AI en Translation, Pages 301-325
Page 301
Iraqi Government
Baghdad Irrigation District
Telegraphic Address: Baghdad Irrigation
Telephone Number: 205 - 206
Number: 2722
Date: 12 May 1937
To -
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Subject - Demolition of a structure
Reference to your letter No. 4285 dated 29 April 37
The intended purpose is for you to demolish the section that is feared for and which has
no connection with the pump's quay and its location. Therefore, this department is ready to send
one of its employees to guide you regarding the demolition of the sections that are feared for before you
commence the work. Accordingly, please inform us of the time you will carry out the contents
of the warning within the period prescribed therein.
⟦signature⟧
Engineer of Baghdad Irrigation District
⟦initials⟧
A copy to the Requirements Committee
S / 11
Page 302
Baghdad Irrigation District
Number 3734
Date 13 May 937
To -
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
(Copy)
Subject: Demolition of a well
With reference to your letter No. 4285 dated 29 April 937, the
required objective is for you to demolish the section that is feared for and which has no
connection to the pump's embankment and its location. Therefore, this department is ready to send
one of its employees to guide you regarding the demolition of the sections that are feared for before
you commence the work. Accordingly, please inform us of the time you will carry out the
contents of the warning within the period prescribed therein.
Engineer of the Baghdad Irrigation District
True copy
24 May 937
⟦illegible signature⟧
Page 303
4224
24 May 937
To
The Jewish Hospitals Committee
Baghdad
We attach herewith a copy of the letter from the Baghdad Irrigation District No. 3734 dated 13
May 937 regarding the demolition of a well;
L.H.
⟦For⟧
Head of the Community
Page 304
Important notice from the Hospitals Committee
To the attention of the members of the Israelite community regarding its status
During the period of the last three years and the services of these institutions towards the poor and the afflicted
1 - We list below the status of the hospitals' budget - its revenues and expenses -
The <del>this</del> administration of Meir Elias Hospital spends on ⟦(1)⟧ the administration of the mentioned hospital and on all its affiliates, which are
(2) Rima Khedouri Eye Hospital (3) Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy (4) Isaac Effendi Jarrah Dispensary (5)
School eye clinics
The total budget of <del>these</del> certified hospitals for one year from October 1936 to <del>the end of</del> September 1937 is as follows
Expenses | Fils | Dinars
Expenses of Meir Elias Hospital ⟦including⟧ | 8104 | "
" Rima Khedouri Hospital ⟦-⟧ | 926 | "
" Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy and Isaac Effendi Jarrah Dispensary | 820 | 600
" School clinics | 175 | 200
Total budget of the hospitals for the mentioned year | 10025 | 800
As for the revenues, they are | Fils | Dinars
236 " Net income from endowments from abroad
400 " " Endowments of Riqa Nouriel (advance revenues)
450 " Income from domestic endowments (in Baghdad) net income
⟦line⟧
1086 "
Fees collected from those who can pay a fee in the hospital
" 500 from surgeries
" 26000 from accommodation fees
" 1000 from examination fees
⟦line⟧
4150 "
230 " Donations
30 " Commitment fee for flowers and myrtle
750 " Ketubot fee
⟦line⟧
6246 " Total revenues of Meir Elias Hospital
110 " From Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy
Revenues of Rima Khedouri Hospital
⟦line⟧
" 280 Fees paid by those capable for surgeries and accommodation
" 225 Allocations from Sir Elie Khedouri for this hospital
⟦line⟧
505 "
2100 " Lump sum allocations from the Ganjiliya revenues for all these institutions
1064 800 The resulting deficit
⟦line⟧
10025 800
Page 306
( 3 )
<del>for internal diseases</del> and an assistant to him, a capable surgeon, and a female doctor specializing in gynecology, pediatrics, and obstetrics
and a doctor specializing in radiology (electricity), in addition to technical staff, nurses, and others.
As for the Dar al-Shifa pharmacy, after the designated doctor was shared with Meir Elias Hospital, the
committee appointed a specific doctor for the pharmacy along with a pharmacist and an assistant pharmacist, in order ⟦to⟧ treat the poor
outpatients for their illnesses that do not require hospitalization. As for those among them who require hospitalization,
the doctor refers them to Meir Elias Hospital. ⟦And it is the nursing mothers' relief committee which took upon itself⟧
There is also a committee of virtuous ladies ⟦who⟧ <del>took upon themselves</del> the management of the maternity ward for the poor
and the righteous, by collecting donations and holding ceremonies to obtain the necessary funds to manage the branch dedicated to delivering
the poor for free and giving poor nursing mothers sufficient aid to manage their affairs after their discharge from
the hospital. The aforementioned committee has been able since its founding to collect approximately 1,500 Dinars, all of which were spent
on establishing the mentioned branch and equipping it with the necessary technical supplies and ⟦its management⟧ in the best possible way.
We draw the attention of the members of the community to the fact that those who visit the hospitals and are well-off pay
their fees and more than their fees, and most of what they pay is spent on poor patients whose numbers have increased in
recent years significantly, and their payments are shown in the figures listed above.
It is natural that the public appreciates the benefits of these great institutions and the amount of service from which
the poor benefit by their existence, and our hope is that they come forward to assist and encourage them with all their ability, and by doing so
they fulfill their duty toward the miserable and the needy who fall ill therein, as they are known for their zeal for charitable
projects and for helping the poor and assisting the afflicted. May God grant you success in doing good deeds and helping the needy.
On this occasion, we thank the benefactors and virtuous people who spent on the hospital with great generosity, building
buildings and bringing the necessary tools and machines, and they continue to <del>help</del> assist it with all their efforts and honor it with
the required amounts.
The Jewish Hospitals Committee
in Baghdad
21 / 37
Page 307
4285
29 April 937
To the Honorable Engineer of the Baghdad Irrigation District
Baghdad
Reference to your warning dated 22 April 937 which we received on 26 April 37
stipulating the demolition of the well located on the Tigris River on which the pump for watering
Mir Elias Hospital is installed. On this occasion we present:
First - It is not practically possible to demolish the well at the present time due to the high water level,
nor can it be repaired or any construction repairs be fundamentally carried out now for the same reason.
Second - The aforementioned well belongs to us and is registered in our name at the Land Registry Department, as is
the shore located in front of it and the site where the pump is currently installed. We are ready, after
the water level drops, to carry out all repairs and improvements that your esteemed department
may deem necessary to prevent the danger of flooding as you requested. However, demolishing the well and removing it
entirely would lead to stopping the operation of the machine and consequently the inability to irrigate the hospital,
which would cause us severe and irreparable damage. Therefore, we hope you will kindly reconsider
this decision of yours and allow us to repair the aforementioned well if it is in need of
repair in a manner that ensures the prevention of danger according to your department's requirements and the continued irrigation of the hospital
from it at the same time;
⟦Alawi⟧
Head of the Community
LW
Page 309
Baghdad on April 29, 1937
To the Honorable Engineer of the Baghdad Irrigation District
Baghdad
Subject
On April 26, 1937, we received your notice numbered ⟦...⟧ dated April 22,
1937, ordering the demolition of the well located on the Tigris River on which the pump for watering the Meir Elias Hospital
is installed, and on this occasion we submit:
First: It is not practically possible to demolish the well at the present time due to the high water level, nor can it be repaired
or any changes made to the structure in principle now for the same reason.
Second: The aforementioned well belongs to us and is registered in our name at the Land Registry Department, as is the shore in front of it
and the site where the pump is currently installed. We are prepared, after the water level drops, to carry out
all repairs and improvements that your esteemed department may deem necessary to prevent the danger of flooding
as you requested; however, the demolition of the well and its total removal would lead to stopping the operation of the machine and thus to the
impossibility of irrigating the hospital, which would cause us severe damage that cannot be avoided. Therefore, we hope that
you will kindly reconsider this decision of yours and allow us to repair the aforementioned well if it is in need
of repair in a manner that ensures the prevention of danger according to what your department requires, while continuing to irrigate the hospital from it
at the same time. With respect;
Page 310
Irrigation Form No. 45
Irrigation Administration
Notice for Reconstruction or Removal
Notice No. ⟦line⟧ Baghdad Province
Date: April 22, 1937 District: ⟦line⟧
Sub-district: ⟦line⟧
Notice is hereby given to Mr. Ja'far al-Pachachi, residing in Baghdad, that Hajj Muhammad ⟦Ra'if⟧ al-Sa'd
in his capacity as the trustee of the Al-Khulani Mosque Endowment (according to the legal deed)
that <del>he removes</del> in the pump belonging to him located on Al-Sa'dun Street (Al-Sarrafiya)
<del>reconstructs anew</del>
and that he must demolish the pump building located on the river mentioned below
in a manner completely satisfactory to the issuer of this notice, within seven days starting
from April 22, 1937
due to the collapse of a portion of the pump building belonging
to your client, while the remaining part of this building must be demolished as
it is feared that its collapse may cause a risk of blockage
If there is neglect in implementing the instructions contained in this notice, the undersigned will then carry out
the required work and recover the expenses from him (i.e., from the owner).
The estimated cost for this work is ⟦line⟧ Dinars.
(Signature) ⟦illegible⟧
Executive Irrigation Engineer for the area of ⟦line⟧
Assistant Irrigation Engineer for the division of ⟦line⟧
Copy to the Sub-district Directorate, Governor of Baghdad Province, Baghdad Irrigation Area Engineer
Director General of Irrigation
Under payment
Date of Notification
22 / 4 / 7
Page 311
Important notice from the Hospitals Committee
To the attention of the members of the Israelite community regarding its status
During the period of the last three years and the services of these institutions towards the poor and the afflicted
1 - We list below the status of the hospitals' budget - its revenues and expenses -
That (1) the management of Meir Elias Hospital oversees the management of the aforementioned hospital and all its affiliates, which are
(2) Rima Khedouri Eye Hospital (3) Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy (4) Isaac Effendi Jarrah Dispensary (5)
School eye clinics
The total certified budget for ⟦these⟧ hospitals for one year from October 1936 to ⟦the end of⟧ September 1937 is as follows
Expenses | Dinar | Fils
Meir Elias Hospital expenses | 8104 | "
" " Rima Khedouri Hospital expenses | 926 | "
" " Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy and Isaac Effendi Jarrah Dispensary expenses | 820 | 600
" " School clinics expenses | 175 | 200
Total hospital budgets for the mentioned year | 10025 | 800
As for the revenues, they are | Dinar | Fils
Net income from endowments from abroad | 236 | "
" " Rima Nouriel endowments (net income) | 400 | "
Income from internal endowments (in Baghdad) ⟦net income⟧ | 450 | "
Fees collected from those who can pay a fee at the hospital | 1086 | "
From surgeries | 500 | "
From accommodation fees | 2600 | "
From examination fees | 1050 | "
| 4150 | "
Grants | 230 | "
Rose and Myrtle lease fee | 30 | "
Koshot fee | 750 | "
Total revenues of Meir Elias Hospital | 6346 | "
From Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy | 110 | "
Revenues of Rima Khedouri Hospital: | |
Fees paid by those capable for surgeries and accommodation | 280 | "
Sir Ellie Khedouri's allocations for this hospital | 225 | "
| 505 | "
Lump-sum allocations from Gabelle revenues for all these institutions | 2100 | "
The resulting deficit | 1064 | 800
| 10025 | 800
Page 312
( 2 )
2 - What the benefactors and generous people have spent on the improvements introduced to Meir Elias Hospital
from three years ago until now has reached 16,719 Dinars and 63 Fils, spent on renovations, equipment, furniture,
and buildings, which include the houses built for the doctors' residence so they can be present in the hospital
day and night, as well as the large building constructed for the residence of all nurses and complete analysis tools.
3 - For information, we list below statistics extracted from hospital records and ledgers during the past year
from October 1935 to September 1936
Meir Elias Hospital |
The daily average of patients who remained hospitalized in Meir Elias Hospital | 29,200
reaches 80 patients daily, 65 of whom are poor people who do not pay any fees and 15 |
are paying patients, so the general annual average is 29,200 patients |
of whom 23,725 are poor and 5,475 are those who pay a fee |
Total number of surgeries performed during the year | 523
Total number of births in Meir Elias Hospital | 340
(This is excluding patients who visit the hospital daily for examination only) |
Rima Khedouri Hospital |
Number of patient visits to Rima Khedouri Eye Hospital for treatment only during the year | 255,035
Number of minor and major surgeries performed during the year | 774
Number of hospitalized patients during the year | 179
Number of prescriptions given in the Dar al-Shifa pharmacy | 44,462
There is also the Isaac Effendi Jarrah clinic for treating the poor for their surgical diseases that do not | 12,500
require operations, and this clinic is located in Souq Hanoun near Torat Sheikh Isaac |
and its visitors are estimated annually at 12,500 |
As for the school eye clinics, they were established to combat trachoma prevalent ⟦...⟧ in the eyes of students,
especially the poor among them.
After the honorable public has seen the amount of health services provided by the hospitals to the poor
patients, and after reading the figures listed above, it becomes clear to the honorable reader that the hospitals are in great need
of the assistance of the community members, as their income from endowments is very small and most of their income is from the fees
paid by those who are able to the hospital, as well as what is allocated to it from the Gabelle revenues. Nevertheless, these
revenues are not sufficient, so the deficit continues to increase year after year. The committee has thought of finding a new source of income
for the hospitals to help them cover the deficit prevailing over their budget on one hand, and also so that
improvements and repairs can proceed continuously and they can accept the largest number of poor patients. Therefore,
it has issued the lottery, half of whose proceeds go to the hospitals and the other half to the Talmud Torah schools
and the schools.
We can make a simple comparison between the ⟦condition⟧ of the hospitals at the present time and their condition three
years ago; the number of patients accepted by the hospital was very small, and there was no permanent doctor in the hospital
except for one doctor who visited the hospital for half an hour daily. But now there is a professor for diseases.
Page 313
( 3 )
<del>For internal</del> diseases and an assistant to him, a capable surgeon, and a female doctor specializing in gynecology, pediatrics, and obstetrics
And a doctor specializing in radiology (electricity) besides the technical staff, nurses, and others
As for the Dar al-Shifa pharmacy, after the designated doctor was shared with Meir Elias Hospital, the
Committee appointed a designated doctor for the pharmacy along with a pharmacist and an assistant pharmacist, in order ⟦to⟧ treat the poor
Outpatients for their illnesses that do not require staying in the hospital. As for those among them who need to stay,
The doctor refers them to the Meir Elias Hospital
⟦To the nursing mothers' relief committee which took upon itself⟧
There is also a committee of virtuous ladies <del>who</del> took upon themselves the management of the maternity ward for the poor
⟦And fasting⟧ <del>and they</del> collect donations and hold ceremonies to obtain the necessary funds to manage the branch for delivering
The poor for free and giving poor nursing mothers sufficient aid to manage their affairs after their discharge from
The hospital. The mentioned committee has been able since its establishment to collect approximately 1,500 Dinars, all of which were spent
On establishing the mentioned branch and equipping it with the necessary technical supplies ⟦and managing it⟧ in the best possible way
We draw the attention of the members of the community to the fact that those who visit the hospitals and are well-off pay
Their costs and more than their costs, and most of what they pay is spent on poor patients whose numbers have increased in
Recent years greatly, and their payments are shown in the figures listed above
It is natural that the public appreciates the benefits of these great institutions and the amount of service from which
The poor benefit from their existence, and our hope is that they come forward to assist and encourage them with all their ability, and by that
They fulfill their duty toward the miserable and the needy who fall ill in them, as they are famous for their zeal for projects
Charitable work and for helping the poor and assisting the afflicted. May God grant you success in good deeds and supporting the needy
On this occasion, we thank the benefactors and virtuous people who spent on the hospital with great generosity and built in it
Buildings and brought to it the necessary tools and machines, and they are still ⟦strengthening⟧ helping it with all their efforts and honoring it
⟦With the required amounts⟧
. . .
The Jewish Hospitals Committee
In Baghdad
Page 314
Special Form No. 14
Secretariat of the Capital
Baghdad
6492
8415
Baghdad: Date 22 Muharram 1356
4 April 1937
To -
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Subject - Donations
Your letter No. 4175 dated 18 / 2 / 1937.
Please inform us of the result of your payment of the total donations that
were collected for the Meir Elias Hospital, hoping for your prompt reply.
Mayor of the Capital
A/Q
Page 315
⟦2222⟧
14 April 937
Honorable Chairman of the Hospitals Committee
The Secretariat of the Capital requested us in its letter No. 6493 dated 4 April 937
to inform them of the result of your payment of the total donations collected for Mar
Elias Hospital, so we hope for a response to that as quickly as possible;
⟦On behalf of⟧
Head of the Community
For filing
Page 316
4282
28 April 937
A copy of it to
⟦The Hospital⟧
His Excellency the Chairman of the Hospitals Committee, Respected
The patient Yaqub bin Yusuf al-Jamal, who is in the Meir Elias Hospital,
one of the senior state officials has requested that possible assistance be provided to him.
In view of what I know of the aforementioned person's need for assistance, I hope your esteemed committee
will provide him with the required assistance, and may you remain?
⟦Lu⟧
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Page 317
JEWISH HOSPITALS COMMITTEE Jewish Hospital Founders Society Jewish Hospitals Committee
BAGHDAD Baghdad in Baghdad
Established, 1884 Established in the year 1884
Telephone No. : 1480 Telephone Number: 1480
—:o:—
Meir Elias Hospital Meir Elias Hospital
Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital
Refouah Pharmacy. Dar Al-Shifa Pharmacy
No. Number:
Date: 27 July 937
Directorate of Customs and Excises
Baghdad
I, the President of the Jewish Hospitals Committee in Baghdad, certify that the surgical instruments
imported by Mr. Kadoorie Murad Shakoori, four boxes marked MW, amounting to
a value of 132 Dinars and 62 Fils according to declaration number 122/109, belong to
Meir Elias Hospital and that he is authorized by us to receive them; therefore, we request their exemption from
customs duties in accordance with the Council of Ministers decision No. 5322 dated 19 / 7 / 937 and to give the order
to deliver them to Mr. Kadoorie Murad Shakoori. Done;
⟦signature⟧
President of the Hospitals Committee
We certify that the signature above is the signature of the President of the
Jewish Hospitals Committee in Baghdad
27 July 937
On behalf of
⟦signature⟧
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
For filing
Page 318
Meir Elias Hospital
Baghdad
MEIR ELIAS HOSPITAL
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE NO. 1480
Meir Elias Hospital
Baghdad
Telephone Number 1480
No. / Number: 64
Date / Date: July 28, 1937
SUBJECT / Subject:
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, Respected
Baghdad
Greetings and respect.
I draw your Excellency's attention to the fact that this administration is in dire need of
paying the debts listed below at the end of the current month.
Dinar
Salaries of hospital employees approximately | 1000
Salaries of school clinic nurses | 500
Electricity and water fees | 450
To the request of the bread supply contractor | 105
" Dangour Store | 50
" The milk supply contractor | 45
" " " Soap | 22
The Musician | 50
I hope it does not occur to your Excellency that I have listed the hospital's debts
in their entirety. No, rather what I mentioned is the important part of them that must be paid or
a large part of it at least, so that it is possible for this administration to continue
its transactions and conduct its affairs with these creditors.
Six or five hundred dinars are necessary at the present time
to enable this administration to remain at the level of its dignity and perform its duty.
Page 319
MEIR ELIAS HOSPITAL
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE NO. 1480
Meir Elias Hospital
Baghdad
Meir Elias Hospital
Baghdad
Telephone No. 1480
No. 2
Date:
SUBJECT:
⟦Towards⟧ this institution.
I submit this to your Excellency in view of the resignation of the Israeli
Hospital Committee as you know.
Please accept my respect and thanks
⟦illegible⟧
Administrative Officer.
Page 320
4452
30 July 1937
Financial Status of the Hospital
⟦illegible⟧
To :-
Administrative Officer of Mir Elias Hospital
Your letter No. 64 dated 28 July 1937
I have referred your letter to the esteemed Lay Council, however, since
the majority of the council members are currently outside Iraq
such that it is no longer possible to achieve a quorum, and as there is no one
currently in Baghdad authorized to sign for withdrawals except the Vice President, therefore taking
any measures regarding what was stated in your letter is not possible at the moment.
There is no doubt that this matter will receive sufficient attention from
the Council at its first meeting;
L.Y.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
Page 321
4422
3 August 1937
The honorable notables, the gentlemen:
Chief Rabbi Moshe Doctor
Daoud Youssef Moallem Saleh
Salman Saleh Al-Kabir, the lawyer
Ezra Al-Wisa
The respected
After greetings and respect,
Please be so kind as to attend the community administration at five-thirty
in the afternoon tomorrow (Wednesday 4/8/937) to exchange views on
the status of the hospital at the present time.
With continued respect;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
⟦Lir⟧
Page 324
Statistics related to hospitals
Year | Number of patients admitted to Mar Elias Hospital | Daily number of beds in Mar Elias Hospital | Number of operations in Mar Elias Hospital | Number of doctors in Mar Elias Hospital | Number of nurses in Mar Elias Hospital
1933 | 936 | 35 | 329 | 3 | 2
1934 half a year only | 667 | 70 | 308 | 3 | 6
1935 | 1565 | 90 | 551 | 3 | 8
1936 | 2007 | 90 | 512 | 5 | 9
1937 | 2104 | 100 | 537 | 5 | 10
Statistics related to hospitals
Total revenues for all hospitals | Total expenditures for all hospitals | Constructions, machinery, and swings donated by generous people | Notes
4943/ | 5232/ | 2645/ | From April 933 until the end of March 934 12 months
3236/ | 3702/ | 1342/ | From April 934 until the end of September 934 6 months
7496/ | 8488/ | 2607/ | From October 1 934 until the end of September 935 12 months
<del>10248</del> 10248/ | 10629/ | 5904/ | From October 1 935 until the end of September 936 12 months
11360/ | 11899/ | 4405/ 16909 of which 1365 dinars were spent on renovations of the hospital's endowed properties | From October 1 936 until the end of September 937 12 months