Voices from the Archive

IJA 2727

Citizenship Correspondence between Iraqi Government and Jewish Community; Synagogue Financial Information

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Description

These 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.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 2727
Item Number
11978
Date
Approx. January 1, 1951 to December 31, 1960
Languages
Arabic
Keywords
Annotation, Architectural Plans, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Burial, Burial Society, Butcher, Charity, Correspondence, Czechoslovakia, Debts, Director of Import, Doctors, Endowment, Ezra Menahem Daniel, Ezra Synagogue, Financial, Frank Iny School, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Furniture, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Handwritten, Ḥevrah Ḳadishah, Identification Card, Immovable Properties, Inventory, Iranian Bank, Jewish Hospitals, Jewish Hospitals Committee, Kosher, Lawrence Khedouri Primary School, Lawsuit, Marriage, Marriage Certificates, Meir Elias Hospital, Menorah, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Municipality of Accounts, Nahum, Naḥum, Nurses, Ottoman Bank, Paris, Patients, Pharmacy, Property Tax, Receipts, Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital, Reem Khadory Clinic, Rent, Stamps

AI English Translation, Pages 251-275

Archival unit 251

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

Archival unit 252

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

Archival unit 253

His Excellency the Director of ⟦illegible⟧ Respectfully
Our Respected Master
On the occasion of ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ number ⟦illegible⟧
Dated 10/8/52 ⟦illegible⟧
We request your Excellency to take the measures
mentioned herein regarding the matter of ⟦illegible⟧
The Servant

Archival unit 254

Diyala District Police Directorate
Personnel Department
Number ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Number / ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧
Date / ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ / 1958
Subject / Transfer of Commissioner ⟦illegible⟧
To / ⟦illegible⟧
Based on the requirements of the public interest, we have decided to transfer Commissioner ⟦illegible⟧
from ⟦illegible⟧ Police Station to ⟦illegible⟧ Police Station, effective from the date
of his release from his previous post on ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ / 1958, based on the authority vested in us
under Article ⟦illegible⟧ of the ⟦illegible⟧ Law No. ⟦illegible⟧ of 1958 ⟦line⟧
For implementation ⟦line⟧
On behalf of / Director
Diyala District Police
Administrative Assistant

Archival unit 255

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Revenues
Section
⟦line⟧ Taxes
Number: 5779
Date: 13/5/1956 AD
Subject /: Property Tax
Presidency of the Jewish Community ⟦illegible⟧ 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 until March / 956. We request
sending 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 neglected.
On behalf of the Director General of Revenues
Naeem Abdul Ahad
Debt Amount | Property Number | Location
Fils Dinar | |
750 12 Previous | 54 B / 115 | Taht al-Takiya
000 03 Current | |
750 12 Previous | 54 C / 115 | "
000 03 Current | |
500 / 31 Total | |
Copy to " -
Tax Distinguished Officer / with attachments / for follow-up and necessary action.
Hammoud 3/24

Archival unit 256

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

Archival unit 257

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⟧

Archival unit 258

It appeared to us from every ⟦...⟧ and the professional
at this presidency that ⟦...⟧ a corpse
regarding the wife of Mr. Saleh Eliyahu
Shlemu Daoud.
This

Archival unit 259

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 /

Archival unit 260

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/⟦illegible⟧/1956
To
Baghdad Municipality Directorate
Subject / Lawsuits 84 and 50 / 1952
Further to our letter No. 23352 dated 11/2/1955
The citizenship status of those inquired about in your letter No. S 5386 dated 7/15/1955 is as follows: ⟦line⟧
1- Heskel Haron Zilkha - Iraqi citizenship has been revoked.
2- Salman Haron Zilkha - Iraqi citizenship has been 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 11/23/1955, and his heirs are: ⟦line⟧
a- His mother, Hanna Saleh Nawi - Her citizenship was revoked under form 36269 in the name of Hanna Saleh Salman.
b- His wife, Nasra Daoud Safi - Still Iraqi and holds ID card No. 605 dated 3/12/1952.
c- His son, Haron Daoud Zilkha - Still Iraqi and holds ID card No. 113 dated 3/31/1952.
d- His daughter, Jacqueline Daoud Zilkha - Still Iraqi and holds ID card No. 605 dated 3/12/1952.
Following
And since it has become clear that some of the aforementioned individuals have had their Iraqi citizenship revoked and the General Secretariat stands in their place,
please notify the General Secretariat in addition to the defendants.
⟦signature⟧
Secretary General
A copy to -
Travel and Nationality Police Directorate - For information and with reference to your letter No. 51 dated 4/18/1956
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad - For information and with reference to your letter above.
Secretariat of Rights and Commercial Matters - For follow-up.
Ibrahim / 1/24

Archival unit 261

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T/ 56/ ⟦illegible⟧
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
Respectfully,
After greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 14278 dated 1 / 7 / 956, we have named both
Mr. Naji Khedhouri Bashiri and Mr. Yusuf Hayyim Munshi to receive the Hebrew books kept
in your custody.
Please accept our highest respect.
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 mark⟧

Archival unit 262

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

Archival unit 263

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

Archival unit 264

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⟧

Archival unit 265

18 / 7 / 1956
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, Respected President of the Community
Greetings
I have received this package from the General Secretariat for Ancient Books
And it was (in) 65 bags and kept in one of the rooms of my school
Talmud Torah, and based on your order we went to inspect these books
So we opened the room where the books were kept and the number of bags was
64 bags loaded with books and sewn, and one open bag
Which was missing about a quarter of its contents, then we opened three bags at
random and found inside them papers and books that were soaked and burned
And there is nothing suitable for use except 20% of them, then we closed
The room again and the director received the key, and upon this we signed
Committee
Yousef Hakim | Daoud Yousef | Director of the Talmud Torah School | The Director
⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧
31 / 7 / 56
Was it all?

Archival unit 266

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?

Archival unit 267

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T / 7776 / 56
Date: 13 / 12 / 1956
Subject: Payment of an amount of three dinars
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 No. 6428 dated 20 / 11 / 956, we are sending with its bearer an amount of
three dinars only, for the guarding fees of the house No. 59 / 137 located in the Torah quarter
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 Khadduri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 268

Number
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
General Secretariat for the Supervision and Management of the Property of Jews
Whose Iraqi Citizenship Has Been Revoked
After greetings and respect
Subject / Payment of an amount of ⟦three⟧ Dinars
⟦illegible⟧
The Ministry of Finance ⟦Information⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Sends with ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
For the rent of ⟦illegible⟧ house number ⟦illegible⟧
In the Torah quarter belonging to the community endowments and delegated
By you. We request that you send the necessary receipt as notification
Of receipt. Please accept our highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
A copy of it to ⟦illegible⟧ - Financial Department ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
The President

Archival unit 269

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

Archival unit 270

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Phone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T / 56 / 2651
Subject: Religious Books
Date: 1 / 2 / 1956
His Excellency the Honorable Secretary General
for the Supervision and Administration of the Property of Jews Deprived of Iraqi Citizenship
After greetings
We have learned that your honorable secretariat has Hebrew religious books that were collected from
some synagogues, so please give instructions to hand them over to this Presidency.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Acting President of the Community
Sarah

Archival unit 271

Honorable Secretary General
Monitoring the funds of ⟦...⟧
Greetings,
We have learned that the storage secretariat has religious Hebrew books
that were seized in the company of ⟦...⟧ by (Asher)
⟦That⟧ these books do not pose any ⟦...⟧ from their distribution to the churches
⟦...⟧ the books to us for this purpose, and please accept our highest respect
The Rabbi

Archival unit 272

General Secretariat
for the Supervision and Management of the Property of Jews
Deprived of Iraqi Citizenship
Secretariat of Accounts - Accounting
Number: 20169
Date: 26 / 1 / 1957
⟦illegible⟧ Presidency of ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
To -
Head of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. T/56/3276 dated 13/12/956
We have received three Dinars sent with the community messenger for the rent of house No. 137/59 located in the
Torah neighborhood belonging to the community, and we have recorded it as revenue for the account of paid advances according to the receipt
authorization note No. 77579/23, the second copy of which is sent to you attached to this letter.
19/12/56
Attachments
1 Receipt authorization note
The Secretary General
Two copies to -
Secretariat of Accounts - Accounting - to attach one of them to the receipt authorization note.
Love
Receipt raised
⟦illegible⟧
Khaled / 25 / 12

Archival unit 273

Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. | 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T / 7 / 56
Date: 7 / 11 / 1956
Subject:
His Excellency the Director of Baghdad Land Registry (Rusafa) respected
After greetings
Please provide us with a map and a copy of the registration for property sequence 553 Ras al-Qarya Baghdad
belonging to this Presidency.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 274

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
3531 President } Telephone Number
5452 Secretary }
Number: T / 56 / ⟦77⟧
Subject:
Date: 7 / 11 / 1956
His Excellency the Director of Land Registry (Tabu) Baghdad (Rusafa), Respectfully
After greetings
Please order the specialized employee to fix the boundaries for the property sequence 553
Ras al-Qarya in Baghdad.
Please accept our highest respect
On behalf of
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 275

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 3531
5452
Number ⟦line⟧
Date 12/4/1956
Subject:
His Excellency the Director of Baghdad Land Registry (Rusafa), Respected
After greetings
Please provide us with a map and a copy of the registration for property sequence 178, Shorja district, belonging to this Presidency.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
⟦for⟧