Correspondence, Baghdadi Jewish Community Organizations; Booklets in Arabic and Judeo-Arabic of the Ḥevrah Ḳadishah
View interactive document pageThese are archival documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. Included are correspondence from the Burial Society (Ḥevrah Ḳadishah), the Lay Council, the President of the Jewish Community, the Spiritual Council, and the Chief Rabbi. There are letters about the Jewish Hospitals, the rules of the Burial Society, and accounting rules of the Jewish community. There are also four booklets: 2 in Judeo-Arabic printed by Elias Shoḥeṭ for the Burial Society, printed in 5690 (1929 or 1930); 2 are in Arabic printed in 5709 (1948 or 1979) and 5708 (1947 or 1948). This item also includes documents concerning the foundation of the organization, a newspaper article about a dispute within the Baghdadi Jewish community, and the minutes from several meetings.
⟦VIII⟧ Form of Accounts Income and Expenses of the Society Hevra Kadisha from 9 Iyar 5690 to the end of Sivan 5691 Facilitations for review, we recorded the names in alphabetical order. B.A. Sign And mentioned therein is the date of the days of passing Here Baghdad — May God protect it Elisha Shohet Press
⟦illegible⟧ Anna Rupee Income Income | Rupee | Anna Details of income of Hevra account from the year 690 | 902 | 94 Its demand for the account of photographing the cemetery account | 350 | From Abraham Menachem for the deceased Isaac Tisa Helwi | 25 | " Abraham Hasson " Nazima daughter of Habu Beq | 20 | " Abraham Isaac B. Ezer for the deceased his father | 20 | " Abraham Nissim " his mother | 20 | " Abraham Tuaa Simhab " his father | 20 | " Abraham Moshe " Miriam daughter of Abraham Qumi | 5 | " Abraham Yehezkel Haghabhaha for the deceased his father | 20 | " Abraham J. Hai for the deceased Naeima daughter of Abraham Anani | 18 | " Abraham Daoud Mallawi for the deceased his father | 30 | " Abraham Hougi Shua'i Farha daughter of Freihat | 20 | " Isu Jacob Mani " his father | 23 | " Hana Heil generous heart Hacharmei | 130 | 6 " Isu Moshe Danker for the deceased his father | 32 | " Isu Abd Leazir " Tuffaha daughter of Isu | 16 | " Isu Abda' Halabi for the deceased Tova daughter of Joseph Halabi | 16 | " Isu Rahuman Yehuda " his father | 20 | " Isu Georgi Abraham Hawa for the deceased his father | 24 | " Isu Shaul Nahah Hardon " " | 80 | " Aaron Abda' Hagahsi " his mother | 80 | " Tayeb Abraham Haruili " his brother | 22 | " Isu Abraham Simhab for the deceased his daughter | 22 | " Hasson Levi " his father | 30 | " Hanoch Abda' Kabzaz " his father | 20 | " Baruch Karkutzli for the deceased his father | 15 | " Baruch Isu Sassoon Zalouf for the deceased his father | 35 | " Gazala daughter of Nahah Haddad " Moshe Haddad | 20 | " Georgi Abraham Mani " his brother | 25 | " Georgi Shaul Shmuli " Regina daughter of Sassoon | 20 | " Georgi Kamous Hardon " Farha daughter of Rahuman Isu Mahir | 30 | " Gazala daughter of Isu " Joseph Hayyim Isaac Baruch | 20 | " Georgi Isu Abraham Amkar for the deceased his father | 10 | " Georgi Ezra Salman Bibi for the deceased his father | 25 | " " Georgi Sa'ad Debi " " | 10 | " Daoud Salman Mizrahi for the deceased Isu Balila | 15 | 15 | 2205 | What follows
Anna Rupia Following ⟦illegible⟧ expenses In a statement of net account of revenues and expenses 14 | 10060 Total ⟦illegible⟧ revenues from page 11 7 | 7254 | Deduct total of expenses " " 12 10 1/2 | 2805 Between them Book ⟦illegible⟧ 62 59 56 45 66 24 14 | 64 Total portion for the charity box 14 1/2 | 345 Total portion for storehouse length 55 height 35 value as storage 2 | 43 Portion for rose water and laban and other 12 | 443 Available at Hisron Blanc for account in Gallery | 1500 " " " " " " " in Pahi Bahr 9 our living 3 years | 408 In Kiswayr in Makhabar 10 1/2 | 2805 In a statement of the sum of the ⟦illegible⟧ deceased from the date of 9 Iyar 190 Until the end of 25 Sivan 191 for Mitzvah 317 Number 137 | Number of deceased Tariq Hakmarkhus supported for the society 50 | " " " " in the society for the Khalid al-Sus ⟦illegible⟧ 96 | " " " " in the society counted from the charity box | " " " " in the society finished from the charity box and did not 27 | " " " " accepted in help 7 | " " " " Tari after it was accepted 317 | 245 144 80 42 2 289 289 219 144
HEBRA KADISHA SOCIETY Hebra-Kadisha Hebra Kadisha Society Baghdad Baghdad Baghdad No. Number: Date Date: 22 September 52 To the dear Hesed Ve'Emet Society, may God protect them For the late Habiba daughter of Salman Al-Ezra from ⟦Gerad⟧ from the house of Hajj Hassoun And the residence on Al-Rashid St. inside Darb Al-Zand "Properties" The period "Digging" and burial and washing and shrouding and closing the house in Dar Al-Zand And delivery from the house to the new cemetery in Al-Radd And that is by the legal religious toll Gabbai Hebra Kadisha Gabbai Hebra Kadisha ⟦Menachem Ezra⟧ Gabbai Hebra Kadisha Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad No. 82 Date 2 / 12 / 52 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI BAGHDAD OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI BAGHDAD Date Number Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad ⟦Migrated⟧
Share 64 Rupees the woman and minor children In the name of Shaul ⟦Naeen⟧ The condition Not documented 12 and Rupees have been established 20 for a walking bus Regarding it as materials Personal No. 122 Year 1926 14 ⟦Mufti⟧ Charity 5 Rupees Year 924 or 922 His will and his needs thus For a walking bus ⟦and rail⟧
HEBRA KADISHA SOCIETY Baghdad Hebra Kadisha Baghdad Hebra Kadisha Society Baghdad No. Number: Date: August 29, 1925 To the Honorable Head of the Israelite Community After greetings and respect, In response to your letter dated August 6, 1925, No. 2212, The share of Reuben Hakham Matta Sadqa after his death passed to his wife and his sons Naeem and Selim and his daughter, the wife of Yehuda Ainayat. At the time, the Hebra Kadisha Society purchased the wife's share and the shares of his sons Naeem and Selim in the name of Shaul Abdullah Zabadi. The deed has been submitted to your excellency, as I was informed by the secretary of the assembly, in order to perform the endowment transaction. Please accept my highest respect. ⟦Moshe...⟧ Head of the Hebra Kadisha Society ⟦illegible⟧
2256 2 September 935 His Eminence the President of the Hebra Qadisha Society, the Respected Reference to your letter dated 29 August 5695 I have understood from your society's secretary that Shaoul Effendi Fahd Allah Nawi is ready to endow the shares registered in his name according to certain conditions, so please be so kind as to list them so I may present them to the venerable Lay Council - and may you remain well. ⟦signature⟧ Khedouri Head of the Community 29
Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Telephone Number 531 Presidency of the Jewish Community * Baghdad PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY - BAGHDAD TELEPHONE NO. 531 Number: 2254 Date: 2 September 1935 Subject Summary: His Excellency the Respectable President of the Secular Council Attached herewith is a copy of the response from the Mayoralty of Baghdad No. 13566 dated 29 August 1935 regarding our letter No. 3301 dated 1 August 1935; ⟦for his information⟧ On behalf of the President of the Community ⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad on July 30, 1935 To the honorable and distinguished President of the Corporeal Council, respected After greetings and respect, with reference to your letter No. 2924 dated July 24, 1935, our committee has audited this matter and suggests sending the attached response to the Secretariat of the Capital. It appears to us that this letter explains the matter clearly and demonstrates the position of the community regarding the fee for this marsh, whether from the legal side or from the financial side, and it serves as the report requested in your replied-to letter. We return to you all the documents received enclosed with your replied-to letter. With highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the Properties Committee Attachments 40
3254 2 September 935 His Excellency the President of the Secular Council, the respected Attached herewith is a copy of the response from the Mayoralty of the Capital, number 13566, dated August 29, 935 regarding our letter numbered 3301 and dated August 1, 935; about ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community 22
Capital Secretariat Number - 13569 Date - 29 Jumada al-Ula 935 29 August 935 To Presidency of the Jewish Community With reference to your letter No. 3301 dated August 1, 935 As you know, the swamp under discussion has become a source of danger threatening public health, in addition to being surrounded by inhabited buildings and located near places of public interest; therefore, filling it has become of great importance. On this occasion, we would like to draw your attention to your letter No. 3278 dated July 10, 935, in which you state that you have issued instructions to bury this swamp, while you now return and try to evade doing so under a pretext that has no basis in reality, something we did not hope to receive from the Community Council—that council which should treat such work with the care and attention it deserves. Furthermore, we do not believe that your guardianship over the lands where that swamp is located is limited to managing and benefiting from them only, without bearing the requirements of their development and the removal of the danger resulting from them. Therefore, as the remaining of the mentioned swamp is a cause of harm to public safety, and leaving it as it is does not align with the plan the government has resolved to follow in eliminating the swamps surrounding the capital entirely, we avoid resorting to the use of the direct procedures authorized to us by law, which do not suit the moral status of the Community Council, as we would with other individuals. We hope, finally, that you will do what is necessary to bury it during the necessary period; Mayor of the Capital ⟦illegible⟧ A copy of it to The Ministry of Interior for kind information
Capital Secretariat Number - 13569 Date - 29 Jumada al-Awwal 1354 29 August 935 To Head of the Israelite Community With reference to your letter number 3301 dated August 1, 935 As you know, the swamp under discussion has become a source of danger threatening public health, in addition to being surrounded by populated buildings and located near places that are the focus of attention. Therefore, filling it has become of great importance. On this occasion, we would like to draw your attention to your letter number 3278 dated July 10, 935, in which you state that you have instructed the filling of this swamp, while you now return and attempt to evade doing so under a pretext that has no basis in reality, something we did not expect to receive from the Community Council—that council which should give such work the care and attention it deserves. Furthermore, we do not believe that your guardianship over the lands where that swamp is located is limited to managing and benefiting from them only, without bearing what is required for their improvement and the removal of the danger arising from them. Therefore, since the persistence of the mentioned swamp causes harm to public safety, and since leaving it as is does not align with the plan the government has decided to adopt in eliminating the swamps surrounding the capital entirely, we wish to avoid resorting to the use of the direct measures authorized by law, which would not be appropriate for the moral standing of the Community Council, as is our way with other individuals. We hope, finally, that you will take the necessary steps to fill it within the prescribed period; Mayor of the Capital A copy to Ministry of Interior for their kind perusal
Baghdad, October 9, 1945 To the Honorable Lawyer Mr. Heskel Salman Meir, Respected Greetings and Respect, I wish to draw your attention to the violations you have committed during the period of your work in our association and the actions you have taken in violation of the bylaws, which have become intolerable to remain silent about due to their impact on the progress of the association's work as it should be. Therefore, I find myself faced with a fait accompli to remind you of a brief summary of the violations and behaviors harmful to the interest of the association, as follows: - First - It is strange that while the association accepted your assistance in place of your father, who is officially a member, you intervened in many matters, including making yourself Vice President, contrary to the method outlined in the association's bylaws. See Article ⟦ ⟧ of the bylaws. Second - You have exceeded the limits of your position by interfering in the secretarial matters with which I am entrusted. See Article 6 of the bylaws. Third - You have executed lease contracts for the association's real estate without my knowledge and without the association's knowledge. Fourth - Since Article 9, paragraph (c) of the association's bylaws requires the association to decide on the necessity of expenditure and then spend it; contrary to this method, you spent sums from the association's fund, and when the matter became clear, you organized a decision for the actual expenditure and requested a signature on it while I refused to sign. Fifth - While you and I bargained for the sale of the car belonging to the association according to the association's decision and concluded the sale and purchase without an intermediary (broker), and after we received the sale price, you fabricated the existence of an intermediary, who is your cousin employed at the company's premises. Upon your insistence and plea, the association was forced, out of concern for the safety of its affairs, to pay one and a half percent to this person who was not a broker and was in Basra at the time. These actions and others we do not wish to mention in this haste demonstrate your breach of the association's bylaws and your lack of concern for its interests. We have suspended proceedings until the return of the association's president, who is outside Iraq, and we have sent this letter to you to state the facts until you withdraw from the association, as its bylaws do not qualify you to continue its work. Otherwise, I will be forced to report the matter to the venerable Ministry of Interior. I request that you hand over the papers and books belonging to the association that are in your possession to the specialized clerk as soon as possible to be kept at the association's headquarters according to the rules. With my utmost thanks and respect, sir. Secretary of the Association Hevra Kadisha - Ezra Salman Nissan A copy to - The Head of the Community, His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, for information. The President of the Lay Council, for information. The Association's Clerk, to carry out the task of receiving papers and books.
Baghdad on October 9, 1945. The Honorable Lawyer Mr. Heskel Salman Meir, respected. Greetings and respect. I would like to draw your attention to the violations you have committed during the period of your work in our association and the actions you have taken contrary to the bylaws, which it has become unbearable to remain silent about due to their impact on the progress of the association's work as desired. Therefore, I find myself facing a fait accompli to remind you of a summary of the violations and behaviors harmful to the interest of the association as follows: - First - It is strange that while the association accepted your assistance based on your father, who is officially a member of it, you have overstepped many matters, including making yourself a vice president contrary to the method prescribed by the bylaws of the association. See Article ⟦line⟧ of the bylaws. Second - You have exceeded the limits of your function by intervening in secretariat matters that I am in charge of. See Article 6 of the bylaws. Third - You have executed lease contracts for the association's real estate without my knowledge or the knowledge of the association. Fourth - Whereas Article nine of paragraph (b) of the association's bylaws requires the association to decide on the necessity of expenditure and then spend it, contrary to this method, you spent sums from the association's fund. When the matter became clear, you organized a decision for the actual expenditure and requested the signature on it while I had refused to sign. Fifth - When you and I negotiated the sale of the car belonging to the association according to the association's decision, and we concluded the sale and purchase without a broker, and after we received the sale price, you invented the presence of a broker, who is your cousin employed at the police station. Upon your persistence and insistence, the association was forced, for the sake of the safety of our affairs, to pay one and a half percent to this person who was not a broker and was in Basra at that time. These actions and others we do not wish to mention in this brief summary demonstrate your violation of the association's bylaws and your lack of care for its interests. We have suspended the procedures according to the head of the association, who is outside Iraq, and we have sent this letter to you to state the facts until you ⟦are separated⟧ from the association, as it does not suit you at all to continue its work. We will reflect that necessity to inform the venerable Ministry of Interior of the situation. We also request you to hand over the papers and records belonging to the association ⟦that⟧ are in your possession as quickly as possible to be kept at the association's headquarters according to the rules. With much thanks and respect, sir; Secretary of the Association Ezra Salman Nissan. A copy of it to: - " " " The Head of the Community, His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, for information. " " " The President of the Lay Council for information. " " " The clerk of the association to carry out the task of receiving the papers and records. Mr. Aba Hu To be kept in the special file According to the instructions of His Excellency the President