About Iraqi Jewish Records

Iraqi Jewish Records is a searchable index of the Iraqi Jewish Archive, created to help descendants, genealogists, historians, and researchers more easily discover the people, institutions, and stories preserved within these remarkable documents.

Created by Kimberly Hay Strauss, Iraqi Jewish Records grew out of a personal interest in preserving and exploring the history of Iraq's Jewish community. Kimberly's father was born in Iraq and escaped with his family to Israel in 1971, part of the final wave of Iraqi Jews to leave a community that had existed for more than 2,500 years.

About the Iraqi Jewish Archive

The Iraqi Jewish Archive, preserved and digitized by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), contains school records, community documents, correspondence, photographs, religious materials, and other historical records that provide a rare glimpse into everyday Jewish life in Iraq.

While the archive is an extraordinary resource, finding specific people, families, schools, or organizations within thousands of scanned documents can be challenging. Iraqi Jewish Records indexes these materials, helping users uncover family connections, conduct genealogical research, and explore the history of Iraqi Jewry.

Watch the video below to learn more about the archive and its history.

“Discovery and Recovery: Behind the Scenes Work on the Iraqi Jewish Archive”

About the Translations

The documents featured on this site have been translated using artificial intelligence. These translations make the archive significantly more accessible to English-speaking users, but they are not always accurate. Historical terminology, handwritten text, poor scan quality, and cultural context can all affect translation quality.

Translations should be viewed as research aids rather than definitive translations. Users are encouraged to consult the original documents and independently verify important information whenever possible.

Independent Project

Iraqi Jewish Records is an independent project and is not affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The website exists to improve access to historical records for educational, genealogical, and historical research purposes.