Voices from the Archive

IJA 3712

Correspondence from Baghdadi Jewish Community Including Legal Issues (Marriage, Inheritance, Endowments), Financial Matters, School Administration

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Description

These are archival documents from the Baghdadi Jewish Community. They contain requests for community records and residency confirmations; wire transfers; correspondence regarding the adoption of Jewish laws in the Diaspora; communication from the Ambassador of Iraq in Rabat regarding Moroccan officials requesting information on laws applicable to the Iraqi Jewish community (customary laws pertaining to marriage, inheritance, etc.); legal agreements for engagement and marriage; requests for marriage confirmations, death certificates; employment separations; lawsuit regarding the management of an endowment; repairs to school buildings; correspondence regarding sending sefarim (Jewish religious books) to New York; letters referencing the Law of Acquisitions, 43/1934; discussions about tearing down or rebuilding a wall; invoices and accounting information from the Ezra Menahem Daniel Sports-Ground Committee; school administration; requests for vaccines; property laws; deeds; the administration of scholarships; announcements about community meetings and ceremonies; requests for food provisions for prisoners during the holidays; and requests for clarification of laws in conflict with the interim constitution of 1958. These documents reflect the Baghdadi Jewish community's name change to the Mosaic community.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 3712
Item Number
12284
Date
Approx. January 1, 1951 to December 31, 1960
Languages
Arabic, English
Keywords
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, Al-Ja’ferīah Shar’ia Court, Al-Jumhūrīyyah, Alliance School, Al-Mahdiyyah Primary School for Boys, Al-Rāfadīn Bank, Al-Zamān, Annotation, Architectural Plans, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Baghdad Jail, Baghdad Municipality, Basrah, Bills, British Embassy, Burial, Burial Society, Butcher, Calcutta, Charity, Chief Rabbi, Citizenship Laws, Correspondence, Court of Appeals – Baghdad, Court of Personal Property, Court of the Chief Rabbi – London, Crown Crest, Death Certificates, Deed, Deed Administration – Baghdad, Department of Passport and Nationality, Department of Posts & Telegraphs, Directorate General of Police, Education Administration Headquarters of Secondary Schools, Employment, Endowment, Envelope, Ezra David Synagogue Association, Ezra Menahem Daniel, Ezra Menahem Daniel Sports-Ground Committee, Financial, Form, France, Frank Iny School, French, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Handwritten, Heskel Menahem Daniel, Ḥevrah Ḳadishah, Hospital, Illustration, Income Tax, India, Ink Stamp, Invoice, Iran, Jewish Cemetery, Jewish Law, Jewish Lay Council, Jewish Life, Labor, Laura Khedouri School for Girls, Legal, Legal Document, Letterhead, Marriage Certificates, Medicine, Meir Elias Hospital, Menahem S. Daniel's School, Menashy Saleh School, Military, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Guidance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Trade, New York, Office for Oversight and Operation of Jewish Property, Office of Citizenship - Abrogation Branch, Office of Education – Baghdad, Office of Income Tax, Office of Telephone Administration, Office of the Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of Great Britain, Office of the Mint, Ottoman Bank, Personal Letterhead, Postage Stamp, President of the Jewish Community, Property Commission, Railways, Receipt, Rent, Revenue Stamp, Student Health, Telegram, The Royal Hospital, Torah, Travel, Typed, Vaccines, Vendor, Waqf

AI en Translation, Pages 526-550

Page 527

Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad:
Telephone Number: 83531 President / 5452 Secretary
No. T/: — / —
Date: 24 / 12 / 1958
Subject: ⟦line⟧
Announcement
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri, President of the Community, announces to the honorable members of the community that
the Presidency of the Community will teach those of its members who wish to learn about the slaughter of sheep, and at the same time it is
ready to assist those interested by providing financial aid during the period of teaching and training if they so desire.
His Eminence wishes everyone success and prosperity.
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad

Page 529

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
83531 President
5452 Secretary
No. T/: <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> / 59
Date: 14 / 8 / 1959
Subject:
To the United Contracting Company - Baghdad
Greetings,
On the occasion of your company's donation of the amount of (20/625) dinars, which represents the fees for using
the crane belonging to you in the installation of the eternal July 14th Victory Arch, the Presidency of this Community
while appreciating this service from your company, it simultaneously offers its profound thanks to you, especially
since we consider this service as a contribution from you in commemorating the eternal memory of the glorious
July 14th day.
Please accept our highest respect,
Rabbi Sassoon Khadouri
Acting President of the Community
A copy to:-
1 - July 14th Festivals Committee of the Mosaic Community
2 - Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews.

Page 530

Doctor
Mansour Nour Allah
Baghdad Qishla
Phone { Clinic 83633
Residence 6151
Dr.
Monsour Nourallah
BAGHDAD
Tel. { Clinic 83633
House 6151
Renee Abid Basaya is suffering from ⟦severe⟧ bleeding
And I have advised her to enter the hospital
I gave her this certificate based on her request
Baghdad on 27 / 7 / 1959 Mansour
⟦illegible⟧

Page 531

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 83531 President
5452 Secretary
No. T /: 122 / 59
Date: 27 / 7 / 1959
Subject:
Honorable Director of Kamal Al-Samarrai Hospital,
After greetings,
Please admit the patient Daisy Abed to your hospital in the third class only,
and charge the fees to this presidency; however, the presidency of the community is not responsible if the
aforementioned patient wishes to enter the second or first class.
Please accept our highest respect,
⟦On behalf of⟧
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Acting President of the Community
⟦Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad⟧

Page 536

Announcement
⟦line⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Sasson Khidhouri, President of the Mosaic Community and President of the Tohi Torah Association, announces that the association has opened a course
at the Alwiya Synagogue for teaching the Holy Bible (the Tanakh) free of charge and at the expense of the Tohi Torah Association. Therefore, graduates or those
who have basic knowledge and wish to join and study should register their names at the Alwiya Synagogue on Sunday and Monday falling on
12 and 13 / 7 / 1956 starting from eight until ten o'clock in the morning.
The teaching will be at a rate of three days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) of each week from eight until
ten fifteen in the morning. His Eminence wishes all members of his community success and prosperity.
Tohi Torah Association
1954
Baghdad

Page 537

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number } 83531
5452
No. T / — / 59
Date 26 / 8 / 1959
Subject: ⟦line⟧
To the Honorable Notary Public of East Baghdad
Greetings,
Please provide us with three certified copies of the lease agreement certified by your esteemed department under number 832
and dated 13 / 3 / 1948, concluded between Mr. Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq, President of the Israelite Lay Council in Baghdad,
in addition to his official capacity, and Messrs. Ahmad al-Salloum and Abd al-Hadi al-Hajj Faraj Hamza.
Please accept our highest respect.
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Acting President of the Community

Page 538

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
In Baghdad
Telephone Number { 83531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: 124 / 59
Subject:
Date: <del>1959/5/28</del> ⟦7/4⟧
Honorable First Notary Public of Southern Baghdad
After Greetings
By this petition, we authorize Mr. Isaac Ezra Abdullah to receive the checks for
rent payments from the community properties deposited in your department.
Please accept the expression of our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Acting President of the Community

Page 540

7/13/1959
Statement to the sons of the Mosaic community
Further to our previous statement, the location of the religious ceremony on the occasion of the eternal July 14th holiday is replaced from the Frank Iny School
to the Meir Tweg Synagogue and the same previous program applies.
Secretariat of the Mosaic Community

Page 541

7/13/1959
Statement to the sons of the Mosaic Community
Further to our previous statement, the location of the religious ceremony on the occasion of the eternal July 14 holiday is changed from the Frank Iny School
to the Meir Tweg Synagogue, and the same previous program applies.
Secretariat of the Mosaic Community

Page 542

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Number T/: ⟦line⟧
Date: 1959/1/19
Telephone Number: 83531 / 5452
Subject :: ⟦line⟧
Excellency, the Director of Electricity and Telephone of Baghdad, respected
After greetings
Your approval is requested to allow us to export 209 Seder Mora to England, worked on leather and preserved inside
wooden boxes and wrapped in old scrolls ⟦line⟧ .
Please accept our highest respect ⟦line⟧
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Mosaic Community
Sharon
Copy to :-
General Directorate of Antiquities
" General Directorate of Broadcasting and Guidance
" General Customs ⟦line⟧
" Foreign Finance

25 / 7 / 1971
Naming the settlement committee belonging to ⟦...⟧ Isaac Lessip
Based on what was decided in the session held on July 31, 1971, it was decided to name the gentlemen whose names are listed below to form the committee
mentioned above and entrusted with the task of liquidating the estate of the late Isaac Lessip
President of the Administrative Body of the Mosaic Community

Page 543

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Number T / ⟦...⟧ / 59
Date ⟦...⟧ / 4 / 1959
Telephone Number { 83531 President
5452 Secretary
Subject
His Excellency the Minister of Education, Respected
Greetings and respect
The Presidency of the Jewish Community is honored to record its thanks and appreciation for your kindness in including the ceremony
of distributing prizes to the outstanding students of our schools under your patronage, which will be held at exactly six
thirty in the evening of Sunday, May 17, 1959.
At the same time, we pray to the Almighty Creator to grant you success in elevating the status of culture in this
prosperous era. Long live the eternal Iraqi Republic. Long live our sole leader, Major General Abd al-Karim
Qasim.
Please accept the assurance of our highest respect
⟦illegible⟧
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Acting Head of the Community

Page 544

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number
83531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: 59 / ⟦line⟧
Date: 12 / 4 / 1959
Subject:
His Excellency the Respectable Minister of Defense
Greetings and Respect
The Passover holiday for the Jewish community begins on Thursday, April 23, 1959
So please be so kind as to order the release of Jewish soldiers to enjoy their official holiday on the first day of
the feast, which falls on Thursday 23 / 4 / 59, and on the first day of the second feast, which falls on
Wednesday 29 / 4 / 59. It is also requested to permit the mentioned soldiers from the afternoon of the previous day for each
of the two mentioned days so they can be in their homes on the eve of the holiday to perform the ceremonies related to the mentioned
holiday.
Since this holiday has special foods, please allow the families of the soldiers to provide them with
special food throughout the days of the holiday.
Please accept our highest respects
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Jewish Community
⟦illegible⟧

Page 545

Baghdad on ⟦line⟧
⟦Minister⟧ ⟦...⟧
Greetings and respect
The Passover holiday for the Jewish community for the year ⟦...⟧ will begin
from February 1959, so please be so kind as to ⟦...⟧
the Jewish soldiers to enjoy their official holiday on the first day
of it, Saturday, corresponding to 23 / 4 / 59, and the second day of it
Thursday
The second, corresponding to Wednesday, 29 / 4 / 959 ⟦...⟧
by granting leave to the Jewish soldiers at noon on the previous day
for each of the two mentioned days so that they may be on the eve of the holiday in ⟦...⟧
to perform the rituals related to the aforementioned holiday
Since this holiday has special foods, please be so kind as to ⟦...⟧
that they be shown possible consideration throughout the days ⟦...⟧
Please accept the highest expressions of respect
⟦...⟧
Head of the Jewish Community

Page 546

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone number { 83531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: ⟦illegible⟧ / 59
Date: 12 / 4 / 1959
Subject: ⟦line⟧
His Excellency the Director General of Prisons Respected
Greetings
On the occasion of the Passover holiday for the Jewish community, this presidency requests permission
to send some food and clothing to the Jewish prisoners in both Baghdad Prison and Detention Center
and Baquba Prison.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting Head of the Jewish Community
⟦illegible stamp⟧

Page 547

Baghdad on ⟦line⟧
His Excellency the Director General of Prisons, respected
After greetings,
On the occasion of Passover for the Mosaic community, we hope you will kindly
instruct to allow us to send some food items
to the Mosaic prisoners in both the ⟦Baghdad⟧ Central Prison
and Baqubah Prison.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦President ...⟧

Page 548

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number
83531 President
80545 Secretary
Number T/: <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> / 59
Date: 12 / 4 / 1959
Subject:
His Excellency the Director General of Prisons, respected
After greetings
The Passover holiday for the Jewish community begins on Thursday, falling on 23 / 4 / 59, and ends
on Thursday, falling on 30 / 4 / 59. Therefore, it is requested, as usual, to allow the families of Jewish prisoners
to provide special food to their relatives during the holiday starting from the evening of Wednesday, falling on
22 / 4 / 1959.
Please accept our highest respects
Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri
Acting President of the Jewish Community
Copy to :-
Baghdad Provincial Police Directorate for the same purpose
⟦illegible⟧

Page 549

Baghdad on ⟦line⟧
Excellency Director of
Baghdad ⟦Prisons⟧, Respectfully
On the occasion of Passover for the Mosaic community on Thursday falling on
4/23/59 and ending on Thursday falling on
4/30/59, therefore it is requested as before to allow the relatives of
the Mosaic prisoners to provide special food for their kin
during the holiday starting from Wednesday evening
falling on 4/22/59
This and please accept the highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Copy to the Director of Baghdad Police ⟦to kindly⟧ ⟦be informed⟧ ⟦please⟧

Page 550

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 83531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: 59 /
Date: 15 / 4 / 1959
Subject:
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Education
Greetings and Respect,
The Presidency of the Jewish Community is honored by your kind agreement to include the ceremony of distributing
prizes to the outstanding students of our schools under your patronage, which will be held at exactly
six-thirty in the evening on Sunday, May 17, 1959.
At the same time, we pray to the Almighty Creator to grant you success in raising the status of culture in this
prosperous era. Long live the eternal Iraqi Republic, long live our sole leader, Major
General Abdul Karim Qasim.
Please accept our highest respect,
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Acting Head of the Community