The history of Jews in Iraq spans more than 2,500 years back to the time of exile in Babylon. The Jewish community of Iraq had long contributed to its social, political, and economic culture. But following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, thousands of Jews in Iraq were arrested, imprisoned, and faced anti-Semitic violence in retaliation. After a series of bombings in Baghdad against Jewish targets, Israel desperately looked-for ways to help the community. Concluding an overland route from Iraq was too dangerous, Israel made preparations to stage an air rescue operation of Iraqi Jews. Between 1951 and 1952, Operations Ezra and Nehemia airlifted more than 130,000 Iraqi and Kurdish Jews to Israel. The operation is named after Ezra and Nehemiah who led the Jewish people back to the land of Israel from exile in Babylonia in the 5th century BC. Within two months, 90,000 Jews registered for the program. The operation was conducted by the Near East Transport Company and the Israeli national airline EL Al. In total almost 130,000 Iraqi Jews were airlifted to Israel. Today, we remember the Jews of Iraq.

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