Iraq Opens First Museum Dedicated to Jewish History

Baghdad has inaugurated its first museum solely dedicated to the history of Iraq's Jewish community, whose presence in the country spans over 2,500 years. The "Shamash" museum is housed in a historic building on Ar-Rashid Street that was originally a Jewish school founded in 1928, which by 1939 had approximately 900 students. The museum's collection includes documents, school records, diplomas, family photographs, traditional clothing, household items, and religious artifacts, according to The Jerusalem Post. Visitors can also view video testimonies from members of Baghdad's Jewish community. Local media reported that over a thousand people visited the museum on its opening day. Historically, between 100,000 and 150,000 Jews lived in Iraq until the mid-20th century, forming nearly a quarter of Baghdad's population. However, between 1950 and 1951, approximately 120,000 Iraqi Jews emigrated to Israel as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah. Today, it is estimated that only a few Jews remain in Baghdad. The museum's opening has drawn mixed reactions. JIMENA, an American organization focused on preserving the heritage of Middle Eastern and North African Jews, welcomed the restoration of the historic building but pointed out that descendants of Iraqi Jews living in Israel are still unable to visit the country where their ancestors lived freely.