10/03/2020

NINEVEH PLAIN: U.S. Interest in Reconstructing the Tomb of the Prophet Nahum in Alqosh, Iraq

Alqosh, Nineveh Plain Iraq – There is a clear international interest to reconstruct the Tomb of Prophet Nahum in the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian town of Alqosh in the Nineveh Plain. The tomb of Prophet Nahum in Alqosh is a landmark and a Jewish religious shrine in Iraq. Interest comes particularly from the United States. The U.S. embassy in Iraq has allocated funds for the reconstruction of the shrine.

The tomb of Prophet Nahum in Alqosh is one of the historical monuments of Iraq and is considered one of the twelve Jewish religious shrines in Iraq. Jewish people contributed and had a historical role in the formation and establishment of civilizations that emerged, flourished and declined throughout the history of current-day Iraq. Jewish people made up 2.6% of the population of Iraq in 1947 which decreased to almost zero procent now.

Today there is clear international interest in reconstructing the shrine under the auspices of organizations from the United States of America. The former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Joey Hood, visited this shrine in 2019 and allocated funds for reconstruction of this historic landmark. And current U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Toller also had two visits inspecting the reconstruction efforts and the state of completion.

It is noteworthy that the Siraj, i.e. historical lamp, inside the tomb of Prophet Nahum is still hanging in the same place to this day.