A social Study of the History of the Jews of Iraq

The presence of Jews in Mesopotamia not only was not limited to a short period of time but it has a deep history dating back to the first millennium BC. Since the introduction of Islam to Iraq until the end of Ottoman Empire, its Jewish citizens have played a prominent role in economic, social and political life of this country. In modern Iraq, also the major contribution made by new Jewish generation to develop the social, cultural, political and economical life in Iraq is obvious. In 1921, joined with the other Iraqis, they participated in the foundation of modern Iraqi state, through a series of revolutionary activities resulting in the establishment of its civil and socio-political institutions in a proper modern order. Despite being exiled since 1951, the Jews of Iraq, the effects of their participation in the progress of their country are visible, a land which not only bears the temples and shrines of their ancestors, saints and prophets, but also is their nostalgic Mesopotamian two thousand- year-old motherland. This essay aims at surveying the social aspects of the history of the Jews of Iraq, from the beginning up to the present, in order to prove the fact that they still affect the social progress in this country despite being exiled.