This is a story of science and friendship, which starting in 1979 is based on a diary I have been keeping. If I had to summarize this story in a single sentence I would have chosen to say: "I have been a fortunate guy to forge many friendships and to be excited about my science". To start where I started and to reach this point in life when many friends, students and colleagues contribute papers to honor me makes me feel very fortunate. I was born in Iraq to a Jewish family. My father was a jeweler, sort of an artist, in a tradition of his forefathers. My mother was a very young woman (of 18) when she had me, and soon enough she gave birth to my brother Mordecai. These were bad days for the Jews in Iraq because of the wave of nationalism that swept the country. The establishment of the state of Israel only worsened the situation; it was risky to remain in Iraq. Most of the Jews of the country had to leave, and their properties were confiscated. My parents were among these refugees. So from a fairly rich family living in a bustling metropolitan city like Baghdad, they found themselves without a penny, and with two little sons living in a transit camp in a tent in the middle of a desert.
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