AI en Translation, Pages 1-25
Page 2
The Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Number
Date 10/31/1943
His Excellency the Chairman of the Honorable Lay Council
Our committee recommended in its meeting held on 10/26/1943
to retire Mr. Hoki Abboudi due to his old age, weak eyesight, and inability
to carry out teaching duties.
In view of the length of the aforementioned person's services and his sincerity, we have recommended that his pension be
one and a half dinars per month, which is half of his current salary. Please inform us of your approval of this
proposal. Sincerely yours.
⟦Daoud Sassoon⟧
⟦David Sassoon⟧
Chairman of the Committee
A copy thereof to the Honorable Schools Committee to provide their opinion if necessary.
Approved
⟦...⟧
⟦3 / 11⟧
Page 3
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Number 6
Date 8 / 11 / 943
His Excellency, President of the Honorable Lay Council
After greetings and respect
Our committee decided in its meeting held on 3 / 11 / 943
1) Dismiss Mr. Daoud Shukur, teacher at the Midrash school, from his position due to his inability
to perform it, and due to his old age and weak vision, and granting him a gratuity of five
and twenty Dinars.
2) Dismiss the servant Ezra Shlomo, gatekeeper of the Mandai school, from his position and granting him a lump sum
gratuity of ten Dinars.
We request your approval of this proposal and to inform us.
With great respect to your Excellency,
⟦Daoud Sassoon⟧
Chairman of the Committee
A copy thereof to the Schools Committee for their opinion if necessary.
Approved
10 / 11
Page 4
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Date: August 5, 943
His Excellency the President of the Honorable Lay Council
Reference to your letter No. 3411 dated June 17, 943
Our committee approved in its meeting held on 8/3/943 to pay three dinars per month to the former
accountant Mr. Yusuf Lawi starting from the first of June 943, as he is on leave with half salary.
President of the Committee
A copy to the Honorable Schools Committee with reference to its letter No. 1193 dated July 13, 943
A copy to the Midrash accountant to act accordingly.
⟦illegible⟧
Page 5
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Number 4
Date November 5, 943
Honorable Chairman of the Schools Committee
We request your approval to second the services of Mr. Pinhas Fawzi Yousef Shaul
the teacher at the Menashi Saleh School to the Midrash Talmud Torah for a period of one year,
as the aforementioned teacher is the most suitable for the needs of our institution.
⟦Dawood M. Meir⟧
Chairman of the Committee
⟦Midrash⟧
Page 6
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Date: June 1946
General Report on Midrash Schools
943 - 945
Our committee was formed in 1942 and we took it upon ourselves to reform the Midrash schools
from all aspects, and indeed we have carried out some of these reforms and will complete them, God willing.
The School Building
The building of the Great Midrash was dilapidated, unhealthy, and in a deplorable state,
and the inspectors of the Ministry of Education and others had pointed out to close it many times due to the
damages it might cause. Finally, the Ministry of Education decided to withdraw its permit and make it a Kuttab after it was
an elementary school for it. So we renovated the Great Midrash, paved its courtyard and porches, paved four
classrooms, roofed two classrooms, carried out some other renovations, and constructed a second staircase in view of
the overcrowding of students due to their large number, and painted the major part of it. Since the Midrash budget
does not allow for spending large sums approaching 1200/000 Dinars for such constructions and renovations,
our committee intended to collect a portion of these expenses through donations from some
benefactors and spend the rest from the Gabbay estate as agreed upon with the respected Schools Committee
to spend the necessary amounts on the renovations of the Midrash and its endowments from the aforementioned estate, and we show
below the total donations in the school year 43 - 44.
Fils | Dinar |
750 | 302 | by Mr. Hakouli Shua and Mr. Ephraim Sadqa.
500 | 360 | by Mr. Salman ⟦Ezra⟧ Shahrabani.
250 | 662 |
Only six hundred and sixty-two Dinars and two hundred and fifty Fils and nothing else.
And herewith we add here that the Great Midrash after these renovations has become in a very good condition
from a health perspective and in a satisfactory state in terms of cleanliness, appearance, ventilation, and number
of classes. We hope that these renovations will keep it in this state for several years.
Accounting
The accounts of the Midrash schools were very turbulent to the extent that it was impossible to know the claims
and debts of the Midrash fund exactly. Therefore, a special accountant was appointed for the Midrash schools
responsible for all revenues and expenditures, and he cannot spend without the approval of this committee
except for partial cash expenses.
⟦The Accountant⟧
Page 10
The Midrash
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Number 1482
Date 9 November 943
His Excellency the Chairman of the respected Midrash Committee
Reference to your letter numbered 4 dated 5 / 11 / 943
We agree to the secondment of the services of Mr. Pinhas Fawzi Youssef, the teacher at Munshi Saleh School, to the Midrash
Talmud Torah for a period of one year as per your request.
⟦illegible⟧
The Secretary
A copy to the administration of Munshi Saleh School to act accordingly, with the request that the aforementioned person remains
counted on the staff of your school during this academic year.
A copy to the aforementioned person to act accordingly.
Midrash
Page 12
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Date: 13 July 1942
The Honorable Chairman of the Schools Committee
After greetings and respect,
With reference to your letter No. 971 dated 3 July 1942,
We request you to note that our committee, in its first meeting held on Sunday evening, 12 July 1942,
has elected His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hokei Aboudi as Chairman and Mr. ⟦Israel⟧ Nassim Hay as Secretary. This,
and may you remain in respect.
⟦signature⟧
The Secretary
A copy to the Honorable President of the Community
A copy to the Honorable Chairman of the Lay Council
A copy to the Midrash Directorate for information
Midrash
Page 13
The Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Date: July 13, 1942
Honorable Chairman of the Schools Committee
After greetings and respect,
With reference to your letter No. 971 dated July 3, 1942,
We request that you note that our committee, in its first meeting held on the evening of Sunday, July 12, 1942,
Has elected His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoke Aboudi as President and Mr. Israel Nissim Hai as Secretary. This
And stay with respect.
⟦illegible⟧
Secretary
A copy to the Honorable President of the Community
A copy to the Honorable Chairman of the Lay Council
A copy to the Directorate of the Midrash for information
For the schools
Midrash
Page 14
The Israelite Schools Committee
Baghdad
Number ⟦979⟧
Date 3 July 942
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Houti Abboudi, the respected
Respected and Distinguished Notables:
Israel Nassim Hay
Abdullah Rabbi Ibrahim Khalil
Sion Shua Hay
Menashe Hezekiel Smehi
After greetings and respect,
Based on the proposal of His Excellency the Head of the Community in the meeting held on 1 July 942, and based
on the authority granted to our committee in Article 9 of its bylaws, it has been decided to charge you with forming
a sub-committee to manage and reform the Midrash, provided that it has all the powers granted to the Schools Committee
itself, on the condition that the budget it requires is decided with the approval of the Schools Committee.
May God grant you success in achieving the desired reform in this important charitable institution.
Please accept
our utmost respect.
Secretary
A copy to:
His Excellency the respected Head of the Community
His Excellency the esteemed Head of the Lay Council, for information
The Directorate of Midrash Schools, to act accordingly.
⟦JN S⟧
Page 15
Israeli Schools Committee
Baghdad
Number
Date July 3, 942
971
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi, Respectfully
Respected Honorable Notables
Israel Nassim Hai
Abdullah Rabbi Ibrahim Hillel
Sion Shohet Gege
Menashe Heskel Sehayek
After greetings and respect
Based on the proposal of His Excellency the President of the Community in the meeting held on July 1, 942, and based
on the authority granted to our committee in Article 9 of its bylaws, it has decided to task you with forming
a sub-committee to manage the Midrash and its reform, provided that it has all the powers granted to the Schools Committee
itself, on the condition that the budget it organizes is subject to the approval of the Schools Committee.
May you succeed in achieving the desired reform in this important charitable institution. Please accept our
highest respect.
Secretary
A copy to:
His Excellency the Respected President of the Community
His Excellency the Honorable President of the Lay Council for information
Midrash Schools Directorate to act accordingly.
⟦Murad⟧
Page 16
Jewish Schools Committee
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE NO. 531
Jewish Schools Committee
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 531
Number: 611
Date: July 28, 940
Subject Summary:
His Excellency the Honorable President of the Lay Council
Reference to your letter No. 3288 dated July 24, 940
We agree with the esteemed Council on the necessity of placing all expenditure and revenue transactions in
the Midrash schools under the supervision of a special committee, as well as appointing an accountant with the trustee who would be
responsible to the aforementioned committee; however, we believe that appointing members from among the
community employees is not in the best interest and we ask you to nominate non-employee persons for this purpose,
⟦for them⟧
The President
Page 18
Midrash Committee
Baghdad
Number 100
Date 28 / 2 / 45
His Excellency the Chairman of the Schools Committee
After greetings and respect
Following up on our letter numbered 75 and dated 29 / 11 / 44
We have understood that your esteemed committee has decided on additional high cost of living allowances for school employees in addition
to the high cost of living allowances paid to them at present, and that these allowances are suspended
pending the approval of the esteemed Lay Council. Therefore, our committee finds that fairness calls us all to
support the teachers of the Midrash schools, and deems it necessary to add one dinar as an additional allowance for each
employee in the Midrash due to the smallness and insignificance of their salaries on one hand, and the small high cost of living allowances paid
to them on the other hand. As it equals approximately half of the high cost of living allowances paid to school
employees, and accordingly we request you to mediate with the Lay Council to grant the Midrash schools fund
eight hundred ⟦800/-⟧ dinars instead of the four hundred ⟦400/-⟧ dinars estimated in the budget of the current year attached to our letter
referred to above, so that we can include the Midrash employees in the same additional allowances that your
respected committee found necessary to add to the teachers.
With highest respect
Chairman of the Midrash Committee
⟦...⟧
I believe a copy of it should be sent to the President of the Lay Council
before issuing his decision regarding the budget
Page 21
To the presence of the masters of the esteemed Communal Council, may God prolong their glory, Amen.
The Presentation:
We, the undersigned, teachers at the Midrash school, are heads of large families; undoubtedly, your excellencies
can imagine the extent of our poor condition and what we and our families endure in misery and hardship, as we show you that our monthly
salaries range between two and four dinars. However, whatever our situation, we were not requesting in this petition
of ours an increase to these meager salaries, but rather there is a matter more bitter and calamitous, which is the non-payment of our salaries for several months.
What would be the condition of an employee with such a salary amount who receives nothing from it during all those long months?
How can he be able to live, and consequently, how can he perform his duties as desired?
Various debts have accumulated upon us, and we have reached a state that the pen fails to describe. Therefore, we raise
our plea for mercy and our cry for help to your high position, hoping to save us from this ordeal of ours, or rather to save families suffering from the hardship
and bitterness of life beyond what humans can bear, by instructing the headmaster of our school to pay us a portion of our salaries
mentioned below.
The sole excuse of the aforementioned headmaster for the reason for the delay in paying our salaries all this time is the deficit occurring in
the school budget. If that is the case, then why does this reason not include all the teachers and is restricted to us
only?
We await your sublime compassion toward us and your kindness in granting our request, as there is no one worthy of protecting
our rights but you. This matter is entrusted to you, our masters, on 4 / 2 / 944.
Teacher | Teacher | Teacher
Ezra Hakil | Yusuf Habib Ishaq | Yusuf Yaqub Akri
Monthly Salary Amount | Unpaid Salaries | Number of Months | Until the end of the current month | Name of Teacher | Signature
Dinar | Fils | Dinar | Fils | | | |
3 | - | 54 | 867 | 18 | '' '' '' '' | Yusuf Yaqub Akri | ⟦signature⟧
2 | - | 22 | - | 11 | '' '' '' '' | Yusuf Habib Ishaq | Yusuf Habib Ishaq
2 | - | 22 | - | 11 | '' '' '' '' | Ezra Hakil | Ezra Hakil
Page 23
November 18, 943
His Eminence, Chairman of the Midrash Committee, respected
Reference to your two letters No. 3 dated 10/31/943 and No. 6 dated 11/8/943
The Lay Council, in its meeting held on 11/17/943, ratified the following:-
1) Referring Mr. Khouki Abboudi for retirement with a pension of one and a half dinars per month.
2) Paying a bonus of twenty-five dinars to the dismissed teacher, Mr. Daoud Shaker.
3) Paying a bonus of ten dinars to the person called Ezra Shlomo, the dismissed doorman of the Mandani Midrash.
4) The aforementioned retirement and bonuses shall be paid from the Midrash fund.
⟦illegible⟧
The President
A copy thereof to the respected Schools Committee for information.
Page 24
Jewish Schools Committee
JEWISH SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
Baghdad
BAGHDAD
No.: 640
No.:
Date: 9 April 1943
Date,: 193
His Excellency the Chairman of the Respected Midrash Committee
Reference to your letter dated 21/2/943
After deliberating on your proposal, it appeared that your committee was unable to verify the validity of the debts that
the teachers have against the Midrash. In view of this fact, the committee did not find it possible to consider all
these debts as active debts payable immediately. Therefore, the committee decided in its meeting
held on 7/4/943 to accept your proposal to consider debts accrued from 1 October
940 until the end of September 942 only as active debts to be paid to the creditors in cash. As for the debts accumulated
at the end of September 940, the committee decided to consider them semi-active debts to be fulfilled to the
creditors in monthly installments amounting to one-quarter of the creditor teacher's salary, provided that the installment is not less than one
dinar per month, to be paid regardless of whether the creditor is still a teacher in the Midrash or has left
the job by choice or as a result of dispensing with his services.
The payment of active debts to creditors is contingent upon their acceptance of this installment plan without reservation or condition.
As for the installments, payment shall commence at the end of each month starting from the first of April 943, provided that
the creditors Rabbi Heskel Zeloof and Nahum Moallem Eliyahu are excluded from this settlement, as their
substantial debts invite doubt as to how they accumulated.
Enclosed is a check on the Ottoman Bank for the amount of 941.588 dinars dated 9 April 943,
a loan from our committee to settle the active debts referred to above, provided that it is repaid to this committee
in two equal installments: the first installment in the year 47/948 and the second 48/949.
⟦illegible⟧
The President
A copy to the Honorable Secular Council with a request to take a decision to deduct this debt from the Midrash
allocations for the two years mentioned above which are paid from the community fund, and to provide us
with a copy for the records.
For the records
10/4
Saleh Shaumo Abdullah | Rabbi Sasson Khedhouri
Saleh Faraj Hayyim | Members
Sion Shua Giji | Ibrahim ⟦Hayyim⟧ Moallem Nassim
Sion Ezra Nissan | Ibrahim Dawood Nahum
Abdullah Sion Sheena | Ibrahim Saleh Al-Kabir
Lawyer Abboudi Sitti | Lawyer Ibrahim Abboudi Hazoum
Ezra Eliyahu Al-Ani | ⟦Eliyahu⟧ Elia Nassim Hai
Ezra Haskel Bahar | Eliyahu Haskel Al-Ani
Dr. Ezra Qarayan | Eliyahu Mounir Dawood
Ezra Menachem Daniel | Lawyer Anwar Shaul
Ezra Nassim Alloiya | Rabbi Benjamin Hakham Moshi
Kurji Ibrahim Hayyim Hakham Ishaq | Haskel Dawood Shamtoub
Dr. Kurji Mounir Rabi | Lawyer Haskel Yaqub Murad
Kurji Shalom Lavi | Khedhouri Mounir Lavi
Mounir Shaul Menashi Shoashua | Khedhouri Murad Shuker
Mounir Menachem Mahlab | Dawood Samra
Mounir Hakham Moshi Dangoor | Dawood Shaul Twig
Menashi Ibrahim Kurji | Rabbi Dawood Ezra Masfa
Menashi Saleh Shlomo Dawood | Dr. Dawood Moallem Nassim
Moez Ita | Dawood Yusuf Moallem Saleh
Moshi Shaul Sofer | Rabbi Raphael Ishaq Hayyim
Dr. Nur Allah Moussa | Rubin Ezra Dawood
Nunu مکمل | Rabbi Sasson Ezra Sehayek
Haroun Haskel Smouha | Sasson Murad Sasson
Yamin Murad | Sasson Hakham Nassim Cohen
Yehuda Saleh Zelouf | Lawyer Salman Saleh Al-Kabir
Rabbi Yehoshua Moshi Haskel | Lawyer Salman Sion Sheena
Dr. Joseph Rosenfeld | Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
Lawyer ⟦...⟧ | Lawyer Salim Ishaq
| Salim Tarzi
Page 25
No. M.G./C - 262.
Military Governor's Office,
Baghdad. 6th Oct. 1917.
To,
His Eminence,
The Chief Rabbi,
Baghdad.
With reference to your letter of to-days
date - I beg to inform you that the Jewish Community
may have lights in their houses on Saturday night
for the purpose of celebrating vespers.
In giving this permission I wish to
point out that applications of this nature should be
made at least 14 days before the date concerned, as
otherwise it is possible that they may not be
favourably considered.
⟦C. Hawker⟧
Br. Gen.,
MILITARY GOVERNOR.
H.H.
⟦illegible blue text⟧
⟦illegible⟧