ASOR PRESS RELEASE
ENDANGERED CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST—THE JEWISH HERITAGE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA
ADDENDUM 6/14/20: JCHI is pleased to report that the Alliance for the Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ARCH) has made significant progress on the restoration of the Shrine of the Prophet Nahum since the drafting of the initial report on the condition of Jewish built heritage in Iraq and Syria. In light of this work, the Shrine of the Prophet Nahum no longer requires the level of intervention called for in the report. For more on ARCH’s work and their current needs, go here
The Jewish Cultural Heritage Initiative (JCHI)—a joint project of the London-based Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR)—has completed its initial assessment of present and past Jewish heritage sites in Iraq and Syria. Thanks to the generous sponsorship provided by the Thomas S. Kaplan and Daphne Recanati Family to the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, this work has identified the location and condition of 368 settlements and heritage sites from antiquity to the present day in this once vibrant center of Jewish life.
The geographic distribution of sites in the JCHI database at settlement level.
After 2,600 years of continuous Jewish settlement going back to the time of Babylon, the Jewish community in Iraq and Syria largely came to an abrupt end in the second half of the 20th century. Yet, a significant physical heritage remains. Working remotely and with in-country partners, JCHI gathered the history and significance of Jewish sites in both countries, assessed their condition, and made recommendations for priority emergency relief and preservation projects.
The research identified 27 sites that are still extant and in danger, being in poor or very bad condition. Of these, JCHI selected four significant sites as priority candidates for emergency relief because it was determined that urgent intervention could substantially improve their condition. Due to the infeasibility of carrying out stabilization projects during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, all four are in Iraq. These candidates are:
- the Meir Tweig Synagogue in Baghdad—the last surviving ‘functioning’ synagogue in Iraq;
- the Al-Habibiyah Jewish Cemetery in Baghdad – created during the early 20th century and the main location for Jewish burial in the city, with many local Jewish notables interred there;
- the Sasson Synagogue in Mosul—the main synagogue in the city during the 20th century due to its central location in the Jewish Quarter, it represents the best-preserved Jewish heritage in Mosul;
- the Shrine of the Prophet Nahum in al-Qosh—the Shrine dates back to at least the 12th century CE and was an important pilgrimage site for the Jewish community. It consists of a central synagogue with the Prophet’s tomb as well as a series of subsidiary buildings situated around a courtyard.
Video still of the interior courtyard of the Sasson Synagogue in Mosul. (Source: France 24)
JCHI is currently exploring ways to help protect these sites, either through new initiatives or in collaboration with ongoing projects active at some of the sites. JCHI hopes to revisit candidates in Syria when conditions are more stable. The Foundation for Jewish Heritage and ASOR emphasize the importance of documenting and preserving the physical traces of Jewish heritage alongside that of the many other ethnic and religious groups that have lived side-by-side in the Middle East for millennia.
Michael Mail, Foundation Chief Executive stated, “at a time when there is so much attention on saving heritage in danger across the Middle East, this unique research has shone a light on a forgotten aspect – the remarkable ancient Jewish heritage of the region. The Jewish community made a profound contribution and we need to ensure its heritage, and this story, is not erased.”
Andrew Vaughn, Executive Director of ASOR remarked, “During a time when cultural heritage that reflects the ethnic and religious diversity of the Middle East is under attack, the documentation and preservation of Jewish sites as one strand in the region’s rich cultural tapestry has never been more important. These sites bear witness to a past of greater coexistence and cooperation, and calls from across the region for their preservation provide hope for the future.”
Al-Habibiyah Jewish Cemetery in Baghdad.
Dame Helen Hyde, the Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage commented, “We were delighted to partner with ASOR in undertaking this ground-breaking work, and are especially grateful to the Thomas S. Kaplan and Daphne Recanati Kaplan family for their support, which made all this possible.“
Sharon Herbert, ASOR’s President said, “Preservation of antiquities and exploration of the lessons we can glean from them today is at the heart of ASOR’s mission. We are honoured to partner with Foundation for Jewish Heritage in identifying these important monuments of Jewish achievement in the Middle East. We hope this is a first step in protecting them for posterity.”
JCHI is currently assessing ways to make its data on Jewish heritage sites in Iraq and Syria publicly accessible. It is hoped that the research will draw attention to this neglected dimension of Iraqi and Syrian heritage and ensure its protection. Intervention now will save these sites for the appreciation of future generations of Iraqis, Syrians, and international visitors, and preserve a profound legacy of millennia of Jewish life.
