WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC) — An agreement has been reached between the US and Iraqi governments under which the Iraqi Jewish Archive (IJA)will remain in the United States for an unspecified period.
The archive contains around 2,700 restored Jewish books and thousands of documents. The US spent more than US$ 3 million to restore the texts.
The IJA was due to return to Iraq after the ‘Discovery and Recovery’ exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York closes this week. However, Iraq’s ambassador to Washington on Wednesday announced that a deal has been reached with the US government. Lukman Faily stated, according to the State Department: “The Government of Iraq notes with satisfaction the remarkable success of the ‘Discovery and Recovery’ exhibit of the Iraqi Jewish Archive. This exhibit has led to an increase of understanding between Iraq and United States and a greater recognition of the diverse heritage of Iraq. I am therefore pleased to announce that, in order to continue this important work and to allow the exhibit to be displayed in other cities in the United States, the Government of Iraq has authorized me to extend the period which the exhibit may remain in the United States.”
The ambassador added: “We consider the history of Jewish communities in Iraq to be an integral part of the history of our country — one that we honor and cherish — and nothing can erase this history, nor change our commitment to preserving its memory. For us as Iraqis, it is important to recover this precious piece of our cultural heritage that documents an era of our country’s history.”
The agreement comes after a controversy in the US and Canada. A resolution calling for the original agreement to return the archive to be re-negotiated was approved by the US Senate and a second resolution is awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer told the British newspaper ‘The Daily Telegraph’ that the issue was one of human rights. “This is a group of people that have had so much of their history taken away or destroyed over the years, and under no circumstances should these artifacts be handed back to Iraq,” he declared.
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The American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomed the U.S.-Iraq agreement that will keep the Iraqi Jewish Archives exhibition and all of the important documents and artifacts that are part of its collection in the United States for an extended period of time.
“Ensuring that this invaluable collection of Iraqi Jewish items remains accessible is a paramount concern,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC’s Director of International Jewish Affairs. “Extending the exhibit’s schedule and making it available to other American communities will benefit all who have interest in the history of Iraq’s Jews.”
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Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Florida), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Democrat on Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee,said:
“I applaud the agreement reached between the U.S. government and Iraqi government to allow the “Discovery and Recovery” exhibit of Iraqi Jewish Archives to remain in the United States for an extended period. This collection of almost 2,700 artifacts, consisting of Torah scrolls, prayer books, and school records, is integral to preserving the history of the Iraqi Jewish community. The National Archives has done a wonderful job restoring these religious texts and community records, and I believe that more Americans should have the chance to view this exhibit and learn about the rich history of Iraqi Jews. I will continue to work closely with the State Department and the Iraqi Jewish diaspora community to ensure that these artifacts and the history of Iraqi Jewry are preserved and remembered.”
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Congressman Steve Israel (D-New York) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), issued this statement Friday, May 16:
“We welcome the news that an agreement has been reached between the U.S. Government and the Government of Iraq to extend the exhibition of the Iraqi Jewish Archives (IJA) in the United States, ensuring these priceless treasures are accessible for all who are interested in gaining a greater insight into the history of Iraq’s Jews. This collection is a vital part of the collective memory of the once vibrant Jewish community in Iraq, and it’s important that the IJA is preserved so that this piece of cultural heritage may be forever etched in the annals of history. We remain committed to working with the Iraqi Jewish community and the Government of Iraq while the technical aspects of this agreement are finalized over the coming days and weeks in order to ensure a mutually agreeable and beneficial final disposition can be reached for all parties involved.”
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Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) said: “I am glad that these important artifacts will be made available for exhibition in cities throughout the United States, but we must find a permanent solution. Any long-term arrangement must ensure that the Iraqi Jewish Archives are in a place where the items are accessible to Iraqi Jews and their descendants,” said Rep. Nadler. “The fact that Iraqi Jews lost such a vital part of their history was a grave injustice that cannot be undone. I will continue to work with the stakeholders – including the U.S. State Department and my colleagues, especially Congressman Steve Israel and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen – to help ensure that the possessions stolen from the Iraqi Jewish community are properly protected.”
On May 6, 2014, Rep. Nadler joined with Reps. Israel (D-NY), Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and 17 other Members of Congress, in introducing a resolution, H.Res. 505, to return the Iraqi Jewish Archives to Iraqi Jews and their descendants. The Iraqi Jewish Archives include thousands of books, historical documents, religious materials and other items seized from the Iraqi Jewish community that were found in Saddam Hussein’s intelligence headquarters by U.S. forces. This resolution follows two letters from Congress, one from January 17, 2014 and another from November 13, 2013, that expressed concern over the fate of the Iraqi Jewish Archives and urged the State Department to facilitate the return of these artifacts to the Iraqi Jews and their descendants and not to the Government of Iraq. The U.S. had initially agreed to return the items to Iraq this year.
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Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) said: “I applaud the decision to permit the Iraqi Jewish Archive to remain in the U.S. until a permanent location is found. However, we will not rest until the collection is made accessible to the Iraqi Jewish community indefinitely,” said Schumer. “These sacred and treasured artifacts were taken from the Iraqi Jewish community during a time of state-condoned discrimination, and this community should have access to the precious possessions they were forced to leave behind.”
In 2003, 16 American soldiers discovered 2,700 books and tens of thousands of documents in a flooded intelligence building in Iraq. The collection had belonged to synagogues and Jewish organizations in Baghdad. The Iraqi Judaica includes a Hebrew Bible with commentaries from 1568, a Babylonian Talmud from 1793, a Torah scroll fragment from Genesis, a Zohar from 1815 and other sacred ritual objects.
Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress, AJC; Congress Members Deutch and Nadler, and Senator Schumer