Voices from the Archive

IJA 99

Correspondence Between Jewish Community Committees, Iraqi Government, Baghdadi Schools

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Description

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.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 99
Item Number
11338
Date
Approx. January 1, 1921 to December 31, 1930
Languages
Multiple Languages
Keywords
Head of the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court) – Iraq, Jewish Purity Laws, Al-Istiqal, Employment, Travel, Passport, Head of Baghdad Health District, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Annotation, Iran, Jewish Lay Council, Chief Rabbi, Judeo-Arabic, American School for Boys in Baghdad, Administrative Offices of Public Railways, Palestinian, Ministry of Finance – Collector of Customs and Excise, Basrah, Meir Elias Hospital, Benjamin Moshi, Primary School, Rustam, Menahem S. Daniel, Literary and Sports Society-Shamash School, Iraqi Army, Jewish Schools Committee, Office of Education, Ink Stamp, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Railways, Ezra M. Daniel, Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital, Chart, Jerusalem, File Folder, Signature, Receipts, Ministry of the Interior, Directorate of Agriculture-Office of the Director of Research-Central Experimental Research Farm, Jewish Religious Court, Britain, Photograph, Gan Hailadim School, Financial, Legal, Correspondence, School Material, Administrators of Ezra’s Tomb, Jewish Communal Association of Shanghai, Nazareth, Business Card, Shamash Secondary School, Invoice, Ministry of Justice, Personal Letterhead, President of the Jewish Community, Royal Air Force, Typed, Ministry of Education, Secondary School, Iraq Railways: Chief Accountants Office, Labor, Office of Posts and Telegraphs, Contracts, Form, Insurance, Telegram, Revenue Stamp, Jewish Ladies Committee, Judicial, Letterhead, Thumbprint, Iraqi Government, Handwritten, Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, Teachers, Post Office-Baghdad, Office of Customs and Excise, Wataniyah School, Stamps, Baghdad, Jewish Hospitals Committee, Marriage

AI en Translation, Pages 176-200

Page 176

Amanat al-Asima (Mayoralty of the Capital)
Number ⟦22⟧
Baghdad - Date 20 Dhu al-Hijjah 1352
5 April 1934
Administrative Order
Due to the death of the Mukhtar of Taht al-Takiya neighborhood, Eliyahu Salman, the Mukhtar of Qanbar
Ali neighborhood, Heskel Aslan, shall perform the duties of the Mukhtar of the aforementioned neighborhood as an acting official until
a new Mukhtar is elected.
⟦signature⟧
Mayor of the Capital
Copy to:-
Governorate of Baghdad Province
His Eminence the Judge of Baghdad " "
Head of the Israelite Community " "
Baghdad Police Directorate " "
Baghdad Area Land Registry Directorate " "
The Administrative Director to hand over the seal of the Mukhtar of Taht al-Takiya neighborhood to " "
Heskel Aslan and to take measures for the election of a new Mukhtar
for the aforementioned neighborhood.
⟦illegible⟧
12/4/1934
F. T.
98

Page 177

HESKEL M. GABBAY.
COMMISSION - REPRESENTATION
CONSIGNATION
CODES : BENTLEY'S & PRIVATE
TEL. ADDRESS : HESKEL GABBAY
Heskel Murad Gabbay
Telegram: Heskel Gabbay
⟦924⟧
Baghdad on April 12, 944
BAGHDAD
To the honorable and distinguished President of the Jewish Community, the respected Hakham Bashi
May your times be happy. We have a Sefer in the synagogue of the late ⟦Luhayna⟧ Isaac Hayyim with Rimonim and ⟦Mahwi⟧
and ⟦Futa⟧, and there is a condition written in the Sefer that if the ⟦Shamash⟧ of the synagogue is ⟦disobedient⟧, he shall not receive the gift. We do not know how this situation is.
Every ⟦Shamash⟧ manages your property. We request from your tongue to see how this property is, how the Shamash manages our property.
And we request you to order the Shamash to hand over the Sefer to us without delay. Thank you and may you remain.
Heskel Murad
Gabbay
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 1269
Date 24 / 4 / 944

Page 179

2652
12 April 934
The Honorable Heskel Effendi Murad Gabbay
After greetings,
With reference to your letter dated 12 April 934,
I have instructed the deacon to deliver the book to you - and remain with respect.
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
98

Page 180

Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 2668
Date 19 April 934
His Eminence the Rabbi, members of the respected Lay Council
After greetings and respect
I request your presence at the Community Administration at ten o'clock
in the morning tomorrow (Friday, April 20, 1934) for important matters
On behalf of
The President of the Community
98

Page 181

Al-Iqab
« A Comprehensive Political Daily Newspaper »
Postal and Telegraphic Address: - Baghdad - Al-Iqab
Administration: 24 / 21 Jadid Hassan Pasha: Telephone Number - 651
Date: 12 / 4 / 44 Year
His Eminence, the Honorable President Sassoon Khadhuri, may his blessings continue.
Greetings and respect.
I hope you will kindly accept my thanks and gratitude with my appreciation for your noble
sentiment in congratulating me on my newborn (Luay).
I take this opportunity to offer my respect and greetings.
Sincerely,
⟦Razzuq Ghannam⟧
Owner of Al-Iqab Newspaper

Page 182

Salman Al-Barrak
Selman El-Barrak

Page 183

⟦2716⟧
10 May 934
The Honorable Lawyer Ibrahim Effendi Khazam, Respectfully
After greetings and respect
I would be very grateful if you would kindly set an appointment when you are able
to visit me at the Community Administration for coffee
I thank you in advance
⟦if⟧
Sincerely
Sassoon
Head of the Community
28

The Honorable Mr. Hakham Bashi, Baghdad
Peace
The bearer of this is an honorable and unemployed man
His son is a man whom Al-Kan knows to be
bad, and now he wants to save
his daughter from this man who
is in his path for the sake of ⟦her salvation⟧
to be saved, so let him decide what is necessary
The Savior
⟦Ibrahim⟧

Page 184

Presidency of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Number 2721
Date 14 May 934
To
His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon
" " Isaac Abih
" " Khedhouri
" " Yehoshua
" " Shmuel
" " Salim Ezra Hakim
" " Elia Shohet
" " Daoud Ezra Sofer
Ibrahim Effendi Hayyim
Khedhouri Sassoon
The Respected
After greetings and respect
I request your kind presence at the house of His Excellency Yehuda Effendi Zelouf
President of the Lay Council, located in the Sinak district, at five o'clock
this afternoon (the 14th of it)
And remain with respect
⟦Anwar Khedhouri⟧
Head of the Community
98

Page 185

275
9 May 34
His Eminence Rabbi Benjamin Rabbi Moshe, the respected
" " Salman Hoki Abboudi "
After greetings and respect
Per the request of the esteemed Lay Council, I hope you will kindly attend the
Community Administration at four o'clock in the afternoon today (Wednesday 9 May 934)
And remain with respect
Alwan
Head of the Community
82

Page 186

I, Moussa Rubin, confirm that I acknowledge that the keys to the church are held by my father's family, Saleh
bin Yusuf Ezra Shemesh does not have any key belonging to the mentioned church, and accordingly we have signed
10 May 1934
Moussa Rubin
⟦Ezra Shemesh⟧
⟦Yusuf Shemesh⟧
98

D / 285
6 November
His Excellency the Chairman of the Minors' Property Management Committee, Respected
" " " " Care of Minors' Affairs
Greetings and respect, and thereafter
We request your kind approval to conduct the auction for the sale of the house belonging to the minors
( ⟦63⟧ November 50 ⟦for some 12⟧ ) and located ⟦at the mirror of⟧ Abdul Qayyum in the Qishla neighborhood and registered in the Tabu
in the names of the aforementioned minors
Sincerely
Chairman of the Minors' Property Management Committee
D / 8

Page 187

To the honorable Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Baghdad, may God protect him
I, the undersigned, have been serving at the Rima Kadoorie Eye Hospital for
several years, and my salary is very low and is not sufficient
to support my many family members, and I am also sick and old and have no
strength to work anymore, and I wish to leave the job and rest
from my hard labor, and therefore I request from the honorable Chief
Rabbi that he would kindly give me a certificate testifying to
the years of my service in the aforementioned hospital and also a recommendation to
the Community Committee so that they may allocate me a monthly pension or
a one-time grant so that I can live on it for the remainder
of my life, for I have no other source of livelihood and I
am sure that the honorable Chief Rabbi will not turn me away empty-handed
and will help me in this difficult situation.
With thanks in advance and with great respect
The humble servant
⟦Yitzhak Sasson⟧
To the management of the Jewish Community Committee in Baghdad, may God protect them
I, the undersigned, hereby submit this request of mine and ask
of you in every language of supplication that you would kindly
review this request of mine and help me in my difficult situation
for I have been serving at the Rima Kadoorie Hospital for
several years and my salary is very low and is not
sufficient to support my many family members, and I am also
sick and old and have no strength to work anymore, and therefore
I request from you that you allocate me a monthly
pension or a one-time grant so that I can
live on it for the remainder of my life.
With thanks in advance and with great respect
The humble servant
⟦Yitzhak Sasson⟧
Baghdad 22 ⟦...⟧ 1948
Yitzhak Sasson

Page 188

My dear and most glorious Yehuda Effendi Zalouf
The Respected
Greetings and peace, and thereafter
Regarding the humble family known to your Excellency currently
they are very weak, and according to what ⟦was settled⟧
the Corporeal Council allocates a salary for them
of 80 Rupees, and today they have a council meeting
so that their salary is not cut off, so I have now come
and I entreat your Excellency and all the members with you to strive
for them so that the salary remains and they make it for the year
Grateful, and may you remain protected

⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
To the honor of his eminence the Rabbi
The complete and inclusive sage, pious and humble
Our honored teacher and Rabbi Sasson Kadoorie, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, President and Head
Of the Jewish community here in Baghdad, may God protect it, Amen
After inquiring after the peace of his eminence's majesty and Torah
I hereby come to inform his honored Torah eminence that
I am poor and needy and have no livelihood at all
And lacking everything, and I am also sick and have no one
Who can help me, and I also have a wife and small
Children and I have nothing with which to support them, and also
The house I live in belongs to the Hekdesh (charitable trust)
And I have nothing with which to pay the rent, and also
I have been working at the Rima Kadoorie Hospital
For several years and my salary is very
Small and is not sufficient for me and my household
For meager bread and scant water, and therefore I
Request of his honored Torah eminence to have pity and mercy on me
And on my household and give me some assistance
Or to add something to my salary
So that I may be able to live with
My household because the situation is very tight
And the cost of living continues to rise and I have no
Help from any side or corner except
From the Blessed Name and from his eminence's majesty and Torah
That he may have pity and mercy on me and on my household
And the merit of this mitzvah shall stand for him
And for all his household forever, Amen
The poor and needy
⟦illegible⟧

Page 189

To the Honorable Material Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Your servant, son of the servant, teacher Abraham Abda Allah al-Ani, servant at the Rima Kadoorie Hospital
for ophthalmology, I request from your honors to give me a service certificate from the day I entered my work at the
mentioned hospital from the date 1/1/1932 until this day so that I may use it when necessary
And many thanks to you
The Applicant
Abraham Abda
al-Ani
81

Page 190

The Religious Court of
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No.: 798
Date: 15 Adar 94
Year: 5694
To the Charity and Kindness Committee of the Community
Honorable and Exalted
We hereby inform you that Mrs. Hannah daughter of Isaac Al Ezra is
a poor widow and has no livelihood at all and is worthy of all help and assistance
⟦Ezra Dangoor⟧
Acting ⟦...⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 1284
Date 2/4/1934

Page 191

2702
16 Muharram 353 and 30 April 934
General Railway Directorate
Baghdad
After greetings,
Please inform us of the name of the station where Ishaq Effendi Saleh, an employee
in your department, is appointed - and stay well.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧

Page 192

P.S.R.Bd.—387—799—13-5-33—12,000. Form No. A. 5.
Iraqi Railways
‘IRAQ RAILWAYS.
Telegraphic Address: "RAILAUDIT - BAGHDAD"
Telegrams:—"RAILAUDIT, BAGHDAD."
Telephones:—
Telephones:—
Chief Accountant ... Rly. Exchange No. 14
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT ... Rly. Exchange No. 14.
Traffic Auditor " " " " 15
TRAFFIC AUDITOR ... " " " 15.
Expenditure Accountant " " " " 21
EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTANT. " " " 21.
General Office " " " " 13
GENERAL OFFICE ... " " " 13.
Chief Accountant's Office
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT'S OFFICE,
Baghdad
BAGHDAD. 3rd May, 1934.
Reference: EL/2326/32
To
The President of
Jewish Community,
Baghdad.
Dear Sir,
RE. ISAAC SALEH.
your No. 2702 of 30.4.34 addressed
to the Director of Railways, Baghdad.
⟦line⟧
The abovenamed is at present posted to
Khanaqin City Station.
Yours faithfully,
⟦G. Alm Husain⟧
for CHIEF ACCOUNTANT,
‘IRAQ RAILWAYS.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
No. ⟦...⟧ 1415
Date ⟦...⟧ 8 / 5 / 934
mj.

Page 193

27 - 6
4 May 934
His Eminence the President of the Religious Court, the Respected
Reference to your letter No. 788 dated 5 May 5694
In the letter of the Head of Train Accounts No. 3336/32 dated 3 May 934
That Isaac Saleh has been transferred at the present time to Khanaqin town station,
⟦illegible⟧
Sassoon
Head of the Community
58
The things

Page 194

27 22
4 May 934
His Excellency Yehuda Effendi Zelouf, the respected President of the Lay Council
After greetings and respect
I have invited, at your Excellency's request, the Eminences the Rabbis
and some members of the Lay Council to attend your prosperous home at the
fifth hour after noon today;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
98

Page 195

Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
PRESIDENT OF
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY - BAGHDAD
NO: 2744
DATE: 9 May 934
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Lawyer Shaoul Effendi Hakham Daoud, Respectfully
After greetings and respect,
I would be very grateful to you if you would kindly honor the Community Administration
at four-thirty in the afternoon today (Wednesday, 9 May 934) to consult you
regarding an important legal matter related to the affairs of the community.
Lawyer Yusuf Effendi Al-Kabir will also be present with you.
I thank you in advance and remain with respect,
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
I apologize as I was unable to attend, with respect, Shaoul Daoud
⟦signature⟧
98

Page 196

Number 2722
Date May 9, 934
The Honorable and Distinguished Lawyer Shaul Effendi Lavay,
After greetings and respect,
I would be very grateful to you if you would kindly honor the Community Administration with your presence
at four-thirty in the afternoon today (Wednesday, May 9, 934)
to consult with you regarding a legal matter concerning the affairs of the community.
The lawyer Yusuf Effendi Al-Kabir will also be present with you.
I thank you in advance and remain with respect,
Head of the Community
98
⟦illegible⟧

Page 197

Number 2742
Date May 9, 1934
The Honorable and Distinguished Lawyer ⟦Yousef Effendi⟧ Al-Kabir, Respectfully
After greetings and respect
I would be very grateful to you if you would kindly honor the Community Administration with your presence
at four-thirty in the afternoon today (Wednesday, May 9, 1934)
to consult with you regarding a legal matter concerning the affairs of the community
The lawyer ⟦Shaul Effendi Shashoua⟧ will be <del>present</del> with you as well
I thank you in advance and remain with respect
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧

Baghdad
October 26, 1937
To the Honorable Secretary of the Jewish Community Affairs Management Committee
Through the Office of the Hakham Bashi
Please approve the disbursement of an amount of five Dinars only
(5 Dinars only) and this amount represents compensation for damages
for the injured ⟦Ezra⟧ son of ⟦Salman⟧ who suffered a fracture in his right hand
while performing work at the aforementioned hospital
I kindly request the disbursement of the mentioned amount
Please accept the highest respect
Hospital Director
Three
82

Page 198

The Chief Rabbi of
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 112
Date: 7 / July / 94
To the honorable President of the Committee of the Hebrew Community in Baghdad
The Sage Rabbi Yosef Zechariah, may God protect and preserve him
The Sage Shimon Aaron Musafi "
After inquiring of your welfare with a blessing, I hereby inform you that on the 24th of Tammuz 94, the general assembly of
the Community Committee of our holy community in Baghdad was held, and in it the Sage Yosef Zechariah, may God protect and preserve him, was elected as President of the community, and the Sage Shimon
Aaron Musafi, may God protect and preserve him, as Vice President of the community, and Mr. Ezra S. Hardoon, may God protect and preserve him, as Secretary of the community.
Benjamin H.
Moshe
Rabbi of the Community in Baghdad
Reviewed daily
To the respected President of the Committee of the Israelite Community
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Private Number 1212
Date 20 / 7 / 944
Keep
87
25

Page 199

Nursing Mothers Relief Association
Baghdad, May 18, 1934
His Excellency, the Respected Head of the Jewish Community
Greetings and respect,
We have the honor to inform you that the Ministry of Interior has approved the establishment of our association. Soon
we will provide you with a copy of its bylaws and begin the association's work to assist poor children and nursing mothers with whatever
charitable means we can achieve, relying in this on the support of the community members and hoping to receive your patronage
and the assistance of the respected Lay Council. We hope you will accept, on this occasion, our highest respects.
President of the Committee
⟦O. Levy⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community:
Baghdad:
Private Number: 2271
Date: 22 / 5 / 934

Page 200

May 25, 934
Private
⟦line⟧
The Honorable and Virtuous Professor Mr. Hashim Bey Al-Alousi
Assistant Director of Education for the Baghdad Region, Respected
⟦illegible⟧
After greetings and respect
I hope to request the assistance of the virtuous professor in the matter of transferring Yusuf Effendi Saleh
The teacher at Al-Qahtaniyah School in Mosul to Baghdad, given that he is planning to
get married on one hand, and that his stay in Mosul for two years while his family is in Baghdad has
cost him many expenses
I would be very grateful if you would kindly provide the possible assistance
Sincerely
Aziz
Head of the Community