Papa’s Baghdadi Moslem Friend
Iraqi Jews lived in Iraq for over two thousand five hundred years. We have lived there since Biblical times. We are called Babylonian Jews. We lived there since before the conception of Christianity or Islam. I am prefacing this to put it into context to what transpired a bit later, to put it into perspective. Many of the stories told in the Old Testament occurred in what is now Iraq and Iran.
In the 1930s and the early 1940s the Jews of Iraq were thriving. They held responsible and important positions in the Iraqi government. They were doctors and attorneys; they were businessmen who imported and exported with other countries; they were merchants and writers. They were a vibrant part of society. In this Moslem country, Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, was observed because a large part of commerce was owned or run by Jews. Moslems and Jews were friends and frequented each other’s homes. They worked and socialized with each other. Then Hitler entered with his antisemitic propaganda which slowly but surely seeped into the country and took hold of the Moslem population of Iraq.
Life became difficult. Successful Jewish businessmen were arrested under any flimsy excuse. They were heavily fined and eventually set free, making it unpleasant for them. One prominent businessman, however, was not that fortunate. He was ultra successful. His home was in one of the best areas of my Baghdad. Because of this, they decided to make an example of him. He was one of the most affluent men in the Jewish society. Perhaps it was for that reason that they decided to make an example of him. He was arrested and falsely accused of being a spy. They tortured him to make him admit to things he had not done. Eventually, he was removed from prison, bound and tethered. In that manner, they took him back to his home. They forced his wife and young children to be witnesses as they executed him in cold blood. That sent waves of horror and terror into the Jewish community. To this day, when that incident is mentioned, you can still feel the same incredible sensation of anger and disbelief. Since that date to this day, on the anniversary of his murder, the Iraqi Jewish community commemorates his memory.
Events quickly took a turn for the worst after that. On a Jewish holiday, on a beautiful spring day, members of the Jewish population were out enjoying themselves. Suddenly a crazed mob ran through the community for long, endlessly terrifying hours. They created unspeakable mayhem. They raped, they robbed, they pillaged and terrorized the community! Not one person from the government came to their aid until many, many hours later. The British had a strong presence in Iraq but did not come to their aid until much later. My mother never stopped recounting the incident of one woman who was in labor. The mob entered her room while she was in the process of giving birth. In spite of much begging and pleading, they flung her on the floor, removed all the furniture and whatever else they fancied and finally left!
One can only imagine the fear and unease their action created! However, in spite of the bestiality, there was humaneness as well. Not everyone was brutal and heartless. On one street, the sons of their Moslem neighbors stood armed, guarding their Jewish neighbors and drove the mobs away. In another incident, just before the mobs arrived, the Moslem neighbors brought their Jewish neighbors into their home and protected them. Because of all the atrocities, the Jewish community did not feel safe anymore. They began leaving the country which they called home for two and a half millennia. They lovingly cleaned their homes, sadly closed the doors for one last time, knowing they would not see it ever again but wanting to present it in all its glory. They left with bare necessities. Their bank accounts were frozen. Their homes would soon belong to others. They left with only what they could carry. That occurred in the 1940s. Since then, Saddam Hussein added to those atrocities. By the turn of this century there were only about ten Jews remaining in the entire country. We have all scattered like leaves in the wind. We have been integrated into different societies. Our great-grandchildren will not know where they came from; they would not know our very rich history.
In the beginning months of 1944, a close Moslem friend of my father’s sent word to him. “They are coming to arrest you tomorrow morning. I have arranged for you, your wife, and daughter to leave the country on a British army plane. For your safety, you must go in secret.” At that period of time, a large presence of the British Army in Iraq was quite evident. This kind man had arranged for us to flee to safety on a British army plane. Can you imagine what a huge kindness that was and how much my father’s friend had risked to save us?
And that is how we ended living in Iran. Life in Iran was good. The Shah protected his Jewish citizens. Many years passed, thirty something years. On a summer day, my parents had invited some visitors from Baghdad to their home. There was an air of excitement about the house. Mama was on the verge of driving poor Sultan and Khatoon to a nervous breakdown with all her instructions. What was the fuss all about? Why, Papa’s Moslem friend, the same one who had arranged for us to escape to Iran had now escaped with his family from Iraq! He and his family were coming to my parents’ home! The utmost honor was bestowed upon them! Can you imagine? Not even the Iraqi Moslems now felt safe in Iraq! Papa’s friend and his family immigrated to England just as our family immigrated to the United States a few years later. We had to leave as well. We came to the States.
The two friends continued to keep in touch with each other well into their old age. That is what is called a true friendship!