Over 2,700 Jewish books and tens of thousands of documents were discovered in the flooded basement of the Iraqi Intelligence Headquarters in Baghdad in 2003. This remarkable trove provides a written record of Iraqi Jewish life and an unexpected opportunity to better understand the Iraqi Jewish community, which flourished in Iraq for more than 2,000 years.

In a richly illustrated presentation, Ms. Hamburg will tell the story of the rescue of these treasured books and documents and how the National Archives preserved and has made them accessible worldwide. She will also introduce JMM’s new exhibit Discovery and Recovery: Preserving Iraqi Jewish Heritage, which is drawn from the collection of rescued books and documents and explores the rich traditions and history of the Iraqi Jewish community.