850,000 Jews called Arab lands & Iran home for centuries.
That all changed when #Israel become a state in 1948. In the years that followed, Jews were forced to flee en mass, fearing for their lives.
Linda Menuhin was one of these refugees. Today she's sharing her story.
That all changed when #Israel become a state in 1948. In the years that followed, Jews were forced to flee en mass, fearing for their lives.
Linda Menuhin was one of these refugees. Today she's sharing her story.
My name is Linda Abdul Aziz Menuhin & this is my story.
I was born in 1950 to an affluent Jewish family in Baghdad, at a time when most Jews had already fled Iraq.
I had a lovely childhood filled with the things that most children experience. Friends, playdates, family.
I was born in 1950 to an affluent Jewish family in Baghdad, at a time when most Jews had already fled Iraq.
I had a lovely childhood filled with the things that most children experience. Friends, playdates, family.
To give you some background, Iraq was home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, going back to 586 BC.
Jews were an integral part of Iraq's tapestry & in the 1920s were 25% of Bagdad's population.
We had our own schools, hospitals, synagogues & welfare system.
Jews were an integral part of Iraq's tapestry & in the 1920s were 25% of Bagdad's population.
We had our own schools, hospitals, synagogues & welfare system.
In the early 1940's things started to shift.
In 1941 our community experienced a deadly pogrom (the Farhud) in which 179 Jews were murdered, thousands injured, and many homes, businesses, and Jewish institutions destroyed over 2 days.
But that was just the beginning.
In 1941 our community experienced a deadly pogrom (the Farhud) in which 179 Jews were murdered, thousands injured, and many homes, businesses, and Jewish institutions destroyed over 2 days.
But that was just the beginning.
In the decade that followed 132,000 Jews, 75% of the Jewish population fled Iraq. The Iraqi government confiscated their property.
After they left, there was a small community left in Bagdad & Basra.
📸1951- an exit form banning a young Jew who left Iraq from ever returning.
After they left, there was a small community left in Bagdad & Basra.
📸1951- an exit form banning a young Jew who left Iraq from ever returning.
My family and 5000 other Jews stayed behind.
My father who was a well-known lawyer never questioned his identity. He felt Iraqi through and through.
📸To the left are my parents and to the right is a family photo including myself and my siblings.
My father who was a well-known lawyer never questioned his identity. He felt Iraqi through and through.
📸To the left are my parents and to the right is a family photo including myself and my siblings.
Life went on in our community.
Yes, we grew up with the horrific memory of the Farhud, but my childhood consisted of normal things like ballet classes & Bar Mitzvah parties.
📸Left: My 3rd grade ballet class
Right: A Bar Mitzvah, Tweig Synagogue, 1964
Yes, we grew up with the horrific memory of the Farhud, but my childhood consisted of normal things like ballet classes & Bar Mitzvah parties.
📸Left: My 3rd grade ballet class
Right: A Bar Mitzvah, Tweig Synagogue, 1964
When the monarchy was overthrown in 1958, things took a turn for the worse.
More & more restrictions were placed on the Jewish community.
📸One of the last photos taken of me in Iraq-My friends & I at a school function in 1967 shortly before the 6 Day War.
#JewishRefugeesDay
More & more restrictions were placed on the Jewish community.
📸One of the last photos taken of me in Iraq-My friends & I at a school function in 1967 shortly before the 6 Day War.
#JewishRefugeesDay
We had tried to remain optimistic over the years, but the Six Day War made it clear that our life in #Iraq was over.
Shortly after the war, our home which was owned by my grandfather was confiscated by the government and we were forced to move and give up our property.
Shortly after the war, our home which was owned by my grandfather was confiscated by the government and we were forced to move and give up our property.
The rhetoric against the Jewish community was becoming increasingly dangerous.
We were referred to as a "fifth column". Our loyalty was questioned. We were accused of helping Iraq's enemies.
And then in 1969, nine innocent Iraqi Jews were executed for treason.
We were referred to as a "fifth column". Our loyalty was questioned. We were accused of helping Iraq's enemies.
And then in 1969, nine innocent Iraqi Jews were executed for treason.
Overnight we became hostages.
Tens of Jews were rounded up. Fake trials of the Jews who were executed were broadcast on TV.
I watched half a million Iraqis celebrate the Jewish deaths and the death of my community.
📸Israeli memorial remembering those who were executed.
Tens of Jews were rounded up. Fake trials of the Jews who were executed were broadcast on TV.
I watched half a million Iraqis celebrate the Jewish deaths and the death of my community.
📸Israeli memorial remembering those who were executed.
We lost all our faith in our neighbors & friends. Anyone could call the secret police, the Mukhabarat & have us arrested.
In 1970, my mother began planning our escape from Iraq. My father was against leaving, as a lawyer who believed that the judicial system would protect us.
In 1970, my mother began planning our escape from Iraq. My father was against leaving, as a lawyer who believed that the judicial system would protect us.
That December on a Thursday someone came to our house and told my brother and I that there was a short window for us to escape the following day.
We took nothing but a small suitcase with us. I was disguised as an Arab woman with an Abaya & we fled through Kurdistan to Iran.
We took nothing but a small suitcase with us. I was disguised as an Arab woman with an Abaya & we fled through Kurdistan to Iran.
My mother, sister & father stayed behind.
My father used his influence to bail out 132 Jews who were caught by local authorities while trying to escape Iraq.
My father was arrested and freed twice for his activities.
This is the last photo we have of him.
#JewishRefugeesDay
My father used his influence to bail out 132 Jews who were caught by local authorities while trying to escape Iraq.
My father was arrested and freed twice for his activities.
This is the last photo we have of him.
#JewishRefugeesDay
My mother & sister fled to Israel in 1971.
On the eve of Yom Kippur in 1972 my father was kidnapped in #Iraq. We never heard from him again.
You can watch the documentary Shadow of Baghdad which chronicles my journey to learn what happened to my father.
shadowinbaghdad.com
On the eve of Yom Kippur in 1972 my father was kidnapped in #Iraq. We never heard from him again.
You can watch the documentary Shadow of Baghdad which chronicles my journey to learn what happened to my father.
shadowinbaghdad.com
After arriving in #Israel, I spent the next few years trying to rebuild my life & acclimate to a new country.
It was a struggle to say the least, but eventually Israel became home.
I became a Middle East correspondent & journalist, bridging between Israel and the Arab world.
It was a struggle to say the least, but eventually Israel became home.
I became a Middle East correspondent & journalist, bridging between Israel and the Arab world.
Today I am a senior consultant at @IsraelArabic, creating digital content that connects Jews and Arabs around the world.
One of the projects closest to my heart is our virtual embassy Facebook page IsraelinIraqi which focuses on Iraqi culture and our Jewish community's history.
One of the projects closest to my heart is our virtual embassy Facebook page IsraelinIraqi which focuses on Iraqi culture and our Jewish community's history.
I may have left Iraq, but Iraq has never left me.
I don't know what the future will hold, but the hundreds of messages that I & our @IsraelArabic accounts receive from Iraqis, give me hope.
Who knows? Maybe one day I'll find myself back in Iraq as Israel's first ambassador.
I don't know what the future will hold, but the hundreds of messages that I & our @IsraelArabic accounts receive from Iraqis, give me hope.
Who knows? Maybe one day I'll find myself back in Iraq as Israel's first ambassador.
We'd like to thank Linda for sharing her story. You can listen to a full episode of our podcast with Linda here:
soundcloud.com/personagrata_m…
From Yemen, to Iraq, to Syria, to Iran, we remember the 850,000 Jewish refugees expelled from their homes.
soundcloud.com/personagrata_m…
From Yemen, to Iraq, to Syria, to Iran, we remember the 850,000 Jewish refugees expelled from their homes.
To all of you who have commented and retweeted this thread, thank you for helping us share Linda's story.
For every Linda, there are 849,999 other stories of Jewish refugees expelled from Arab lands and Iran.
Please share your own personal family stories below.
For every Linda, there are 849,999 other stories of Jewish refugees expelled from Arab lands and Iran.
Please share your own personal family stories below.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
