AI English Translation, Pages 326-350
Association for the Improvement of the Conditions of the Blind
in Iraq
Blind Benevolent Association
Baghdad 2 / 9 / 1952
Number: 42
Date: 2 / 9 / 1952
Presidency of the Jewish Community
The Association for the Improvement of the Conditions of the Blind in Iraq was established for the purpose of
assisting the blind financially and raising their cultural and social level.
The association has exerted many efforts in this regard and has opened
Al-Sahira Mixed Elementary School for the sighted and the blind
following the American method, while teaching them reading in embossed script
(Braille), noting that education is free for the poor and the blind.
We have been able to pass the first year thanks to the valuable assistance
provided by its members and honorary members among the country's notables.
We hope for your support to move forward in the path of this
humanity, and may you remain well.
Sincerely,
Sultan Yusuf
President of the Association
Association for the Improvement of the Conditions of the Blind in Iraq
Iraq Blind Benevolent Association
No. ⟦line⟧ Number
Date ⟦line⟧ Date
Mr. President
Opinion of the President of the Association for the Improvement of the Conditions of the Blind
To the President of the Community to request financial aid
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date 2 / 9 / 1952
Requests for assistance are considered
in light of what is available in the fund
25176
10 / 22 / 1957
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center
Number /
Contracts
Urgent Date / 10 / 1 / 1957
⟦line⟧
To :-
Presidency of the Jewish Community
We request that the necessary measures be taken to carry out the renovations detailed below
in the building of Bani Said School for Boys.
1 - Plastering part of the courtyard walls
2 - Renovating the sanitary facilities
3 - Inspecting the ceiling of the school entrance due to its danger
4 - Removing the side door and installing it at the entrance
We hope to complete these renovations as quickly
as possible and inform us.
Director of Education of Baghdad Province
Center
A copy to :-
General Inspectorate of Education
Presidency of the General Provincial Council - Baghdad Governorate
Inspector Mr. Ahmed Al-Douri
Assistant Mr. Ihsan Al-Mukhtar
With reference to the memorandum of the Inspector
Mr. Ahmed Al-Douri
Numbered 8 and dated
on 10 / 17 / 1957 for your kind
information
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Date ⟦illegible⟧
The records with the original memorandum to take the necessary action regarding the furniture.
Aziz / 22
Directorate of Central Telephones
Primary Telephones
Number 15 / 186
Date 1957/11/22
12924
To
Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
With reference to your request No. T / 2925 / 85 dated
14 / 11 / 1957 regarding replacing your telephone set No. 5452 with a switchboard
and installing four internal extensions on it, we regret that the necessary cannot be done
from a technical standpoint, as it is not permissible to install four switchboard extensions
on a single telephone line - for your information.
Director of Central Telephones
Nabil Al-Dujaili
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Incoming
Number ⟦...⟧
Date ⟦...⟧
119
11/2/1958
The honorable Mr. Yaqub Shaul Yehuda and his respected wife
After greetings,
I congratulate you on the marriage of your daughter Odette to Mr. Isaac Daoud Haskel
Gourgi, wishing the newlyweds a happy married life, prosperity, and children, and for you
success and prosperity ⟦line⟧
Sincerely ⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
2/11/1958
The honorable and virtuous notable, Mr. Daoud Haskail Gori and his respected wife
Greetings,
I congratulate you on the marriage of your son, Mr. Isaac, to Miss Odette
Yaqub Shaul Yehuda, wishing the newlyweds a prosperous married life, happiness,
and children, and for you, success and prosperity.
⟦Adel⟧
Sincerely
Telegram 8
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number: 442
Telegram Type: Ordinary
Registration Time: 11/20
Arrived at Hour: 15
Minute:
From: Basra
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word Count: 20
Administrative Instructions: Hour 20
Date: 10/26
Issuing Office: Basra
Office Stamp
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Baghdad via His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Head of the Jewish Community
We thank you for your condolences to us on the death of our family's late member
Shibl al-Turaihi, asking the Lord not to show you any misfortune
Al-Turaihi Family
3/27/1958
To the honorable Mr. Sion Ibrahim Bashi, respected
After greetings,
I congratulate you on the marriage of your son, Mr. Ibrahim, to Miss Eva Daoud
Salman Zubaida, wishing the newlyweds a prosperous married life, comfort, and children,
And to your presence, good fortune and success.
Sincerely
Ministry of Education
Directorate of General Education
Accounts
Number: 7417
Date: 9 / 4 / 1957
( Ordinary )
Jewish Community Committee
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province - Center
Subject: Re-estimation of building rent
Your letter numbered 7417 and dated 18 / 3 / 1957
We request a statement of the repairs required to be carried out in the Al-Rusafa Intermediate School for Boys building belonging to the Jewish community
so that we may instruct the specialized committee to re-estimate its annual rent in light of these repairs.
⟦signature⟧
Director General of Education
Copy to /
The Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community - with reference to the letter
referred to
Accounts Department - Budget - with attachment
N / 7
718
Directorate of Education, Baghdad Province / Center
Secondary Accounts
- Ordinary -
Number /
Date / 4 / 7 / 1957
28
To ⟦line⟧
Directorate of General Education / Accounts
Further to our letter numbered 278 ⟦illegible⟧ and dated 2 / 7 / 1957.
We send you the statements for ⟦line⟧
Hoping for your kind review and to take the necessary action.
Renovations ⟦line⟧
1- Paving the classrooms and the school yard
2- Repairing some room ceilings
3- Renovating the walls
4- Repairing water pipes and connecting them to public facilities
⟦signature⟧
Director of Education, Baghdad Province
Center
Copy to ⟦line⟧
Presidency of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community - Baghdad - for information.
Al-Rusafa Intermediate School for Boys - referring to your letter No. 158 dated 22 / 6 / 57 for information.
Secondary Education Accounting - for auditing.
C / 25
8/7
13/7510
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Subject / ⟦illegible⟧
Based on the administrative order numbered ⟦illegible⟧ on ⟦illegible⟧
Including the formation of a committee ⟦illegible⟧
The committee met on ⟦illegible⟧ corresponding to ⟦illegible⟧
And the committee decided ⟦illegible⟧
1- ⟦illegible⟧
2- ⟦illegible⟧
3- ⟦illegible⟧
4- ⟦illegible⟧
Signature
Name ⟦illegible⟧
A copy of it to :-
1- ⟦illegible⟧
2- ⟦illegible⟧
Ministry of Education
General Directorate of Education
Accounts
Number 6568
Date 11 / 2 / 956
To / Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center
We are sending you herewith a copy of the lease contract for building No. 1/6/1 located in the Al-Sinak neighborhood belonging
to the Jewish community, currently used as a school for Al-Rusafa Intermediate School for Boys. Please renew
its lease contract directly by you upon its expiration, noting that we have paid its rent for the period from 2 / 10 / 955
until 2 / 10 / 956 according to the payment authorization memorandum No. 49584/45 dated 8 / 10 / 1955
when it was previously occupied by the Preparatory School of Commerce. Please inform us of receipt.
⟦signature⟧
Director General of Education
Attachments / Lease contract
A copy to :-
Mr. Farid Daoud Samra, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad - Hanan Safwat Drankoh
Please contact the Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center regarding the renewal of your building's lease upon
its expiration in the future.
Accounts Directorate
Abdullah 9 / of it
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, Honorable Hakham Bashi
After greetings,
I, Naji Ezra Suleiman, come with this petition of mine, pleading for the registration of my son Sami
at the Frank Iny School with his brother Nabil, who is currently at the aforementioned school in the fourth
primary grade, noting that I have become unemployed and am in dire need of assistance by accepting my children
at the school and providing them with textbooks at the expense of the ⟦Exalted⟧ Community, and to you much
respect.
Naji Ezra Suleiman
⟦illegible⟧
To be referred to His Excellency the Chairman
of the Committee to kindly express
an opinion, with hopes.
⟦illegible⟧
His Excellency the Chairman of the Administrative Committee, Honorable
After greetings,
The petitioner is unemployed and of poor circumstances,
and I hope, if it is possible, to enroll
his two sons for free at the school. Please accept
my highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Community
8/10
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Incoming No. ⟦2087⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
157
To the Honorable Head of the Israelite Community, Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Presented to your Excellency
I, Naji Ezra Suleiman, have come to plead for the registration of my son Sami at the
Frank Iny School with his brother Jamil, who is currently in the aforementioned school at the expense of the community
because I cannot pay their school fees, and the matter is yours, sir.
Preserved due to lack of space
⟦signature⟧
The Petitioner
Naji Ezra Suleiman
School Management Committee
2 / 10 / 1957
⟦faded bleed-through text⟧
Baghdad Province Education Directorate - Center
Al-Amani Evening School
Baghdad Province Education
⟦...⟧
Mr. Jamil Abdul Qader ⟦...⟧
The teacher Saif al-Din ⟦...⟧
Please refer to the full correspondence
Governorate of Baghdad Province
Local Administration
Number ⟦line⟧
Normal
Date 11 / 10 / 1957
To: - Presidency of the Israelite Community
Subject / Renovation of a school building
Your letter ⟦illegible⟧ dated 7 / 10 / 957
We have no objection to placing a marble plaque in the Al-Muhammadiya Primary School for Girls building upon which
the name of the donor for the building, the benefactor Menashi Saleh Shlomo, is written, and we will do what is necessary to demolish and rebuild
the old section of the school building immediately.
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
General Incoming
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date 19 - 10 - 1957
Abdul Jabbar Fahmi
Governor of Baghdad Province
Chairman of the Provincial General Council
A copy to -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province - Center
Local Administration Engineering
Local Administration Treasury
Local Administration Property Observation
Mr. Faisal Abdul Fattah - for notation
Lawyer Sion Subhi - Khan al-Shabandar - Al-Samawal Street
For his information
⟦signature⟧
17 / 10
His Excellency the President
Please ⟦peruse⟧
⟦signature⟧
17 / 10
Ahmed / 16
Lawyer
Sahyoun Hayhi
Khan al-Shabandar 240/30 Al-Samawal Street
Office Telephone Number 83589
Residence 7468
Baghdad 7 November 1957
Copy to be kept in the community's files
Number ⟦...⟧ / W / 1576
7/11/1957
The Presidency of the Mosaic Community
In Baghdad
Number ⟦...⟧
Date ⟦...⟧
Local Administration
Subject / Renovation of a school building
His Excellency the Mutasarrif of Baghdad Brigade, Respectable
Local Administration
With reference to your letter numbered 13062 and dated 20/10/1957.
It is not hidden from your Excellency that the decision issued by the Court of Cassation of Iraq numbered 1370 / Civil /
1956 dated 10/10/1956 was issued in the lawsuit filed by the Mutawalli (Trustee)
claiming the estimation of fair rent for the two houses under discussion. That this lawsuit has
been dismissed on the grounds that the endowment (Waqf) does not require the exploitation of the endowed property, but rather stipulated education therein, and
that the Directorate of Education is performing that; therefore, it is not considered to be occupying it in a way that violates the donor's condition,
especially for the Mutawalli to be entitled to a rental fee for it.
The lack of merit in the Mutawalli's lawsuit regarding the rental fee for the reasons mentioned above does not strip
him of the right to request the replacement of the two mentioned houses for the reasons stated in the letter of the community presidency
numbered / T / 3930 / 57 dated 13/10/1957.
Sir - I had presented to your Excellency, in the presence of his Excellency the Director of Education for Baghdad Brigade (Center),
the critical position of the Mutawalli in this case, and that despite his sincere desire to cooperate in this
matter, he cannot, in his capacity as a religious man, head of a community, and Mutawalli, but consider all conditions of the endowment,
including those mentioned in his letter referred to above, as valid. Therefore, we requested if it is found appropriate
to complete the two expropriation transactions for the mentioned houses which you previously initiated as stated in your two letters
numbered 8773 and 10738 dated 15/3/56 and 2/4/1956.
Note that the expropriation value of these two dilapidated houses has no effect on
the amount allocated to be spent on construction on one hand, and on the other hand, it helps in
bringing an end to this case.
If you see that expropriation is inappropriate, we suggest the following arrangement: -
First - That you authorize us to write a marble plaque on which a phrase is written showing that the land of the building
of this school is a gift from Menashi Saleh Shlomo Daoud, to remain in a suitable place in
the building, in order to comply with one of the donor's conditions.
To be continued
The Lawyer
Sion Guigui
Khan al-Shabandar 30/240 Al-Samawal Street
Telephone Number | Office 83759
| Residence 7468
Baghdad
Follow-up - 2
Second - Spending the income of the shops on the education of poor Jewish girls.
Third - After fulfilling the two aforementioned conditions, there remains no obstacle for us to let
the Ministry of Education or the local administration carry out the repairs they want at their own expense.
With our highest respect to your Excellency.
The Lawyer Sion Guigui
General Agent for the Trustee and the Presidency of
the Jewish Community - Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
A copy to:-
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center
Superintendent of Properties and Local Administration
The Lawyer
Sihyon Hajiji
Khan al-Shabandar 240/30 Al-Samawal Street
Office Telephone No. 83759
Residence 7468
Baghdad, November / 1957
Subject / Renovation of my school building
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Letter Number: ⟦...⟧
Date: ⟦...⟧
His Excellency the Governor of Baghdad Brigade, Respectfully
With reference to your letter numbered 13062 and dated 10/20/1957.
It is not hidden from Your Excellency that the decision issued by the Court of Cassation of Iraq numbered 1370 / Legal / 1956 dated 10/10/1956 was issued in the lawsuit filed by the Mutawalli (trustee) demanding the estimation of the fair rent for the two houses in question, and that this lawsuit was dismissed on the grounds that the endowment (waqf) does not stipulate the commercial exploitation of the endowed property, but rather stipulated education therein, and that the Directorate of Education is performing that; therefore, they are not considered occupants in violation of the endower's conditions, and specifically the Mutawalli is not entitled to rent compensation for it.
The lack of entitlement for the Mutawalli's claim regarding the rent for the reasons mentioned above does not strip him of the right to request the replacement of the two mentioned houses for the reasons stated in the letter of the Presidency of the Community numbered T / 3920 / 57 and dated 10/13/1957.
Sir - I had presented to Your Excellency, in the presence of His Excellency the Director of Education for the Baghdad Brigade (Center), the critical position of the Mutawalli in this case and that, despite his sincere desire to cooperate in this matter, he cannot, in his capacity as a religious man, head of a community, and trustee, allow all conditions of the endowment, including those mentioned in his letter referred to above, to remain in effect. Therefore, we requested, if found appropriate, to complete the procedures for the expropriation of the two mentioned houses which you had previously initiated as per your two letters numbered 8773 and 10738 and dated 3/15/56 and 4/2/1956.
Noting that the expropriation compensation for these two dilapidated houses has no impact on the amount allocated to be spent on reconstruction on one hand, and on the other hand, it helps bring an end to this case.
If you consider that expropriation is inappropriate, we suggest the following arrangement:
First - That you authorize us to write a marble plaque inscribed with a phrase showing that the land of this school building is a gift from Menashi Saleh Shallo Dawud, to be placed in a suitable location in the building so as to comply with one of the endower's conditions.
To be followed ⟦line⟧
Continued - 2
Second - Spending the revenue of the shops on the education of poor Musawite girls.
Third - After the two aforementioned conditions are met, there is no longer any objection on our part to
the Ministry of Education carrying out the renovations it desires at its own expense.
With highest respect to your Excellency.
⟦illegible⟧
Attorney Sion Hayhi
General Agent for the Trustee and the Presidency of
The Israelite Community - Baghdad
A copy of it to -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center
Superintendent of Properties and Local Administration
Directorate of Al-Karkh Hospital
Baghdad
Number: 4948
Date: 10 / 9 / 1956
To -
Ministry of Health
Subject /
The house adjacent to the hospital has been vacated by the Transport
and Traffic Police Station, and the committee formed by us has received that house. Attached
we send a copy of the receipt decision for your kind review.
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Dr. Akram Al-Qaymaqchi
Acting Director of Al-Karkh Hospital
Copy to - Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad - with a copy of the
receipt decision.
With thanks
Decision
His Excellency the Director
The committee composed of Mr. Sadiq Muhammad Hassan, Haj Dawood
Salman, and Mr. Bashir Muhammad Taher, according to your administrative order No. 2595 dated
13 / 8 / 956, inspected the house adjacent to the hospital and rented by the
Northern Transport and Traffic Police Center
1- The house contains eight rooms.
2- A Western bathroom
3- Two Western toilets, one of which is broken.
4- Two washbasins, one of which is cracked.
5- A small portion of the window glass is broken.
6- There are no ceiling or table fans.
7- The electrical installations are concealed.
8- There are no electric light bulbs in the house.
9- The wood for hanging beds is complete.
10- Twenty electric lamp shades of various shapes and sizes, in good condition.
11- Room keys are complete, except for the reception room door, the main door, and the
back door, which are missing.
12- The Western toilet on the roof is broken.
13- The electric meter is present.
⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧
Member | Member | Member
Sadiq Muhammad Hassan | Bashir Muhammad Taher | Haj Dawood Salman
Note .
⟦line⟧ The committee confirms that the house mentioned above was handed over to the hospital administration
on the date 9 / 9 / 1956 .
Student /
Iraqi Government
Ministry of Health:
Division: Accounts
Number /: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 3/31/957
922
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
Subject / Payment of an amount
⟦illegible⟧
We confirm our letter No. 3045 dated 1/30/957
Requesting the prompt payment of the amount / 3519/193 to the Diwan of this Ministry.
Minister of Health
Copy to " -
Directorate of Al-Karkh Hospital
Directorate of Rights - The Jewish Community has not paid the amount
referred to above despite the passage of two months since the
request was issued
Directorate of Accounts
Diwan Accountant.
Najat
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
His Excellency Rabbi Sasson Khedouri, President of the Jewish Community, respected
We, the residents of Torat Zilkha and Torat Abu Menashi, and we are twelve families
We have no place to ⟦wash⟧ in, so we beg your Excellency to
Be so kind as to order the construction of a public bath, especially since there live with us
Some ⟦crippled⟧ single men who are unable to go
To a public bath, so we ⟦seek⟧ your kindness to look upon
Us, for we are human beings who wish to wash in a bath
This is for your command, sir
The Petitioner
On behalf of the residents of Torat Zilkha
And Torat Abu Menashi
Sami Rahmin Al-Mu'allim
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Private Number ........
Date -- -- --
Only
Honorable Head of the ⟦illegible⟧ Community
After greetings and offering respect
You had allocated an aid for us in the amount of 250 two hundred and fifty fils, and for your knowledge this amount
is very small and does not even cover the cost of the milk needed by my sick, bedridden father, so how about the livelihood
of a person
Therefore, I have come to plead for a reconsideration of these allocations and to increase them to the extent that
helps us to sustain ourselves in these difficult living conditions
With sincere respect
Samira Khedhouri
Archive
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews:
Number:
Date: 1 / 1 / ⟦illegible⟧
127
TELEPHONE
83531
5452
President of the Jewish Community
BAGHDAD
⟦line⟧
No.:
BAGHDAD: 14th August, 1959.
Mr. Marcus Carr,
Clerk to the Court of the Chief Rabbi,
Adler House, Tavistock square,
London, W.C.1.
Dear Sir,
With reference to your letters of 20th May and 9th July,
1959, concerning Victor Solomon Menashy, who is still alive in
Baghdad, we have tried our best to persuade this man to give the
Get necessary for the divorce of his wife without avail. It is
regrettable that this fellow is insistent not to give such a Get.
Sincerely yours,
⟦illegible signature⟧
Rabbi Sassoon Khedoury,
President.
TELEPHONE
83531
5452
President of the Jewish Community
BAGHDAD
No.:
BAGHDAD: 14th August, 1959.
Mr. Marcus Carr,
Clerk to the Court of the Chief Rabbi,
Adler House, Tvistock square,
London, W.C.1.
Dear Sir,
With reference to your letters of 20th May and 9th July,
1959, concerning Victor Solomon Menashy, who is still alive in
Baghdad, we have tried our best to persuade this man to give the
Get necessary for the divorce of his wife without avail. It is
regrettable that this fellow is insistent not to give such a Get.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Sassoon Khedoury,
President.