arabic → English transcript

Ranch Cohen occasionally visits this synagogue

on the verge of collapse in Erbil's old Jewish quarter.

to hold religious ceremonies there.

The Kurdistan Regional Government had ordered Jewish synagogues and homes to be vacated

by their Muslim tenants, who had rented them from the government for restoration.

But the maintenance work has not begun, despite the decision being made years ago.

The reality is that Jewish properties are in ruins.

Because there is no law for restoring these areas.

Also, there must be government support for us to begin restoration activities.

and to preserve these places we want to turn into heritage and archaeological sites.

The imprints of the Jews are present in several cities throughout Iraq.

Baghdad was home to the largest community of followers of the Jewish faith.

But the state of their synagogues in the city is much like the situation in other cities.

As nothing remains of the forgotten Meir Tweig Synagogue in central Baghdad

except for phrases written in Hebrew on its entrance and walls.

and some manuscripts and religious books that recall an era when Jews were

among the most prominent religious minorities in the country.

The Jewish community in Baghdad was the second largest after the Muslims.

But I must say, unfortunately, that little of this heritage remains today.

This community also has monuments and a history in this city.

Some of these monuments are still standing.

They are the Jewish synagogues and some residential homes.

According to a report by the London-based Jewish Heritage Foundation,

and the American Society for Research, published in 2020,

Iraq had 118 Jewish temples and 88 Jewish temples.