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Meir Taweig Synagogue

Coordinates: 33°19′21″N 44°25′01″E / 33.322557°N 44.416861°E / 33.322557; 44.416861
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Meir Taweig Synagogue
Meir Taweig Synagogue in January 2000
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteEdot Hamizrach
LeadershipRabbi Emad Levy
Location
LocationIraq Baghdad, Iraq
AdministrationJewish Community of Iraq
Geographic coordinates33°19′21″N 44°25′01″E / 33.322557°N 44.416861°E / 33.322557; 44.416861
Architecture
Funded bySaddam Hussein
Completed1942 1985 (restored)

The Meir Taweig Synagogue, also known as the Meir Tweg Synagogue is a synagogue in Baghdad, Iraq.[1] It also consists of a Jewish school, library and community center. The synagogue is located in the Al-Bataween district in eastern Baghdad, which is the main Jewish quarter of Baghdad.[1]

Opened in the early 1940s, it served as one of the most important centers for the Iraqi Jewish community in Baghdad, during the monarchical and republican era. It was heavily damaged during the anti-Zionist campaign across the country. The restoration work was done by the government under president Saddam Hussein. Today Meir Taweig Synagogue is one of the three active Jewish sites in Baghdad.[2] It is the only synagogue still active.[1] Today, a small group of Jews and Muslims looks after the synagogue.[1]

History

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A scene of Farhud, 1941

Following the end of the 1941 riots and the subsequent Anglo-Iraqi War, the remaining Jews were restored to society.[3] Al–Bataween was still home to numerous Jews, living alongside Muslims and Christians.[3] The Meir Taweg Synagogue was built in 1942.[4][3] The few remaining Jews in Iraq “worked very hard to protect and preserve their heritage, but the scale of the work was beyond their abilities.”[5][3]

Ba'athist period: 1968–2003

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Persecution against the Jews decreased in Iraq, after the Ba'ath Party came to power in the country.[6] However, due to the anti-Zionist ideologies of the government, tensions remained.[7] During events such as 1969 Baghdad hangings and anti-Zionist demonstrations, the synagogue was affected.[8] By the 1970s, gradually the government began protecting the Jews.[6] The international community also pressured the Iraqi government to preserve remaining community.[3][6]

A department within the Ministry of National Security was set up to ensure their safety and preservation of Jewish sites.[6] In 1984, the secret police forces raided the synagogue and confiscated Jewish Archives. The damaged synagogue was restored by the government.[9] Saddam Hussein paid for the restoration works.[9] The synagogue and the surrounding neighborhoods remained home to the rest of Iraqi Jews.[9] The synagogue also contained school, library and community office.[10]

An incident took place in 1998, on the day of Jewish festival Sukkot, when a Palestinian man opened fire, killing four people including two Jews at Baghdad synagogue.[11] Following the arrest of the perpetrator, the government pledged to ensure prompt justice.[11] As a precautionary measure, police guards were stationed at the synagogue, and the cabinet released a statement denouncing the shooting incident.[11] The cabinet emphasized that the Jewish community in Iraq are Iraqis that should not be associated with Zionist activities aimed at disrupting the political, economic, social, and health security of Arab countries.[12] Saddam himself also condemned the attack.[11] Later the Palestinian man faced trial in the court.[11]

Current: 2003–present

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The synagogue was closed few days ago[when?], when the United States launched invasion on Iraq. The remaining Jews were scared of the future, when Saddam was overthrown after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003.[10] Throughout the Iraq War, the synagogue remained closed. Since 2003, the new Iraqi authorities have repeatedly promised to preserve and maintain the synagogue.[10] There is also a sect of Jews called the Mousawi sect near Al-Nahr Street next to Al-Mustansiriya University, and this is also still working until now, and this is concerned with collecting real estate and money from Jews in Baghdad.

Location

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The synagogue is located in Al–Bataween neighborhood in eastern Baghdad.[13] Between Al-Saadoun Street and Al-Nidal Street, close to Firdos Square, it is located near the riverbank of Tigris. Al-Bataween has been the only neighborhood in Baghdad, which is home to remaining Jews, living alongside Muslims and Christians.[13] Al-Habibiya Jewish Cemetery is also located nearby, between Shia Muslim neighborhood of Sadr City and Al-Shaheed Monument.[13] According to a report by The National News, several buildings can be restored as heritage houses to be used for cultural and business activities.[14]

Features

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See also: Iraqi Jewish Archive

The Meir Taweg Synagogue also consists of a Jewish school, library and community center.[15] It has been redecorated and carpeted with air-conditioning equipment installed.[16] The central chamber contain the ark and bimah.[10] A Jewish school is also part of the synagogue. There is also a library in the synagogue, which used to have Iraqi Jewish Archive.[17] In 1984, the secret police raided the synagogue and confiscated Iraqi Jewish Archives from the synagogue.[18] During the battle of Baghdad in 2003, the coalition forces bombed the intelligence headquarters of Saddam Hussein.[18] They discovered the bulk of Iraqi Jewish Archives in the buildings basement, which were confiscated from the synagogue.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The Last Jews of Baghdad". National Public Radio. 2003-05-22. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  2. ^ https://assemble.imgix.net/1969/1480688806584184a6eba0e.png?w=800
  3. ^ a b c d e "Gallery". Remember Baghdad. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  4. ^ "Meir Tweg Synagogue at Baghdad, Iraq | Archive | Diarna.org". archive.diarna.org. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  5. ^ bataween (2022-03-08). "Iraq's Jewish heritage is in a parlous state - Point of No Return". www.jewishrefugees.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  6. ^ a b c d "History". Remember Baghdad. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  7. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (2008-06-01). "How Few Remain". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  8. ^ bataween (2019-02-01). "Remembering the Jewish martyrs of Iraq - Point of No Return". www.jewishrefugees.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  9. ^ a b c "Baghdad Jews: Exodus or extinction?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  10. ^ a b c d https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/far-from-home
  11. ^ a b c d e "CNN - Palestinian kills 4 in Baghdad synagogue - October 4, 1998". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  12. ^ "Safe under Saddam, Iraqi Jews fear for future". Indybay. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Mahmoud, Sinan; Al-Ameri, Aymen. "Restoring Al Bataween - a symbol of Baghdad's lost diversity". The National. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  14. ^ Mahmoud, Sinan; Al-Ameri, Aymen. "Restoring Al Bataween - a symbol of Baghdad's lost diversity". The National. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  15. ^ "27 Centuries of Iraqi Jewish History From Abraham to Adrian". democracychronicles.org. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  16. ^ Neusner, Jacob (2017-11-28), "Archaeology and Babylonian Jewry", Neusner on Judaism, Routledge, pp. 519–531, ISBN 978-1-351-15276-1, retrieved 2024-08-18
  17. ^ "Ketubot and Early Documents from Baghdad – 19th-20th Centuries – From the Archive of the Meir Taweig Synagogue in Baghdad | kedem Auction House Ltd". www.kedem-auctions.com. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  18. ^ a b c AM, Steven Plaut : 4:44. "Zionist Conspiracy: Stop the Obama "Return Rip-Off" of ancient Judaica". Retrieved 2024-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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