Baghdad’s first Jewish museum draws crowds to rediscover Iraq’s Jewish past

Reuters ^ | Nov 12, 2026 | Ahmed Saeed, Ahmed Rasheed

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Dozens of Iraqis visit Baghdad’s first Jewish museum each day to view faded school certificates, handwritten ​documents and family photographs…

The ‌museum occupies the historic Shamash Jewish School, founded in 1928 on Al-Rashid Street, a prominent thoroughfare in Baghdad. Iraq’s Jewish community opened the museum last month in a rare public celebration of the country’s Jewish heritage.

The museum also pays tribute to prominent figures from Iraq's Jewish heritage, including celebrated singer Salima Murad. Born into a ​Jewish family in Baghdad, Murad rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s as one of Iraq's most acclaimed vocalists, known for performing the traditional Iraqi Maqam, ​a classical Arabic musical form…

Nabil Abdul Hameed, a 71-year-old Baghdad resident who has visited twice, said he did not believe ​the museum existed until he saw it himself.

"I hope those in ‌charge will ⁠think about bringing the Jews back. The Jews have property, history and heritage. I wish they would come and take part in the revival of the country."

The legacy of Iraq’s Jewish community remains visible across the ​capital, from old commercial districts to riverside villas, where six-pointed Stars of David are etched into stucco facades.

---

TOPICS: Arts/Photography; History; Religion
KEYWORDS: history; iraq; jewish; museum

[CondoleezzaProtege]

[mfish13]

Don’t worry. The Dems or the Muslims will burn it down soon

[MurrietaMadman]

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/israel-and-irans-role-in-the-middle-east/

They worked together until someone suggested otherwise.

[inchworm]

It the rate we are going, someday there will be a museum in America whe Muslims can go to discover America once had a Christian past.