AI en Translation, Pages 26-50
Page 27
Dear Sir
And I have also come to inform your honored excellence regarding the group of people from our city who are not
proper, and there are many stubborn ones among them who do not pay attention to the people of the community
the ministers and the honorable ones do not help us, and their position is only from two sides for benefit
at the very least they did not act like some small person and such to your honored excellence, sir, your honor
has descended and may you have some assistance from the government and when they sent the matter to your servant
and it will be good in your eyes to all that is worthy of your presence, perhaps the revealed and you will have
grace and kindness and the mercy of the kingdom from our city and we shall praise them and you will be good
and when you act there will be satisfaction and joy and a thousand peace in the abundance of ⟦...⟧ so are the words of
good and peace amen the servant and the youngest
Tsedaka Nissim
⟦signature⟧
And after great forgiveness I request from his honor that there is one good letter
of your honor's letters that should be given to the hand of ⟦...⟧ and after my week and he will give to the hand of
David Moalem
Interest
Page 30
Council of Ministers Diwan
Baghdad
On January 7, 1930
No. 112
His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi
Baghdad
I am sending you herewith the petition dated January 2,
1930, submitted to His Excellency the Prime Minister by Reuben Khazam,
in which he requests to be reinstated to the profession of slaughtering
poultry, as he has no other means of livelihood, for your
consideration.
⟦signature⟧
Secretary of the Council of Ministers
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad
Number 178
Date 18 / 1 / 30
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
How did the case end?
18 / 1 / 930
⟦signature⟧
His Eminence's opinion is to be taken
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Purely
Page 31
From the Department: Postal
Dated: ⟦11 / 10 / 19⟧
To: His Eminence the Hakham Bashi Baghdad
BAGHDAD
After greetings, since the registered insured ⟦letter⟧ numbered 9 marked
uninsured ⟦package⟧
on ⟦March 27⟧ for your address has arrived in a damaged condition
so please receive it from this department either in person or by an authorized agent who must present this notice with
your endorsement at the bottom, and the item may be opened in the postal department in the presence of a responsible postal official. If it appears that
something of its contents has been lost, a list of the contents will be organized which must be signed by you or your agent and the officer in
whose presence the item was opened. After that, official investigations will commence
Working hours
⟦7 - 12 AM⟧
⟦3 - 5 PM⟧
Postmaster
Further to the above. I authorize
to receive or to open, and on behalf of the damaged item:
Signature of the addressee
Page 32
C / 1152
May 22, 1930
His Excellency the Postmaster General
After greetings,
Reference to your memorandum dated 19/5/1930
We have no connection with Paris, therefore the letter
numbered 90 sent in Paris 63 does not concern us;
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
The Chief Rabbi
N. M.
Invn. 3.
BAGHDAD
From ⟦line⟧ Post Office
The ⟦line⟧ 19⟦line⟧
To ⟦line⟧
⟦line⟧
SIR,
AN insured uninsured registered letter parcel No. ⟦line⟧, posted
at ⟦line⟧, having been received
to your address in a damaged condition, I beg that you will take delivery of it
at this office either personally or by an authorized agent, who should present this
notice endorsed by you at foot. The article may be oponed at the post office in
the presence of a responsible postal official : if any of the contents appear to be
missing, an inventory will be made and should be signed by you or your
agent and the officer in whose presence the article is opened, and an official
enquiry will then be instituted.
I have, &c.,
Postmaster.
⟦line⟧
With reference to the above, I authorise ⟦line⟧
⟦line⟧ to receive and open, on my behalf, the
damaged article.
Signature of addressee.
T.P.B....1809...2779...10,000...15-8 22.
Page 33
S. 3.
'Iraq Government.
POSTS & TELEGRAPHS.
Iraqi Government
Posts and Telegraphs
From: ⟦Post Office⟧ ⟦Baghdad⟧
To: ⟦His Eminence the Hakham Bashi of the Jewish Community⟧ ⟦Baghdad⟧
No.: ⟦4222 / 25⟧
Dated: ⟦25 / 5 / 24⟧
Greetings,
Subject: Registered Letter No. 90
With reference to your letter numbered 2/1152 and dated 25/5/24
The registered letter in question was sent to you by
Mr Nakache Jacques, 35 Rue St Sebastien Paris
Please inform us if you do not wish to receive it and regarding its return
as "Refused" to its sender. For this, remain [sincerely].
Office of the Hakham Bashi - Baghdad
Number 500
Date 25 / 5 / 1924
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
⟦illegible⟧
25/5
⟦illegible⟧
Page 34
4 / 1156
May 26, 1930
Subject: Registered letter No. 90
His Excellency the Postmaster of Baghdad
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. A / 453 / 30 dated 5/23/30
Since we do not know of any relationship between us and the addressee mentioned
in your aforementioned letter, I wish to inform your Excellency
that we do not wish to receive this letter - Sincerely;
⟦Anwar Shaul⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Hakham Bashi
Page 35
4/1156
May 26, 1930
Subject: Registered letter No. 90
His Excellency the Postmaster of Baghdad
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. A/30/453 dated 23/5/30
Since we do not know of any relationship between us and the addressee mentioned
in your aforementioned letter, I would like to inform your Excellency
that we do not wish to receive this letter - Sincerely;
⟦Anwar ...⟧
⟦stamp⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
Page 36
B"H 7 Adar 5689
To the honor of the complete sage, the honorable Rabbi Sassoon ⟦strong⟧
After inquiring of the peace of his Torah and all those accompanying him as is right. I am here to inform him that
by the mouth of our master the King, may his majesty be exalted, his command is to send a ⟦letter⟧ containing a certificate in which is recorded
all the memory of the deeds and actions of his honor in the country of China and in the city of Shanghai which
by virtue of them he received from the Chinese government the honor and the distinguished and precious medal
called by the name of the precious stone of China called by the name ⟦Jade⟧ the shining
and all these so that they shall be recorded with us in the books of the community and also to publish them
in the community newspaper so that everyone will know the honor which one of the members of our community has merited
The young one
Ezra Sassoon Dangoor
Hakham Bashi
In Baghdad
Mixed papers
Page 39
* The Religious Court of the Holy City *
Baghdad, may God protect it
Jewish Spiritual Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
Number: 245
Numero: 75
Date: 6 ⟦illegible⟧ 1931
Year: 5691
To the high holy excellence Mr. Kahana ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Hoga Sasson
The Religious Court
Hoga Sasson
Page 40
1212
1931/4/26
His Eminence, the Judge of the Ja'fari Court, the Respected
We inform your Eminence that Reuben Shaul Kurji, who had previously converted to Islam
and was called by the name Muhammad bin Nuri, has returned to the Mosaic religion and the
necessary religious ceremonies have been performed for him;
⟦illegible signature⟧
⟦illegible stamp⟧
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
A copy of it to
His Eminence, the Judge of the Honorable Hanafi Sharia, the Respected
To notify him
Religious Affairs Section 1
Page 41
The Chief Rabbinate
of the Jewish Community: Baghdad
Number: 1458
Date: 1 / 7 / 1931
His Excellency the Honorable Qasim Pasha Al-Khudairi, Respectfully
" " Yehuda Effendi Zelouf "
" " Ibrahim Effendi Khneim "
" " Sassoon " Khazzam "
" " Heskel " Shalom "
" " Shai " Saleh "
" " Menashe K. " Cohen "
" " Selim " Isaac "
You are hereby requested to kindly attend the office of the Jewish Community
upon receipt of this letter of ours for consultation with the Jewish Spiritual Council on
important matters concerning the community - with much respect to you, and may you remain;
⟦...⟧
CHIEF RABBI
Acting
Chief Rabbi Ibrahim
Aslan Yehuda
Acting Head of the Community
From him
Page 42
Government: The Iraqi Government
Telegraphs: IRAQ TELEGRAPHS
No. Number: 12
Class Prefix Telegram Type: C.
Code: 4
Time: 7/20
Recd. from Received from: Hillah
By: ⟦illegible⟧ 1211
Handed in at (Office of Origin) Original Office: Al-Kifl
Date: 18
Hour: 7
Minute: 30
Words: 18
Recd. here at: 7/50
BAGHDAD
18 MAY 31
To
Hakham Bashi Baghdad
Some have rumored in Baghdad that in Al-Kifl
there is a quarantine. Deny the news in the Torah.
Mutawalli Rubin Yehuda
S Q T 10 Maslaha
Page 43
THE CHIEF RABBI
OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY,
Baghdad
The Chief Rabbinate
Baghdad
The Chief Rabbi
of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
Number:
No.:
Date: 3 June 1931
Date: 1931
Subject:
To the Honorable Director of Customs and Excise
Reference to your letter No. 7287 dated 27 April 1931
I wish to state that since our synagogues are many and the religious occasions
numerous, as mentioned in the first paragraph of our letter No. 1407 dated
21 April 1931, which require the production of abundant quantities of wine for religious
use, we have designated Meer Elias Hospital and the house of the Rabbi, His Eminence Rabbi
Daoud Al-Hakham, as two locations for the extraction of wine at a rate of:
Gallons
What is extracted in the hospital
2000 gallons annually for distribution to the people and synagogues
free of charge for the performance of Sabbath rituals
25 " " " for holidays, marriage contracts, and sermons
2025
100 The remainder for the Sundays of every week to be extracted in the house of His Eminence the Rabbi
aforementioned
2125 gallons annually
I request the favor of issuing the license mentioned in your above-referenced letter
to begin extracting this quantity in the two aforementioned locations.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
Page 44
Telephone No. | Founders of the Medical House Company - Baghdad | Telephone No.
Jewish Hospitals Committee | JEWISH HOSPITALS COMMITTEE
(Meir Elias Hospital and Rimah Khedouri Eye Hospital | ( Meir Elias Hospital, Rimah Khedouri Eyes
and Dar-el-Shifa Pharmacy) | Hospital & Dar-el-Shifa Pharmacy. )
Baghdad | BAGHDAD.
Established 1884 | Established 1884:
No. 117
Date: 29 May 1931
Subject: Extraction of Religious Wine
His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, Respected
After greetings and respect,
We have been informed that the official authorities have decided, in view of the issuance of the Spirits
Law, to exempt the tax on wine used for religious purposes.
Our committee is ready to undertake the work of extracting the wine necessary for religious
purposes within the Meir Elias Hospital itself and distributing it free of charge to the members of the community. Therefore, please take
the necessary steps to provide information to those concerned, and with much thanks to you.
⟦illegible signature⟧
President of the Hospitals Committee
Office of the Chief Rabbi in Baghdad
Number 722
Date 2 / 6 / 931
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
File Number
Department
Page 45
MINISTRY OF FINANCE.
COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS
AND EXCISE.
Directorate of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Baghdad, dated:
No.:
Baghdad on: 2 April / 1931
No.: 7287
To -
His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Memorandum /
Reference to your letter No. 1407 dated 21 April / 1931.
Article seven of the Spirituous Liquors Law of 1931 stipulates that
regulations may be established to exempt any religious institution or religious institute from paying excise
on the wine manufactured by that institution or that institute for their
own use under a license issued in accordance with the provisions of the law and without collecting a license fee
provided that the wine is not offered for sale.
The exemption is for wine manufactured in any religious institution and not for
that which is purchased from abroad and consumed for religious purposes in that institution, so I request you
to inform us of the amount of your specific exemptions so that we can audit them and issue the order
for their exemption.
Rashid Jubran
For the Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad
Number ⟦...⟧
Date 1/5/1931
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
Page 46
Directorate of Customs and Excise Administration
Baghdad on 8 April / 1931.
Number 6154
The Honorable Head of the Chaldean Community
" " Syriac " "
" " Latin " "
" " Armenian Catholic " "
" " " Orthodox " "
" " Greek Catholic " "
" " Protestant " "
" " Jewish . " " ✓
After greetings /
The Spirituous Liquors Law of 1931 stipulates that the quantities of wine
manufactured by religious institutions for their own use without paying excise shall not exceed one hundred
gallons per year. I draw your attention to the articles of this new law, requesting you to apply your requirements
accordingly and to kindly inform us of your receipt of this letter.
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad
Number 714
Date 12/4/1931
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
Rashid Jubran
For the Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 47
1474
July 15, 1931
⟦Baghdad⟧
His Eminence the Honorable Hakham Bashi
This department has taken a decision to pay half salaries and allowances
to all employees and institutions of the community without exception for any individual or institution. Therefore,
your return of check 58377 in the amount of 745 rupees without sending us a letter
explaining the reason was a matter that calls for surprise.
For this reason, we are returning the aforementioned check to you with this letter, and you may
submit your requests to this department in an official letter,
⟦...⟧ Avraham ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
⟦Yasir⟧ ⟦Muhammad⟧
Page 48
1405
21 April 1931
Directorate of Customs and Excise - Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 6159 dated 8 April 1931
We draw the attention of your respected directorate to the following important points which we hope you will kindly
take into consideration
1) It is not hidden from your directorate that the religious ceremonies in which
wine is used are many in our community; there are circumcisions, marriages, engagements, holidays, etc...
where wine is used by religious persons outside and inside the synagogues
besides the fact that there are weekly ceremonies held in every synagogue where wine is used
2) Our community does not have only one synagogue like other communities, but the number of our synagogues
exceeds forty-two synagogues, each synagogue performing religious ceremonies separately
3) The total of all members of the communities mentioned in your letter printed
above does not exceed a quarter of the total members of our community, a matter which undoubtedly necessitates the use of
large quantities of wine for the purposes stated in the first paragraph, exceeding one thousand
gallons per year, and these are, as is not hidden, matters worthy of being taken into consideration
Facilitating the performance of religious duties and ceremonies that must be completed as dictated by
religion is a necessary matter that does not agree with high prices by paying excise tax
So I hope to take these observations of ours into consideration to avoid what might happen from applying
the law in its current form of numerous problems, and to inform us of the result which we hope will be
by amending the paragraph specific to this matter;
Copy
The Head Abraham Yehuda
ACTING CHIEF RABBI ASLAN YEHOODA
Acting
Hakham Bashi Ibrahim
Aslan Yehuda
Baghdad
BAGHDAD
Acting Chief Rabbi
Page 49
1487
2 August 1931
To the Honorable Officer in Charge of Bab al-Sheikh Police Station
It occurred during a funeral procession to its final resting place in the
Israeli cemetery in the ⟦Al-Jahda⟧ neighborhood last Friday that some residents of
the houses adjacent to the cemetery pelted the mourners and the funeral with stones and other things.
As the sanctity of the dead must be respected, I hereby request
that you kindly take all possible measures to prevent the recurrence of such
an unfortunate incident - with respect;
Acting Chief Rabbi
Acting Chief Rabbi Avraham A. Yehuda
ASLAN YEHUDA
Hakham Bashi Ibrahim Aslan Yehuda
Qaimaqam
Baghdad
Copy
Page 50
A
18529
1931/8/30
Referral of a Petition
Ministry of Interior
Enclosed with this letter is the petition submitted to this
department by the notables of the Jewish community in Khanaqin
regarding the transfer of Dr. Mirza Al-Amir to Badra, requesting it be considered
and to kindly look with favor upon the demands of its authors if possible;
Acting Chief Rabbi
⟦illegible⟧
Ministry of Interior
Incoming ⟦illegible⟧
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
OFFICE ⟦illegible⟧