Freddie James
Cleaned by: Julia Pappo
Transcribed by: Rev
Interview date: July 31st, 2017
Interviewer: Lisa Newman
Location: Toronto
Total time: 50:13
Freddie James: Born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1936. Arrived in Israel in 1948. Arrived in Germany (date not given). Arrived in Canada in 1956.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
All right.
Freddie James (00:03):
You okay?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm fine. I'm perfect.
Lisa Newman (00:08):
So, this is July 31, 2017. Interview with Freddie James at 8 Elkpath in Toronto and my name is Lisa Newman. I'm very glad to meet you.
Freddie James (00:30):
Me too. Thank you for coming this morning.
Lisa Newman (00:34):
Uh, tell me, what, you decided to the audio interview rather than a video.
Freddie James (00:41):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (00:41):
How come?
Freddie James (00:42):
Because, um, we live, uh, in a world that, you know, it's better, you know, that way.
Lisa Newman (00:50):
Can you say anymore about why?
Freddie James (00:52):
Uh, it's not, it's, i-it's because of the, um, world is upside down with, uh, with the Middle East. And, uh, you have to be really, uh, cautious, you know?
Lisa Newman (01:09):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (01:10):
So, that's why.
Lisa Newman (01:10):
And any idea what might happen if, uh, if it was a video? What-
Freddie James (01:16):
No, it's nothing really. Uh, personally, you know, I-I would like to speak to you over, rather than video.
Lisa Newman (01:24):
I see. I see. So, tell me, uh, you were born in Baghdad [crosstalk 00:01:30]
Freddie James (01:31):
I born Iraq in 1936.
Lisa Newman (01:34):
Where exactly?
Freddie James (01:35):
In Baghdad.
Lisa Newman (01:37):
And were you born at home?
Freddie James (01:38):
In that time, yes.
Lisa Newman (01:40):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (01:41):
In that time, uh, actually, uh, nurses used to be more than doctor to help, uh, the born. In that time.
Lisa Newman (01:52):
Uh-huh. (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). And where are you in the order, you said you have some brothers and sisters?
Freddie James (01:57):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (01:58):
Which number are you?
Freddie James (02:00):
I am the first, second, third, fourth.
Lisa Newman (02:03):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (02:05):
Yeah.
Lisa Newman (02:06):
And, who, the oldest one is?
Freddie James (02:09):
Um, [crosstalk 00:02:10] my brother-
Lisa Newman (02:11):
Your brother was, was killed you said. [crosstalk 00:02:13]
Freddie James (02:12):
Killed in the army, yes.
Lisa Newman (02:13):
Killed in the Israeli army?
Freddie James (02:16):
Yes. He's been injured and die after, after
Lisa Newman (02:19):
What year was that?
Freddie James (02:21):
It was, my, my brother die where he was age 54.
Lisa Newman (02:27):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (02:27):
He was sick for the time.
Lisa Newman (02:30):
And what was his name?
Freddie James (02:32):
Naji.
Lisa Newman (02:33):
Naji?
Freddie James (02:34):
Naji.
Lisa Newman (02:35):
And then after him is who?
Freddie James (02:37):
Ava.
Lisa Newman (02:39):
Ava. And where is she?
Freddie James (02:39):
She live in Ramat Gan.
Lisa Newman (02:43):
And after Ava?
Freddie James (02:45):
Violet.
Lisa Newman (02:45):
And?
Freddie James (02:45):
And then me.
Lisa Newman (02:47):
And then you?
Freddie James (02:48):
And then Barro. And then Frieda.
Lisa Newman (02:54):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And that's everybody?
Freddie James (02:56):
Correct. All we born in, in, Iraq.
Lisa Newman (03:00):
All born in Iraq?
Freddie James (03:00):
Correct.
Lisa Newman (03:01):
What was the name that you were given when you were born?
Freddie James (03:05):
Farhud.
Lisa Newman (03:06):
Farhud?
Freddie James (03:09):
It means lonely.
Lisa Newman (03:10):
It means?
Freddie James (03:10):
Lonely.
Lisa Newman (03:10):
Uh-uh (affirmative). Why that name?
Freddie James (03:10):
Because my mom, just like, your mom choose your name.
Lisa Newman (03:10):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (03:11):
That's why, you know. I mean, the family chooses the name.
Lisa Newman (03:13):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative)
Freddie James (03:27):
And I'm glad that I had my name.
Lisa Newman (03:28):
Yes?
Freddie James (03:29):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (03:29):
You like that name?
Freddie James (03:30):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (03:30):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (03:34):
But when I, then, when I to came to Israel, I made it Freddie.
Lisa Newman (03:36):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (03:37):
Then we I came to Canada, you know, it stayed the same.
Lisa Newman (03:41):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And your family name, what was it?
Freddie James (03:45):
Agai. A-G-A-I.
Lisa Newman (03:46):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (03:48):
We original from Persian Iran.
Lisa Newman (03:51):
Oh.
Freddie James (03:51):
Many years ago before my grandfather born in Iraq and, uh, actually, our name is Agai.
Lisa Newman (04:01):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (04:06):
Agai means, in Persian, mister.
Lisa Newman (04:08):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). Why the move from Persia? Do you know?
Freddie James (04:14):
That I cannot tell you because back about... over 100 years before I born.
Lisa Newman (04:21):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (04:22):
But we originated, that's why the name come from. Agai.
Lisa Newman (04:25):
I see.
Freddie James (04:26):
It's Persian name.
Lisa Newman (04:27):
And your father's first name was?
Freddie James (04:30):
Gurgin and he was a business man. He was, uh, whole seller of dishes.
Lisa Newman (04:37):
Dishes?
Freddie James (04:38):
Yes. He bought from China, England, to Baghdad.
Lisa Newman (04:44):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh. (affirmative). And your mother's name?
Freddie James (04:46):
My mother Victoria.
Lisa Newman (04:48):
And what was her family name?
Freddie James (04:50):
Ezrah.
Lisa Newman (04:52):
And were her family from Iran also?
Freddie James (04:55):
No.
Lisa Newman (04:56):
Where were they from?
Freddie James (04:58):
Eh, Baghdad.
Lisa Newman (04:59):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (04:59):
They born in generation there.
Lisa Newman (05:03):
I see. And did your grandfather still speak some Farsi?
Freddie James (05:09):
Um, my grandfather is pass away.
Lisa Newman (05:11):
No, but when he was alive-
Freddie James (05:13):
No. No. He, like I said, he, before my grandfather.
Lisa Newman (05:17):
Before your grandfather.
Freddie James (05:18):
Many generation before.
Lisa Newman (05:18):
Many generation.
Freddie James (05:20):
That's where we came from.
Lisa Newman (05:22):
I understand. I understand. Were there any, um, Persian, uh, traditions in your family?
Freddie James (05:32):
No, no. Like its been forgotten. I mentioned a name, Agai because it's a, it's a Persian name.
Lisa Newman (05:41):
Right.
Freddie James (05:42):
That's came from, in, generation, from generation to generation. We still Agai.
Lisa Newman (05:48):
Yes.
Freddie James (05:49):
That's why I explain to you that Agai means as a mister in Iranian language.
Lisa Newman (05:55):
I understand. Was your family observant?
Freddie James (06:00):
My father was a religion.
Lisa Newman (06:01):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (06:01):
Very religion.
Lisa Newman (06:06):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (06:06):
And, and when he pass away, uh, actually, they come the night before when he died and I took a plane and I went, uh, normal in Israel when somebody, like, die, direct, they take the direct to the burial. But my dad, they bring him to the, to the shul. And I ask, "Why?" Because the shul decide to name him the Rabbi.
Lisa Newman (06:32):
To name him?
Freddie James (06:34):
As a rabbi because he was scholar and he was teaching Torah.
Lisa Newman (06:39):
Wow.
Freddie James (06:40):
But he never take money for his, his work.
Lisa Newman (06:44):
Really?
Freddie James (06:44):
He just was helping the youth to read bar mitzvah Torah.
Lisa Newman (06:49):
Wow. Wow.
Freddie James (06:51):
Yeah, so.
Lisa Newman (06:52):
And he was buried in Baghdad?
Freddie James (06:54):
In Israel.
Lisa Newman (06:55):
In Israel?
Freddie James (06:56):
Yes. Actually, we left Israel in 1948 to, uh, left Baghdad 1948 to Israel.
Lisa Newman (07:04):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (07:05):
So my dad, live for long time in Israel.
Lisa Newman (07:11):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). He would go to shul?
Freddie James (07:14):
Every morning and evening.
Lisa Newman (07:15):
Every morning. Every evening.
Freddie James (07:17):
Evening. Yes.
Lisa Newman (07:18):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And you?
Freddie James (07:18):
I go to the shul once a week, Saturday here. Take it [inaudible 00:07:18]
Lisa Newman (07:18):
Uh-huh (affirmative). But when you were little?
Freddie James (07:26):
I used to go with my dad, yeah.
Lisa Newman (07:33):
You went with your dad?
Freddie James (07:33):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (07:33):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Your bar mitzvah was?
Freddie James (07:33):
In Iraq, uh, no, in Israel. I'm sorry.
Lisa Newman (07:33):
In Israel?
Freddie James (07:33):
Yes. Yes.
Lisa Newman (07:33):
And tell me about the bar mitz-vah.
Freddie James (07:41):
Uh, was really just with the families. In that time, was no, uh, neighbours or friends.
Lisa Newman (07:46):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (07:46):
Used to be all, all the occasion was with families.
Lisa Newman (07:51):
And did you read the Haftorah?
Freddie James (07:53):
Yes. My dad teach me, uh, you know, everything.
Lisa Newman (07:55):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (07:58):
That's why I know the Torah today.
Lisa Newman (07:59):
Uh-huh (affirmative). He taught you Tulane as well?
Freddie James (08:04):
Everything. Everything. My dad teach me everything and he used to teach a lot of boys, in that time, bar mitzvah.
Lisa Newman (08:10):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (08:11):
That's why, like, I said to you when he die they name him as a, they make advertising in the Ramat Gan-
Lisa Newman (08:21):
I see.
Freddie James (08:22):
Uh, for him as, and name him as a rabbi.
Lisa Newman (08:22):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (08:23):
For [inaudible 00:08:23].
Lisa Newman (08:23):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). So, tell me when you were little-
Freddie James (08:26):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (08:28):
A little boy. What do you remember from, what are some of your earliest memories?
Freddie James (08:35):
Uh, actually, we, uh, used to live, uh, beautifully in, in Iraq. Uh, my dad was, uh, helping us, uh, my brother and sister, we never, my brother and sister, work at all. Used to walk, uh, to school. The girls used go, in that time, to girl's school and wasn't, like, boys and girls in that time to go together. And we used to go boy school. I used to go with younger brother to school. Uh, we didn't have anywhere. We used to leave, uh, during school, we used to go to Christian school for studying that law and whatever. And so, actually, was a little bit, tough to go walk in the street in those days because we used to harassed by Arab. Because, because-
Lisa Newman (09:29):
What did they do?
Freddie James (09:31):
Uh, beat us, running after us, all, all kind.
Lisa Newman (09:35):
And this is long before 48?
Freddie James (09:39):
Correct.
Lisa Newman (09:41):
Huh. Were you afraid?
Freddie James (09:43):
Uh, that's a, when I moved to Israel I was eleven years old.
Lisa Newman (09:48):
Right.
Freddie James (09:48):
So, when, when I used to go to school when I was eight and my brother was six, we used to be harassed a lot.
Lisa Newman (09:57):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). And what was that like for you?
Freddie James (10:01):
Uh, you know, all the Jew, we, we used to be really happy in Iraq. We used to be, all the Jew was, uh, well take care of. Uh, but some, you know, always bother, you know, Jews in there, that time.
Lisa Newman (10:18):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (10:18):
My dad was, uh, we used to live in the same street my dad built for his own money, a synagogue.
Lisa Newman (10:26):
Really?
Freddie James (10:26):
Yes. And it funny, it's, uh, it was three days before [inaudible 00:10:31] Purim. I finished, uh, to build the synagogue and he arranged the chairs and all the things that needed for people to come to [inaudible 00:10:40] Purim. And I remember still, it was, when I was 10 that's then he said, "Well, I built for you guys the shul. Now you are, um, you have to go and donate money for the chairs and all the things that need the shul to have."
Lisa Newman (10:57):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Do you remember the name of the shul?
Freddie James (11:01):
No. No. That I don't.
Lisa Newman (11:02):
Or what-
Freddie James (11:05):
It's the same street.
Lisa Newman (11:05):
What street?
Freddie James (11:06):
[inaudible 00:11:06].
Lisa Newman (11:06):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (11:07):
And when you, when we left, uh, in, uh, when we left in 1948 to Israel, uh, in that time it was really sad because about 110,000 Jewish-Iraqi was in Iraq. Over 100,000 assigned to go to Israel, in that time, because the Iraq and Israel was not friendly in that time.
Lisa Newman (11:39):
Yes.
Freddie James (11:41):
So, uh, anybody who signed to go to Israel, over 100,000, they take everything from them, their houses, they freeze the money in the bank, they give you only a suitcase with a 20 pound.
Lisa Newman (11:56):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (11:57):
And we left everything so, when we left Iraq, my dad has, on same street, two houses, one rent and one we used to live, and shul. He give the three keys to the police and we left everything.
Lisa Newman (12:12):
Wow. Wow. I want to come back to when you were a little boy. We'll talk more about the leaving, but when you were little, what was, what was fun? What was, what were the good things for a little boy?
Freddie James (12:29):
I used to be happy in the school. I, I used to play tennis and I used to be very happy to have, uh, good friends even though they was Christian. Uh, um, we was about six Jewish in the classroom.
Lisa Newman (12:45):
Out of how many?
Freddie James (12:47):
About, in that time, 21. Six Jewish. And we used to be happy and friend with the Christian ones. They was very kind to us and, uh, everything was fine, except in the street.
Lisa Newman (13:01):
Did you go over their homes?
Freddie James (13:02):
No. We not allow, my parents didn't allow us because we was still young and you cannot go after school somewhere else.
Lisa Newman (13:12):
They didn't come to your house?
Freddie James (13:12):
No. In that time, they, it's not like today. Go and they come. No we finished school, we used to come home, and, you know?
Lisa Newman (13:21):
Who looked after you? Who gave you your meals when you were-
Freddie James (13:25):
My mom and we used to have also a maid.
Lisa Newman (13:28):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (13:29):
They, a Jewish woman used to be come from Arbil, north of Iraq. I used to, they, I used be poor, there I used to look for places to work. So, we used to have a good, steady all year round.
Lisa Newman (13:42):
The same maid all the time or?
Freddie James (13:44):
Yes. We had her about nine years, as far as I remember.
Lisa Newman (13:51):
Did she have children?
Freddie James (13:52):
No, she didn't marry, but when she came to Israel, after [inaudible 00:13:56] came, she get married and have children.
Lisa Newman (14:00):
And you stayed in touch with her?
Freddie James (14:01):
Yes. My sister in touch with her.
Lisa Newman (14:05):
So, you're a little boy. What do you do when you come home from school?
Freddie James (14:11):
Well, my, my mom was qualified, she used to, first of all, feed us. And then, uh, teach us, uh, before we go to sleep.
Lisa Newman (14:19):
What did she teach you?
Freddie James (14:20):
Uh, what we study in that day and how to cook.
Lisa Newman (14:24):
Ah. And you mentioned Christian children. What about Muslim children?
Freddie James (14:32):
Uh, Muslim wasn't really not, uh, not at that school.
Lisa Newman (14:37):
How come?
Freddie James (14:37):
Um, that time, you know, majority in that area was Jewish and Christian. Mostly Jewish in that area used to be.
Lisa Newman (14:49):
Was, uh, that, uh, a wealthier area.
Freddie James (14:53):
It's a wealthier area.
Lisa Newman (14:55):
And there weren't Muslims in?
Freddie James (14:57):
Was, but not so many, like, out of 100, I'll say six.
Lisa Newman (15:02):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (15:02):
Families.
Lisa Newman (15:05):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Did you, uh, as you got a little older, did you know any Muslim children?
Freddie James (15:13):
No. We never been friend with them.
Lisa Newman (15:16):
How come?
Freddie James (15:17):
Because, like I said to you, they, we was not comfort with them. Like, you come here I receive you well-
Lisa Newman (15:25):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (15:25):
Wasn't that case.
Lisa Newman (15:30):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Mm-hmm (affirmative). And this is long before, uh, 1948?
Freddie James (15:33):
Correct.
Lisa Newman (15:33):
Israel.
Freddie James (15:35):
Correct.
Lisa Newman (15:37):
Did you, as a little boy, belong to any organizations? Any clubs?
Freddie James (15:42):
No. No, m-my, we, we never had, like today, open world. Was no TV, was only, uh, radio. Was not ready informations, you know? What's gone in, in England or in United State or was, you know, just what happening in that country, almost.
Lisa Newman (16:08):
Tell me about your grandparents.
Freddie James (16:10):
My grandfather was also businessman. And, uh, have, I have, uh, two, three uncle and two, uh, sister also. Uh, he was a good man also he was, uh, religion, like my dad. That's why my dad became religion. Uh, and, you know, in that time, you know, people used to go work, come home was no entertainment or to go outside dancing or, its different world, like, today we live in different world.
Lisa Newman (16:44):
Yeah.
Freddie James (16:45):
Like that time, you didn't, that time, you know, the girls was getting married. They used to meet a boy and that boy, she going to get married with. It's not like today, you know, world. This was quiet.
Lisa Newman (16:58):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Mm-hmm (affirmative). That was your grandfather on your father's side.
Freddie James (17:03):
Yeah.
Lisa Newman (17:04):
What about your mother's?
Freddie James (17:05):
Mother's side also, uh, actually, they, uh, one of the sister, uh, moved to Israel when she get married. She knew somebody from Israel and she get married. And, uh, and that time was no, like, like a grandfather die earl, so I didn't know really much about them.
Lisa Newman (17:30):
Mm. What did he die of?
Freddie James (17:32):
Uh, I cannot tell you that. I don't know. Because at that time, also, was not information like today to tell you how, what person has. Was that person, but the doctor wasn't like, like today, you know, you know everything about what go inside.
Lisa Newman (17:49):
So, you had cousins?
Freddie James (17:51):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (17:52):
That you played with?
Freddie James (17:54):
Yeah. We used to gather only in holiday, uh, because they wasn't, weren't close to each other. The thing was the cars, in that time, you could go travel from one place to other place. Um, that's, when I was eight, then my buy the car. And, the, the, the first car that my dad has in his life.
Lisa Newman (18:16):
When you were eight?
Freddie James (18:18):
When I was eight, yeah.
Lisa Newman (18:19):
Was that very exciting?
Freddie James (18:21):
Was very exciting, yeah.
Lisa Newman (18:21):
What kind of car?
Freddie James (18:23):
Ford, in that time, if I remember. Ford it was.
Lisa Newman (18:26):
What color?
Freddie James (18:27):
White. (laughs) I still remember. It's funny how I remember that because I love car, you know?
Lisa Newman (18:31):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (18:34):
So, yeah, used to come in holiday, like, in Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, uh, and Sukkot. They actually, we used to gather with the family on Sukkot. Uh, like, like every year a different place, like, the [inaudible 00:18:50] we used to go. And, our [inaudible 00:18:52] used to come to.
Lisa Newman (18:54):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (18:54):
So that, when used to be gathering with the family, only in that time.
Lisa Newman (18:59):
And you would stay with them all of Sukkot?
Freddie James (19:03):
No, no. They come for meal and we have a play and kiddush and then, they go.
Lisa Newman (19:08):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). And what about Pesach?
Freddie James (19:12):
Uh, no. Pe, uh, Pe, Pesach wasn't, like, only on Sukkot. Once a year
Lisa Newman (19:17):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (19:19):
But with, my mother, they used to come to see my mother. Um, sometime, you know?
Lisa Newman (19:24):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (19:25):
The life is not like today. It's completely was, uh, m-more peaceful, happy, uh, people used to live longer. It's not like, you know, because you see all the cars, all the noise, the different people and before, people used to live longer in that time. The least complication with health.
Lisa Newman (19:55):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Your house did have a garden?
Freddie James (19:56):
Yes. We used to in the garden, the, everything you want. My father, we used to have a gardener and my father used to go from eight to [inaudible 00:19:56] the garden. It was a huge garden.
Lisa Newman (20:06):
Also vegetable garden?
Freddie James (20:08):
Vegetable and fruit, even peaches. We used to have there. Grapes we used to grow in the garden also.
Lisa Newman (20:15):
Did you pick those? Did you work in garden?
Freddie James (20:18):
No. I was, you know, little and I used to go have fun, pick off one peach or grapes, you know? Even used to grow heuchera, I don't know if you know?
Lisa Newman (20:28):
Oh sure.
Freddie James (20:29):
Yeah, even they used to grow heuchera.
Lisa Newman (20:30):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (20:32):
It's funny. In I-I-Iraq was the, the weather was beautiful. Very nice weather.
Lisa Newman (20:39):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (20:39):
We used to, we, in the summer, we didn't have air condition in that time. We used to, every family used to leave above the, the second story-
Lisa Newman (20:50):
[inaudible 00:20:50]
Freddie James (20:52):
Aligag and we used, our beds used to be on the gag and, and used to sleep there.
Lisa Newman (20:56):
Just in the open?
Freddie James (20:58):
Yeah.
Lisa Newman (20:58):
On the roof?
Freddie James (20:58):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (20:59):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (21:01):
Yes. Because was no air condition and anything in the summer it's really hot inside.
Lisa Newman (21:07):
Did it rain in the summer?
Freddie James (21:10):
Not really. Not really.
Lisa Newman (21:12):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (21:13):
That's why our bed was dry.
Lisa Newman (21:19):
Mm. What were some of the-
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I'm just going to check that it's recording, with you permission-
Freddie James (21:23):
Please.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Just to make sure that. Okay, I checked.
Lisa Newman (21:30):
What are some of the foods that you remember from a little boy?
Freddie James (21:36):
I have to tell you, I've been searching the world. I've been so many places in the world as a businessman. Every family will tell you, "Our food is great. We're just, like, great." But, our food was exceptional. Unreal. The, the, the taste, the, the, the, the meals like my mother used to prepare. Uh, it was delightful.
Lisa Newman (22:02):
Like what? What did she prepare?
Freddie James (22:04):
Uh, it's, we cook different, like, uh, then English or French. My mother used to make all kind of food. Uh, that, it's in, I can tell you it's only in Allah they prepared. It's not [crosstalk 00:22:18]
Lisa Newman (22:17):
Well, don't, say it in Allah, [inaudible 00:22:19]
Freddie James (22:19):
We used to do all kind of okra, diet, skin of fish, of sheep, uh, put rice on it inside a [inaudible 00:22:29]. All kind of, uh, d-delightful food.
Lisa Newman (22:33):
Did you eat a lot of meat?
Freddie James (22:36):
In that time, we used, Iraq was no cow. We only eat sheep.
Lisa Newman (22:43):
Sheep?
Freddie James (22:44):
Yeah.
Lisa Newman (22:44):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (22:45):
And, and, you know, we didn't much, but whatever they prepared for us.
Lisa Newman (22:51):
What were some of your favourite treats?
Freddie James (22:54):
Bacha we call it. Means that, there, they take meat and rice and spice and tomatoes and they put in skin of, stomach of the sheep. And they cook it for, for almost 20 hours. And was that my favourite.
Lisa Newman (23:14):
Ah. Ah. Did they cook outside on a grill at all?
Freddie James (23:19):
Uh, no. We had inside and also in that time with these two brick, you know, the round deep ones? And [crosstalk 00:23:27]
Lisa Newman (23:26):
Like a laffa?
Freddie James (23:26):
Laffa. They used to cook it, every house used to have a place where they mother used to cook the bread outside.
Lisa Newman (23:37):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (23:37):
In that time, but little by little that stopped and then we, we can bakery, and then we have bread from us.
Lisa Newman (23:44):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Did-
Freddie James (23:45):
But, in the pass-Passover, all the mothers used to pick the bread for Passover.
Lisa Newman (23:53):
All the matzo?
Freddie James (23:54):
All the matzo. We never had matzo in Iraq from different country or in Jewish never make, every family used to make them own, that time.
Lisa Newman (24:03):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (24:04):
They used to make cheese. Feta cheese. They used to make tomatoes in that time for the summer, for the winter. Anything was made in the house.
Lisa Newman (24:17):
They made preserves for, for the winter.
Freddie James (24:20):
Yes. Everything made in the house.
Lisa Newman (24:22):
Ah. What about sweet things? Cake?
Freddie James (24:27):
Um, my mother used to make cake. What the, the, the, the, the, uh, the, the best things was, we call it baklava. It's kind of, uh, uh a bread with sugar and honey and that's was, they used to make it in the ground, a, a plate. And they used to bake it inside the oven.
Lisa Newman (24:45):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (24:47):
That's what's d-delightful. You can find today even now, baklava.
Lisa Newman (24:51):
I know. I know.
Freddie James (24:52):
Oh. Then you so know what this is.
Lisa Newman (24:54):
I know baklava.
Freddie James (24:55):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (24:55):
Love it. What about for your birthday? What, what would, uh-
Freddie James (25:00):
At that time, was not really my birthday celebration. No, wasn't that way.
Lisa Newman (25:04):
Ah.
Freddie James (25:05):
Was quiet, you know? But when we came here, it's all commercial people stuff and they birthday and celebration, it's all commercial. Christmas is commercial. Passover is now became commercial, you know?
Lisa Newman (25:18):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (25:19):
It wasn't, it was quiet, you know?
Lisa Newman (25:22):
What about clothing? How did you get clothing?
Freddie James (25:25):
My mother used to sew for us. In that time, was not manufacturers that you go buy, uh, all kind of things. Um, my mom used to sew us shoe, underwears, everything.
Lisa Newman (25:40):
And would you-
Freddie James (25:40):
We would have socks.
Lisa Newman (25:40):
Wow.
Freddie James (25:42):
Yeah.
Lisa Newman (25:43):
Did you get new clothes for Rosh Hashanah or?
Freddie James (25:48):
Yes. For sure. After, when we, when I was seven, my dad, they start to make suits for mans and then my dad, every Rosh Hashanah, he used to go buy for us. It's, it's what you should.
Lisa Newman (26:02):
And would you go to a tailor, or, or just to a store?
Freddie James (26:06):
Yeah, to the tailor.
Lisa Newman (26:08):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (26:08):
And they used to make for us suit.
Lisa Newman (26:10):
So they would make it to measure?
Freddie James (26:11):
Exactly. They start to do it when I start to be, a-about seven, eight.
Lisa Newman (26:17):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And what about shoes?
Freddie James (26:20):
Shoes they used to make all the time. Manufacturers there they used to make shoes.
Lisa Newman (26:24):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (26:25):
But mostly Arab based to where they would go something like that.
Lisa Newman (26:26):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Sandals.
Freddie James (26:31):
Sandals. Yeah.
Lisa Newman (26:31):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And when it was cold? Was winter cold?
Freddie James (26:36):
Yeah. The winter was cold [inaudible 00:26:39]. Um, but was okay, was okay.
Lisa Newman (26:43):
How did you get warm in the house?
Freddie James (26:45):
Jackets. We have, they, mostly woman, they used to knit a lot of sweaters.
Lisa Newman (26:50):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (26:50):
In that time. The woman had big pot in the house in that time. They used to teach the, the children cook for them. Knit for them. Everything.
Lisa Newman (27:02):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Mm-hmm (affirmative). Mm-hmm (affirmative). Were there fireplaces in your house?
Freddie James (27:07):
No.
Lisa Newman (27:10):
No. Ah. Um, so, what else are your early memories of when you were small?
Freddie James (27:25):
Actually, this part that I, I love. Iraq is the best country in the world.
Lisa Newman (27:30):
Yeah.
Freddie James (27:31):
The, Iraq has two river. They call it Tigris and Firat.
Lisa Newman (27:38):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (27:38):
And the, the, the best, uh, things ever happen to me happened in that country and I was sorrow when I heard that we had to leave to Israel. Because I love it so much. Uh, it's peaceful, the surrounding, the area we used to be. The only time when we have problem was when harassed, harassed by some Arab, but we didn't make big deal about it. But I loved to born in Iraq. Was nice country to be in.
Lisa Newman (28:08):
Could you swim in the rivers?
Freddie James (28:10):
Yes. We could swim in the river, yes.
Lisa Newman (28:13):
How did you learn to swim?
Freddie James (28:15):
My dad teach me.
Lisa Newman (28:16):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And what about boats? Were you ever in a-
Freddie James (28:20):
No. We never actually.
Lisa Newman (28:24):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Did you dad swim with you.
Freddie James (28:26):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (28:28):
And did-
Freddie James (28:28):
My dad teach us how to swim. Yes.
Lisa Newman (28:30):
And what about your mom?
Freddie James (28:32):
No. She, the girls was not, that time, um, going out so much like boys.
Lisa Newman (28:38):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (28:42):
They used to be more quiet.
Lisa Newman (28:44):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Did any of your relatives, on holiday or whenever, have special things to wear? Uh, uh costume for, for [crosstalk 00:28:56] Pesach or for, uh, Sukkot?
Freddie James (29:00):
No. Just normal.
Lisa Newman (29:01):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (29:04):
Only when was wedding they used to make a lot of different things for woman and make her look beautiful.
Lisa Newman (29:12):
Do you remember a wedding when you were little?
Freddie James (29:15):
Yes, I did. My, my aunt when she married.
Lisa Newman (29:18):
How old were you?
Freddie James (29:19):
Uh, I was about seven.
Lisa Newman (29:21):
And what do you remember?
Freddie James (29:23):
Uh, was beautiful c-celebration in the house. They used to make and then they go then after they shoot they get married.
Lisa Newman (29:33):
Did they do henna? Do they do henna in-
Freddie James (29:36):
In that time, yes. That's, uh, that's the celebration. They make it night before.
Lisa Newman (29:42):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Did you see that?
Freddie James (29:44):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (29:48):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And what did you wear to the wedding?
Freddie James (29:51):
Uh, just suit probably, you know?
Lisa Newman (29:51):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (29:51):
Just suit, probably.
Lisa Newman (29:51):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (29:56):
Was not really, uh, like today, you know, you dress well and you go and, it's, it's, it was simple life.
Lisa Newman (30:05):
And-
Freddie James (30:05):
For everything.
Lisa Newman (30:06):
Do you remember musicians? Playing music?
Freddie James (30:09):
Uh, I still listen sometime to, eh, to other music. Which is come from-
Lisa Newman (30:15):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (30:15):
You know? But I'm not, uh, so much, uh, addicted to.
Lisa Newman (30:22):
But do you remember as a little boy-
Freddie James (30:25):
Yes, for sure. For sure. I remember the music, the Iraqi music and everything. I do.
Lisa Newman (30:30):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). Would they-
Freddie James (30:33):
It's a beautiful, let me tell you about Arab, uh, language.
Lisa Newman (30:36):
Yeah.
Freddie James (30:37):
This is a very rich language, like French. French, rich language. Arab is a rich language.
Lisa Newman (30:45):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (30:45):
And when they play music, it's so beautiful. It could use one word for, in different ways and-
Lisa Newman (30:52):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (30:53):
It sounds so great.
Lisa Newman (30:55):
Did you learn any music-
Freddie James (30:57):
No.
Lisa Newman (30:58):
As a little boy?
Freddie James (30:59):
No. No. No.
Lisa Newman (31:00):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And did Jews play music?
Freddie James (31:04):
Yes, for sure. Today you find them around the world will play.
Lisa Newman (31:08):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (31:09):
If this house has a musician, came from Israel as a Jew-Iraqi and I made party here for 60 people and they play 3 musician down and one woman was singing-
Lisa Newman (31:26):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (31:26):
From music.
Lisa Newman (31:26):
And they played Iraqi music?
Freddie James (31:27):
Yes, ma'am.
Lisa Newman (31:27):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (31:28):
I still have the video.
Lisa Newman (31:34):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Wow.
Freddie James (31:34):
Yeah.
Lisa Newman (31:34):
That must be wonderful.
Freddie James (31:36):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (31:38):
Um, so, uh, one other thing I wanted to ask about. Growing up, um, did you know anything about Israel or Zionism? Wasn't Israel but-
Freddie James (32:00):
Actually, when I came to Canada, uh, you know, I just speak about Israel so much, you know, you see. As a businessman, work all the time. Sometimes 12 hours a day, so.
Lisa Newman (32:11):
But going back, when you were a little boy, back then, had you heard about Zionism?
Freddie James (32:21):
No. Was nothing, just, when Israel exist then we start to know about what's going around the world.
Lisa Newman (32:31):
How old were you when you first thought you might be leaving Iraq?
Freddie James (32:37):
When I was about 10.
Lisa Newman (32:39):
And what happened that made you think.
Freddie James (32:41):
Uh, the, the, um, lots of people wasn't feel safe in Iraq, so they thought where as we Jewish state, Israel, we should go so 100,000 went to Israel.
Lisa Newman (32:58):
You say not feeling safe. Tell me more about that.
Freddie James (33:01):
Uh, like, I said to you, uh, they always been harass by the Arab in anywhere we go.
Lisa Newman (33:09):
Always?
Freddie James (33:10):
Always. That's why we wasn't safe.
Lisa Newman (33:13):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (33:14):
And that's why my dad and 100,000, like him moved to Israel.
Lisa Newman (33:19):
But not harassed by the Christian-Arabs or yes?
Freddie James (33:23):
No, just by the Arab.
Lisa Newman (33:25):
But the Muslim-Arab?
Freddie James (33:26):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (33:28):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And, it was getting worse or was it just the same?
Freddie James (33:35):
Not always. But, we wasn't safe there, but-
Lisa Newman (33:39):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Hmm. Did anybody, um, hurt you in your house or?
Freddie James (33:51):
No, they don't come to the house, only in the street.
Lisa Newman (33:55):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And you stayed away from the street.
Freddie James (33:59):
Yeah. We used to go to school, come back home.
Lisa Newman (34:03):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (34:05):
Is, Is not like today. Sleep over, no. (laughs)
Lisa Newman (34:08):
Right. Right. So-
Freddie James (34:13):
Can I bring you some water to drink?
Lisa Newman (34:14):
No, I'm fine.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Thank you.
Lisa Newman (34:17):
So tell me about how the decision was made to leave Iraq.
Freddie James (34:26):
In that time, when Israel exist, lots of Jewish people, like in the shul, they talk between families and they decide, you know, to, is the best for us to go to, to move to Israel. And then, that happened.
Lisa Newman (34:44):
Who told you?
Freddie James (34:46):
Well, actually, my dad was speaking about it and-
Lisa Newman (34:49):
What did he say?
Freddie James (34:50):
That, he, you know, one day, I was young and I said, uh, "We going to start you to go to school because we moving to Israel." And in that time, like I said before, we're, all the people who like to leave Iraq to Israel has to register and my dad register like 100,000. And then we, uh, we left. And we leave, we left everything all the, all the, everything we've got.
Lisa Newman (35:17):
What, what was the-
Freddie James (35:21):
House, uh, the business my dad has, the money in the bank frozen. Everything they took there, government of Iraq, from Jewish people. And, n-now what's happened was, when, was, uh a problem in Iraq about, uh, ten years ago when it's a war and United State have [inaudible 00:35:39] to, uh, to move Saddam Hussain from there, actually, the United Nation was starting taking back the money of the Jewish people they left in Iraq, many billions so-
Lisa Newman (35:46):
And did they [crosstalk 00:35:46] give it back?
Freddie James (35:55):
No. United Nation didn't succeed to do the so.
Lisa Newman (35:59):
Do you know why?
Freddie James (36:01):
Because there is nobody to talk to in there. Actually, you know, the, what happening there in Iraq, it's a war still going on, uh, today between them, between them.
Lisa Newman (36:13):
Did your father take any documents that-
Freddie James (36:17):
Only the passport. Nothing else.
Lisa Newman (36:20):
Nothing to prove [crosstalk 00:36:21]
Freddie James (36:22):
We left everything. We left everything. We, yeah, when, uh, when we came to Israel after 10 years, the government of Israel ask my dad or everybody who left money in Israel, in Iraq to, um, register all the belonging that the rest, the money in the bank which has proof that we left it back in there. And that's why, you know, uh, today, the, my sister have the paper in Israel in case of something up then we can show that we left things.
Lisa Newman (36:52):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (37:02):
But not going to happen in my generation. It's not going to happen and I don't, I, I, I, I be honest with you. I'm so happy in Canada. I'm so happy for my sister doing well in Israel. And we don't look for that anymore.
Lisa Newman (37:09):
I'm wondering about the process of leaving. So, your, your father tells you, "This is going to happen." Then how long until you actually leave?
Freddie James (37:23):
About three months. When we, since we register. And then we left Iraq after three months since we register.
Lisa Newman (37:33):
Did you have to leave school-
Freddie James (37:35):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (37:35):
Before-
Freddie James (37:36):
In the middle, in the middle of, uh, of the year was that we left. We went to Israel.
Lisa Newman (37:45):
So, once you registered, you didn't stay in school?
Freddie James (37:49):
No, I continued with school.
Lisa Newman (37:51):
Oh, you were?
Freddie James (37:52):
Yes. And, uh, the day that mine, our, the time come well the flight came to go to Israel, then we, we left.
Lisa Newman (38:02):
Did you know anything about Israel?
Freddie James (38:05):
No. No, I was young. I didn't, but when we get to Israel, my dad sent us to school and, and we, you know, I finish high school in Israel.
Lisa Newman (38:20):
But while you're still in Iraq, did your, did your parents know people in Israel?
Freddie James (38:25):
Only my, uh, my, uh, um sister from my father.
Lisa Newman (38:32):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (38:33):
She was-
Lisa Newman (38:34):
So your aunt?
Freddie James (38:36):
My aunt, yes. Only, you know, I'm sorry I [inaudible 00:38:38]. She, uh, yeah only my aunt. She was in Israel. She live in Israel for, since she get married, about 25 years she living in Israel. And when it came to Israel, she help us, direct us, with, you know, in everything.
Lisa Newman (38:55):
Where was she living?
Freddie James (38:59):
She was living in Ramat Gan.
Lisa Newman (39:02):
And you didn't live with her?
Freddie James (39:04):
No. When we came in that time, well they call it the Aliyah, I don't know if you heard of term.
Lisa Newman (39:06):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (39:07):
Aliyah means all the, uh, people who come from Iraq used to go to a place where tent, um, they build a place for us and give us food while until we find jobs and move wherever we want to go in Israel.
Lisa Newman (39:26):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). How long were you there?
Freddie James (39:27):
About, a couple of months. My dad has money in different banks a-around the world because he used to be businessman so, in that time, we, uh, bought a house, my dad, and we move after couple of months.
Lisa Newman (39:44):
To where?
Freddie James (39:44):
To Ramat Gan.
Lisa Newman (39:45):
To Ramat Gan?
Freddie James (39:47):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (39:47):
So, your dad keeping money in other banks, he knew that this would happen.
Freddie James (39:53):
No. No. Because of what's, he was, uh, wholesale of dishes, like I said, he buy from England, China, all those countries, uh, he has to the international bank. He has to have, He has to have the money there. That's why buy the house and hot everybody was gifted when come from Iraq to Israel, mostly people struglgled for, I would say, 20 years to get on their feet. Wasn't easy for, for Jew, Iraqi-Jew.
Lisa Newman (40:23):
For sure not. For sure not. So, you're in Israel and you're going to school with kids from where?
Freddie James (40:34):
From surround area, like here, you know, so around area, yeah. Mostly, we didn't have, uh, we didn't have, like I said, Jew, only Christian
Lisa Newman (40:42):
You didn't have?
Freddie James (40:43):
We only Christian.
Lisa Newman (40:43):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (40:44):
Friends and, like, in my classroom, I said, "Six, seven, Jewish."
Lisa Newman (40:49):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (40:51):
We never used to go, you know, together. Finish school, come home.
Lisa Newman (40:55):
Even in Israel?
Freddie James (40:59):
Uh, in Israel, you talking about Israel?
Lisa Newman (40:59):
In Israel.
Freddie James (41:00):
No. In Israel, yeah, no, the friends and finish high school, we still go home to each other and still have friends attached to them, they talk today. I call them today. They call me sometimes.
Lisa Newman (41:10):
Really?
Freddie James (41:11):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (41:11):
Really?
Freddie James (41:12):
Yes.
Lisa Newman (41:14):
And what did you like to do as, so this time you're 11, 12 years old?
Freddie James (41:19):
Yeah and then I finish public school and went to high school. And, and, uh-
Lisa Newman (41:23):
Where?
Freddie James (41:24):
In Ramat Gan.
Lisa Newman (41:29):
Uh-huh (affirmative). And what did you like to do with your friends then?
Freddie James (41:30):
We used to play tennis and ping pong. We love to do that.
Freddie James (41:34):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Lisa Newman (41:37):
And was it different that you weren't afraid of being attacked or were you afraid?
Freddie James (41:41):
No, it was safe, you know, I mean we had problems. So many times war between Israel and other countries surrounding. Uh, other ways we safe to go around, no problem.
Lisa Newman (41:58):
How about your parents? What did, what was there for them?
Freddie James (42:00):
My father, uh, uh, work a little bit, you know, other helping companies in that time. And that's why he could support us. And my mother never work in her life. Not even my sister.
Lisa Newman (42:16):
And what was it like for your mother, the move to Israel?
Freddie James (42:19):
It was sad because, you know, she left her house and everything to come to different country, but she adjusted.
Lisa Newman (42:30):
Did they learn Hebrew?
Freddie James (42:32):
For sure. We all learn Hebrew. Was easy for us because my dad was teaching us even Hebrew reading in Iraq so was really easy for us to learn the language.
Lisa Newman (42:44):
Was there a shul nearby?
Freddie James (42:47):
Where? In Israel?
Lisa Newman (42:48):
In Ramat Gan?
Freddie James (42:49):
Yes. My dad needs to go to the shul everyday, about 10 minutes walk.
Lisa Newman (42:54):
And was, were there a lot of Iraqi Jews in the shul.
Freddie James (42:57):
Yes. Yes. Mostly, Ramat Gan is Iraqi city.
Lisa Newman (43:03):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). And what language would you speak at home?
Freddie James (43:09):
Uh, in the beginning, we speak, for sure, Arabic. And then little by little we start to speak Hebrew. My brother and sister and my dad [inaudible 00:43:20].
Lisa Newman (43:21):
And your mother as well?
Freddie James (43:23):
My mother, yeah she learned too.
Lisa Newman (43:24):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (43:27):
But you know as mother, always she speak to you in her own language, you know, so.
Lisa Newman (43:32):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (43:33):
Can I make for you tea, maybe? Tea?
Lisa Newman (43:35):
Um, maybe a little bit later. Just a few more things I want to ask you.
Freddie James (43:39):
Sure.
Lisa Newman (43:40):
Um, wha-what do you think triggered leaving at that time when you left Iraq? Why then?
Freddie James (43:53):
Was advertising, uh, to go, that when the Jewish people, you know, to be safe if we go to Israel. And that's what trigger that.
Lisa Newman (44:02):
Was there a Jewish newspaper?
Freddie James (44:04):
No, no. Was no newspaper. There was nothing there. No radio.
Lisa Newman (44:10):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (44:10):
It's just-
Lisa Newman (44:10):
No communication.
Freddie James (44:12):
Nothing. Nothing. Just music and little bit you hear from the radio was not even to hear and use. We didn't know about what happening around the world that time. It's not like today world.
Lisa Newman (44:27):
Right. Did you know anybody who had left?
Freddie James (44:31):
For sure. My, uh, my friends, um, families, and all of my, uh, uncles, we all gone to Israel.
Lisa Newman (44:41):
And the ones who left before you also had to leave everything behind?
Freddie James (44:46):
Yes. 100,000 over left everything just like what I have here. They give me a suitcase of my clothes and I give the key to the police and go. We left everything in Iraq.
Lisa Newman (45:00):
Do you remember, you were a little boy, you were 11, what did you take with you? Do you remember?
Freddie James (45:08):
From?
Lisa Newman (45:08):
From Iraq?
Freddie James (45:10):
I, like I said to you before, I love that country so much. I love the weather, I love everything about it. I love history-[crosstalk 00:45:17]
Lisa Newman (45:16):
W-was there, was there anything you couldn't take with you? Any favourite object or toy or?
Freddie James (45:24):
No. Nothing.
Lisa Newman (45:25):
Nothing.
Freddie James (45:26):
Nothing. You know, I mean, I still was young. I didn't know much you know?
Lisa Newman (45:33):
Mm.
Freddie James (45:33):
The only thing is that city, I love that I country that I born.
Lisa Newman (45:37):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (45:37):
Was very beautiful. You know, today, all the fruit and vegetable, not like before, uh, [inaudible 00:45:48] natural. And the taste of the fruit was amazing in that time. Compared to t-today.
Lisa Newman (45:56):
Have you ever gone back?
Freddie James (45:58):
No because we will be spy and they could jail us. No Iraqi could go back to Iraq.
Lisa Newman (46:07):
Any of your siblings go back?
Freddie James (46:11):
Nobody, like, I, like, you know was, uh, understood not to go back because we could be spy and they will jail us.
Lisa Newman (46:19):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Did you know people who were jailed?
Freddie James (46:24):
No. Nobody went back.
Lisa Newman (46:26):
No, I mean, when you were still living there?
Freddie James (46:28):
In Iraq, yeah, they jailed many times Jewish people in that time for nothing, you know. So, we used to be cautious.
Lisa Newman (46:36):
Anybody in your family jailed?
Freddie James (46:39):
No because, you see, my father was protected. We had two houses in the same state. One was rented to head of the police station and we used to be protected. So, so-
Lisa Newman (46:52):
Ah.
Freddie James (46:53):
We never had any problem, except when used to go to my brother in the morning to school somewhere else they use to bother us the Arab harass us, but, uh, we were safe.
Lisa Newman (47:03):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (47:03):
In that respect.
Lisa Newman (47:07):
Uh-huh (affirmative). Uh-huh (affirmative). So, um, the, going forward, you did high school in Israel and then what did you do after high school?
Freddie James (47:17):
I work, I don't, uh, in Israel, sewing machine. And then I went to Germany, uh, learned there for awhile, come back and then the company in Canada ask me to come in Montreal, brought me to Montreal, and I help them out and they used to be domestic sewing machine, they want to turn the company to industrial sewing machine.
Lisa Newman (47:38):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Freddie James (47:42):
So they brought me from Israel and, for a year to show them, to train the company and introduce to the, the industrial machine and after a year I finish with them. And then I decide to come to Toronto to find out if it's good for me when I came here. Uh, I found a company that they ask me to work for awhile for them, I work for them three months, and then I open my own company here.
Lisa Newman (48:04):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (48:04):
And stayed. Then I, I had, I made a lender, in here, in Canada and they accept me to be Canadian.
Lisa Newman (48:04):
Wait, are you a citizen now?
Freddie James (48:04):
Oh, for sure.
Lisa Newman (48:04):
When did that happen?
Freddie James (48:04):
And that happened, in 19, I, 19, I came to Canada 1956 okay? Uh, that happen 1967 after two years. I am blended immigrant.
Lisa Newman (48:05):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). So do you consider yourself, I know you're a citizen, if you had to describe yourself would you say you are Canadian, Iraqi, Israeli? What, what would you say?
Freddie James (49:00):
I would say Canadian.
Lisa Newman (49:02):
Canadian.
Freddie James (49:02):
Yes. I love this country.
Lisa Newman (49:04):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
Freddie James (49:06):
And whatever, give me this, whatever I am today because of this country.
Lisa Newman (49:09):
Uh-huh (affirmative)
Freddie James (49:09):
And I respect it.
Lisa Newman (49:14):
Uh-huh. (affirmative) So, I'm going to ask you one last question.
Freddie James (49:17):
Okay.
Lisa Newman (49:18):
Um, if people, uh, people will listen to this tape maybe doing research, uh, it'll be in the archive, is there something you would like people to know, to remember, a message that you would want to give?
Freddie James (49:36):
For sure. Um, forget past. We forgive, and, and move on and be good to one each other. That's it.
Lisa Newman (49:52):
Thank you very much.
Freddie James (49:53):
You're welcome.
Lisa Newman (49:53):
Thank you.
Freddie James (50:10):
Can I just [inaudible 00:50:10] to see my voice?