AI en Translation, Pages 201-225
Page 201
⟦2748⟧
16 Safar 1353 and 30 May 934
His Excellency the Mayor of the Capital, the Respected
The Mayoralty of the Capital had imposed on the Meir Elias Synagogue located in the Tauraat neighborhood a
paving fee amounting to 3 Dinars and 711 Fils. Since the aforementioned synagogue is among the endowments of the
Jewish community which are exempt from property tax, I request Your Excellency to kindly exercise your
special authority under the Paving Law of year 926 to exempt the paving costs for the mentioned synagogue.
With respect to Your Excellency,
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
Page 202
Administration of the Lay Council
of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Lay Council * Baghdad
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
BAGHDAD
No: 1572
Date: 1931/12/17
Subject:
His Excellency the Acting Chief Rabbi, Respected
With reference to your letter No. 1589 dated 8/12/931, our council in
its session held on 16/12/1931 approved the collection of four annas
on every certificate issued by your department and the distribution of what is collected from this amount to the
poor who apply to the community administration requesting assistance
⟦signature⟧
The President
98
Page 203
272
11 June 934
Appeal
To our honorable brothers, members of the Israelite community
The bearer of this appeal, Zubaydah daughter of Eliyahu Shahrabani, is an orphaned girl in very poor circumstances. She
has been engaged for some time but is unable to marry due to her poverty. We ask our honorable brothers, members of
the community known for their generosity and kindness, to extend a helping hand to her, each according to what their soul bestows.
God does not waste the reward of a generous benefactor;
⟦line⟧
82
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Page 204
8 June 934
The honorable Moshe Effendi Yusuf Cohen, respected
After greetings and respect,
I recently heard the news of the passing of your late wife of blessed memory.
This unfortunate calamity has had the deepest impact on me, so I hope you will accept from me
my heartfelt condolences, praying to the Lord that He may not show you any misfortune in a loved one.
L.H.
Sincerely,
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
⟦88⟧
Page 205
⟦2765⟧
25 Safar 1353 and 8 June 934
His Excellency the Director of the Land Registry of Baghdad District, respected
Please provide us with a copy of the land registry record for the house located in Jadid Hassan Pasha neighborhood, sequence
294/1/3 No. 38/1 Yoyo registered in the name of Hakham Ezra bin Reuben Dangoor, representative of the former
Hakham Bashi in Baghdad, in addition to the Great Torah [Synagogue] located in the Al-Tawrat neighborhood in Baghdad
With respect
By hand
On behalf of
Head of the Community
98
Page 206
22 Safar 1353 and 15 June 934
His Excellency Sadi Bey Niazi
The Respected Police Director of Hillah Province
After greetings and respect
The superior effort you expended on maintaining security and the comfort of
the visitors during the past Israeli Feast of Weeks was a subject of great admiration and fragrant
praise
So allow us to offer our deep thanks and gratitude for your chivalry
and magnanimity, may God grant you success in what is good and for the public interest
Please accept my respect and ⟦abundant⟧ thanks
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Page 207
2760
23 Safar 1353 and 6 June 1934
His Excellency the Director of Customs and Excise for the Baghdad Province, Respected
It has been the custom since ancient times that the Jewish community outside Iraq sends some
silver palms and flags to the shrine of our master Ezra, peace be upon him, and what falls within this category
is exempted from customs duty as it is specific to the shrine, which has been used since ancient times as a place for prayer and for reading
religious rulings by ten individuals elected from the worshippers of the community who remain at the shrine
permanently and live off the proceeds and vows collected from the visitation. Recently, the trustee of the
⟦shrine⟧ of Ezra, peace be upon him, approached me and informed me that the Customs Department objected to exempting the mentioned items from
the duty and requested from him a certificate stating that. Based on the request made, and since the mentioned
materials are endowed to the aforementioned shrine, which is used as a place of worship as we mentioned earlier, we hereby confirm
the trustee's statement, hoping that you will consider the mentioned items exempt from the duty;
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
98
Page 208
Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Customs and Excise
⟦27⟧ Safar / 53
Baghdad 11 June 34
No. 11578
His Eminence the Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad .
Memorandum /
With reference to your letter No. 2760 dated the 6th of this month .
We were unable to take any action regarding the request contained in your letter
referred to above as there is no Director of Customs and Excise for the Baghdad Liwa
as you specifically addressed the letter .
⟦K. Husain⟧
For the Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
N
369 in Paradise in 256 in 66
His Excellency the Respected Prime Minister
The Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad is honored to submit to your Excellency that the community has received with great joy, delight,
and optimism the good news brought to us by today's newspapers and news broadcasts, which was issued on the occasion of the opening of
this historic and momentous meeting that brings together the leaders of Arab politics in Cairo to discuss the issues of the Arabs and the Arab nation.
Based on what was stated in your Excellency's statement, the community and the congregation express their gratitude for this just cause and their participation
in supporting the Arab nation in defending its entity and its legitimate rights in Palestine and other Arab lands, and that all
members of the community share with their brothers in the Arab countries their national sentiment, and that pure faith and loyalty to this country,
and the readiness to sacrifice lives and money for its sake and to exert efforts to achieve national aspirations since its independence and its progress
on the path of eternal freedom to serve the Arab nation and the Iraqi nation in particular. We support your Excellency in every step you take
for the sake of protecting this country, preserving its entity, the integrity of its lands, and its independence for the sake of its prosperity and continuous progress.
On behalf of
The Presidency of the Jewish Community
82
Page 209
2760
9 Rabi' al-Awwal 1353 and 21 June 934
His Excellency the Director General of Customs and Excise, the Respected
Baghdad
It has been the custom since ancient times that the Jewish community outside Iraq sends some silver palms
and flags to the shrine of our master Ezra, peace be upon him, and what arrives of this kind is exempted from customs duty as it is
specific to the shrine, which has been used since ancient times as a place for prayer and for reading religious rulings by ten individuals elected
from the worshippers of the community who remain in the shrine permanently and live off the proceeds and vows collected from visitors. Recently,
the trustee of Ezra, peace be upon him, approached me and informed me that the Customs Department objected to exempting the mentioned items from
the duty and requested from him a certificate stating that. Based on the request made, and since the mentioned materials are endowed to
the mentioned shrine used as a place of worship as we mentioned earlier, we hereby confirm the trustee's statement, hoping that you will consider
the mentioned items exempt from the duty.
Head of the Community
⟦...⟧ numbered 2760 and dated 21 June 934 ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ Table ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ Law ⟦...⟧ of the year 1932 ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ Director General of Customs and Excise ⟦...⟧
Page 210
Iraq
Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Customs and Excise
Baghdad (Telephone 258)
Number: 5125
Date: 12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1353
26 June 1934
His Eminence the Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad.
Subject - Request for a revenue stamp.
I regret that I cannot consider the request submitted in your petition
numbered 2760 and dated the 21st of this month unless a
revenue stamp worth 40 fils is affixed to it according to number 46, Schedule (A) of
the Iraqi Stamp Law of 1922, as amended by Law No. 75
of 1931. Respectfully yours.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 2982
Date 1/7/934
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Director General of Customs and Excise
N. M.
To be filed as necessary
⟦signature⟧
Page 211
Ministry of Finance
Directorate of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
16
28 June / 34
13 Rabi' al-Awwal / 53
Date ⟦line⟧
Number 12057
His Eminence the Head of the Jewish Community, Respected
Baghdad .
After greetings /
With reference to your letter numbered 2789 and dated 13 Rabi' al-Awwal
1353 corresponding to 27 June / 1934 .
Please be so kind as to inform me of the number and date of the customs declaration
in which such statements were previously exempted from duty .
Sincerely
⟦H Monk⟧
Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
2281
1 / 7 / 1934
Tha
Page 212
2789
13 Rabi' al-Awwal 353 and 27 June 934
His Excellency the Director of Customs and Excise, the Respected
Baghdad
In response to your letter No. 11578 dated 11 June 934
I request that you consider the address of our letter No. 2760 dated 23 Safar 353 and 6 June 934
(Directorate of Customs and Excise Baghdad)
⟦to⟧
Sassoon
Head of the Community
88
Page 213
2800
23 Rabi' al-Awwal 353 and 5 July 934
His Excellency the Director of Customs and Excise, the Respected
Baghdad
After greetings,
Reference to your letter No. 13057 dated 16 Rabi' al-Awwal 353 and 29 June 934
Such gloves have previously been exempted from duties under the customs declaration
Numbered P.P. 107 dated 29 / 12 / 1932
With respect,
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Page 214
2828
7 Rabi' al-Thani 353 and 19 July 934
His Excellency the Director of Customs and Excise, Respected
Baghdad
Further to our letter No. 2789 dated 13 Rabi' al-Awwal 353 and 7 June 934
Based on the clarifications that I have previously included in my letter No. 2760 dated
23 Safar 353 and 6 June 934, I request the exemption of the flags and gloves imported by the Mutawalli
of Al-Uzair, peace be upon him, according to the import declaration numbered P.P. 176 from the
customs duty, given that the mentioned materials are endowed to the shrine of our master Al-Uzair, which is used
as a place of worship;
L.W.
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Page 215
Ministry of Finance
Directorate of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Date: 11 Rabi' al-Thani / 53
19 July / 34
Number: 14652
His Eminence the Head of the Jewish Community, Respected
Baghdad .
After greetings /
With reference to your letter numbered 2838 and dated 7 Rabi' al-Thani
1353 corresponding to 19 July / 1934 .
Due to the absence of a revenue stamp worth 40 fils on your above letter
pursuant to Article 46 of Schedule 2 of the Iraqi Stamp Law of the year
1933, we cannot, in this case, consider it and we return it to you enclosed for completion
and return to this department .
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community
2222
29 / 7 / 53
Note from the Director of Trade and General Income Tax
Tha
Page 216
2754
17 June 934
Private
The honorable and virtuous notable Daoud Effendi Tweg, respected
After greetings and respect
After offering you fragrant greetings, I hope to introduce to you the bearer of this letter, Elias
Effendi Rubin Yaqoub. I would be extremely grateful if you would kindly grant him possible assistance
and employ him in the vacant position in the Audit Department.
I thank you in advance and remain,
Sincerely,
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
86
98
Page 217
Moshe Yosef Cohen
Baghdad, June 12, 1934
His Eminence the Chief Rabbi, President of the Jewish Community, Respected
After greetings and respect
I received your letter dated June 8, which included your warm condolences
which had the greatest impact on my soul. On this occasion, I thank the noble
sentiments of Your Eminence for your condescension in consoling me on my painful loss, and I ask the Creator
that no misfortune may disturb the serenity of your happiness.
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
82
Page 218
Ministry of Justice
The Bureau
16 / 6 / 1934
24 / 142 / 4
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Head of the Jewish Community
His Excellency the Minister of Justice has ordered me to inform you to please
attend this Ministry at eleven o'clock
before noon on Monday, June 18, 934
to meet His Excellency.
⟦signature⟧
Secretary of the Ministry of Justice
⟦18 June 1934⟧
Page 219
⟦2722⟧
1 Safar 1353 and 15 May 934
His Excellency the Mayor of the Capital, the Respected
After greetings and respect
In the alley branching off from the Shorja market called (Club Shalom Agha Elazar) alley
leading to the Israeli Alliance School for Boys, there is a refreshment seller occupying half the width of the road
mentioned by placing boxes and other items belonging to him. Since the mentioned alley is very narrow
and is an important outlet to the Shorja market on one hand, and a passage for most female and male students of the schools
Israeli, and since many have approached us in this regard requesting mediation with your Excellency
so that you may instruct the mentioned seller to vacate the alley completely and make room for the passage of the public and students
without hardship. I hope your Excellency will grant this request.
With respect to your Excellency
Harun
Head of the Community
98
Page 220
Special Form No. 14
Mayoralty of the Capital
Baghdad
22 / 17 / 6052
2 Safar 353
2 May 934
Baghdad: Date 22 / 7 / 1934
Number ⟦illegible⟧
To
The Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
With reference to your letter numbered 2733 and dated May 15, 1934.
Despite the fact that we have instructed the Director of Administration to investigate what was stated in your
aforementioned letter and to take the necessary measures, we would like you to instruct
the persons who consult you on such matters to consult the Mayoralty
directly without bothering the Presidency of the Community with matters for which the Mayoralty is available
to receive applicants.
⟦signature⟧
Mayor of the Capital
Copy to -
Director of Administration with the letter mentioned above
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Special Number 2261
Date 24 / 7 / 934
78
88
24 / 7 / 34
⟦signature⟧
⟦757⟧
⟦illegible⟧
362 on 26 / 10 / 51
The Honorable Mr. Head of the Community, respected
Greetings and respect
Article (15) of the Cooperative Societies Law No. 27 of 1944 and paragraph (1) of Article
(10) of the internal regulations of our society require every member upon joining the society to subscribe to at least one share
and its value is five dinars, paid either in cash or in monthly installments of no less than two hundred and fifty fils. Since you are
among the founding members of this society, as shown in the attached application for establishment, and you have not paid until now
this amount, we therefore request you to kindly send the mentioned amount or the first installment of it so that we can issue the membership certificate
in your name and register your name in the register of members. Please accept our highest respect and appreciation.
Baghdad on November 17, 1951
Sincerely
President of the Cooperative Society
⟦illegible⟧
82
⟦illegible⟧
Page 221
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 4766
Date - 31 May 934
⟦Al-Madaris Synagogue⟧
18/6/81
To Mr. Ezra Hezekiel and the lovers of } Al-Madaris Synagogue
Shaul Cohen Aboudi Menashi
Circular to all Jewish Synagogues
1- It is not permitted to hang any appeal, statement, or announcement in any synagogue before obtaining the approval of
the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
2- No one other than the aforementioned Ezra Hezekiel and Yaqub bin Shaul is allowed to make announcements in
the synagogue; however, if necessity dictates otherwise, the approval of this department must be obtained;
Anwar Khadouri
President of the Community
A copy of it to the aforementioned Ezra and Yaqub for information
and to consult this department and obtain its approval for any appeal in advance
98
Page 222
TOEG'S PHARMACY
HARON S. TOEG
BAGHDAD
Toeg Pharmacy, owned by
Haron Salman Toeg
Baghdad
Baghdad:
Baghdad:
⟦To the Honorable Chief Rabbi, may God protect him⟧
⟦After inquiring about your high honor's well-being. I am here to inform your honor⟧
⟦that the boy Isaac son of Ezra Cohen is poor and his father⟧
⟦left him and went to the country of Persia and he has no one to support him⟧
⟦and so, please, from your honor and your righteousness, do him a kindness and mercy and admit him⟧
⟦to the school⟧
Your servant
⟦Abraham Salman⟧
n
Baghdad on January 12, 1947
14 Safar ⟦1366⟧
17 Jan 1947
16 - 17 - 18
The Honorable ⟦Ezra⟧ ⟦Saleh⟧, Respected
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Subject: The Rima Kadoorie Jewish Hospital
Based on your request addressed to us in your letter No. 101 dated January 12, 1947
Regarding providing you with a report on the Rima Kadoorie Jewish Hospital
We send you herewith the annual report on the progress of work in the aforementioned hospital for the year 1946
Hoping you will kindly submit it to the competent authorities, thanking you for your kind interest in this hospital
⟦Signature⟧
Hospital Director
Attachments: Report on the progress of work in the hospital for the year 1946
A copy of it to the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad for information and review
No objection to providing them with the report
Because it does not contain confidential information
Page 225
May God be gracious to you
To the excellence of our master ⟦the⟧ Hakham Bashi, Hakham Sassoon Kadoorie (may his light shine)
There are two, my wise heart, your servant Kahane Yaakov ⟦M⟧ Sahayek, serving in the
Ovadia school ⟦L⟧ for nearly six years, and due to the illness that I was
sick with not long ago, for about 3 days I did not come to work, and it is nearly
a week, and as you know your servant is poor and destitute and I have no
other livelihood, and a man ⟦L⟧ with a family, today they have nothing to eat
for the sake of ⟦the⟧ Hakham and by the merit of the Miracle Worker, do charity and kindness for me
instead of the debts I have incurred to butchers and others, and for the sake of
charity and kindness, give me an order to the honorable treasurer ⟦the⟧
to give me my salary due to me from the fund and they shall not deduct
debts from it, and your servant thanks you and blesses you
a thousand blessings for the kindness you do with the servants of God, and so
may your exalted holiness merit and live and merit to see the face of
the Messiah, Amen, and so may you merit good deeds and so may you merit
and rejoice with your children and your children's children, and great peace upon Israel
and so may your excellence have mercy and pity on me and on my household
for the sake of ⟦the⟧ Hakham and do not abandon me for your servant remains hungry
and awaits your kindness
To be referred to the Social Affairs Committee to study his case and estimate
assistance for him by ⟦receipt⟧ 2/5/934
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad