Often dubbed the “Rothschilds of the East,” the Baghdadi-Jewish Sassoons amassed a tremendous fortune as merchants. Their rise commenced when the family’s 19th-century patriarch, David, was expelled from Ottoman Iraq and began trading in Bombay. Although the bulk of their wealth came from the opium trade, the Sassoons were devoutly observant Jews who used their riches to curate one of most beautiful Judaica collections in the world. After India, the family moved on to Shanghai and London where it continued to accumulate masterpieces both religious and secular. The resulting treasure trove is now on display at the Jewish Museum. Over 100 objects—from ancient prayer books to Sargent portraits—reveal a rich international narrative of art, religion, politics, and culture. —Lucy Horowitz