We Have Each Other
This is how to fight terror and hate. This is our strength, as humans, as Jews, as seekers of all that is mysterious, harmonious and beautiful in this world.
I want you to know light and love works in fighting darkness and terror. On Saturday night I was on my way to the airport, en route to Los Angeles for a family visit and some author events. My first was a library author presentation at North Hollywood Library - NO HO Library on Sunday the day I arrive. I was invited by a wonderful librarian (librarians are the most magical people in the world), Tina, whose mother is a Baghdadi Jew from India to present Shoham’s Bangle.
Booking author events is scary. I have to confess I am an anxious flyer. I never quite believe I’m actually leaving and landing in said destination. Of course I pack hope in my hand luggage. I pack faith that whatever happens is meant to happen, even if for some unknown reason - a friendly Houthi rocket, lightening, or just plain missing the flight - I don’t make it.
I make it to the gate twenty minutes before boarding and whilst waiting I open my Instagram and break into a sweat. Because I see this on the NO HO Library’s author event post:
How did this happen? It’s just a children’s book about my Iraqi Jewish family.
I feel my breath catch in my chest. I felt terrible for Los Angeles Public Libraries. What if they believe these hateful falsehoods? These awful accusations, stated as if they were fact - about me, about Jews, about Israel? What if I let Tina, the lovely librarian down? Shame her too?
I begin answering the comments. Refuting the accusations. I don’t think I just type my truths.
This is my Jewish Family story, about Iraqi Jewish refugees.
They were part of a mass exodus in 1950-52 to Israel because of Jewish persecution.
A third of Baghdad was Jewish in 1917.
Today three Jews live in Iraq.
I come from the ancient Babylonian Jewish community as old as the Bible, which has disappeared from the shores of the River Tigris.
Do you read the Bible?
I rant on — I don’t engage in politics or current affairs. My event is meant to be safe and secure in a library for children and their parents. This is the underrepresented Middle Eastern Jewish story that is not just mine but many Jews.
We were also refugees!
But the comments are not safe or secure. They aren’t interested in real conversation. In real truths, or my story, or my history.
My fingers are shaking as I type. People are lining up to board. I realize I need help. I have never been good at asking for help, but this isn’t about me. This is about the Jewish Middle Eastern Story. This is about all of us having a right to share our stories safely.
I post an SOS sharing the hateful comments and a call to action to fight the shaming, bullying, and silencing voices on NO HO Library’s post.
This is the response.
This is what I need to tell you - THANK YOU - to all of you who shared, and posted, and commented on the Public Library feed which now looks like this. By Monday 895 comments — majority of them now positive and in support of the Jewish Middle Eastern voice, and thanking NO HO Library for hosting me and Shoham’s Bangle.
I was heartened landing in Los Angeles as I began scrolling and supportive comments and messages were pouring in. My anxiety and fears of shame lifted to the far away clouds. Although if I’m honest I was nervous as I approached the immigration officer. What if someone reported me. What if the officer himself says, “You are a Nazi Zionist explain yourself!” Would immigration officials want to hear an hour explanation that begins by the Rivers of Babylon? Or even earlier with a man named Abraham, born in Ur.
But fear not, I was waved through like a fresh breeze. I had never had a smoother arrival at LAX airport. A good omen I told myself.
At 2:30 pm we drove down Tujunga Boulevard and I was surprised to see two black and white LAPD cars parked in front of NO HO Library — a warning. A protection. Two officers stood at the door and I greeted them as I approached. I was nervous. It helped that I was accompanied by my cousin Sharon, her sister-in-law, two rambunctious nephews and her sweet niece, Aliza, as well as my Auntie Sue born in Al Uzair, Iraq. What helped the most was the warm smiles from the LA officers who asked if I was Sarah, and introduced themselves as Lucy and Catch.
Bless America for protecting its Jews. Bless Lucy and Catch for being all American police officers, perhaps they come from immigrant families too, I thought as I entered. God bless libraries which always feel like the most magical, safe, quiet places. I breathe better in libraries surrounded by books and people who love books.
And yes, bless the staff of NO HO Library Basya, Kelly, and dear Tina who greeted me with smiles and no worries at all. Best of all the room filled up with an amazing amount of children and adults. And I presented what I love most to present, a reading of Shoham’s Bangle, and the story of my own Iraqi bangle gifted by my grandmother. I spoke of the rich, varied history of Iraqi Jews and their unique contributions to Iraq, and then, yes their sad leaving. Most of all I emphasized their resilient rebuilding of their broken, displaced lives.
We are an ancient people, I told them. We are a proud people. My family were Proud Iraqis, along with 120,000 other Jews and when they were dispersed they became Proud Americans. Proud Australians. Proud British. Proud Israelis. We give and build in every society we dwell in from our ancient wisdom and values.
We are refugees who pray for the government where ever we land: Israel, America, Australia, England, Canada, Singapore, and many other places, because we follow Jeremiah’s advice to the first Judeans exiles to Babylonia over 2600 years ago —
“And seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to the LORD in its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)
I loved meeting Tina’s mother a Baghdadi Jew who was from India. I loved hearing the children’s and adults’ heirloom stories from Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Europe. There were necklaces, kiddush cups, prayer shawls, and special food dishes, some smuggled across borders, like Shoham’s Bangle, as their families also had to leave their homes.
Most of all I appreciated everyone for coming. Many had come because they were Iraqi Jews. But many had come to support because they had seen my SOS post.
Everyone said this story needs to be told.
I want you to know that you were all my light this weekend. I want you to know light is not a cliche, not even on social media. We are real people posting and real people replying (and I loved how some in the audience arrived and introduced themselves as Facebook friends. Now we are real in-person friends!)
Know you all matter, every one of you helped support and prevent what could have been a shaming event, a silencing event, but instead you all let LA Public Libraries know how valued they are for sharing the Middle Eastern Jewish story.
What matters is that from whichever background, culture, or country we come from we give each other courage to fight dangerous, bullying hate and extremism in order to preserve our free, safe, secure societies.
What matters is that we have each other.
What is stronger or more beautiful and magical than that?
Thank you deeply,
Sarah
For more about me and my writing visit my website www.sarahsassoon.comTo support my work please consider buying my children’s books, the award winning Shoham’s Bangle, and my latest This is Not a Cholent. My mission is to spread and educate about Jewish Middle Eastern culture.
Read my free online, award winning poetry collection, published by Harbor Review - This is Why We Don’t Look Back.
Note - My Substack will be fortnightly. Maybe more often… I appreciate all comments, all conversations, and all sharing.
Further - All mistakes are proof that I am human, and this is not an AI publication.
Oh my G-D Sarah, I am so so sorry that you had to go through this and SO proud of your bravery. I will see you soon. Sending love