.
,
■■■••■•■ "...-•
.
.
'
MY'
64 Friday; darilary 10, 1986
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
An Iraqi in Detroit
is reunited with his
ewish family in Israel
aft 35 years.
v.
The brother, Azaria, lives in
ast Sunday, Sami (Moshe
Ramat Gan. In addition, Sami has sis-
Azaria) Aljida met with relativei he
ters in Rishon LeZion and Ashkelon,
and "plenty of cousins, nephews and
hasn't seen for 35 years.
"I wouldn't miss my trip to Israel
nieces and their families who live in
for millions of dollars, for a building in
all parts of the country," according
my name, nothing," he happily cried
to a letter from Azaria.
just a few days prior to his departure.
"It was a night we'll never forget,"
'It's a dream come tame for me to find_
Keith remembers. "When they first
my • entire side of the family," Sami
spoke, my dad said that they (in Israel)
added.
all had thought he died."
Even though his tale sounds like
"If Arlene had never come along,
something out of a storybook, he en-
we never would have made contact_
joys telling it over and over again.
with my dad's side of the family. We've
In 1950, at a time when 11/2 mill-
adopted her as one of us," he said.
ion Jews were being forced out of Iraq,
While Sami's wife and children
all of Sami's relatives moved to Israel
have always attended Catholic
to find a new and better life. But Sami
church, Sami remained true to his
remained in Basrah, Iraq, with his fu-
faith and continued to practice
ture wife and her family, who were of
Judaism.
the Catholic faith (Chaldean).
"My dad reads the Torah better
"Since my family left Iraq, I have
than many rabbis and can recite from
never seen or heard from them. We lost
the bible better than most priests. He .
complete contact with each other. I al-
has always respected what we believe
a in and we have always given him the
ways hoped to meet with them again
2
someday," Sami said.
same respect for his religion;" Keith
The dream of the Abide family
az, added.
was to emigrate to America but ob-
In a few weeks, Arlene Greer will
taining visas and proper identification
be joining Semi and his wife in Israel
Sami Aljida poSes with Arlene Greer, who holds the Iraqi Jews' visa.
slowed down the process.
for the family reunion.
In 1976, the oldest child, Keith,
"I understand there are big Par-
was permitted to leave Iraq and ar-
ties
planned
for when I arrive and I
That
night,
she
made
phone
calls
rived in the United States. He began paperwork were not successful.
can't
wait
to
take
pictures," she smiled
to
all
of
her
friends
in
Israel
including
"I knoW how Dad felt," Keith
the challenge of making a home for
Dr. Yitzchak Bloom, a former Detroit with an El Al ticket in her hand. "I
explained,
"not
knowing
if
his
family
himself with hopes of his family to fol
psychologist living in the. Upper wouldn't miss this oxcitement for the
low. Keith's two brothers and twin sis- were alive or dead." Their luck Galilee.
world, watching . Sami with his
changed
when
Keith
met
Arlene
Greer
ters joined him in 1980. Two years la-
brother, two sisters and all of their -
"Iry
(Dr.
Bloom)
came
in
to
De-
ter, their father and mother arrived (a lover of Arabic food) in a Ferndale troit for two weeks and met with Semi. families,"
■
Eastern restaurant.
and were reunited with their children.
The
past
six months have con-
He
said
he
was
going
back
to
Israel
and
"We began talking and became
Upon Sami Aljida's arrival, he
amuld find Sami's relatives.' • sisted of hours of long distance calls
friends,"
Keith
remembers.
"She
began his search to find his Jewish
Calling everyone he knew, Bloom and many. ten-page letters to family
family. He knew he would haiie been asked many questions about my cul- finally made contact a year and a half members. '
ture
and
she
came
to
my
home
to
meet
punished in Iraq if the government
"As soon as I walk off the plane,"
later. On Aug. 16, Sami's phone rang
was aware of his Jewish heritage and my family." °
at 2 a.m. Keith answered the phone. Semi said, "I will meet with family and ,
After
a
few
visite,
Sarni
disclosed
his endeavors. "I knew that once I
"Hello, hello," the distant voice put their hearts right inside here." He
came to America, I could get help in to Arlene that he was Jewish-born and echoed. "This is Ezra Moshe. I'd like to pointed to his own heart. •
explained his desire to be reunited
finding them," he said.
"I'm going to Israel proud to be : a
talk with my brother."
' During his first month in Detroit, • with his JeWish family.
Jew
and thank the God Almighty for
The
Aljida
house
lights
turned
on,
Arlene explained, "After I felt like
he went to the Jewish Family Service
all
of
this. And of course, the angel
one
by
one,
until
all
five
children
of the family, Sami told me the
and other organizations expressing his part
news. It floored me, I didn't believe stared as their father talked to his only Arlene and Dr. Bloo for making my
desire to be reunited with his family.
dream comotrue."
brother.
The frustrating hours of meetings and him at first."