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⟦Sect⟧ Miscellaneous papers 98 ⟦The first file⟧ ⟦122⟧ ⟦Record⟧ ⟦...⟧ 19 19 From to Address Name
IJA 99
Correspondence Between Jewish Community Committees, Iraqi Government, Baghdadi Schools
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These are archival materials from the Baghdadi Jewish community. Contents and topics include: correspondence between the different community committees, the Iraqi government, schools in Baghdad, and the diaspora community – primarily the Jewish community in Shanghai, China. The Chief Rabbi receives a letter from the head of the American School for Boys in Baghdad rejecting a request for admitting a student on scholarship. There are letters about life insurance and insurance for the community as a whole. Other items include correspondence regarding travel to Iran; a chart with the names of Jewish schools and hospitals and their dates of establishment; a handwritten note requesting proof of service certification from the head of the Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital because of the financial hardship of the requester; and a letter from the President of the Jewish community in Baghdad congratulating a member of the Shanghai-Baghdadi diaspora community on receiving the “Order of the Brilliant Jade” award from the Chinese government.
AI en Translation, Pages 1-25
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492 / M 20 May 929 Regarding the travel of Simha daughter of Meir Levi to Nasiriyah His Excellency the Honorable Judge of Personal Status After greetings - I have received the certificate presented by the named Simha daughter of Meir Levi, signed by the Mukhtar of the Torah neighborhood and a large number of experts stating that the alimony she receives, which is fifteen rupees for her and fifteen rupees for her daughter, is not sufficient for their expenses of food, clothing, and housing Therefore, the aforementioned is planning to travel to Nasiriyah of Al-Muntafiq where her father and mother reside to live with them. We see no harm in her traveling to the mentioned town And we have written this letter as a presentation of the situation, ⟦signature⟧ Acting Chief Rabbi Miscellaneous cases
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To His Excellency the Deputy Hakham Bashi of Baghdad, the respected We testify that ⟦texts⟧ Simma daughter of Yediwi is from the people of ⟦village⟧ Al-Shatra and that her father is among the followers ⟦residents⟧ of the Liwa of Nasiriyah, and the aforementioned woman wishes to travel to her family ⟦...⟧ the aforementioned, and according to our information that ⟦...⟧ were not ⟦...⟧ and residing in Baghdad because of her livelihood, and for this reason we have testified to that and written this notice On May 22, 929 Mukhtar of the Torah Quarter Witnessed ⟦...⟧ Witnessed ⟦...⟧ 20 / 5 / 929 Witnessed Daoud Ibrahim Witnessed ⟦...⟧ Mukhtar of the Quarter ⟦...⟧ Number 505 Number His Excellency the Judge of Personal Matters, the esteemed Papers of Number ⟦...⟧ Upon investigation, it appeared that the aforementioned woman has alimony in the amount of 15 rupees per month for her and 15 rupees for her two daughters, and she wishes to travel with her two daughters to Nasiriyah 23 / 5 / 929 ⟦signature⟧
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With G-d's help, Sunday, 26th of Adar, 5689 To the honorable Mr. Yosef Gabbai, may his Light shine, member of the Community Committee, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him After inquiring of your peace and blessing and all good forever I hereby inform you that your letter from ⟦...⟧ 22nd of Adar was received and in it you sent us a life insurance policy of Mr. ⟦...⟧ Halabi and we received it with many thanks On behalf of the Office and the Committee ⟦signature⟧ Miscellaneous
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30 Rupees Only thirty rupees and nothing else ⟦line⟧ Baghdad I have received from His Excellency the Deputy Hakham Bashi thirty rupees only to be delivered to Rabbi ⟦Sadya⟧ and Hanna, for that I have given this receipt as an acknowledgment Recipient On behalf of Ibrahim Sofer Baghdad 21 June 929 2 ANNAS POSTAGE & REVENUE IRAQ Financial ⟦...⟧ 98
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22 August 929 Hakham Bashi Obeid ⟦...⟧ Inform us immediately whether a marriage or sanctification has taken place Daoud Rahmin Shahmـ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Mansour Acting Hakham Bashi of Baghdad ⟦Miscellaneous⟧
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262 B A 66 ⟦Affairs Department of⟧ Rima Kadoorie ⟦for the Eye⟧ ⟦By means of⟧ ⟦the Committee of⟧ Rima Kadoorie ⟦for the Eye⟧ ⟦For the Hospital of⟧ Rima Kadoorie ⟦for the Eye⟧ Missing editor ⟦Under the supervision of⟧ Rima Kadoorie ⟦for the Eye⟧
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24 August 1929 - Baghdad Chief Rabbinate of Baghdad To Menachem Shmuel Sam La Salat Souri Acting Chief Rabbi M M A
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Iraqi Government IRAQ TELEGRAPHS 59 BAGHDAD T.O. 11 JUN 29 Class Prefix: C. Code: ⟦illegible⟧ No.: Recd. from: Egypt By: LO Handed in at (Office of Origin) | Date | Hour | Minute | Service Instructions | Words Amara | 22 | 10 | 15 | | 19 To Baghdad Acting Hakham Bashi The marriage of Daoud Rahim Shinoha and Samah took place Original Menahem Rahim Shino | Hakham Bashi Presidency of the Hakham Bashi in Baghdad OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI Number: 109 Date: 24/8/929 Recd here at H. 10 M. 25
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Baghdad, June 2, 1929 To His Excellency the Acting Hakham Bashi of Baghdad, the Respected. Sir, Our request is to know the number of divorces occurring among the Mosaic community from Passover of the past year 1928 to Passover of the year 1929. The purpose of this is that one of the authors requested the Ministry to inform him about the number of marriages and divorces among all communities in Baghdad. I have obtained the number of marriages from the records available at the hospital, and the number of divorces remains. I hope, if you are able, to inform us of what is required. Please accept our further thanks and our highest respects. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦Sabi⟧ June 26 (72) C. 8 IRAQ TELEGRAPHS. Number Iraqi Telegraph Department Received here at H. M. Received here at Hour Minute ⟦Head of⟧ the Jewish Community Baghdad On the occasion of your appointment as Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, we send you our warm congratulations wishing you success in the service of the community and the dear homeland Head of the Executive Committee of the Jewish Community in Basra Salman ⟦Shua⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
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Sunday ⟦...⟧ 17 Elul 5685 and ⟦...⟧ 6 September 1925 ⟦...⟧ The assistance deserved by the family of the deceased among the Rabbis who receive their salary from the community fund The Shochtim are considered workers, not Rabbis, provided that this system is subject to change according to circumstances and depending on financial conditions (1) The regular salary is paid in full to the family of the deceased for a period of three months starting from the month of death which precedes the three mentioned months; half the salary is paid if the death occurred in the first half of it and the full salary if it occurred in the second half (2) Thereafter, for nine months, the family of the deceased is paid:- A- Fifty percent if the salary was one hundred rupees or more B- And seventy-five percent if the salary was less than one hundred rupees, provided that the amount of assistance does not exceed fifty rupees and is not less than twenty-five rupees (3) As for after the expiration of the first year, the family shall permanently receive:- A- One-third of the monthly pension if it was one hundred rupees or more, provided it does not exceed one hundred rupees B- And half of the pension if it was less than one hundred rupees, provided that the amount of assistance does not exceed thirty- three rupees and is not less than twenty-five rupees I The family of the deceased includes only his wife, his male children, and his unmarried daughters II If the wife of the deceased or his daughter marries, their right is forfeited in any case. And the forfeited right shall never return III The child's rights are forfeited if he exceeds twenty years of age or if he obtains a means of livelihood before reaching the mentioned age. However, if the child is afflicted with a disability (i.e., blind, crippled, or paralyzed) - that prevents him from earning his living, he has the right to receive assistance as long as he has no legal guardian who can spend on him. Likewise, the wife receives the salary as long as she has no legal guardian to support her IV The wife has the right to receive half of the assistance amount. The other half is distributed among the sons and daughters in equal shares regardless of their number. If the wife is alone without children, she shall receive an amount not less than twenty rupees V In the absence of a wife or children for the deceased, the assistance amount for each of these two parties returns to the community fund without dispute, and the wife has no right to receive the children's assistance and vice versa. And in general, the right of every recipient of assistance is forfeited upon their death VI A- This system fully includes the Chief Rabbi and the members of the Spiritual Body who were receiving a salary from the community before entering office and had previously served in it for a period of no less than five years B- And if their service did not reach the mentioned period, the assistance follows the proportion of the salary they were receiving before entering the mentioned office C- But if they were not recipients of a salary from the community fund before assuming the office of the Chief Rabbinate or membership in the Spiritual Body, assistance is given to the family at a rate of two-thirds of their pension, provided they have practiced the mentioned presidency and membership for a period of no less than five years. No assistance is given - Iqbal Sah -
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⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦...⟧/2/A September 26, 1929 Salary of Yehuda Isaac Ajami The honorable Ibrahim Shalom Effendi Yusuf Moshe We request that you inform us of the monthly salary of your servant Yehuda Isaac Ajami which he receives in exchange for his service to you / ⟦Upon my presence⟧ Acting Chief Rabbi Miscellaneous M. A.
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A. S. J. M. Jawahery No. ⟦illegible⟧ / Commission & Forwarding Agent. Telegraphic Address JAWAHERY Code Used : Bentley's BAGHDAD, 192 ( Iraq ) Khan Dalla, No. 25. Ibrahim Shalom Youssef Moshi Jawahery * Baghdad Telegraphically - Jawahery To the presence of our honored master, the Haham Bashi of the Israelite community In response to your letter dated September 26, 1929, asking about the council of Haham Yehuda son of Isaac Ashayak, an Iranian. Your Excellency, the council of the aforementioned is monthly twenty rupees, which has reached us until the 6th of the current month and will receive ⟦illegible⟧ permission with us and the petitioner had permission before ⟦illegible⟧ and because the receipt of the monthly amount is with us for the increase until the completion of the month, and may you remain protected A. S. J. M. JAWAHERY. A. S. J. M. Jawahery Office of the Haham Bashi - Baghdad Number 122 Date 28 / 9 / 1929 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI BAGHDAD With the poor
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November 10, 1929 To the skilled physician The respected Dr. Kalgarian After greetings We request hereby that you provide possible assistance To the bearer of this recommendation named Esther Nassim Suleiman, as she is in a state of poverty To your presence much thanks and respect 4 S. Khedhouri Acting Hakham Bashi M M Donations (74)
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282 / J 17 December 929 Word of Praise To the Manager of the Singer Company in Baghdad By chance, I was able to visit a few days ago your branch which you recently opened in the Taura neighborhood among the Jewish community, and in truth, I was very pleased with what I saw there of active work, whether by the branch official or by the girls working there. I do not miss this opportunity to appreciate your company for its commendable efforts in teaching girls the craft of sewing, embroidery, darning, etc., for free, and to wish it success in all its projects. ⟦illegible signature⟧ Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad N. M. ⟦Sarfati⟧
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19 / 8 / 47 22 August January 47 Assistance Committee The Head of the Jewish Community of Baghdad Since you are the ones interested in the care of youth, and as their desire has appeared as they have succeeded and excelled previously in the past years due to the desire they showed for dancing in the performance of the play that will be held at the Homenetmen Club, the Citadel those aids so that they may be dedicated to their national duties so that they do not fall victim to living in in their dark homes, and this assistance will not go in vain, but rather we accept to serve the Head of the Jewish Community of Baghdad in what is requested of us to be in the service of this generation in the future, we have met the requests so they may be dedicated to the service of the Community Leadership for the sake of God Almighty, the Leadership of the Baghdad Community Sincerely The Head of the Jewish Community of Baghdad M. N. ⟦...⟧
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The Religious Court of the Holy City Baghdad, may God protect it Jewish Spiritual Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD. Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: 10 Adar Year: 5698 S' ⟦illegible⟧: 269 Honorable The distinguished gentleman, the honorable Rabbi Shimon Cohen, may his light shine, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, member of the Community Committee and official of the Hevra Kadisha in Baghdad, may God protect it After inquiring of his well-being! We hereby inform you that on the 4th of Adar in the year 5698, Mr. ⟦Salim⟧ Hazan, the beadle of the Hevra Kadisha, came before us and told us of his distress and that he has a daughter who wishes to marry, and he has no means for the wedding expenses nor does he have a dowry, and he requested assistance from the Society The Religious Court Baghdad, may God protect it Miscellaneous matters
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Grace Hananel ⟦...⟧ and in the name of the honorable Rabbi here, peace and blessing, life forever, Amen Pleasantness and pure intellect from heaven shall rest and scatter His grace upon your honor and his family, a tree of valor, your honor and our peace For the peace of your excellency and those accompanying him, peace ⟦...⟧ judge, and to him goodness, favor, blessing, and peace, Amen. And regarding my request concerning The debt of the grace of the grandson ⟦...⟧ and my house ⟦...⟧ master of charity and grace and grace, and due to our iniquities and ⟦...⟧ my voice and in hand and with the help of heaven ⟦...⟧ to say sufferings and bitterness and the noise of sufferings ⟦...⟧ order ⟦...⟧ grace and mercy, blessed be His name, grace and ⟦...⟧ mercy with mercy, for He gave grace and peace and mercy forever, and the mercy of heaven and ⟦...⟧ mercy Blessed be His name, and mercy ⟦...⟧ peace ⟦...⟧ and ⟦...⟧ mercy upon us and upon all Israel with our God, Amen Selah A good name and good oil and my name is grace and mercy ⟦...⟧ mercy ⟦...⟧ and all grace and mercy, blessed be His name ⟦...⟧ Name of grace, a good lamp ⟦...⟧ mercy and mercy ⟦...⟧ mercy, mercy and mercy ⟦...⟧ mercy, grace and mercy and mercy And now here is your honor and His mercy, blessed be His name, the Lord of grace ⟦...⟧ blessing ⟦...⟧ grace and mercy, may He bless His grace with your graces and your peace And on the day of your love as our own soul, good ⟦...⟧ grace and mercy for the right hand of the Lord our name ⟦...⟧ foundation of our grace, the Lord of grace and mercy And regarding the matter of ⟦...⟧ the request of his grandson ⟦...⟧ good and mercy, and in the merit of your honor here and His mercy, for on His grace and His mercy I leaned, the Lord and His mercy For His grace is always forever, and may the waters of His mercy surround ⟦...⟧ the glory of the right hand of strength and peace, Amen Your servant who serves you Yehezkel Ezra ⟦signature⟧ To the respected Spiritual Court for consideration of what is stated in this request and to take the necessary action Referral number ⟦illegible⟧ 11/29 928 Deputy Hakham Bashi ⟦illegible stamp⟧
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To the Honorable Rabbi, the Gaon, Hakham Bashi, the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, may his light shine, Hakham Bashi of the Jewish community in Baghdad, may God protect him He who admires and honors your honor, Menachem son of Abraham Rahamim and his brothers Ezekiel, Hananiah, Ezra, sons of the late Abraham Rahamim Ezra, of blessed memory For we are the orphans and the widow, mother of seven sons and one small daughter, and we have no support or stay except for your high and exalted honor Therefore we approach before your throne of honor with this request, for we are poor and needy, and we have no voices and no one to help us except for the Blessed Name and your exalted and noble honor, and we inform your honor that our late father Abraham Rahamim Ezra, of blessed memory worked in the hospital of the Jewish community for more than twenty years, and he was a faithful and devoted servant and he would work day and night, for your honor knows that hospital work is hard and great work, and also our late father would work with faithfulness and self-sacrifice, and also his salary was small, a sum of ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ and we are also small orphans and if we have no one to help us, for we are poor and needy and we have no bread to eat and no garment to wear Therefore we request from your high and exalted honor that you do kindness and charity with us and help us with this little bit for we are orphans and a widow and we have no support or stay except for the Blessed Name and your high and exalted honor And may it be the will that the Blessed Name lengthens the days of your honor in goodness and your years in pleasantness, Amen He who admires and honors your honor Menachem son of Abraham Rahamim ⟦signature⟧ To the respected Spiritual Court for review of what came in this request and to take the necessary action Transfer number 514 11/29 928 Acting Hakham Bashi ⟦stamp⟧
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Honorable the Great Rabbi The ⟦Honorable⟧ Hakham Bashi, ⟦full⟧ of mercy and kindness, ⟦stand⟧ ⟦at the right hand⟧ of the ⟦poor⟧ Submitting this letter is your servant who bows before your Excellency, may he live long and well and merit all good from Heaven, Amen, may it be His will. I, your servant, stand before your throne of honor according to the letter you sent to us last week regarding the apartment in which I reside and pay its rent to the Community Committee, may God protect them, and behold now a letter has reached me from the aforementioned Committee in which they inform me that I must vacate the apartment within two weeks from the day of receiving the letter and regarding this I have come before your Honor to seek mercy and grace ⟦to let me stay⟧ ⟦Signature⟧ Sincere
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Today, 9th of Tevet 5688 The gate of the door of salvation, the honor of our master and lord, righteous and perfect, pious and holy and famous The honor of the authority upon his shoulder, pursuer of justice and kindness, generous and noble, may he yet rule And our eyes look to the Lord until He has mercy, the wondrous Rabbi in the hidden and the revealed, the Chief Rabbi, his honor and excellence Shlomo Aharon A. Yitzhak HaKohen Kahana, may his light shine and glow like the stars of the heavens. Dear Master I hereby submit to your Excellency the letter regarding the girl named Hannah daughter of Maatuk Hamtzani for we are imprisoned and tormented ⟦ac⟧cording to the situation so that you may know what was done because the husband betrayed me and was not in his house and I went to our house and they gave him twenty pounds to perform some judgment there until the necessary matter comes to us and this so we learned and all of us the letter and the letter we sent to him signed for 80 days Peace and blessing and success and many blessings and peace and life and peace Behold, these are the words of The servant Issachar Levi Nissim ⟦illegible signature⟧ Sincere