosecution, ÃÃÃÃÃÃ documentary and a novel, Decker's book Rose, and also myself seemed horrific, is makes fascinating reading. A l t h o u g h fascinating, and as Rose notes it indeed No answer is also an answer repetitious at times, it raises questions provides a window into "another world". If you ask a person a question and he does that are still pertinent today. ¨ My other favourite anecdote not reply, his very silence is an answer in "The One Day Case" reveals Rose's itself. ¨ Page 68 Britain's Withdrawal From East never be challenged. BOOKS RECEIVED Of Suez Throughout these periods Britain's old The Politics Of Retrenchment notions of being a world power, a symbol of which, to many, were the 'East of Suez' A Divinely Given Torah In Our by Jeffrey Pickering bases, restricted any major policy Day and Age Reviewed by: Anna Dangoor movement towards retrenchment. This Studies on the Weekly Torah Readings was the case, even though, from Attlee's This book was an unusual read from Bar-Ilan University time, it was clear that in upholding these Designed and produced by for me. Having not studied history for a overseas roles Britain was overstretched few years now, such an in depth analysis Laser Pages Publishing Ltd, both economically and militarily. This Jerusalem, Israel - 479 pp of a single historical event on which I had imperial hangover, and other factors no previous knowledge was not my explored in the book, ensured that it was standard bedtime reading. Light it was In these studies a number of not until 1968, when what Pickering calls prominent writers give their not, but I was astounded at how enjoyable 'a triacle of factors' came together, that I found reading the study. interpretations and views. They include the need for retrenchment was finally Professor Moshe Kaveh, President of the Pickering's self-professed aims in this accepted. ¨ book are to investigate the causes of University; Dr Aharon Arend; Professor Nathan Aviezer; Professor Elazar Britain's decision in 1968 to withdraw "THE LAWS OF B A R from almost all her military outposts east Touitou; Professor Jacob Klein; Professor of Suez. He explains that the issue of MISWAH" Hannah Kosher; Dr Zohar A m a r ; retrenchment in general, has been dealt Reviewed by: Anna Dangoor Professor Dov Schwartz, Rabbi Yaakov with too superficially in the past, and he Charlap; Rabbi Dr Pinchas Hyman; Dr seeks to dig deeper, and piece together a "The Laws of Bar Miswah" by Rabbi Avraham Elqayam; Dr Penina Meizlish; fuller picture of the factors that Ya'aqob Menashe is divided into two Dr Meir Bar-Ilan; Dr Dvorah Ushpizai; precipitated Britain's withdrawal from sections, one Hebrew, and one English. Dr Meir Gruzman; Rabbi Ye h e z k e l the 'East of Suez' bases. Ultimately The English section is a summarised Lichtenstein; Professor Ephraim Chazan; Pickering aims to create a framework in translation of the Hebrew part, laid out in Dr David Elgavish; Yona Bar-Maoz; Dr which other instances of retrenchment point form, and detailing laws and David Eglavish; Hillel Neuman; Dr Zvi can be studied. customs relating to all aspects of a Bar Betzer; Professor Eric Zimmer; Dr Leb The work is clearly set out with a Mitzvah. Moskovitz; Naftali Stern. lengthy introduction outlining how this This book is of interest to both those 'longitudinal' study is to be carried out. actually planning a Barmitzvah, and Naim Dangoor writes: In Parashat Pickering takes care to explain all the those who are purely intrigued by Jewish Lekh-Lekha, G-d's command to Abraham unfamiliar terms he uses, ensuring that culture, and traditions of the time old to "Get thee out from thy land, thy one does not need any background on the practices that make up part of the birthplace and thy father's home", is subject to get the most out of the book. celebration of a Bar Mitzvah. T h e usually interpreted as in this study as The study focuses on three crises in the Mitzrot of Sisith, and Tefillih are demonstrating the painful decision that post-war years up until the decision to described in great detail, explaining the Abraham had to make in leaving his retrench. Within this focus, Pickering ten laws which must be followed when homeland, so that G-d had to sweeten His examines both Britain's increasingly making the latter as well as such customs command by promising Abraham to fragile, economic state, and the political as making sure to touch the Sisith before make him a great nation. movements going on at these times. the Tefillih when one comes to pray in the But I have a deeper, more subtle The first crisis period is between the morning. and more meaningful interpretation of his years 1945-1951, in which the new world The book also discusses the Rabbinical historical phrase. G-d's emphasis that the order taking shape after the war, has left opinions, as to when a boy actually land of the rivers is Abraham's land and the global situation highly unpredictable. reaches the required age of thirteen and the house of his fathers is to remind him In this period the government of Clement one day, on which he has come of age, that the Jews must always regard Attlee is examined, and his political and can celebrate his Barmitzvah in order Mesopotamia as their rightful homeland relationship with his Foreign Secretary to show G-d that we are happy to take on and any forgetting of this fact would Ernest Bevin, which biographer A l a n the burden of his commandments. result in disaster after disaster as has Bullock claims was one of the most Batmitzvahs are also briefly examined happened in our history - exile to successful partnerships in British history, in the book, and it was interesting to Babylon, the destruction of the second is explored. discover that unlike with other Temple and finally Saddam's missiles on The second crisis to be investigated is commandments which women are Ramat Gan. the well known Suez crisis of 1956, and exempt from, if a woman chooses to Israel cannot hope to survive in here the political wizardry of Harold carry out the Mitzrah of Sisith she is peace unless she attempts to passify Iraq Macmillan, who managed against all considered proud and conceited. and consider the whole Middle East as odds to restore faith in the British All in all, although the English portion one country. ¨ government after the shame of Suez, is of the book is short, it is packed with a revealed. great deal of information and guidance, Finally Wilson's government is as to the intricacies of a subject which is depicted, concerning the economic crises important to all of us as Jews; the time of of the 1960's, explaining the way in our lives when we accept responsibility Al ketheb bem'hallu ebada. which he continually juggled his cabinet before G-d for our actions; the Lying in its proper place is equal to worship. ¨ in order that his position of power should Barmitzvah. ¨ Page 69 Hiding Places A People Apart Coming Home to Jerusalem A Father and his Sons Retrace their The Jews in Europe 1789-1939 A personal journey Family's Escape from the Holocaust by David Vital by Wendy Orange by Daniel Asa Rose Oxford University Press - 898 pp Simon & Schuster - 291 pp Simon & Schuster - 377pp US $25.00 U.S. $25.00 David Vital explores the Jews' Can $37.00 Can $36.00 consistently tense relationship with the rulers whom they were subject and the An American Jewish woman In this innovative memoir, part peoples in whose midst they were uproots her family to live in Jerusalem, travel narrative, part spiritual quest, embedded. He documents the struggle of searching for a new home. For Wendy prize-winning author Daniel Asa Rose this ancient but almost uniquely non- Orange, a writer in her early forties, what describes the remarkable journey in territorial people to establish a place for starts as a ten day conference in which he and his young sons retraced itself within an increasingly hostile Jerusalem, stretches into a six year their relatives' escape from A n t w e r p political and social environment. ¨ residence in one of the world's most during the Second World War and also captivating cities, where she undertakes embraced, with ample amounts of wit and an illuminating and evocative trip to this irreverence, the Jewish heritage that had Jews and Arabs ancient land. ¨ pained and mystified him. ¨ Their Contacts Through the Ages by S D Goitein Schocken Books - New York - 252 pp Dear Sirs,

Alexander the Great In this new edition, which The last issue of The Scribe I received was on September 1999. I was The Unique History of Quintus carries the story of Arab and Jewish cultural developments into the 1970's, wondering what happened to the next two Curtius issues? by Elizabeth Baynham Professor Goitein explores the social and intellectual contact between Jews and I have been receiving this Ann Arbor valuable journal for several years. If you The University of Michigan Press - 219 Arabs since their beginnings three thousand years ago. ¨ have had a change of policy regarding pp subscription, please let me know and I will be glad to oblige. This journal is a In recent years much attention resource and, a very good one at that, to has been given to evaluating the Sun, Sea and Soul all of the Babylonian Jews such as surviving ancient histories of Alexander A little bit of heaven on holiday myself. and their own sources. by Lionel Blue I would like to continue In this book Elizabeth Baynham and Jonathan Magonet receiving this excellent journal. Thank examines these issues concerning first Hodder & Sloughton, London - 246 pp you. century historian Quintus Curtius' Sincerely yours account of Alexander which, until now, This is no ordinary holiday has received very little attention from guide. True, it tells you how to help and Shamoon Salih USA Alexander historians. ¨ not hinder your quest for a happy holiday, how to plan, budget, deal with queues, lost luggage, holiday rows and romances, Issue 73 on-line is a magnificent loneliness in five star hotels, and enjoy accomplishment, but now that you are The Middle East the culture, but the insights go much only on-line, spare a thought for your deeper...... into the bigger journey of hundreds of older readers who used to 2000 Years of History from the rise of life itself. Christianity to the present day look forward with such eagerness to Laced with Jewish humour and receiving their copy of 'The Scribe'. by Bernard Lewis personal anecdotes, Rabbis Blue and Phoenix Press - 387 pp Is it possible to have a re-think Magonet talk us through the holiday on the subject? experience in all its unpredictable glory. In this book Bernard Lewis They pass on their delightfully upbeat Helen Bekhor Australia charts the successive transformation of wisdom, gleaned from a complete mix of the Middle East, beginning with the two holiday destinations - the disco floors of Scribe : We have to move with the times. great empires, the Roman and the Benidorm, the Chapels of Malta, the Persian, the development of monotheism However, we are willing to provide a cultural delights of the Edinburgh fringe colour print-out of issue 73 which covers and the growth of Christianity; the and much more. They share their astonishingly rapid rise and spread of 76 pages at US$20 including air-mail wisdom on how to have a truly happy or postage. ¨ Islam; the waves of invaders from the at least happier holiday and how every bit East and the Mongol hordes of Jengiz of a traveller's body, mind and spirit can Khan; the rise of the Ottoman Turks, and benefit from the experience. Like AIDS, life is a sexually the changing balance of power between Lionel Blue is a popular and the Muslim and Christian worlds. ¨ transmitted terminal disease; and, like much loved Rabbi whose thoughts for the AIDS, it has got out of hand. ¨ day have become a national institution. ¨ From BBC Radio 4 Page 70 Please continue to send me The "THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END" Scribe as I am greatly in need of the material published in it. by Nicole Iny (when 16), New York I am glad to send you herewith two books which I published lately, the "The world is coming to an end", I heard "The world is coming to an end", I heard first Arabic one, "In the World of Peace", somebody say. somebody scream. a collection of poems by the author, the Because no-one is innocent any more - People are selfish nowadays - they just second in Hebrew, "The A r t i f i c i a l the children work, not play. satisfy their own dream. Fertilization In View of Islam". The morality has sunk quite low and What happened to sweet charity which Shlomo (Salim) Shashoua people are falling sick. existed long before? Ramat Gan Israel I doubt that this is what G-d intended - it Does nobody desire to help the less seems to be a trick. fortunate any more?

TOGETHER The world is coming to an end, and no- "The world is coming to an end", and I by Shlomo (Salim) Shashoua one can tell me why, am quite upset. Instead of improving themselves, there There are sins committed every two We and the Arabs both drank from the are people who cheat and lie. seconds which ordinarily would not be spring of peace, They murder, usurp and commit other let. Bearing banners all over the world sins for reasons which I can't fathom. Religion is forgotten - morals can never calling for harmony, I doubt G-d is happy any more, for look survive. We are brothers in faith and grandsons of what was done to Adam. Instead of yearning to be higher, people Sam. have put the dirt into their lives.

We and the Arabs joined flourishing life, The world is coming to an end, and it's United by ideal brotherhoods and not what G-d intended fortune, For he wishes us to improve ourselves - We are like a bird which can fly only with to fix whatever must be mended. his two wings. People welcome sin and laugh mockingly at old traditions. The Guide to We and the Arabs focusing light of Immorality must have been printed in knowledge towards mankind, many editions. We had liberated peoples from the darkness of paganism, The world is coming to an end, and it is We are all standing like a huge mountain very sad, facing critical moments. That we Jews who promised G-d we'd keep his laws are making him quite mad. We and the Arabs determined to live We said we'd keep the Torah in our heart together, and it would be our life. We are grandsons of one forefather who So many people have died for our faith - was a prophet, was it worth all their strife? Our uterine relations will last forever. Have we forgotten everything? Are our We incline to peace and go forwards, memories so unclear? Begging him to prevail comfort and What happened to our Torah which we happiness to people, used to love so dear? Expecting fulfilment of great hopes. What happened to our wisdom? Has it disappeared? We are all eager to the immortal, "Golden What happened to morality? It used to be Age", revered. Which bears happiness and long life We are relatives of Peace, and adhere to The world is coming to an end and we him by branches and roots. can't help that fact. Do you think if we turned back the clock, We and the Arabs will build an we could bring morality back? ¨ honourable and glorious world, In which ideas expressed freely rejecting ÃÃÃÃÃÃ bounds, And in which life will be continuous sweet and happiness. A thing you don’t want is dear at any price This is the peace returns back to our If you don’t want an article, however homelands today, cheap it may be, it is dear because it is Carrying tidings for a period full of fertile useless to you. This is a warning against life, temptation to buy something just because Our peace shines like the sun but does not it is cheap. ¨ vanish. ¨ Page 71 365 DAYS ATTHE TERMINAL me. parts. The first is formal and ceremonial. PALACE The late Gourgi Bekhor It concerns the admission of new mentioned in his book "Fascinating Life members, the installation of a new master by Shaoul H. Sassoon and Sensational Death" that the late and the general administration of the Albert Nounou and Shaul H Sassoon lodge. The speakers are those who want Mr Shaoul H Sassoon has were similarly accused, but A l b e r t to be active. There are also many of recently published in English in a limited Nounou was sentenced to death and those who just want to sit and watch. The edition "In the Hell of Saddam Hussain". Shaul H Sassoon was released without rituals relate to certain events in history. Three hundred and sixty five days at the bail. However, the specific charg e s It teaches humility, morality, honesty, and "Terminal Palace". It is a translation of against Albert relate to his friendship to regard the interests of the family as his Arabic book published earlier, and is a with the late Haim Nathaniel, who was paramount. Members undertake not to moving description of the terrible described by the court as the most use masonry for personal gain. Those experience that he went through for a dangerous Israeli spy in the world. Shaul who prove to be below the expected whole year in the notorious detention H Sassoon received the charges against standard, face expulsion. centre of the present regime at Qasr al- him because of passing on a letter The second part is a social Nahaya which was the famous Royal concerning spying to Israel addressed to gathering in which the members treat Palace of Qasr al-Rihab. ¨ Mr Abdul H Damirji. themselves with good dinner and good As for Meir Basri's arrest, it had wine. It offers a framework for CORRECTIONS BY T H E to do with a visit by an A m e r i c a n companionship, teamwork, character AUTHOR journalist who wanted to get some development, and enjoyment of shared historical information about Iraq. The experiences. It is forbidden to discuss Allow me first to express my late poet, Anwar Shaul, recounts in detail religion or politics. appreciation of your tremendous the interesting events leading to his Membership is open to men of contribution to our community in release in his book "Kissat Hayati Fi all faiths who are law abiding, and of publishing 'The Scribe', a wonderful Wadi Al Rafidain" p229-232. He relates good character. Masonry is not a chronicle of history and a social medium how four lines of soul-touching poetry, religion, but those who join must believe through which this scattered community which he composed, saved the situation in G-d. To join, you need to ask a can interact. and resulted in Mr Shaul personally member. In reviewing my booklet " In the putting up the bail for Mr Basri. ¨ It was an excitement when one Hell of Saddam Hussein", and in articles day I received a letter from the Grand which appeared in previous issues, I London S H Sassoon Secretary stating: noticed a few inaccuracies and omissions "I am commanded by the Most relating to events with which I am Worshipful The Grand Master, HRH the personally familiar. I would like to regale FREEMASONRY Duke of Kent KG, to inform you that in your readers with the following recognition of your services to observations: Freemasonry in London he proposes to When I was in Iraq during the confer upon you the honour of LONDON In an earlier Scribe (Issue 18), 1950's, I had some dealings with a Mr Meir Basri mentioned that Hakham GRAND RANK" giving me the date and solicitor who was high in Masonry. Upon the details. I have also received honours Sassoon was dismissed. As a matter of my enquiry, he explained that it is an fact, King Faisal I requested his in other orders. Each order relates to o rganisation that teaches morality, different events in history. Several Iraqi resignation and send Prime Minister promotes charity and the brotherhood of Nouri Al Said to the Hakham's house to Jews have this honour and some have man. higher. ¨ convey his wishes. I detail the Prime I was impressed and wanted to Minister's visit on pages 108 and 109 of join. While he was willing to introduce London Elias Dangoor my book "A Leader and his People". me, he decided at that time to emigrate, Regarding my own arrest, I and I lost the opportunity. But that was a Letter to the Jewish Chronicle again beg to differ about the reason blessing in disguise. When the revolution behind my year long ordeal at the hands took place in 1958, the new government of the Baathist gang. I reject the rounded up all freemasons and put them If Jerusalem is expendable, then suggestion that it was a way of putting in jail! what is left to keep us there, a pressure on my father, the Hakham, in an The opportunity arose again in troublesome corner of the world for the attempt to buy his silence and England during 1973 and I immediately past 3,000 years? compliance. These bloodthirsty thugs did took it up. I have never regretted that In an overall peace deal with all not need indirect methods to silence decision. the Arabs, we might be able to swap anyone, nor did they care much about the The great majority of those who Israel for Mauritania, a more strategic Hakham's position or influence. I was join a lodge stay members for life. It is and more convenient location, 40 times arrested, accused of spying because of also common for them to introduce their the size of Israel and very sparsely passing on a letter concerning spying to relatives and friends. They enjoy the populated, next to a friendly Morocco. Israel addressed to Mr Abdul Hamid Al fellowship and the dramatic presentation Soon the Jews would make the desert Damirchi from Mr Mustafa Cheta of moral lessons that it provides. They bloom, and I for one will hasten to go Babkukel, and endured a year of can always resign if they want to. A there. Would the Palestinians have unspeakable torture and abuse until my lodge normally meets four times a year in second thoughts and ask us to stay? ¨ so-called trial which miraculously freed the evenings. The meeting is in two Naim Dangoor Page 72 Dear Naim MUSIC OF BAGHDAD

You may remember me. I am I have been very pleased to Aviezer is fluent in Arabic, English and the son of the late Reuben Heskel receive, at last, The Scribe, the Hebrew. He has been married for 34 Dangoor. I was very pleased to receive a September'99 edition, and felt very years and has a son in New York and a copy of the great journal The Scribe, No. attached and touched! daughter in Israel, both of whom are 72, which was full of rare and precious As I have been, all my career- lawyers and musicians. pictures. And since I worked in various years, active and related to Music and government department, including ten Broadcasting, I look forward to be Israel National Radio years in the Prime Minister's office, the connected, in a way or another to the Chief of Arabic Music Programming: Broadcasting and television house, the printed articles of yours. I am still Editor; Anchor; 1957 - Present Ministry of Education in Arabic since deeply involved in the wide music field, Headed the Arabic Music Programmes 1946 until after my recent retirement, I within our communities. Further of my Department. Created, presented, edited, wanted to present Prime Minister Barak endeavours are: I have organised a and anchored a wide range of radio my copy of The Scribe in which he professional group who presents a programmes, including documentary, appears. This I did on my visit to his panorama of oriental music, including entertainment, and live shows. home on the occasion of Succoth to greet Iraqi. Presented, in the Arabic language, own him for the Festival and he thanked me Allow me to make the following programmes featuring European classical very much with a kiss. Thereafter he also comments. music, Hebrew music, and Ethnic music. sent me a letter of thanks. I also wanted In the picture on page 53, the to present a copy to Major General Yair man sitting next to Yousaif Horaish is not C o m p o s e r, Conductor, The Radio Itzhaky (see his picture P. 56, issue 72) Mohammed Alqubbanchi, the famous Orchestra of Arabic Music, 1959 - 1985 whom I know well. And I had learnt Iraqi singer, but is the celebrated Performed and recorded numerous bookkeeping at his grandfather's school. Egyptian composer Mohammad El- musical works of Arabic music I remember you well as an Qasabgi. composers. officer in the Iraq army in Baghdad when In the article of Mr Yeheskel I was a conscript and I saluted you as you Kojaman; on page 53, it says: City of Ramat-Gan Cultural passed by but you did not recognise me. "There was only one A r a b i c Department The loss of your dear brother music ensemble in 'Qol Yisrael' (Israel Musical Director of Oriental Culture Salim came as a shock to all of us. I used Radio);.." Centre, 1985 - Present to see him often at the Dangoor stores in In fact, one ensemble, at least, Established and conducted Naharayim, Baghdad where I worked for many years. has been active through some years in the only choir of its type in the world, And I also remember well when he "Israeli Arabic Radio". Parallel to my specialising in the hymns and songs of eulogised at the age of eleven his work with the permanent orchestra the Babylonian Jewry heritage. grandfather Hakham Ezra Dangoor at the through conducting, composing and Composed and wrote new tunes and Synagogue at the Alliance School taking part in public-radio-programmes, I lyrics to enrich and perpetuate the describing him as "my young have been named to take charge of messages of that heritage. Established grandfather". ¨ founding and conducting another the Ramat-Gan Ensemble to perform orchestra. That project took place, both with the choir and independently. Jerusalem Asher Reuben Dangoor beginning in 1976. I made many Conducted the Choir and Ensemble in recordings and broadcast them. Later, I live concerts for large audiences. brought it on stage in public The grandsons of Churchill, performances. After that I proceeded Independent Composer and Musician Roosevelt and Stalin are going to meet in with the orchestra in a series of public Composed works of unique nature, such Holland in April 2001 to carry out a concerts. as The Prophecy of Peace of Isaiah; general discussion on the Ya l t a composed music to poems of famous conference and the Teheran conference WORK AND LIFE EXPERIENCE - Arabic poets, such as Egyptian Valley Of that were held by the wartime leaders in Synopsis The Kings; composed songs about peace Yalta and Teheran in 1945. in the Middle East, infusing Israeli and There will be present at the Came to Israel from Iraq in 1951. Arabic themes, such as Jerusalem Of The meeting 250 historians, political analysts Attended Hebrew University in Eastern Three Religions. Compositions have and leading business men. ¨ Studies and Music. In 1957, joined the been publicly performed and gained wide pioneers who established The Voice of acclaim. Plays, performs, records, and Israel In The Arabic Language as a instructs Oud in the Arabic styles. national radio station. His programmes Populations of Arab countries had wide popular appeal and have been Lecturer received enthusiastically by Lectured on Arabic Music in T h e musicologists in Israel and in Egypt, Educational Center of the Israel When former Secretary of State where he enjoys high esteem amongst his Broadcasting Association, The Oriental Henry Kissinger was asked what was the peers. Composed, performed, recorded, Music Center in Jerusalem, and T h e total populations of Arab countries, the and lectured on Arabic music of all styles. Israeli Academic Center in Cairo, Egypt. answer he gave was 20 people. He Authored and translated lyrics. Appeared Instructed the Arabic language in The explained that in Arab countries only the in various panels and talk shows on Tel-Aviv Open University. ¨ heads can be counted; the rest are all National Television as authority on the onions. ¨ history and trends of Arabic music. Mr Ramat-Gan Isaac Aviezer THE SINKING OF THE STRUMA IN 1942

I am corresponding with you on My article in ROM-SIG had put me in Museum, he mentioned that there were a subject other than that of the Little contact with Greg Buxton whose similar constructions on the Struma. Synagogue. You may recall that during grandparents were on the Struma. Greg Hundreds of people were stuffed our correspondence I asked that you send who lives in Great Britain by coincidence aboard the Struma on a ship that couldn't me a few copies of "The Scribe". is a diver and has done "deep hold 100 people comfortably. Everyone It has occurred to me that you exploration". The Struma is 70 metres was assigned space and that was where may be interested in the Struma project as under the surface of the Black Sea. Greg you had to stay. David was 19 years old a possible subject for your publication. has explored the Britannic in the Aegean. at the time. He said the ship was made of I am going to Istanbul at the end He said he has no objective in his search steel but wooden platforms were built on of August to participate in the Struma for the Struma other than to "close the the deck to allow more people to be project. The Struma was a ship that was circle for himself and his father that was transported in layers. Only a small blown up in the Black Sea in 1942 while broken in 1942". I gave Greg the proportion of the fleeing Jews could fit trying to reach Palestine. I had a relative suspected address I had for David Stolier above the deck at one time. The rest had on the ship. in Oregon and the names, addresses and to endure the stench below deck. There Since I have already written a e-mail addresses of a number of people I was only one bathroom. detailed version of my Struma story for had been in contact with that were The engines failed outside my family, I am sending you the entire interested in the Struma. Greg and his Istanbul and Struma was towed into the text. I hope you find it of interest. friend Louise Trewavas, who publishes a outer harbour. women's diving magazine, met with us in When the Turks stopped the Fair Lawn, New Jersey the lobby of the Loews L'Enfant Hotel in ship, the engines were barely functioning, Washington, which is near the Holocaust the food was running out and the toilet Joel Ives Museum. Jeff Hakko also joined us for that served the hoards of people stunk. breakfast. Jeff is a contact that Greg has David said that the ship was made during a visit to Istanbul, Turkey. boarded by some Turkish police against A few months ago, after more A few months ago, Greg had visited the will of the passengers in order for the than three years of research, I had finally Istanbul in an attempt to do preliminary Turks to attach a towline that could pull identified each of the thirty-eight people research with Turkish divers and to work them out to sea. The Turks had to in a 1924 family photograph. At the out some of the logistics of this extended forcibly board the ship to clear the way to centre of the sepia coloured photograph depth "technical dive" and speak to local make the connection and to raise the was my grandfather's uncle who later people about the location of the Struma. anchor. The Turkish police took control died aboard the ship Struma that was Jeff is a member of the small Jewish by force and cut the anchor chains. The blown up in the Black Sea on 23 community in Istanbul and is passengers were very ill, malnourished February 1942. coincidentally a diver connected with and weak, so it would seem that little real The search for historical and "SAD" Turkey's premier underwater force was used. genealogical information led to a series research and diving group. Jeff, Greg, The Turks apparently in a logic of internet contacts with people from Louise, Sheryl and I were all transfixed that still is difficult to explain, and not around the world interested in the ship hearing David Stolier's story. generally agreed upon by historians, Struma and eventually to a meeting in David was escaping from towed the helpless ship into deeper Washington. Bucharest, Romania with his fiancée waters of the Black Sea. David said that The adventure took an (Lisa Lotringer) and future in-laws late in he knew that the engine block was international twist a few years ago when 1941. Their goal was to get to Palestine cracked. He suspected that the crew had I wrote an article about the ship Struma and a place where Jews could be safer. removed the engine in an attempt to for inclusion in the Jewish Genealogical David knew about the horrors of the repair it. According to US reports from magazine, "ROM-SIG" (Romanian Nazi's in the West of Romania and that Istanbul, the engine had been taken Special Interest Group). The article I the "Iron Guard" was killing Romanian ashore for repair and not returned to the wrote included a list of the 768 people Jews in the street. David's father stayed ship at all. The Struma was truly who died aboard the Struma, and in Romania. His mother lived in Paris helpless. Here were 769 Jews, including mentioned the one survivor of the Struma and was deported and later died in 103 children and infants, that could not t r a g e d y, David Stolier who was Auschwitz. David boarded the go back to Romania for fear of death, not mentioned in a number of historical ramshackle overloaded boat Struma in to mention the fact that the Romanian sources. Constanta, which is Romania's eastern government would not allow them to Although ROM-SIG only has a port, on 12 December 1941, five days return since they had "left the country circulation of a few hundred, the article after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. He illegally". and the list of passengers was put on the sailed into an unknown future with 776 The British would not provide internet, which led to people from around other people. visas for anyone to go to Palestine until it the world contacting me. The ship was detained in the was too late. The Turks would not let this On Suday morning, 16 January Bosporus in the Istanbul Harbour for 71 leaking ship pass through their territorial 2000 Sheryl (my wife) and I met David days during which time it became an waters under political pressure from the Stolier the sole survivor of the Struma international political incident. British government. The Russians were tragedy for the first time in Washington David said that the ship was killing Jews in the crossfire of War and DC. We had been brought together in horribly overcrowded. When we passed the Romanian Iron Guard was as Washington by the power of the internet. the wooden bunks in the Holocaust murderous to the Jews as the German SS. Page 74 The world Jewish community struggled the only survivor of the sinking of the in Israel and stayed with this friend in to help while the world watched. Eight Struma. The men that had saved him relative obscurity for several months and people, four of whom with connections to were surprised that anyone was still alive further regained his health. an oil company obtained visas and were and David has theorised that they rowed Later David joined the Jewish allowed to leave the ship after pressure into the wreckage in order to find Brigade of the British Army and was was applied by a Turkish company. Israel something of 'value', not to discover a stationed with the Eight Army in North Dinari was one of these people. A human being alive. Fortunately for Africa. woman Mrs Salomovitz who was in David, they took him ashore and wrapped David now lives in Bend, labour was taken to an Istanbul hospital. him in blankets. Oregon. He speaks English very well but The Struma was registered in His hands and feet were frozen also speaks Japanese, French, Romanian, Panama and some of the crew was but he was alive. He was put in a sick Yiddish and Hebrew. I asked him what Bulgarian. Bulgaria had just become at room under the guard of the police who language he speaks to Romanians in and war with Panama. The crew tried to watched him night and day. He was he answered, "French". abandon the ship with the people aboard given some food and shortly afterwards David has a son and grandson in but was prevented by the Tu r k s . his "saviours" didn't know exactly what California. For years, he never told his Unfortunately, the rest of the desperate to do with him so they dragged his limp son the story of the Struma. When his refugees on the Struma had nowhere to body, since his feet could not support son was about 20 years old he found go. him, onto a bus and left him on the front some old documents and started asking After more than two months of seat. Since he did not speak Turkish he questions. stalemate, the Turks towed the helpless had difficulty communicating. At the end (Note: Some of David's story was taken Struma out into the deeper waters of the of the bus run he was lifted up by both from Saveanu's book) Black Sea under pressure from the British arms and brought into a hospital. He was Professor Jurgen Rohwer a government and as they saw it, with little cared for by a few nurses and doctors for German historian was mentioned since he choice, to rid themselves of the problem. two weeks, completely isolated from the wrote about a Russian submarine in his A recent Turkish position is that the Turks outside world. Then, barely able to walk book as being the culprit that released the felt that the sea's current would cause the when he left the hospital, he was brought torpedo. Rohwer was the first to uncover powerless ship to be grounded and once to the Central Police, arrested, and put in the submarine records with the break-up that happened, the people could be saved a small cell. For his crime of of the Soviet Union. A R u s s i a n since they would be classified as a miraculously surviving this tragedy, he submarine commander, Lt Denezhko was "shipwreck". The engineless ship drifted was put in jail. His legs were damaged given a "medal" for his "heroic" action of for one night and at dawn about 5.30 am since they had been frozen. The Jewish killing all these defenceless people. a Russian submarine fired a single community in Istanbul sent him packages Rohwer's book gives the co-ordinates of torpedo and sank the Struma. The violent of food and clothing. the attack. One possible view of the explosion that occurred blew a hole in the Actions of the Jewish "rationale" of the Russian attack is that side of a boat. David said that the ship community in Istanbul (and probably the they thought that there were Nazi spies sank immediately. Anyone below the International community) resulted aboard the Struma. The Panamanian deck was trapped. The Struma just went eventually to his release. Two months government was discussed since the straight down. There was debris all over had passed since the sinking of the Struma flew a flag of that country. Dr the frigid waters from the shattered Struma. It was now 23 April 1942. He Fisher was planning to attend the temporary wood structures that had been slept one night in the house of one of the Stockholm International Forum on the built on the deck. People were screaming leaders of the Istanbul Jewish Holocaust in Sweden at the end of the and thrashing about in the cold icy waters community, Simon Brod, and then he was month. He said he would bring up the of the Black Sea. Many quickly put on a train accompanied by a Turkish subject of the Struma. He also suggested succumbed to the freezing water and one police officer that took him to the border that the Holocaust Museum was by one disappeared. David was thrown of Syria. He stopped at Aleppo and then interested in putting together an exhibit up in the air with the explosion and fell went by car to Haifa where he was about the Struma. The Museum would into the water. He held on to some interrogated in the police station by the like a piece of the ship for their exhibit wooden planks. He remembered that the British. He was given ID papers and told however time will tell whether this will waters were calm. He said he would not not to contradict the official version of be possible since it requires the approval have survived in rough waters. Towards events that the Struma was sunk by a of the Turkish government to remove any evening, a large piece of wreckage "mine". artefact from their country. floated near him and he dragged himself It is amazing from today's The exact location of the Struma aboard and out of the water. Birds flew perspective of overbearing media and still has not been verified. Tu r k i s h over the corpses but no-one appeared to pervasive communications that David fishermen tear their nets in an area they be living. Shortly afterwards, Lazar an was told by the Turks and British not to know as "The Jew Ship." The Russian aide of the captain was pulled aboard the say anything about his ordeal. He was submarine had different co-ordinates of wreckage but he died shortly before the also told not to talk about his ordeal by where the Struma was blasted to oblivion. next morning. Twenty-four hours after the Jewish Community in Istanbul since Greg will carry out a "side scan sonar the explosion, a commercial boat passed they were living in a potentially survey" concentrating on the two logical right by David without stopping and precarious situation in the middle of sites. David Stolier's story perhaps afterwards men from the local lighthouse World War II. One would think that his suggests still another location. in a small boat pulled David out of the arrival in Israel and his survival would frigid water. They had come from the have been met with news media from Now the Struma has a web page: lighthouse a few miles away. David was around the world but David had a friend http://www.struma.net. ¨ Page 75 KEBBA BURGHUL

Burghul (cracked wheat) balls filled with meat, almonds and raisins.

To make 15-20 portions. 35-40 balls.

Ingredients for the shell: 1/2 kg burghul (coarse) 1/2 kg burghul (fine) 1/2 kg semolina 1 egg 1/2 tsp. Salt 1/2 tsp. turmeric

Ingredients for the filling: 1/2 cup blanched almonds 3 onions, finely chopped 5 tsps. Oil 400 gr minced meat 8 stems chopped parsley 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. chilli powder 20 seeds ground cardamom 100 gr raisins

For the soup: 10 cups water 2 tblsps. Chicken soup powder 1 tsp. turmeric 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Preparing the shell: Soak the burghul in water for one hour, then squeeze off the water. In a bowl mix together the burghul, semolina, egg, turmeric and salt.

Preparing the filling: Blanch the almonds and cut in half. Heat the oil in a frying pan then fry the KETCHRI cooking. Add the pepper and salt to the chopped onions until golden brown. Add water and bring to boil. Put the rice and the chopped parsley and the spices. Then Rice cooked with red lentils lentils in the boiling water. Cook on add the almonds and raisins. Mix well medium heat until the water has and cook for 10-15 minutes. Ingredients: evaporated. Lower the heat. Cook for a Take about 1-3 oz of the burghul 1 cup of red lentils further twenty minutes. mixture and roll out in your wet hands 2 cups of rice Heat the oil in frying pan. Add the to a nice ball 7-8 cm in size. Make a 1 tsp. salt cumin, garlic and fry until golden hole in the centre and push in two 1/2 tsp. black pepper brown. Pour the fried garlic over the tablespoons of the filling inside the hole 2 cups of water rice. then seal well and shape. 3 tbsps. Oil In a seperate saucepan fry the sliced In a deep saucepan, put ten cups of 8 cloves of garlic chopped onions and cover with the sliced cheese water, salt, pepper and soup powder and 1 1/2 tsp. cumin and then the tomato slices. Cover and bring to the boil. Add the burghul balls 1 large fried onion (thinly sliced) cook until the cheese is melted. Serve on into the boiling soup. The balls will rise Slices of hard cheese top of the rice. ¨ to the surface after 2-3 minutes. You can 1 sliced tomato either continue to cook the kebba over moderate heat for another 20 minutes or Directions: you can fry after taking it out of the soup and let to cool. ¨ Soak the rice in water for 2 hours. Soak from ‘Iraqi Cooking’ by Pascall the red lentils for 15 minutes before Peres-Rubin Page 76