On 1 June, we gathered at the residence of the President of Israel, in the presence of President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, to mark 85 years since the Farhud, the violent pogrom against the Jews in Iraq on 1–2 June 1941—a tragic turning point in the history of Iraqi Jewry and a chapter that must never be forgotten.

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President Isaac Herzog emphasised the importance of preserving the memory of the Farhud as a central yet long-overlooked chapter in Jewish history, stressing the moral responsibility to ensure that the story of Iraqi Jewry is fully integrated into Israel’s collective memory, education, and public discourse, and passed on to future generations.

 

As the son and grandson of a community whose story is too often marginalised, the commemoration was deeply personal. I felt a profound responsibility to ensure that the memory of the Farhud is honoured with the dignity and recognition it deserves.

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For too long, the story of the Farhud has not occupied its rightful place in the broader narrative of Jewish history. This event was an important step toward changing that reality. Bringing it to life—from the initial vision through to its execution—was a tremendous undertaking, and seeing the hall filled with people who care so deeply about this history made every effort worthwhile.

 

What made this commemoration especially meaningful was not only the occasion itself, but the more than 200 people who came together to remember. Survivors, descendants of Iraqi Jews, community leaders, friends, and supporters joined in honouring a story that deserves to be preserved and carried forward.

 

A panel conversation moderated by Rabbi Elhanan Miller, with Farhud survivors Nadia Cohen (widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen) and Eddy Mor; Hadassah Lazar (sister of Shlomo Mantzur, a Farhud survivor who was later murdered in Hamas captivity following the 7th October massacre); and Prof. Emerita Esther Meir-Glitzenstein of Ben-Gurion University, offered a powerful exchange of testimony, reflection, and historical perspective. The programme also featured an excerpt from my documentary series, The Long Journey Home – The Untold Story of Iraq’s Jews,  and a moving piano performance from Gil Shohat, who beautifully integrated a Beethoven sonata with Umm Kulthum’s “Inta Omri,” in tribute to his late Iraqi-born father.

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A photographic exhibition, Faces of the Farhud, which I conceived for the event, was presented in the gardens of the President’s Residence, featuring portraits of Farhud survivors captured by photographer Rona Olshevsky. The exhibition brought a deeply human dimension to the history, reminding us that behind every historical event are real lives, families, and communities.

 

My sincere thanks to everyone who attended, supported, and participated, and who helped ensure that the legacy of Iraqi Jewry is remembered and that their voices continue to be heard for generations to come.