The Iraqi Jews (1) یھود العراق: Albert Elias from Baghdad

Albert Elias is originally an Iraqi Jew from Baghdad. He is now a citizen of Israel. He is muscian and back in the 40-ies of last century he was playing the flute for among others, Nathem Al-Ghazali.
Albert Elias was working at Baghdad Radio Station-music team. He was a close friend to Nathem Al-Ghazali, kurdish singers Hasan Jazrawi and Ali Mardan. He played both arabic and kurdish music. In this short video Albert Elias shows a picture of him with Nathem Al-Ghazali and others to me. Albert remembers those days with nostalgia. He told me "The people I knew were wonderful people and close friends. We were like one family." He was very happy to meet me by saying "Kak Bashir, right now you are my close friend."
Mr Albert Elias lives now in Ramat Gan-Israel. I visited him at his home (29-12-2008). We have kept connection and friendship since.

Bashir Sabri Botani, Israel


The interview translation:

Bashir: A minute ago you mentioned about being in Sulaymaniyeh. When was that?

Albert: I was in Sulaymanyeh in 1946. At the time I was a student at the Fine Arts Institute in Baghdad studying the flute. By that time a musical group was established by the government and asked us to go to sulaymanyeh to teach music to the youths. Why? Because there was an active communist movement then and the government thought probably by teaching them music they might abandon communism. The group was lead by Jamil Bashir. I was member of this group. We went to Sulaymaniyeh in 1946. It was ramadan month and the streets were all closed. We used to play music in the evenings and by day time we were teaching the youths music. I stayed there one month. There was a local radio station that played music every day.


Bashir: Uncle Albert, do you remember the old Sulaymaniyeh?

Albert: Yes I do, its mountains and vallys. It was most beautiful. But we did not see any women whatsoever! Why? Because it was Ramadan and the women kept them selves home.


Bashir: Uncle Albert, do you remember Ghanim Haddad?

Albert: Yes, he was my friend. I worked with him. He is still alive and lives in Jordan. I even have contact with him. He is very close friend of mine. We worked together for a long time at the radio station in Baghdad.


Bashir: He compossed a kurdish musical piece called (Sûlav).
Albert: I don't recall it.


Bashir: It is still played often in the radio and TV. It goes like this...

Albert: Yes, Ghanim Haddad had compossed alot of music.


Bashir: Thank you.

Category:

Music

Tags:

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• یھود
• العراق
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[hla5560650]

اتمنى من جميع اليهود العراقيين العودة للعراق لكونهم طبقة راقية ومثقفة ومبدعين في شتى المجالات

[BashirSB]

@hla5560650

شكرا علی شعوركم الطیب... اطیب المنی

[mustafatariq86]

والله اخوان اليهود عراااقين شئنا ام ابينا وحقهم على العراق مثل ما احننه حقنة عليىه...وحرام الي صار جدي الله يرحمه هو والعمال مالته حمو بيت صديقة اليهودي وقت الي صار (فرهود اليهود ) جدا اتالم من اشوف هيجي افلام ...انشاء الله يرجعون اليهود العراقيين الى بلدهم ويرجع العراق كما كاان

[BashirSB]

@mustafatariq86 شكرا یا اخ مصطفی طارق علی شعوركم الانساني تجاە یھود العراق. اطیب المنی

[iraq1974]

الله يبارك كل عراقي مسلم مسيحي يهودي يزيدي صبي, كلهم اهلنا والله.

[irqusa79]

خروج اليهود العراقيين هو جريمة كبيرة! فهم عراقيين حالهم من حال اي عراقي مسلم او مسيحي او من اي ديانة اخرى! لا بل اليهود العراقيين كانوا موجودين في العراق قبل المسلمين! تحية من ابن مدينة الصدر الى كل العراقيين اليهوديين واتمنى ان نراكم في العراق مستقبلأ

[albaghdadi777]

كل عراقي شريف يحب وطنه على راسي مسلم يهودي مسيحي ايزدي صابئي

والله ابكي عندما اشاهد اخواننا اليهود وهم يتكلمون على العراق واحس بمعاناتهم

لاني عشت الغربه ومرارتها

ونساله تعالى ان يجمع شملنا تحت خيمة العراق العظيم

الخالي من الارهابين واعداء العراق

[Sockevollpopcorn1]

@waelben2000 Naeim Giladi search the video on youtube

[TheEasypower]

أتمنى عودة اليهود العراقيين الى العراق