The Last Jews of Baghdad
December 5, 2011 2 Comments
Just seven of them!
The seven remaining Jews in Baghdad have been named by WikiLeaks, leaving them in danger of persecution, according to the city’s Anglican vicar.
Their lives are now in immediate danger, according to Canon Andrew White, and they’ve been advised to hide their religion.
Canon White said Baghdad’s Anglican Church is trying to protect them, as they fear extremists might try to kill them if they’re identified.
WikiLeaks published diplomatic cables from Baghdad which named the individuals of the small Jewish community.
And now the American Embassy is trying to locate any Jewish diplomats who could help the exposed individuals take part in religious ceremonies safely, to make up the number they’re required to take part in under Jewish Law…
Only 6,000 Jews were living in Iraq by the 1960s and today only seven remain in the capital.
The Anglican church in Baghdad is also trying to keep safe abandoned Jewish shrines in Iraq…
Read more here.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
We need to pay attention!!!
I understand that most of the Sephardic Jews from that part of the world went to Singapore some generations ago and their descendants are still there. Sad indeed that they felt they had to leave in the first place.