AI en Translation, Pages 101-125
Page 101
B"H
Baghdad 28 Av 5704
To the honor of his eminence the Great Rabbi Hakham Sasson Kadoorie, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, may he live long and good years
After inquiring of your peace and welfare as is fitting, here Yehezkel Ovadia Avraham, may God protect and sustain him, inquires of your peace and welfare all the days
from the Holy One, Blessed be He, that He may grant you life and merit, and merit you to see the consolation of Zion and Jerusalem and the coming of the Redeemer speedily in our days
Amen. Selah. And I request from your eminence to make an effort for me regarding the matter of work with the government there. And you, in your Torah honor, please make an effort for me
⟦illegible⟧
Hakham Sasson Kadoorie
Baghdad
Since your servant has not found work
With great respect, your servant
The young Yehezkel Ovadia Avraham son of Yehezkel Ovadia son of Avraham HaLevi Zilka
And I request from your eminence that you do with me kindness and charity and answer me — my address is ⟦illegible⟧
Yehezkel Ovadia
Be strong and blessed
Amen
94
Date 22 / 8 / 944
File number
Silent
Page 102
Directorate Office of the ⟦illegible⟧ Community
2188
June 19, 1933
<del>Secret</del>
Respected Secretary of the Laura Kadoorie Club
After greetings:
I have been informed that a dispute exists between your respected club's board and the member Abdul Nabi Effendi
Shamaun. Although I fully believe that the matter of resolving this dispute belongs solely to
your respected committee, I have seen fit, for the sake of the public interest, to request your respected committee to postpone the general
meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow evening, July 20, 1933, to another date and to kindly attend
with all the members of the honorable committee at the Community Administration at five o'clock in the afternoon of
tomorrow evening to deliberate on this matter together with the participation of the esteemed Lay Council.
I thank you, and remain with respect,
Ezra
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 103
General Directorate of Agriculture
DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE.
Office of the Director of Inspection
Office of the Plant Industry Directorate
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.
Central Experimental Farm
CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL
Rustamiyah - Baghdad
FARM, RUSTAM,
BAGHDAD.
Telephone Number: - Baghdad 1765
Telephone :- Baghdad 1765.
Telegraphic Address: - General Agriculture
Telegrams :- "Agriculture," Baghdad.
No. 54 / 2 / 6
Date: 17 September 1933
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Subject - Tomato Sauce.
This Directorate is honored to present to your Eminence one bottle of tomato sauce
manufactured in this department.
For your information on this subject, we would like to inform you that it was made from the best and finest
type of tomatoes that were picked and prepared in one day, and neither industrial materials
used to preserve it from rot or spoilage nor chemical dyes were used in its manufacture, and it cost this
department one-sixth of the value of what is sold in the markets of the foreign type imported from America.
Therefore, we hope you will use it and inform us of your opinion on it and provide observations which will undoubtedly
benefit us in our work.
With respect.
John ⟦Aboy⟧
For the Director of Plant Industry
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 871
Date
To be filed
Page 104
2264
13 Jumada al-Awwal 1352 and 2 October 933
Tomato Sauce
His Excellency the Director of Plant Industry at the Central Experimental Farm
Rustamiyah Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 6 / 2 / 54 dated 27 September 933
His Eminence the Head of the Community has received with thanks a bottle of tomato sauce made in your respected department
And His Eminence congratulates you on this great success in perfecting this national sauce which
His Eminence found to be far superior to the foreign type, a matter that calls for complete admiration.
May God grant you success in serving our dear country
⟦signature⟧
Secretary
72
Page 105
2358
8 Jumada al-Akhira 352 and 28 September 933
Respected Director of the American School for Boys
After greetings
The bearer of this letter, named Heskel Sassoon, intends to enroll in
your school, and we are aware of his financial situation, so we hope to confirm to you that he is unable
to pay the school fees, and I would be extremely grateful if you would kindly accept him as a student in
your school and exempt him from the fees.
With respect
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of
Head of the Israelite Community
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Baghdad on ⟦illegible⟧
Number ⟦illegible⟧
72
Page 106
American School for Boys . Baghdad
AMERICAN SCHOOL FOR BOYS
BAGHDAD, IRAQ
REV. CALVIN K. STAUDT, PH. D. Calvin K. Staudt
PRINCIPAL Principal
October 14, 1933
His Grace Sassoon Khadoury
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Dear Sir:
I received your letter the other day recommending a student to be taken on our scholarship list. We have certain students that are on our scholarship list. These, however, were selected before school opened. One other thing we usually observe. It is very rarely that we give assistance to new students, but we do so after they are in our school for a time. I am sorry we could do nothing for the boy you sent us this year. I wish he had come earlier.
Sincerely yours,
C. K. Staudt
Calvin K. Staudt
The Israelite Community
Presidency of ⟦illegible⟧
Number 1007
Date 22 / 10 / 33
14 October 1933
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadoury, the respected
Greetings and respect:
I received your letter a few days ago recommending one of the students so that we may place him
on the list of students exempt from paying school fees or part of them. We have a number
of students of this kind, but we select these before the opening of
the school. We usually observe another thing, which is that it is rare that
we help a student who has recently applied to the school, but we provide assistance
after his attendance for a period of time. We regret that we are unable to help him
and I wish he had applied before this time. Yours truly.
To be filed
Page 107
2272
3 October 933
His Eminence the Honorable Chief Rabbi
The contractor for Elias and the Lord has approached us regarding the (Lulav); therefore, we draw
Your Eminence's attention to the fact that the sale of the Lulav is the right of this contractor alone, and we hope that you will prevent
anyone who sells it, whether in the ⟦Zilkha⟧ synagogue or elsewhere, in order to preserve the rights of the aforementioned
contractor.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
72
Page 108
422
His Eminence, the respected Head of the Jewish Community
The reception committee for the chosen one who will arrive on Saturday hopes that Your Eminence will order
the erection of a victory arch in its place near the Marjan Mosque, with the participation of some girls to scatter flowers,
and this is the least that is expected of you. May you remain for the good of the nation. August 24, 1922
On behalf of the Committee
⟦signature⟧
Office of the Hakham Bashi - Baghdad:
Number: 911
Date: 24/8/22
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI:
BAGHDAD:
⟦signature⟧
Filed
⟦illegible⟧ for the Jewish community
Page 109
EXPIRY NOTICE.
THE
SOUTH BRITISH
INSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED.
THE SOUTH BRITISH INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED INCORPORATED IN NEW ZEALAND
Renew the insurance
2
HORNBY ROAD, FORT,
Baghdad
<del>Bombay,</del> The 27th Aug. 1933.
The President of the Jewish Community.
Baghdad.
Sir,
I beg to remind you that your Insurance with this
Company, by Policy No. ⟦42/⟧ <del>37/</del> 10038 expires on the
14th Septr. 1933, at 4 p m. Standard Time.
I am Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
⟦S J Cohen⟧
<del>Manager.</del>
Agents.
Sum Insured Rs.: I.D.300
Premium, Rs.:
On Household Goods, Carpets in house
No. 16/118. on Plan at Towrat Quarter
Baghdad.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Date
72
If any alteration has been made by which the risk has been
increased, the circumstances should be made known to
the Company's Manager.
Note:—The rates in respect of this Policy, are subject to alteration, in the
event of the Tariff ratings being revised, at the time of the renewal.
Page 110
25 October 933
My dear Dr. Woodman
Warm greetings
I would be most grateful if you would kindly assist the bearer of this letter, Nissim
Moshieh, in the case of his son Isaac, who is ill in the hospital, which he will explain to your Excellency.
And I thank you very much
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Preserve
72
⟦illegible⟧
Page 111
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number: 2912
Date: 31 October 933
The Honorable and Virtuous Notable
Respected
After greetings
I request your presence at the Community Administration at four-thirty
on the afternoon of Thursday, 2 / 11 / 933, to deliberate on some important matters.
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
x Twenty-two persons
Whose names are listed in the outgoing mail register
Page 112
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number: 2922
Date: 8 November 933
The Honorable Eliyahu Effendi Twena
" " Sasson Effendi Yaqub Sabih
" " Zion Effendi Haron Kattan
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly meet me at the community administration at
five o'clock in the afternoon today.
With respect,
⟦Alwi⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
73
Page 113
REUBEN & YEHOUDA MENASHI
BANKERS
Reuben and Yehouda Menashi * Baghdad
Telegraph: Unity
Teleg. Add. UNITY - BAGHDAD
Code used - Bentley's
Khan Dalla No. 21
BAGHDAD, 193
( Iraq )
1932
19 / 8 / 1932
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community Committee
Based on the attached ⟦illegible⟧, we kindly ask you to ⟦illegible⟧
In the name of ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Special Number 1028
Date 5 / 11 / 32
⟦signature⟧
72
Page 114
Menahem S. Daniel
Menahem S. Daniel,
River Street
October 22, 1927
192 BAGHDAD,
(IRAQ)
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
The Respected President of the Jewish Community
After greetings -
Based on your request regarding the admission of the student Kelly Khedouri to our school free of charge, we send you
herewith a letter guaranteed for you for a period of one year ⟦the place⟧. Please send the mentioned student to receive it from the headmistress so she may be admitted to
the school. With much respect to your Eminence.
⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community:
Baghdad:
Special Number: 239
Date: 25/10/927
To be filed
72
Page 115
Baghdad on ⟦28⟧ November 1944
The Honorable President of the Administrative Committee for the Affairs of the Jewish Community, Respected
Based on your desire to appoint an employee to collect donations and monthly subscriptions from the members of the community
And in view of the debts and financial obligations I owe, and the humanitarian and social service this position entails, I request your kindness in accepting me
for this work, being ready to provide the legal guarantees you require of me, noting that I was an employee at the Rima Kadoorie Eye Hospital
and I left work there for health reasons, and now, thank God, I have fully recovered and am ready to work with all sincerity and honesty
With highest respect
Submitted by
⟦Ibrahim⟧
⟦Rafiq⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community:
⟦Outgoing⟧ Number: 121
Date: 5 / 11 / 947
To be filed
72
Page 116
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community
Subject: Does a paternal brother inherit along with a full brother?
A man passed away in the city of Basra, leaving behind full sisters and a third who is a paternal brother. Since, according
to Islamic Sharia rulings, a paternal brother does not inherit in the presence of a full brother, is there a
religious rule in Mosaic Law that contradicts this rule... i.e., is it permissible for a paternal brother
to inherit along with a full brother? Please advise us, and may you be rewarded. 8 / 11 / 927
Lawyer Abdullah Al-Khudairi
⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
No. P 1025
Date 8 / 11 / 927
4247
Referred to His Eminence the President of the Religious Court to respond to the content
9 / 11 / 927
Ezra Sassoon
President of the Jewish Community
775
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
The Religious Court
of the Babylonian Community
in Baghdad
May it be rebuilt and established speedily in our days, Amen
The petitioner shall be informed upon follow-up
Archived
⟦signature/initials⟧
Page 117
⟦illegible⟧
2242
19 November 933
Respected Lawyer Abdul Malik Effendi Al-Khudairi
Reference to your inquiry dated 8 / 11 / 933
The paternal half-brother inherits with the full brother, and that is for males only.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
72
Page 118
2442
20 November 933
The Honorable Zion Effendi Ishaq
After greetings,
Regarding the sum of twenty-five dinars deposited with you as assistance for the marriage of Sabiha
daughter of Zion Ibrahim in Amarah, I request that you instruct your agent in Amarah to deliver it to
the aforementioned Sabiha upon the signing of the marriage contract.
⟦On behalf of⟧
Head of the Community
⟦scribbles⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
Page 119
Iraqi Printing Press Workers Association
Iraqi
Baghdad on 21 / 9 / 1934
Number ⟦20⟧
* Iraqi Printing Press Workers Association *
Baghdad
To His Eminence, the Respected Head of the Jewish Community
Sir,
After greetings,
We had sent Your Eminence a letter dated 20 / 9 / 934 regarding the case of the worker
Khedhouri Effendi Shebet. It occurred by oversight that we did not mention that this letter is
a copy of the letter we sent to the President of the Jewish Charitable Society, and considering
we sent this copy to Your Eminence for information only. We are confident
that Your Eminence will resolve this issue in the best possible way, and we thank you, Sir.
President of the Iraqi Printing Press
Workers Association
Filed
72
Page 120
2200
30 March 933
The case of Khedhouri Shebet
To --
The Honorable President of the Iraqi Printing Workers Association
With reference to your letter No. 18 dated the 30th of this March
It appears that you were mistaken in identifying the authority responsible for looking into the case of the person named Khedhouri
Effendi Shebet, as the mentioned printing press does not belong to this presidency, but rather belongs to the Jewish Charitable
Association in Baghdad, which is headed by Heskel Effendi Shoa' Mounir, so please refer to him. Sincerely.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the President of the Jewish Community
⟦Manon⟧
Page 121
General Center
of the Iraqi Printing Workers Association
— Baghdad —
Number: 1800
Date: 20 / 2 / 1922
To His Eminence, the respected Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
After greetings and respect.
What is presented to you — it is the duty of our association to draw your attention to the hardship befalling
one of the workers of the printing press belonging to your association, who is Khadhuri Effendi Sheth, and we hope for quick attention to restoring his
usurped rights, as we do not doubt that you will immediately take effective measures based on our reliance on your integrity and living conscience.
Sir, the hardship befalling this active worker is something that makes the living conscience shudder,
and we would like to inform Your Eminence of some points of this embodied hardship.
1 — The aforementioned is one of the shareholders in this printing press, and he is the one who built its foundation
with his strong arms, and he is the one who spread propaganda for it and brought it to the state it is in now by working night and day.
2 — The mentioned worker was one of the excellent government printing press workers and assistant head of its typesetters, receiving
a salary of 100 rupees (excluding overtime pay), and when you decided to open this printing press and searched for a
capable worker to manage this press, it happened by chance that this worker was the one sought after, so you agreed with him
to work for a salary of 100 rupees, and after one year he would be given an increase of 20 rupees,
and he would also be given forty percent of the net profit, so he agreed to this and relied on God.
3 — When the second year ended, you proposed to him to change some terms of the agreement so that
the profits would be fifty-four and a half percent without a salary, and that was based on the entry of personal interests
into the matter, so he agreed to that and left his affair to God.
4 — When the fourth year ended, some reviewers began wanting his favor if he did not agree to
work for a salary of (80) rupees without profit, and since he was forced and unable to return to the government printing press
where he used to work honored and respected, and left it hoping ⟦in you⟧ ⟦for⟧ you ⟦⟦illegible⟧⟧ in you more than that, so he agreed
at the time, blaming himself for his agreement based on false hopes, and remained hoping for an improvement in his condition if one of
the officials in the mentioned association noticed him and looked into his previous services. We regret very much to inform you that
the fifth year has ended for the mentioned worker and no one has noticed his hardship, and he remains at this
meager salary without profit, and this salary is not enough for him to sustain himself and fulfill his family duties. Therefore, we draw your attention to
this injustice that has befallen the mentioned printing worker, especially since we and you are working, as we mentioned before,
for one goal, which is human service and the public interest. May you remain so.
Page 122
General Headquarters
of the Iraqi Printing Workers Association
⟦line⟧ Baghdad ⟦line⟧
Number: ⟦18⟧
Date: 20 / 2 / 1933
(3)
Note - We briefly outline to you the amounts incurred as damages which are now being claimed for collection from you.
Anna | Rupee
| 225 | Half the price of the machines purchased by the press management from the press profit fund during your agreement with it regarding the partnership.
14 | 373 | Shortfall in profits for the year 1930
| 180 | Salary deductions for the year 1931
| 680 | Salary deductions for each single month (40) rupees from the beginning of December 932 until the end of April 1933, seventeen months
14 | 1358 | Total amount owed by the aforementioned press.
In conclusion, we look forward to a reply to this letter of ours, and please accept our great thanks and respect.
President of the Iraqi Printing Workers Association
Abdullah Al-Madari
Iraqi Printing Workers Association
Baghdad
Page 123
19 February 933
His Eminence Sayyid Muhammad Sadr al-Din, the respected
Greetings and respect,
Furthermore, I request your Eminence to kindly set an appointment
in which I can meet you regarding a private matter tomorrow or the day after.
To your Eminence, thanks and honor;
Sincerely,
Representative of the Head of the Jewish Community
72
Page 124
11 May 933
Dear Dr. Kalam Kurian
After greetings
The bearer of this letter is Tuba daughter of Saleh
She is poor and has no husband or son to support her
So we hope that you provide her with possible assistance and I thank you in advance
And may you remain;
Alawi
Sincerely
72
Page 125
BOARD OF MANAGERS
CALVIN K. STAUDT, PH. D., Principal
DAVID D. BAKER. B.A., B.D., Assist. Prin
F. NELSEN SCHLEGEL, B.A., B.D., Treasurer
American School for Boys in Baghdad
AMERICAN SCHOOL FOR BOYS
BAGHDAD, IRAQ.
Board of Managers
Calvin K. Staudt, Principal
David D. Baker, Assistant Principal
F. Nelsen Schlegel, Treasurer
Cable Address : BAGHDADBOYS, BAGHDAD
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Baghdad
Sir,
I have learned that in one of your schools (Shamash School) there are vacancies for students.
Therefore, I request Your Eminence to inform the principal of the aforementioned school to
receive one of our students, the bearer of this letter.
⟦I hope⟧ that you will not neglect this request of ours, and to you,
Sir,
Sincerely,
⟦Said Haddad⟧
Principal of the American School