Citizenship Correspondence between Iraqi Government and Jewish Community; Synagogue Financial Information
View interactive document pageThese are documents relating to the Baghdadi Jewish community, many about Iraqi citizenship. Included are various correspondences between the Jewish community and the Iraqi government. Correspondence with the Secretary General of the Frozen Fund Administration regarding the revocation of Iraqi citizenship of employees at Jewish establishments and daily payment of workers; a letter with names and salaries of employees; a letter from the Secretariat for Monitoring and Managing the Funds of the Jews to the Jewish Hospital Council proclaiming Jewish Iraqi citizenship and permitting employers to pay the employees but freeze a percentage of their salary for the Secretariat. Correspondence with the Secretariat to Monitor and Manage the Funds of the Jews: proclaiming Iraqi Citizenship to the Directorate of Travel and Citizenship, and to the President of the Jewish Community verifying if certain people are having their Iraqi citizenship revoked; requesting the release of a Jewish community fund; the formation of a committee to manage the affairs of David Ezra Synagogue; inquires related to property; request to exempt the Jewish poor from paying tax on their belongings when leaving Iraq; a request to return a shop belonging to the Jewish community; paying the Jewish cemetery guard accumulated salaries; returning an endowed Jewish property; provisions to help the Jewish poor; releasing items belonging to Ḥevrah Ḳadishah (burial society) for Jewish burial; returning the endowed eye hospital and pharmacy; Information about Hebrew religious books in the storage of the Directorate; letters between the President of the Jewish Community and Iraqi government offices regarding exchanging information and answering inquiries, the heirs of Jewish deceased, names, Jewish hospital operations, property tax, lifting the "hand" from the Jewish community funds, and management of the Jewish community funds. Documents relating to Baghdadi Synagogues: an inventory from Mindili Synagogue; correspondence between the Committee on the Administration of Ezra Synagogue and the Directory of Rights and Commercial Matters regarding the members of Ezra Synagogue citizenship status; correspondence from the Jewish Lay Council and banks about opening a bank account for Ezra Synagogue; correspondence from the Lay Council to the Secretary General of the frozen funds regarding the name of the Ezra synagogue committee. Correspondence between the Jewish Lay Council to the General Secretariat regarding exporting 100 Jewish books to without paying for the silver cover; a reply from Municipality of Rights and Commercial Matters to permit the export of the books if it had no silver cover; the Jewish presidency’s reply that it is a family owned, there are not commercial items, and it is against the freedom of religion law. Correspondence from Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri: to the General Directorate of Import regarding Iraqi Jewish property taxes, the Jewish properties exempted from tax, hospitals, schools and orphanages; to the Chairman of the Property requesting a copy of plans and documents of properties belonging to the Jewish community; to the Director of Property Tax requesting a reduction or exemption of property tax for demolition or vacancy reasons.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T/56/2721
Date: 28/5/1956
Subject:
52
His Excellency the Director General of Revenues, Respected
After greetings,
The shop under door number 13/31, Jadid Hassan Pasha neighborhood, was vacated as of
1/4/1956, so please remove the property tax from it as of the mentioned date.
Please accept our highest respect.
Assistant to
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
The Respected King ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 12/21 Vacant from the date of 4/1/1956 -/w His Excellency the Respected Director General of Revenues After greetings, The shop under rental number 12/21, Jadid Hassan Pasha neighborhood, is now gradually vacant, and ⟦illegible⟧ has not paid the property tax for it, starting from ⟦illegible⟧ It was vacated as of 8/4/56, so please waive the property tax on it starting from the mentioned date. Please accept the assurances of my highest respect. A. Hatem
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T / 2724 / 56
Subject
Date 28 / 5 / 1956
54
His Excellency the Director General of Revenues, Respected
After greetings
The house numbered 30 / 14 Qanbar Ali, consisting of shops, a warehouse,
and a second-floor building, has been constructed according to building permit No. 14056 dated 12 / 2 / 1956. Therefore,
we request Your Excellency to exempt it from the legal tax.
With our utmost respect to Your Excellency
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
⟦Issued⟧
Baghdad 22 / 5 / 1956 His Excellency the General Director of Revenues After greetings The building numbered 70 / 94 Qambar Ali, consisting of two shops, a warehouse, and a building with a second floor has been constructed according to the building permit numbered 14056 dated 12 / 2 / 956. Therefore, we request your Excellency to exempt it from the legal tax, and with many thanks to you
Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/8/68/ 54
Date 23 / 2 / 1956
2/81
Subject ⟦line⟧
55
⟦line⟧
His Excellency the Director General of Revenues, Respected
After greetings
The Baghdad Property Tax Committee had assessed the shop numbered 115/A/254
at an amount of 30/- Dinars annually, while its current rent is 18/- Dinars per year
Please be kind enough to note that the Presidency of the Community was not notified of the general assessments for the year 954.
Please accept the highest expressions of respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
⟦Adel⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number | 3531 President 5452 Secretary Number: T/5/⟦illegible⟧/56 Subject: Date: 23/2/1956 12/81 56 His Excellency the Director General of Revenues, Respected After greetings I have merged the shop numbered 254/A/115 with the shop numbered 254/B/115 in the neighborhood Taht al-Takiya on 15/7/1955. Please kindly conduct the inspection. With highest respect to your Excellency Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Acting President of the Community Alwan
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: ⟦688⟧ / 56
Subject: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 5 / 4 / 1956
57
57
His Excellency the Director General of Revenues, Respected
After greetings,
With reference to your letter numbered 5779 and dated 27 / 3 / 56;
This Presidency paid <del>⟦the amount⟧</del> half of the debt explained in your above-mentioned letter according to
receipt number book 46638 and sequence 53 dated 11 / 3 / 56, therefore your Excellency is requested
to consider the mentioned objections.
Please accept our highest respect
on behalf of
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
Iraqi Government Ministry of Finance General Directorate of Revenues Number 5779 Date ⟦...⟧ / ⟦...⟧ / 137 AH ⟦...⟧ / ⟦...⟧ / 1951 AD Division Taxes Subject / Property Tax Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad With reference to your petitions registered with us under numbers 1290, 1291, and 1292 dated 11 / 3 / 956, we inform you that the properties under discussion, whose details are listed below, are indebted in the amount of (31/500) Dinars for property tax for previous and current years up to March / 956. Please send the mentioned amount to this Directorate within thirty days from the date of submitting the request so that we may consider your objection; otherwise, it will be disregarded. ⟦signature⟧ For the Director General of Revenues Naeem Abdul Ahad Debt Amount | Property Number | Location Fils Dinar | | 12 750 previous } | 54 B / 115 | Taht al-Takiya 03 000 current } | | 12 750 previous } | 54 A / 115 | " = 03 000 current } | | 31 / 500 Total | | A copy to: - Tax Supervisor / with attachments / for follow-up and necessary action. Hammoud 3/24
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Secret
Number: T/55/7629
Subject:
Date: ⟦1955/12/30⟧
His Excellency the Secretary General for the Supervision and Administration of the Property of Jews Deprived of Iraqi Citizenship, Respected
After greetings,
Reference to your letter numbered Huquq S/76 and dated 12/25/1955;
It has appeared from the register of engagement and marriage contracts kept by this Presidency that Mrs. Mazli
daughter of Yaqub Shlomo Shamash is the wife of Mr. Yehuda Saleh Eliyahu Shlomo Dawid.
Please accept our highest respect.
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Acting President of the Community
Filed
Registrar of Engagement and Marriage Contracts for the Jewish Community in Baghdad Baghdad on 12/28/1953 His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community - Baghdad 76/5675 After Greetings Conditions ⟦line⟧ Witnesses ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 12/28/953 Registrar of Contracts ⟦illegible stamp at top left⟧
General Secretariat for the Supervision and Management of the Property of Jews Whose Iraqi Citizenship Has Been Revoked Secretariat of Rights and Commercial Matters Number: Rights / ⟦16/16⟧ Date: 12 / 12 / 1955 (Secret and Extremely Urgent) Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Subject - Request for information about Mazli Yaqub Shamash. This General Secretariat has previously inquired with the competent authorities to clarify whether Iraqi citizenship had been revoked for (Mazli Yaqub, wife of ⟦Yehuda Saleh⟧). It has been revealed from the letter of the Directorate of Travel and Nationality Police No. 1146 dated 21 / 11 / 1955, as a result of the correspondence conducted on the subject, that the Jewish woman (Mazli Yehuda Saleh ⟦Shalo⟧ Daoud, daughter of Yaqub) has had her Iraqi citizenship revoked in accordance with paragraph (b) of Article Two of Law No. 12 of 1951 due to her departure from Iraq on 20 / 7 / 1947 with passport No. 204 issued in Baghdad on 10 / 3 / 1943 and with exit permit No. 3897 dated 14 / 7 / 1947, for failing to provide an excuse for her failure to return to Iraq within the legally specified period. In view of the investigations being conducted by this General Secretariat due to the involvement of the aforementioned person in the transactions carried out by this General Secretariat, and to be able to determine the degree of the aforementioned person's relationship to the referred transactions, please check your records and inform us of the result - 1- Whether the aforementioned person (Mazli daughter of Yaqub) is surnamed (Shamash). 2- Whether her husband is named (Yehuda Saleh). 3- If the expected answer to the second paragraph is affirmative, state whether his full name is (Yehuda Saleh Shlomo Daoud). We hope to receive your answer on the subject as soon as possible. Ahmed Al-Shalji Secretary General Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad Incoming No. ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ Mahmoud /
General Secretariat for the Supervision and Management of the Property of Jews Whose Iraqi Citizenship Has Been Revoked Secretariat of Rights and Commercial Matters Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: 1/2/1956 To . - Baghdad Court of First Instance Subject / Lawsuits 84 and 50 / 56 / 1952 Further to our letter No. 23352 dated 1/12/1955 The citizenship of those inquired about in your letter No. 386 dated 7/7/1955 is as follows :- 1- Heskel Haron Zilkha - Iraqi citizenship was revoked. 2- Salman Haron Zilkha - Iraqi citizenship was revoked for leaving Iraq with an Iraqi passport and not returning within the legal period. 3- Daoud Haron Zilkha - Died approximately nineteen years ago according to what the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad informed us in its letter No. T/ 55/3620 dated 23/11/1955 and that his heirs are :- A- His mother Hanna Saleh Nawi - Her citizenship was revoked by form 36269 in the name of Hanna Saleh Salman. B- His wife Nasra Daoud Safi - Still Iraqi and holds identity card No. 605 dated 12/3/1952. C- His son Haron Daoud Zilkha - Still Iraqi and holds identity card No. 613 dated 31/3/1952. D- His daughter Jacqueline Daoud Zilkha - Still Iraqi and holds identity card No. 605 dated 12/3/1952. Since it has been shown that some of the aforementioned have had their Iraqi citizenship revoked and the General Secretariat stands in their place please notify the General Secretariat in its official capacity ⟦of the matter⟧. ⟦signature⟧ Secretary General Incoming Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ A copy to . - Directorate of Travel and Nationality Police - For information and with reference to your letter No. 51 dated 18/1/1956 Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad - For information and with reference to your letter above. Secretariat of Rights and Commercial Matters - For filing. Ibrahim / 1/31 ⟦red flourish signature/stamp⟧ Kingdom of Iraq Ministry of Interior Directorate General of Propaganda and News Press, Mail, and Telegraph Monitoring Department Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: ⟦illegible⟧ Memorandum to the Directorate General of Travel and Nationality Subject: Revocation of Iraqi Citizenship for Jews Based on Article One of the Law for the Revocation of Iraqi Citizenship No. (1) of 1950, and based on what was decided by the Council of Ministers in its session held on ⟦illegible⟧, and based on what was stated in your letter numbered ⟦illegible⟧ and dated ⟦illegible⟧, we have decided to revoke the Iraqi citizenship of the persons whose names are listed below, who have expressed their desire to leave Iraq permanently according to the applications submitted by them dated ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) and marked with numbers from (1) to ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) and registered in your records under numbers from ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) to ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) and stamped with the seal of this Directorate on ⟦illegible⟧, effective from the date of issuance of this decision, noting that the aforementioned individuals have actually left Iraq on ⟦illegible⟧ according to departure lists numbered ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) issued by Baghdad International Airport. Please take the necessary measures to implement this decision in accordance with the provisions of the article mentioned above and inform us of the result while providing us with a copy of your records regarding the revocation of Iraqi citizenship. 1- ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) son of ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) and his minor children ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) and ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) 2- ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) daughter of ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) 3- ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) son of ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) and his wife ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) daughter of ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) 4- ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) A copy to the Directorate General of Security to take the necessary action Director General of Propaganda and News ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T / 56 / ⟦...⟧
Subject: Hebrew Books
Date: 4 / 7 / 1956
His Excellency the Secretary General for the Supervision and Administration of the Property of Jews Deprived of Iraqi Citizenship
Respected
After greetings
With reference to your letter numbered 14278 and dated 1 / 7 / 1956, we have delegated both
Mr. Naji Khedhouri Bashiri and Mr. Yusuf Hayim Munshi to receive the Hebrew books kept
in your custody.
Please accept our highest respect
⟦On behalf of⟧
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
A copy to: -
The Storekeeper, with reference to the letter from the General Secretariat mentioned above
⟦red ink signature/mark⟧
General Secretariat for the Supervision and Management of the Property of Jews Whose Citizenship Has Been Revoked Supervision <del>Liquidation Secretariat</del> Number / Liquidation / 14278 Date / / 1956 Presidency of the Israelite Community Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ To the Presidency of the Israelite Community Subject / Hebrew Books With reference to your letter numbered T / 3651/156 dated 2/1/1956 and based on the first paragraph of the decision of the Central Administrative Committee No. 91 dated 6/19/1956, which includes its approval to release the Hebrew books located in the warehouse of this General Secretariat and hand them over to you. Therefore, please send your nominee to visit the General Secretariat warehouse located on Al-Mustansir Street and receive the books in question as soon as possible and inform us. Secretary General A copy to / Secretariat of the Central Administrative Committee - for information and with reference to the above Central Administrative Committee decision. Liquidation Secretariat - Warehouses - for follow-up with attachments. Financial Inspection Secretariat ) Accounts Secretariat ) Administration and Correspondence Secretariat ) for information please. Rights and Commercial Matters ) Warehouse Officer ) Warehouse Supervisor ) to take the necessary action and deliver the Hebrew books in question to the representative of the Presidency of the Warehouse Police Assistant ) Israelite Community against a receipt and inform us. M / Al-Azzawi 6/30
Kingdom of Iraq Ministry of Interior Directorate General of Travel and Nationality Nationality Department Number / 1 / 3521 Date / / 1951 ⟦illegible⟧ Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ Subject of Research - Revocation of Citizenship Further to our letter numbered 1 / 3521 dated 3 / 6 / 1951 and published in the Iraqi Gazette in its issue numbered 2953 dated 3 / 10 / 1951 and published in the Iraqi Gazette in its issue numbered 2957 dated 3 / 12 / 1951, please inform the persons listed below whose Iraqi citizenship has been revoked pursuant to Article 1 of the Citizenship Revocation Law No. 1 of 1950 of the necessity to liquidate their business and leave the country within the legal period. Director General of Travel and Nationality A copy to: 1 - Directorate General of Criminal Investigations - for your kind information - with a copy of the attached lists. 2 - Directorate General of Security - for your kind information. 3 - Directorate General of Prisons ( ) 4 - Directorate General of Police ( ) 5 - Baghdad Provincial Police Directorate ( ) for your kind information and to act accordingly. 6 - Basra Provincial Police Directorate ( ) 7 - Secretariat of the Committee for Freezing the Assets of Jews whose Iraqi Citizenship has been Revoked - for your kind information with a copy of the attached lists to take the necessary action. 8 - Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad ( ) 9 - Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Basra ( ) 5 / 3 / 1951
7/29 His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, Respected President of the Community After greetings Based on your ⟦verbal⟧ order, we have sorted the religious books fit for use from the total books received from the previous endowments, totaling 65 bags. After sorting, we have designated the books fit for use and placed them in nine bags; as for the rest, which are 56 bags, they are papers and books cut and torn, and they are of no use at all, so they were kept in a place until you decide ⟦a revolution/disposal⟧. As for the other nine bags which are books fit for use, they were kept at the Khairallah Society. And accordingly we have signed ⟦...⟧ Saleh Shaoul Daoud ⟦Youssef⟧
1956 / 7 / 18 His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, Respected President of the Community Greetings and respect The Heritage Committee has received the old books from the General Secretariat They were bagged in 65 bags and stored in one of the rooms of the Midrash Talmud Torah, and based on your order, we went to inspect these books accompanied by the committee authorized by the Council, and the number of bags was 64 bags loaded with books and preserved, and one bag was open and about a quarter of it was missing. Then we examined the rest of the books without specification, and we found inside them papers and books that were handwritten and burned and only 20% of them are fit for use. Then we closed the room again and the secretary received the key, and upon that we signed Withdrawers Yosef Hayyim Daoud Yosef Property Supervisor The Manager ⟦illegible⟧ 503 / 6 / 21 Kamal Kamal?
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T / 7776 / 56
Subject: Payment of an amount of three dinars.
Date: 13 / 12 / 1956
His Excellency the Secretary General for the Supervision and Administration of the Property of Jews Deprived of
Iraqi Citizenship - Respected
After greetings
With reference to your letter numbered 6428 and dated 20 / 11 / 1956, we send with its bearer an amount of
three dinars only, for the guarding fees of the house numbered 59 / 137 located in the Torah neighborhood
belonging to the community's endowments and paid by you. We request that you send the necessary receipt acknowledging
the receipt.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Acting President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
General Secretariat for the Supervision and Management of the Property of Jews Deprived of Iraqi Citizenship Accounts Secretariat 26428 Number / Accounts / Date 20 / 11 / 1956 ⟦Presidency⟧ of the Israelite Community ⟦illegible⟧ 2896 21 / 11 / 56 President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Subject / Request for refund of an advance We had spent an amount of -/3 Dinars (three) according to the payment authorization memo Numbered 16/38559 and dated 12 / 8 / 1952 for the guarding fee of the house numbered 59 / 137 located in the Torah neighborhood belonging to Khatoun Youssef Haroun and her partners, and since it has become clear to us that the mentioned house is endowed to the Israelite Community. And since the amount has been recorded to the advances account since the year 1952, please send it to us in cash and inform us. On behalf of the Secretary General A copy to:- Immovable Property Secretariat - Reference to our letter No. G/4582 dated 8 / 8 / 1952. Accounts Secretariat - For follow-up please. Amer/M