Immigration of Babylonian Jews to the United States
by In the aftermath of World War I, many Jews immigrated to the U. S. from Iraq.
There was also a mass immigration of Babylonian Jews from countries of Asia, such as India, Burma, Singapore, Shanghai and Indonesia.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, immigration of Jews from Iraq to the United States, had marked the beginning of a thriving community, mostly engaged in business and commerce. This happened after the collapse of the Ottoman empire. The city where they had first settled was New York and those of the Midwest. The new immigrants proved themselves to be well-disposed to the exploitation of opportunities that were within their reach. They quickly established institutions, such as Hebrew schools and academies, fraternities, sisterhoods, while demonstrating a willingness to work hard and accumulate wealth that served to solidify the community and reignite the spirit that exemplified their resilience in many respects.
After the end of World War II, Jews of Babylonian extraction began entering the United States from several countries in Asia, such as, India, Burma, Singapore, Shanghai, and Indonesia, many of whom settled in Los Angeles where they found the climate to be particularly conducive to the beginnings of a new life in a city where those in the forefront of the community, began calculating possibilities of establishing institutions of worship and learning. It was not unusual for Jews anywhere to live in the proximity of Jewish schools, temples and institutions of Jewish fraternities and sisterhoods, and the Babylonian Jews were no different. Members began meeting from time to time, discussing the ways and means of pooling their resources that could be used advantageously, such as the establishment of a temple and school. It did not take too long for a few zealots to begin exerting their best efforts in the way of reigniting the spirit of enterprise. As a result of hard work and team spirit, the Babylonian Jews of Asia founded their first temple and named it Kahal Joseph Congregation. Its establishment paved the way to the observance of Sephardic traditions, characterizing the old and time-honored values of Judaism.
Babylonian Jews of Asia adhere to past traditions and values. Many among them have immigrated to Israel, but there is still a sizeable community in lucrative professions, that have achieved success in many fields of art and commerce. They are mostly orthodox, a few having switched to conservatism, but, all in all, the essence of Sephardic values remain traditionally consistent.
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