Farewell to Dejla : Stories of Iraqi Jews at Home and in Exile

Cleverly elucidating the somber diaspora of Iraqi Jews, this collection of stories explores the little-publicized migration of a people escaping oppression, only to be confronted with the difficult realities of new nations and customs. Sadka's work spans Iraq, Israel and the U.S. with beautiful, laconic prose, magnifying the everyday adversity of immigrants. These moving, impressive stories are based on historic fact inasmuch as they deal with the destruction of the world's oldest Jewish community. It is estimated that there were 150,000 Jews in Iraq in 1948; Israel has absorbed some 132,000. At the moment, there are about eight Jews remaining in Iraq, half over eighty years old. “Portrays the frustrations, joys, and cultural ties of Iraqi Jews . . . as they disperse to Israel and the US . . . in beautiful prose.” — Jewish Book Council Cleverly elucidating the somber diaspora of Iraqi Jews, this collection of stories explores the little-publicized migration of a people escaping oppression, only to be confronted with the difficult realities of new nations and customs. Sadka’s work spans Iraq, Israel and the US with beautiful, laconic prose, magnifying the everyday adversity of immigrants. These moving, impressive stories are based on historic fact in as much as they deal with the destruction of the world's oldest Jewish community. “Highly recommended.” —Aron Leibel, Washington Jewish Week “Poignant and moving, the stories are also inspiring.” — Chicago Jewish Star “Offers a sensitive treatment of a community’s existential fears and an exquisite probing of the painful and comic aspects of culture clash.” —Rayaan Al Shawaf, Tablet Magazine