Iraq opens first Jewish museum as country's ancient community nears extinction
Iraq’s Jewish community, which dates back 2,500 years and once made up nearly a quarter of Baghdad’s population, now has its own museum in the city it largely left behind.
Baghdad has inaugurated its first museum dedicated to Iraqi Jewish history, marking the end of an ancient community that is on the brink of extinction. The Jewish Shamash Museum opened on Al-Rashid Street, occupying the site of the historic Shamash School, which was established by the Jewish community in 1928 and soon after had 900 students.
The building ceased to be a Jewish school in 1951, but it continued operating elsewhere until approximately 1973. The museum houses official documents, old school records, academic certificates, and personal belongings of the Jewish community members who once lived in Baghdad. Visitors can view recorded interviews, photographs, traditional clothing, household utensils, and religious artifacts.
On the first day of the museum's opening, over a thousand people visited, indicating a significant interest in preserving the country's pluralistic history. Today, only a handful of Jews remain in Iraq, with an estimated 4-6 Jews in Baghdad and around 50 Jewish families in Iraqi Kurdistan. The community's last custodian, Khalida Elyahu, serves as the head of Iraq's Jewish community and chairwoman of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews.
Despite the restoration of the Shamash School building, JIMENA, a US nonprofit, raised concerns about the preservation of the school, as it is not accessible to the remaining Jewish community.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
