5CR gf. JOURNAL OF BABYLONIAN JEWRY PUBLISHED BY THE EXlLARCH'S FOUNDATION

No. 48 MAY 1991 Est. 1971 FIFTY YEARS ON •The Month of raq's recurring threat Rashid A|i In January 1943 the New York Herald- "~Vhy does the United Nations~ after Exactly 50 years ago, in April 1941, Tribune published an article by an Iraqi defend- winning a military victory in lraq, permit another dictator - Rashid Ali, came to ing {he Arab nationalist policies of Nuri Said and that vanquished country to use its surren- power in Iraq, and the king, the regent and pointing out that "the Iraqis have their eyes on der as an instalment to extort from us the Hoty Land". The following is a summary of acquiescence in the basic tenets of the Hitler the government fled the country, Rashid an unpublished letter to the editor of 7th AIi's adventure was even more fantastic February 1943, by a Canadian writer, which has philosophy? Rashid Ali and the ex-mofti of than that of Saddam Hussein, Just as just come to light and which is remarkably , the instigators of Iraq's pro- Saddam was pushed by Arafat to extremes, prophetic of recent events in the Middle East: Hitler rising of 1941, are fugitives. But Nuri Pasha carries on flleir policy! Can such Rashid Ali was spurred on by ex-mufti of it is true, as the article says, that lraq has Jerusalem Amin Husseini and four army thing he? Why then did we fight in iraq in oil and pipelines and is the bridge linking the first place? Do we not care what the colonels known as the Golden Square. He Europe with Asia. But it took a stiff and peace is like after winning the battles? Is all sided with Nazi Germany at a timc when bloody campaign by British troops to keep well again the moment the pipelines are neighbouring Syria was already in Vichy Iraq's facilities from being handed over to reasonably safe? hands. Germany by the Iraqis themselves. There We learn from the article that h'aq is General Wavell, CAn-C. Middle East, is littIe cause for optimism. After reading ready to take up "the role of leader in the pleaded that he had no forces to spare for the article, we cannot be sure that even emancipation of the Arabs from the yoke traq and counscllcd the British govern- under Nur[ Pasha, Iraq will not play us a of foreign domination", lraq the leader of ment to start negotiations with Rashid Ati. trick one day by plunging lraq and some the pan-Arab movement? What wilt they But Churchill was adamant. He stressed. neighbouring territories into a bloodbath think of that idea in Mecca, in Egypt, Syria tl~at there would be no negotiations, and worse than that of 1941, when Rashid Ali the removal of Rashid Ali and his col- called to his aid the Nazi Luftwaffe. and Morocco? How is the idea of an Arab federation to leagues was the mdy solution. AIthough The articIc informs us that the real be tr,'mslatcd into action? The answer must outnumbered ten to one, the British forces motive behind Iraq's declaration of war on be: the Jews. in the end defeated the Iraqi army which the Axis is "to secure a seat at the peace Ten half-empty Arab empires, stretching surrendered unconditionally on 31 May. conference when the war is won". The h'aq from Gibraltar to Hadhramaut arc to be Air supremacy was decisive even then. Government wants to have a say at the bound together by Iraq through one co- The real battle for Iraq was %ught on peace confcrencc in the affairs of Palestine. ordinating policy: wresting from the hands the island of Crete which the Germans "[t is the Jewish issue of the Palestinian of the Jewish people the pitifully insignifi- intended to use as a stepping stone for the homeland that rankles in the heart of all cant strip of coastline on the Mediterranean Levant. By destroying Germany's sole Arabs". which the Jews by solemn international airborne division in Crete, Britain pre- The real problem since the country was agreement calI their National Home. Are vented Hitler from reaching Iraq, which torn from the Turkish Empire was to whip would have enabled him to encircle Russia the most persecuted people on earth to be peasants, nomads and camel-breeders into deprived of their last hope of refuge by the and Egypt, occupy the Persian oil fictds, some semblance of nationhoo& Most often proprietors of milIions of square relics of cut the AlIics supply route through the the promise of loot and plunder was used Persian GuIf and stretch a hand towards the most fertile Iand on cartb? Is that the to prick and elevate the national faith. Japan. new era to which .we are marching and for Several times the bedouins were roused Throughout the month of May the Jews the advent of which American and English- to a fihad against the British liberators - were subjected to harassment and arrcsts men are shedding their blood? the stranger in our midst being always and The Arabs of Palestine, from whom the but the defeat of Rashid Ali was ['or them a everywhere the most obvious and useful Jews have taken nothing but their poverty pyrrhic victory. For white the Regent and stepping stone for the primitive chauvinist British officcrs were playing Bridge at the and diseases, are to be liberated from spirit - but the British struck back and bard. British embassy in Baghdad, the night of l association with a people who have been Then came the Assyrian massacre and the their benefactors. In attainment of that June 1941 (Shavuo 0 marked the beginning flame of Arab national passion flared high of a massive pogrom in which 200 Jcws grandiose object, Iraq hopes to secure the for one ghastly moment, only to peter out were killed, hundreds wounded and collaboration of an aIl-cmbracing pan-Arab when all the Assyrians were dead. movement. thousands of homes and shops looted. In Nuri's first action after declaring war on order to allow the mob to let off steam, the Is Jewish Palestine really the thing that the Axis was to refuse a transit visa to 700 authorities declined to permit the police to rankles in the heart of all Arabs, or have Jewish orphans, victims of the Axis, on deal with the rioters. certain functionaries who have bccn trying their way to Palestine from Poland, despite to hamstring, sabotage and frustrate the That forbad was the trigger for the mass the pleas of the State Department and emigration of onr ancient community nine hmnanitarian societies. They shatl not building of the Jewish National Home in years later, and now dispersed all over the Palestine at last found in Nuri Pasha the pass, said our champion of the Four Free- worldQ doms, as if he was facing fearful odds at tooI to destroy by violence what could not be stayed by a policy of niggling dishon- some Verdun or Stalingrad! Iraq's pro- There was an old man from Kuwait, esties and provocative inconsistencies, but posed march to a place in the sun is to be Who said, "There's someone I really hate, what was perhaps the most worthwhile He's a man called Saddam, accomplished over the backs of the Jewish people who have been our allies from the thing to have come out of the First World Oh! What a terrible mant War?O I wish he was out of date!'O first hour in the struggIe against the Axis The above article was seal to The Scribe by Mr, Y, l,ondou Joe Shaya and in every forward-looking cause. Mccr of Montrca[O Page 1 Some of the martyrs who were killed Eliahou Mezzala Salman Eliahou Barukh in the Farhud of May 1941 Eliahou Sion Yahya Samra Yeheskel Etiahou Sion Kheyyat Abed Eliahou Kadounchi Abraham Dahoud Moshe Shemoun Haim Shemoun Esther Mdalla! Abed Ezra Aspir Abraham Heskel Hlali Matuq Khalifa Ephraim Abraham Attar Abudi Ezra Aspir Abraham Yeshaq Habsha Nahum Yoseph Qazzaz Bedour Shoua Ezra Abraham Mezzala Abraham Moshi Leytim Naim Dabora Bertha Sion Ezra Abraham Shina Aharon Ezra Heddad Salim Sion Dangoor Gourji Salman Ezra Eliahau Joori Baroch Bettat Salman Heskel Jangana Habiba Ezra Korin Ezra Mashiah El Ajmi Heyawi Menashi Seti Abdaliah Qeshqush Yehashoua Abdu Farha Saleh Haim Shemoun Ezra Abraham Shlomo Dawid Heskel Menashi Meslawi Farha Menahem Shamash Hnini Shemoun Haim Shemaun Ezra Yoseph Heskel Selman Muallem Farid Sasson Heskel Abraham Twena His wife Yacob Nessim Khebbaza Salba Abraham Yacob Eiiahou Iny Emam Meni (Shamash) Yacob Shemoun Abul Nura Salha Ephraim Yaeob David Musafi Saleh Abraham Asian Khdhouri Shoua Salha Yousef Yacob Nuri Yeshaq Habsha Saleh Eliahou Dahan Latifa Yacob Rajina Menashe Dabby Yeshaq Salem Asher Saleh Mashaal Muzli Hagouli Rima Dahoud Tutunchi Yeshaq Yusef Dangoor Eiiahou Shina Moshe Janabi Rima Menashe Dabby Yeshaq Meir Abraham Khlef Shmuel David Cohen Mesouda hint Abul Pacha Ro~a Moshe Nahum Kehela Heskel Horesh Shemoun Abraham Sweri Menahem... Rahamim Eliahou Dabby Her daughter Shemoun Haim Shemoun Mettana Saleh Nejjar Rahamim Eliahou Hami Her grand-daughter Sasson Jema'a Saat Nessim Yamen Salman Attar Shaul Yeshaq Pasha Meir Shoua Shuker Abraham Eliahou Ajmi Naima Merdukh Semha Eliahou Naqqar Moshe Qerr Aharon Abraham Kashi Salman Dabby Sasson ShemounO

:\ R. Sulman Jangana Shrnuel [)a~id Cohen Abraham Habsha Ainam Mani-Shamash

Nuri Jacob Hahsha Salim Shin I)an~oor

,~ AI)ratlam and ~acq)b Iiabsha ~ilh Ezra Abraham Shlomo David their father and sister Jacob Eliahou In}

Matuq KhaliE~ Saieh Abraham Asian Saleh Ella I)ahal] Page 2 same day hoodlums were ready at the gate of the hospital of Meir Eliyahu with the intention of wrecking it. They approached the hospital on the pretext that two British pilots were hiding inside; another pretext was that a British citizen entered the hospital to signal and direct the British Bombers in their air assault. Apparently the hoodlums had intended to point to the late Dr. Max Kropach as a target. The attackers broke into the hospital from both its gates, They carried various items of weaponry. They entered the various departments and shot indiscrimin- ately in alt directions. Within a minute the hospital turned into a battlefield. Shrieks were heard all over the building. The patients searched for a hiding place. The hospital staff did not know where to go. The accountant of the hospital, Menashe, was hit hard on the head and was seriously injured. Later, teacher Joseph Cohen, dressed in army uniform, entered the hospital. The Chief Nurse. Mrs. Ren~e Kropach, revealed a daring inititative. She organised the nurses in anticipation of a cover and saving operation. She approached the hoodlums directly and asked them to come inside to examine whether any English people were around. In the meantime. Mr. Cohen, who took Menashe Khalastchi with his father, Ezra advantage of his uniform, informed the Chief Nurse to call the head of the com- munity. Unfortunately the lines were not serviceable and the contact was prevented. The murder of and other agricultural produce of the area, She therefore had to leave the hospital. Menashe Khalastchi as well as imports of machineries and other dressed in the Abaya (a Moslem cloak used European products. by women) and thus was able to contact by Ezzat Muallem Menashe, in his short but very active the head of the Community. career, was attacked twice by armed mur- Towards the end of the last century, the The tumult was intensified and the derers. The first time was in May 1916. tic Khalastchi family became well-known in hoodlums were in every department. They was inspecting grain stores with his friend the commercial and the agricultural world sowed destruction everywhere. They and partner Reuben Battat when an Arab of lraq. They became famous for their looted, burned furniture, hit patients and shot them, fatally wounding the latter. honesty and straight dealing, solidity, fore- destroyed whatever they saw fit but no- Menashe, however, managed to run away thought and initiative, and courage in body dared face them. They did not spare and was saved. planning and developing progressive ideas weak patients. They displayed a savage The second attack was on 22 May 1941. in both fields. thirst for Jewish blood. They also seized Their father, Ezra, settled in Shamiyah Menashe, on returning from his grain the doctors and the administrative director store, was attacked and shot dead by an in the year |871. His son Eliahu became of the hospital, the late Anwar Khtaina~ It armed negro. He was buried at Hilta. After the backbone of the development of trade was also learned that the Pharmacist the murder it was found out that the reason and agriculture in the mid Euphrates dis- Matuq Khalifa was shot dead. The Jewish was the quarrel between the tribe of trict. He introduced new and modern identity of Joseph Cohen, disguised under Alhamadiah and Albaliash. The head of methods in agriculture which at the time cover of the military uniform, became the second tribe planned the murder, was in a very backward state. He initiated known and the hoodlums sought to kill because Eliahu, the brother of Menashc, the trading with well-known British firms him. However, his luck prevailed and hc sided with his enemy the Alhamadiah which, through his influence, became very managed to escape before they got to him. much interested in that particular part of tribe. Hc took refuge in the truck which carried The murderer was at last caught and ice to the hospital and ran away. Iraq. sentenced to life imprisonment. After a Eliahu had two brothers. Nissim (1894- After realising what was happening, the short while he died in prison. The real 1973) and Mcnashe (1898-1941). Mcnashe, Head of the Community and its notables culprits, however, were never punished. a very well educated man having comp- approached the Police Superintendent. Menashe was a victim of the troubled leted his schooling in Baghdad, because of Husam AI Din Juma, and called for help. situation in Iraq at the timeO his knowledge of English, French, Turkish He sent a reduced police force and upon and Arabic, was appointed in 1918 as from Dispersion & Liberation arrival at the hospital they managed to assistant to the British Governor of the by Abraham Twena arrest a few. District. But, in the year 19211, due to the The gates of the hospital were locked. Iraqi revolution against the British Occu- Several shocked patients sought to go to pation, he resigned his job and joined his their homes despite their weakness. The father and two brothers. His interests did hospital staff were released from their not stop at this. He took over building . The situation at Meir Eliyahu arrcst~ The hospital was paralysed. constructions. Among other things he was Hospital during May 1941 Government elements sought to transfer the contractor of the enlargement of the the auspices of the hospital to the Red Hindiya Barrage. In trade and commerce On May 6. 1941. the British Air Force Crescent. However. the community people hc became a partner of Salim Shamash of battle planes flew over Baghdad skics. acted to foil this attempt. They reopened Baghdad as well as of Sasson Mualim They had not intended to bombard targets the hospital right after the upheaval and Eliahu. establishing a trading company or to cause harm but rather to demonstrate the injured were duly trcatcdO which became known to firms all over the • muscle and thus sccurc the desired psycho- from Dispersion & Liberation world. They spccialiscd in exporting grains logical effect on the Iraqi population. That by Abraham Twena

Page 3 Double Tragedy On our mailing list Maurice Sheena, London On 20 February Dr. Irene Sala and Mrs. Victoria Nissim were killed in Chile Mr. & Mrs. Edward Battat, London when their plane skidded on landing and fell into the sea. They were on their way E. Shahrbanl, London to join an Antartica cruise. It is surprising that 20 passengers in the club class lost J. Gradel, Salford their lives while 45 other passengers and the entire crew of seven managed to Ezra Dangoor, London Ellis Cohen, Cornwall escape. Mrs. Haya Pesker, London At the memorial prayers for Irene and Victoria, the Lauderdale Synagogue was Mrs. Linda Hakim, Stanmore filled to overflowing when the Anglo-Jewish community demonstrated their Mrs. Joyce Hakim, london attachment to the departed and their condolences to members of their families. Ms. Sara Manasseh. Middlesex N. Battat, Harrow Nissim Benjamin, Wembtey Miss Gila Tweg, Worthing Mrs. Valentine Shabi, London Julian Sofaer, London M. Sulman, London J.E. Levy. London Dr. & Mrs, D. Lewis, London Mrs. M. Horesh, London J.J. Basrawy, London Mr. & Mrs. P.L Bloom, London Alexander & Karin Juran+ London Joseph Rasouly, Wembtey N.W. Dalah, Stanmore M. Hillel, Manchester Mrs. Trixie Levi, Wembley Miss Traci Miller, Dallas, Texas D. Reuben, London A. Sheena, Bushey Heath Shawky Dallal, London Jack Rahameem, London Mrs. Suheita Tweg, London A. Korine, london N. Battat, Kenton C. Carmona. London E. Masri, Stanmore Mr. & Mrs. F. Zubti, London Irene Sala (nde l,cvi) was born in Bagh- Victoria Nissim, born in Baghdad in S.S. Cut~y, Edgware dad in 1929 and married Davidc Sala in 1912, was the daughter of the latc Chief Adam Kubba, Glasgow 1950. A brilliant scientist, successful busi- Rabbi Sasson Khedourie, president of the Mr. & Mrs. I. Sopher, Mill Hill nesswoman and renowned philanthropist, Jewish community of Baghdad. Edward Battat, Harrow she was at the peak of her career. She was She studied at the Laura Kadourie Mrs. B. Fattal, London a rising star in the field of archaeology and School for Girls and perfected the Arabic, Yosef B. Selig. t,ondon presented a controversial paper to a con- French, English and Hebrew languages. M. Elias, London ference in Liege questioning the use of the She worked in charitable and social organ- Miss Ruth Baruch, London flint and its reputed central role in prehis- Mrs. Mavis J. Shahmoon, Momreal isations, especially in the Society for the Mrs, Mouzly Shohct, London toric times. Blind and the distribution of milk to needy M. Solomon, Bnei Berak, Israel After leaving Baghdad in 1951 she be- school children. S. Hakim, Montreal came a successful businesswoman and op- She went to England in 1948 and then Shalom Rosenfeld, Maariv, Israel erated with her husband an oil exploration settled in Israel in 1952~ Visiting the USA Judge Dan Gubbay, Givatayim. Israel coml~any in lran and Italy. Their business as a campaigner for israel and for Keren Arie Gabbay. New Jersey, USA dividends have been overwhelmingly di- Hayesod Appeal, she took the opportunity C. Somekh. London verted into endless charitable projects in to study psychology. On returning to Eliahou Shamash. Great Neck, NY Britain, Israel and elsewhere. Israel, she held various posts and was for George Saul, Palm Beach, USA The jewel in lrenc Sala's crown was the J, Elia-Shaul, London many years head of the social works in the Mrs. Naima Chitayat, Montreal conception, finding and cstablishment of State prisons until she retired in 1970 as David M. Khalastchi, London the Jewish Hcritage section at the Israeli Lieutenant Colonel. F.J. Kateb, London National Museum in Jerusalem which She travelled in many countries and M. Dalah, Edgware documents the life of the world's Jewish visited India, China, Japan, New Zealand, D. Khedoory, London communities over 2.000 years. Australia, Alaska and the American conti- Joseph Shabi, London Saul Zadka nent. B. Baher, Wembley Park She was buried in Tel Aviv on 16 Mrs. Denise Shemtob, Stanmore 300 friends attended a memorial gather- February. Her funeral was attended by B. Shirazi, London ing on 21 March at the Grosvenor House more than a thousand mourners. A tele- G. Moshi, London Ballroom. Daughters Monica and Joyce A. Mowlem, London gram of condolence was received from spoke, as well as Lord Jakobovits. Mat Mrs. Fahima Mahlab, London Itzhak Shamir, Prime Minister of Israel. Haruni, Tel Aviv Mayor Shlomo Lahat E.M. Hakkak, Barnes and Communal Rabbi Dr. Abraham Levy. S.H, Sassoon L. Hoory. London Mrs. Victoria Hakkak, Barnes Sincere condolences to members of both familiesO EFRAT, London Elie G. Dunnoos, London S.H. Bendahan, London Now that the Gulf War is over I hope As a Jew from an Arab country who has Yasmin Shahrabani, LondonO that Mr. Dangoor will find a way of had the opportunity to consider the cases impressing the powers that be to listen to of Jews and Kurds in my books - Babylon ] received your last three copies of The people like himself to find a permanent in the Underground and My friends, the Scribe and really enjoyed them very much. solution politically to the whole of the Kurds -I feel I have a birthright e[aim on I read them from cover to cover. Middle East. I am very impressed with his my country of origin, on Iraq's frozen Congratulations on doing such a great knowledge of the history and problems of billions. We may still have our share of the job, including the recipes... Keep up thc the areaO cake!O good workQ Perth, Australia Sunny Moses Tel Aviv Emil Murad New York Mrs. Lilian Mosher Page 4 Albert Manasseh Jews and Comrnunfism With the death in February of Mr. In Scptcmbcr 1989, our friend I~atif Since Moshe Hoary wrote his articles Albert Manasseh at the age of 83, the finery sent us a number of articles in two years ago, we have seen the demise of Bombay Jcwish community lost a disting- Arabic written by his brother, Moshc communism as a viable philosophy or way uished tender who served it in various roles Hoary, which appeared in the official of life. For communism is not the ultimate for nearly 60 years, He had held the offices organ of Rakah - the Israeli communist utopia it is made out to be but is the disease of President of the Sir Jacob Sassoon party - of which Moshe l-leery is a mem- of a faulty capitalist system. Mankind must Council of Trustees, President of the Bom- ber. now discover a middle way between free bay Jewish Association and President of The articles recount the history of com- enterprise and a fair distribution of the the Bombay Zionist Association, In 1935 munism in Iraq and the attraction it had for natural wealth among people and nations. he t'ounded Habonim in Bombay and other young people and especially for Jewish Another faIlacy of Mr, Hoary's, which is cities in India and was Manhig of the youth. At a demonstration in Baghdad in shared by many Sephardim such as the late movement for many years. I was in the first 1946, the police opened fire, which killed Elic Eliachar, is that the Jews lived Jn group of six young boys to start the Shaut Tweg. Again in 1948 Jewish com- security and happiness under Arab and movement. Mr. Manasseh was Strictly munists were prominent in the WaLhba Moslem rule, to the extent that Jews observant and, immersing himself in the uprising, as a result of which Nuri Said should again five under Arab hegemony in study of Torah and Tahnud, was also ffdly executed several communists, among them Palestine instead of having a separate conversant with all aspects of Minhag Yehuda Saddiq and Sasson DaHah Jewish state, This attitude explains the Babel which was the form of service of all The involvement of Iraqi Jews in com- Arab-Jewish mixture in the Rakah com- synagogues in India. Itis late father was munism was a reaction to the pogrom of munist party. born in Baghdad, and he himself spoke 1941, as an escape from persecution and First, there may have been periods in the fluent Arabic and knew Hebrew wcU. racial discrimination, But in the end, Zion- past when Jews lived in peace among A member, of the renowned Sassoon ism triumphed, as evidenced by the mass Moslems but these were usually cancelled famiIy, hc also represented for some years emigrat!on of the community to Israel 40 by recurring outbursts of persecution and the Bombay Jewish commuuity on the years ago. However, communists in Israel forced conversion, Our safety among the Board of Deputies of British Jews. are still working to ametioram the lot of Moslcms can only be judged by the worst His son Rabbi Yacob Manasseh co- non-Ashkenazi Jews. The Raka h party.has governors. At best, Jews were tolerated as founded four years ago Midrash Ben Ish 6 members in the Knesset. • ...... : second class dhimmis. They are never Hal in Ncw York@ Jewish involvement in Russ~an'C0mtnun- greeted with "Salam Alekum" - peace be Percy Gourgey ism follows the same pattern. To escape with you, and the highest compIiment an Tsarist persecution the Jews joined thc Arab can offer his Jewish friend is to telI revolutionary movement in droves. It has him, "You are a nice fellow, but what a Dear Mr.. Dangoor, been claimed that of the 50 original top pity yo,~ are a Jew!" Thank you so much for your letter of lcadcrs of Communist Russia, 43 were condolences over the passing of my father, Jews such as: c.5\ the crown of my head, Albcrt ('Abdatlah) Trotsky (Bronstein) Manasseh, o.h.m. Steklov (Nachamkess) As you so accurately mentioned, hc was Matter (Tsederbaum) Second, the Arabs refused to accept a "symbol of the strength and continuity of Kamcnev (RoscnfeId) our Babylonian culture," and his passing is Jewish immigration into the Middle East. Bogdanov (Silberstein) That is why Zionists had In struggle for an a loss to his famiIy and to all Israel, Gorcv (Goldman) The combination of his humility and independent state. Ganetzky (Furstenberg) Third, Hoary cites Jews who rose to high great .learning of so many varied aspects of Mcshkovsky (Ooldberg) the Torah is hard to find in our timc. Wc positions in Moslem states, such as Sand al- Riazonov (Goldenbach) Dawta in 13th century Iraq and Sasson were blessed that in his last years he spent Piatnitzky (Levin) considerable amounts of time - at my Hcskcl in random lraq. These were usually Abramovitch (Rein) plm" royalistes qua le rot. Sit" Sasson was a urging - committing some of this know- Zverzditch (Fonstein) tedge to paper. We hope, with the help of capable minister and an outstanding states- Radck (Sobclson) man who served his country well. But what [leaven, to make these available in due Litvinov (Finkenstein) course, in book form. did our community get out of it, and what Maklakovsky (Rosenbloom) did the government do to reward him?@ [n addition, many people have come Lapinsky (Levenson) forward from all parts nf the world, to pay Vabrov (Nathansson) tribute and to say how my father, 'Alaw Lcbedicva (Simson) I happen to bc a resident in Ramat Gan, Hashalom, has "saved their Iives," which Kamcnsky (I toffman) Israel - a favourite target of Saddam's Scud hc did with tirelcss and unselfish dedi- Naout (Ginsburg) missiles. One ofthese fell less than 300 cation in his position as the head of the izgoev (Goldman) yards from my home, destroying some 150 Babylonian conrmt, nities and Sassoon Vladimirov (Feldman) houses and inflicting numcrous civilian Trusts in Bombay and Paean - and which Larin (Imurie) casualties. Within an hour from the all- hc continued to do long after wc left for But in the end it was the Russian clear after the first attack, while I was still England. communists who slowIy got rid of their in the grips of shock, and fright, my phon9 We feel, therefore, that it would be a Jewish leaders. Stalin organiscd the ban- rang. As it turned out, it was a friend.el: fitting tribute to compile a selection of ishment of Trotsky who had cstablishcd mine, a gentilc woman living in France, these seemingly unlimited personal and the Red Army on firm foundations; Stalin who offered us refuge in her modest two-. humane stories and make them available to arranged the murder of Trotsky in 1942 bedroom apartment there for the duration • our peep]e, who was killed by an Iraqi servant. Soviet -of the war. Overwhelmed wkh emotion, I To this end, may I request that through anti-Semitism has exceeded Tsarist perse- promised to consider her offer, although your good offices you make the contents of cntions and right wing Pamyat is accusing we had no intention of leaving Israel to my letter known to your readers, many of the Jews of starting the Russian Revolution escape the missiles. A few days afterwards whom will have had personal experiences of and murdcring the Tsar and his family. I received a letter fl'om her with the same my father, which they may wish to share Two seemingly unrelated events took invitation, urging us to come. with us as a tribute. place in November 1917 - the Balfour A few weeks tater came a letter from one They may send them either to me or to Declaration and the Bolsheviks' seizure of of my brothers abroad, explaining how our family home in LondonO power in Russia. Now Russian Jews arc' snraI[ were the odds of bcing hit by a 6 Cheyne Walk or at Midrash Ben lsh Hal leaving for Israel by their miIlions. Again, missile: one to a million or so, and general- London NW4 3QJ PO Box 1062 for the Jews of Russia, as for Iraqi Jews, ]y advising patience. With such friends, Forest Hilb New York Zionism has triumphed over communism who needs relativcs?!ID New York Rabbi Yacob Manasseh in the end. Ramat Gan Mrs. Esther Mercado Page 5 When I remember how the Balfour £1 for the aroma Declaration was dishonoured, how Britain The Iraqi Club has decided to charge £1 violated the Mandate with a stroke, creat- for the smell of its food. On evenings when I consider The Scribe ing an Arab state east of the river Jordan, there is dinner, members present who one of the three best and how an infamous "White Paper" final- don't want to have dinner have to pay £1 journals on Sephardic ly left millions of Jews to be murdered by for not having dinner - in fact for enjoying snbjccts outside of Nazis, I am bound to say it makes a lot of the aroma of the cooking! Israel and France. I sense to recognise the remaining 23% of This goes beyond the famous judgement read it thoroughly and that old mandated territory as the ances- of Jeha in a similar situation. Baghdad learn a great deal from tral home of the Jew, which owes as much abounds in street corner open-air it. I would like to con- to the foibles of men as do the mountains stands where a quick meal can be had for gratulate The Exilarch's Foundation for of my home. about 20p, consisting of a laffa (sandwich) the quality and content of the journal. I The Scribe makes superb reading and I of one round tannour bread, two sticks of would like to ask permission to publish in congratulate you on every aspect of its , with plenty of , salad our quarterly magazine Hamercaz your publioationO and pickles. article entitled "*Israel and the Diaspora" Swansea Rev. Gruffydd Thomas

._..-- ~...---~ _--~ (No. 45) - (Granted - Ed.) The Sephardic Educational Center has Reflections at the Western Wall established a World Headquarters for Sephardim in the Old City of Jerusalem and The Flame has started a World Sephardic Movement by Gruffydd Thomas and World Sephardic Youth Movement, Dedicated "To Golda, whom I never knew". having branches in many countries around (Golda was my friend's aunt. who took her the world. In Los Angeles it is composed of babe-in-arms into the Death Camps and never 1,100 young people, and every Monday returned). night a lecture series is carried out in Kahal That flame, One kebabchi noticed that every lunch- Joseph (Iraqi-lndian) attended by some It burns forever time a well-to-do but miserly local resident 200 people up to age 35, And shall consume the candle of the yeats. The spirit trembles when that flame glows red:, used to come and stop near the stand and The SEC sends yearly a teacher from eat his own loaf of bread while enjoying Open the door and bear the dead, Jerusalem to India, where we have in- As withered leaves are blown across the floor the delicious aroma of the charcoal grill. vested $300,000. In Jerusalem we have And Rachel weeps behind a blood stained door. The dry climate of Baghdad made smell summer programmes for young people more pronounced and carried it a long from around the world, ages 15-25. The flame distance. That is why cynical Western We would love to have a group of Divides forever travellers in the twenties used to call Between the darkness and a darker night. responsible Sephardim in London to start a There is no refuge from the reckoning flame Baghdad the city of a thousand and one branch of the SEC. For crime that went beyond a name, smells. Do you consider Babylonian Jews With no regard for innocence and tears - The kebabchi decided one day that he Sephardim? If they are not Sephardim, Not even to the socket of the yeats. was being cheated and asked his miserly what are they?O neighbour for payment. When this was That flame Los Angeles J.A. Nessim M.D. Consumes forever. refused he took his neighbour to court. Shall they who plunged the dagger to the hilt The judge happened to be Jeha, around Scribe: Babylonian Jews did not come from Spain, as evidenced by the fact that there Be offered absolution for the guilt whom many humorous and witty anecdotes Of shedding blood that bad no fault? are told all over the Middle East. Jeha arc no Ladino words whatsoever in our vocabulary. They are mainly descendants There is a place fed by another flame (also known as Gaha or Mulla Nasrcddin) Where guilt and retribution are the same. of the first Exile and subsequent mig- asked the kebabchi if the defendant had O Flame eaten any of his food. '*No, your honour", rations from Israel and elsewhere. In 1743 Chief Rabbi Sadqa was brought in from That glows forever, answered the kebabchi, k'But he does enjoy Tell all Mankind the truth Guilt would ignore; every day the lovely aroma of my grilled Aleppo, together with some 50 families, some of whom may have originated in Shoes that would have danced in Jerusalem meats". Lie in a heap in Yad veSbem, Jeha thought for a while then ruled that Spain. It was Sadqa who established the And Racbel's child who skipped along that floor some form of payment had to be made to Scphardi minhag in Iraq, which itself Has never played with sand on Israel's shore. the kebabchi. Hc asked the defendant to originated in Babylon. (See Scribe No. 47 •"Host and Hostage")S O Flame, take out his purse of coins (no banknotes in Avenge! Divide and glow throughout the years those days) and jingle it in the ears of the I married into an Iraqi family and was Till Jacob's Star before the dawn appcarsS kebabchi. "'There!", said Jeha, k'The sound introduced to The Scribe by my mother-in- of this man's money is ample payment for law, Alice Shashou. I look forward to We were given a copy of The Scribe at a the smell of your shish kebab"O receiving The Scribe every time it is pub- meeting of the Sephardic "Shearith Israel" lished. ! enjoy reading the various articles Synagogue in New York City. Although On occasion when I am given a copy of especially when they tell me about our our ancestry (my husband's and mine) is The Scribe to read, I thoroughly enjoy its history. I also follow Alice Shashou's maternally Sephardic and Bukharian, our contents, particularly Iraqi-Jewish history. Cookery Corner as I love Iraqi cooking. families (both in Israel and the US) are To my knowledge, The Scribe is the only Please continue to send mc The Scribe at married to Iraqi Jews. In fact, the copy of publication that prints on a regular basis my new addressQ The Scribe that I just finished rcading, I am about the Jews of Mesopotamia who have Antibes, France Mrs. Nathalie Shashou mailing forthwith to my cousin-inqaw Ezra contributed so much to culture and tradi- Rahamim in Ohio. Here in New York we tion. In the United States, Russian and Palestinian Hutzpa also are dose friends with the Habib family Eastern European Jewry get the predomi- (Nuri, Eliahu, Jamil) who will also be nant press, and hardly anything is men- Palestinian Arabs cheered when the overjoyed to read The Scribe. tioned about the Jews of the Middle East Scuds hit Israel, and called on Saddam to Therefore, would you please put me on (outside of Israel). send poison gas. But when they realised it your mailing list so I can continue to read I was born in Baghdad and came to the might hit them, too, they demanded that and also supply friends and family with US in 1953. My parents, who are retired Israel provide them with gas masks. Voices your wonderful publicationO and live most of the year in Florida, also were raised criticising Israel for not sup- New York Elvera Herhstman enjoy The Scribe. My mother, Helen, plying the masks fast enough. particularly likes Alice Shashou's cooking Now they are wearing their Israeli gas Wc acknowledge with thanks receipt of a recipesO masks in demonstrations against Israel, as voluntary and generous contribution from Fair Lawn, New Jersey Joseph L. Meet we thought they would doQ Mrs. Lilian Masher, New YorkO Page 6 I am having trouble with your cookery "'Tips" (January 91 No. 46) and my hus- band. After cleaning our patent shoes with vaseline, the taste was not very nice when I fried them in butter and oil. My husband says that I should have soaked the soles overnight, as they were rather chewy. Before I married him, I was very slim, and he told me that a slim girl could not get married in Iraq as the girls went by the avoirdupois, and the father had to provide a hefty dowry or else give the prospective a concubine as a make-weight, like Laban did with his girls. Afterwards he said that the custom was dying out, unfortunately. My husband has always accused me of trapping him, and when I reminded him that he kept chasing me, he had the cheek to say "Who heard of the mousetrap running after the mouse?" Recently, he has begun to tell me that I Mrs. Renee Dangoor addressing a briefing meeting on tilt. Jews of Shanghai in October at am a very lucky woman to be married to a the Ta'ali centre in London. She repeated the talk on 11 April at St. John's Wood stamp collector, as thc older I get the more Synagogue, I,ondon NW8 to a large audienceO valuable I appear to him, but that he thinks mint copies are nicer than fine used. I don't We were pleased when a friend recom- know if he means that as a compliment. mended The Scribe to us and would like to The Jews and Iraq I am interested in the books about be put on the mailing list. My husband Judaism that you mention. Please tell me Iraqi Jews have an unfinished business moved to Britain from Israel 3Y_-year s ago. with the government of Iraq. The wrongs the address of a good bookshop in England His parents and many of the .friends he where I can order them. done to our ancient and well-established mists in Israel are Iraqi. It isespecially community were not less than those done Best wishes for the Festivals. May the nice for him to have some contact with the Jews always know feasts of victory and to Kuwait - terror and murder, torture and Iraqi-Jewish community. I am also very imprisonment, confiscation of property rede mptionQ interested in the recipes, We look forward Ramat Gan Patrieia Ruth Saltoun and expulsion. Iraqi Jewry must be party to to reading your magazine greatlyO any final settlement with Iraq. PS by husband - Don't believe all that my A ylesbury, Bucks Mrs. Rebecca Rasooly We are informed by ME Leon Tamman (Irish) wifc says. It reminds me of the man Tina and I thoroughly enjoy reading that Prime Minister Shamir has given the who dashed into a psychiatrist's office: your Scribe. 1 only wish your intelligent green light to WOJAC (World Organisation "'Doctor!!! my wife says I am crazy bccausc editorials could reach the eyes and ears of of Jews from Arab Countries) to take legal I like kubbah burghul. I want you to world leaders. They are full of sound good steps to attach Iraqi assets now frozen in examine me and say I am not crazy." common sense and very worthwhile ad- USA, UK and Europe. Once attached, "'What is crazy about liking kubbah viceO these assets cannot be released until the burghul? I love them myself." London Robert Rietty case of the Jews from Arab lands is heard "Wonderful!! Then you must come and and decided in court. sce my collection. I have my wardrobe and Great publication!O Giving an opinion on Jewish claims seven suitcases full of them!"O New York Nathan Low against Iraq, Professor Yoram Dinstein of Scribe: Try the Bookshop, Woburn Housc, Tcl Aviv. a specialist in international law, Tavistock Square, London WCIH 0EZ. hopes and trusts that the Gulf War will be Which problem? terminated in a formaI treaty, which wilt P.S. SoJe leather does require soaking An elderly patient coi'nptained to his impose on Iraq the obligation to pay repara- before use. No need to fryO doctor, "'I don't know what is happening to tions. It is essential to ensure that the I was surprised to find that, in the March me. My memory is gone completely; peo- Claims Tribunal which will be established edition (No. 47) ("Some Arabs have to ple tell me something, and as soon as under the treaty will have jurisdiction to go") you quote the Psalm "'By the Rivers of they've finished speaking, I forget what consider all claims against Iraq by nationals Babylon . . .'" as containing a reference to they've said." of the Allied countries, and not merely "Arabs," as the phrase is not mentioned in The doctor thought for a moment and those originating from the invasion of the English version of Psalm 137. Further- then askcd. "'Tell me. when did the prob- Kuwait. It is clear that such procedure morc, biblical maps of the region clearly lem start?" would exclude Iraqi Jews in Israel and distinguish between "Mesopotamia," °'What problem?" asked the patient. those who are still stateless. "'Babylonia" and "*Arabia." This anecdote comes to mind in the The Exilarch's Foundatiom in fact, be- I do enjoy reading The Scribe and "'Our search for lasting peace in the Middle East lieves that the present status of ex-Iraqi aims in the Gulf War" is particularly after Saddam's defeat. Instead of recognis- Jews should not be the test. We must go interesting. The main reason why the ing Israel's model restraint under the back to the original sin - namely, the Arabs increased more than the Jews under unprovoked Scud attacks, no sooner had denationalisation of Iraqi Jews, which was the Mandatc was the virtual ban on Jewish the war come to an end than the politicians an illegal act under international law. It immigration operated by the British au- and the media started hammering her to may bc argued by Iraq that Jews who left in thorities from the early 30s until t94g~ solve the "'Middle East problem". America 1950/51 themselves renounced their nat- although the borders were wide open for finds it urgently necessary to reward totter- ionality. Bur that was a condition for uncontrolled Arab migration from neigh- ing Arab regimes for having defended allowing them to leave the country., to bouring countries, particularly from the them from certain extinction at Saddam's escape persecution. Hauran rcgion of SyriaQ h~nds. Therefore. the peace treaty should res- Wembley Park, Middlesex Ruth Willers Those leaders trying to corner Israel cind all denationalisation of Iraqis and the Scribe: The Psalm does not refer to appear to have short memories, and tend subsequent sequestration of their property. •"Arabs" as such. but the Hebrew word to forget the other problems of the region. That will cover non-Jews too and will not "Arabim" which means "willow trees" may What about L~banon, the Kurds, PLO exclude Iraqi Jews in Israel. The Claims have been a subconscious reference to the terrorism, Western hostages, Moslem fun- Tribunal should be empowered to negotiate infiltrators and looters from Arabia who damentalism, poverty amid regional plen- with a delegation of Iraqi Jews adcquate joined in at the destruction of the first and ty, endemic Arab-world instability? compensation on the lines of German second TcmplesO Which problem? !O reparations after the Second World WarO

Page 7 COOKERY CORNER

by Alice Shashou Spring Rolls Ingredients: 3 packs ready made frozen spring roll skins (60 spring rolls) For the Filling: llb boneless chicken portions. Marinate overnight in: salt, lemon juice. 1 chicken cube, 3 cloves , 1 , 2 tablespoons cognac, 4 tablespoons soya sauce and 4 tablespoons oil. Vegetables: 3 cloves garlic, chopped 3 spring shredded llb carrots ltb green beans 1 green pepper I cut into thin slices 2 red peppers lib mushrooms cut into strips V_~lb petits pois boiled in a little salted water 2-3 tablespoons chilli sauce Salt Method: Bake the chicken in the in the marinate until cooked. Then thinly shred it. Leave the sauce to stir-fry the veget- ables. Stir-fry the spring onions and garlic with some of the chicken sauce in a wok or big frying pan until golden. Add the chicken and saut6 for a few seconds. Add the chilli sauce. Stir-fry all the vegetables separately with the rest of the chicken sauce on high heat. Add the boiled petit pois and salt. Mix all together. Leave to cool in a sieve and drain off any liquid. Method to rail: Take a sheet of defrosted spring roll