Mapping the Jewish Heritage Sites of Iraq and Syria
Creating an inventory of Jewish heritage sites that remain of the ancient Jewish communities of Iraq and Syria that were largely expelled after 1948 and today are virtually non-existent despite a history in the region going back 2,600 years.
| The Jewish life that existed in Iraq and Syria represented the most ancient diaspora Jewish communities going back 2,600 years to the Biblical era - and the most historically significant. At the turn of the 20th century, one third of Baghdad's population was Jewish and the community played an important role in many areas of society. These communities was expelled after 1948, yet a remarkable physical heritage remains of synagogues, monuments, schools, cemeteries, and tombs of prophets. Given the very urgent situation in the region due to the current confilcts, the Foundation partnered with ASOR to map the Jewish heritage of the region, assess its current state and explore the possibility of post-conflict preservation of the most important sites. 368 sites have been identifed overall. |
Project Details
Location: Iraq, Syria, Middle East, Asia
Organiser(s):
Foundation for Jewish Heritage
Project partner(s): American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR)
Funder(s):
Foundation for Jewish Heritage
Funding received: £60,000
Commencement Date: 02/2017
Project Status: Completed
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