- Population
- 13,000
- Location
- Jerusalem (Katamon and southern neighbourhoods), Jerusalem-corridor and Galilee moshavim, Gush Dan
The Jews of Iraqi Kurdistan came from the mountain towns of Zakho, Amadiya and Duhok, where for centuries they spoke Lishana Deni, a Jewish form of Aramaic close to the language of the Talmud, and lived much like their Kurdish neighbours as weavers, raft-men, peddlers and farmers. Nearly all were airlifted to Israel in 1950-1951, and many were sent to build farming villages in the hills around Jerusalem and in the Galilee or settled in Jerusalem's Katamon neighbourhood. Today they form the core of Israel's Kurdish Jewish community, though their Aramaic survives only among a few elderly speakers. Every autumn thousands gather for Saharane, a Kurdish Jewish festival of drums, circle dances, kubba and Aramaic songs.