Iraqi Jewish Life:
Constancy & Change

The Jewish lunar calendar is strongly linked with the millennia of Jewish life in the region now called Iraq. The names of the months of the Jewish calendar have their origins in the ancient Babylonian calendar. A fixed calendrical calculation was finalized in the 10th century, largely by Saadia Gaon (882-942), the head of the renowned talmudic academy of Sura.

For generations, the celebration of festivals has shaped the patterns of Jewish life. In this region where Jews lived for thousands of years, the political rulers changed frequently—from the Sassanians of the talmudic era through the various leaders of the 20th century. Yet, the calendar cycle repeated itself each year, marking continuity for families and community.