Myths and legends of Sheikh Yitzhak Gaon
The restoration of the mausoleum of Sheikh Yitzhak Gaon, in the old Suq Hanoon quarter of Baghdad, (reported on Point of No Return here) has prompted historian Sami Sourani to recall some interesting myths and legends associated with the Sheikh’s shrine.
Yitzhak al-Muslawi was a capable 7th century Jewish doctor from Mosul. He was appointed treasurer by the Caliph Ali bin Abi Taleb who conferred on him the honorific title of Sheikh. At the time, the Jews were useful to the Arabs who were fighting Persian domination of Mesopotamia.
The story is told that the Jews would cook on charcoal their Sabbath dish of chicken and rice, Tbeet. The copper pot would be placed on the outer wall of the house to cool until the dish could be eaten at noon on Shabbat. Its aroma tickled the nostrils of the Arab soldiers: they snatched the pots and made off on horseback, leaving the Jews with no Shabbat lunch. After several such incidents, the Jews complained to Sheikh Yitzhak. The Sheikh went to Caliph Ali bin Abi Taleb. He hit on a solution by issuing a fatwa declaring that Muslims cannot eat the food of Jews. Shortly afterwards, The Caliph was assassinated and the Sheikh passed away.
The reason for the ban was forgotten, and the religious Ulema eventually found an explanation: ‘Jews are dirty’. This, claims Sami Sourani, is how the concept of the untouchable Jew came to the (Shi’a) Arab world.
Sheikh Yitzhak’s place of burial included a yeshiva, Talmud Torah school and synagogue. Jewish visitors would come to pray for help with their problems or a cure for sickness. In Sami’s day, meals would be donated to the schoolchildren or yeshiva students.
Over the centuries the building became run down and by the time of the British mandate it was decided that the shrine of Sheikh Yitzhak should be demolished. But the newly created municipality of Baghdad found no Jew, Christian or Muslim willing to do the job. They believed that it was a holy place and did not dare lift a finger against a holy man who had done such favours for the residents of Baghdad.
Finally, a Muslim was found who was willing to do the demolition job. He found himself a special axe with a very long handle. He spent hours sharpening the axe. As the day came around for him to start work, many people came to watch. He stood on the tomb and lifted up the axe with both hands before bringing it crashing down onto the tomb. The metal part detached itself from the handle flew in the air and boomeranged back on him, severing one of his legs. He fell bleeding and screaming for help, but the onlookers ran away. The Jews shouted that Hashem had passed judgement on the man, and the Muslims cried ‘Allahu Akbar’. They were too afraid to return and help the sinner.
A few days later, Jews amd Muslims convinced the local authorities to repair, rather than demolish, the building.
After the exodus of the Jews in 1950-1, the place fell into disrepair. In 2003, after the US invasion, a Jew visited the mausoleum. He discovered that a Muslim who lived nearby had volunteered to protect it, installing chains on the door. As a child he had been sick and a Jewish woman had advised his mother to take him there and pray for him to be healed by touching the tomb. He grew up healthy and strong and felt it was his duty to return the favour.
How Iraqi Jews got their surnames – and more from Sami Sourani
One Comment
History of the past may not be recorded properly. In most cases, bits and pieces, stories and songs, proverbs and anecdotes are put together by historians, cleaned and modified and finally they made an acceptable and logical presentations, making the history of the past. It is not an objective presentation, but it is the best available to people. Once it is made public and some people think it is somehow true, the new presentation becomes accepted as a document.
This is true of the history of the Jews of Baghdad/Iraq. There are many stories, but scattered here and there and they are not arranged in one place. If we try to put them together, can we make a logical and acceptable story??? It is up to us. There are many stories about Baghdadi Jews. Perhaps we can put them together and at least they will not be forgotten. Stories about districts where they lived, stories about their involvements in life around them, difficult times they had and how they overcome them, wars, plagues, cruelty of invaders, etc… to name a few.
The following story is a case in point. In WWI, the British captured southern Iraq, the Basrah Port. A British ship docked and the soldiers came down to see this city. The captain of the ship was strolling in the main street and he saw a sign of the “Alliance Jewish School”. Out of curiosity, he decided to enter the school. He found that the students were busy discussing various subjects. He approached one group and he asked them if they can tell him a few stories they know about Mesopotamia and its history. The students find that this is a good opportunity to talk to a stranger that shows this kind of interest and they gathered around him telling all that they know. The Captain, recorded all that they said and he rewarded them with some gifts. Later, this Captain put those stories together and published a book about the history of Iraq. It was the first of its kind and he was rewarded by Academic establishments in England for this pioneering work. This book became a sort of a source for many researchers. There were no questions about documentations. The book was taken as is.
In 1952, it happened that I met in Israel, one of the students who was interviewed by this British Captain. The gentleman was my father’s age ( both are not with us ) and I had a very interesting conversation with him as to the information that he and his fiends gave the Captain.
The above is a lesson to learn. Shall I collect all those stories and made them available to our friends to let them learn about the past? Who is going to read them? Who appreciate this effort? Those questions are realistic but intimidating.