The Nazi pogrom of June 1941, known as the Farhud, was the Iraqi Jews' very own Kristallnacht -- two days of murder, looting, rape and mutilation. It shattered this ancient community's self-confidence, and swiftly led to the exodus of over 90 percent of Iraqi Jewry.

While Arab intellectuals stayed shockingly silent, Jewish writers and poets reacted with a range of emotions - from denial, to muted fatalism, to an outpouring of bitterness and anger.

Professor Moreh will give a comprehensive survey of what Jews from Iraq in Israel wrote about this decisive and painful turning point in their history.
Born in Baghdad, Shmuel Moreh is Emeritus Professor of Arabic studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Israel Prize Laureate (1999). Scores of his books and articles have been translated into foreign languages. His interests range from modern Arabic literature, especially poetry, the novel and short story, to 19th century drama, Arabic theatre and Arabic Jewish writing in Israel and the Arab world.

Professor Moreh is working (with Z. Yehuda) on 'The Farhud and hatred of Jews in Iraq'. The book will appear in English and is due out later this year.

More information: www.harif.org