Archival unit 1
⟦Sect⟧ Miscellaneous papers 98 ⟦The first file⟧ ⟦122⟧ ⟦Record⟧ ⟦...⟧ 19 19 From to Address Name
Correspondence Between Jewish Community Committees, Iraqi Government, Baghdadi Schools
View interactive document pageThese 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.
⟦Sect⟧ Miscellaneous papers 98 ⟦The first file⟧ ⟦122⟧ ⟦Record⟧ ⟦...⟧ 19 19 From to Address Name
492 / M 20 May 929 Regarding the travel of Simha daughter of Muthir Levi to Nasiriyah ⟦line⟧ His Excellency the Honorable Judge of Personal Status After greetings - I have received the certificate presented by the named Simha daughter of Muthir Levi, signed by the Mukhtar of the Taura 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 intends to travel to Nasiriyah of Al-Muntafiq where her father and mother reside to live with them. We see no objection to her traveling to the mentioned town We have written this letter as a presentation of the situation; ⟦signature⟧ Acting Chief Rabbi Various matters
400 To His Excellency the Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, the Respected We testify that the woman named Simma daughter of Yarbu' is from the people of Al-Shattaf village and her father named Yarbu' was Nasiriyah Province, and the aforementioned wants to travel to her family ⟦illegible⟧ and according to our information that ⟦illegible⟧ were not residents and living in Baghdad, but she lived in her residence, and for this reason we testified to that and wrote this notice as required Mukhtar of Al-Tawrat Quarter 22 May 929 Witnessed by Dawud ⟦illegible⟧ 601/15 1927 Witnessed by Ezra Dawud 601/15 1927 Witnessed by Dawud Ibrahim Dhikra Dawud Mu'allim School Teacher Nasiriyah Number 505 No. Number Authentication of the Personal Status Judge Fee Papers ⟦signature⟧ Upon investigation, it appeared that the aforementioned has an alimony in the amount of 15 Rupees monthly and 15 Rupees for her daughter, and she wants to travel with her daughter to Nasiriyah On 25 / 5 / 929 Investigator
In the name of the Lord, we shall do and succeed To the honor of ⟦illegible⟧ honor of ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ As much as Sheikh Isaac his father ⟦illegible⟧ etc. What ⟦illegible⟧ because ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ because time ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ By their hands Until ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Miscellaneous ⟦line⟧
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
22 August 929 Chief Rabbi Amid ⟦line⟧ Inform us now whether the marriage of Arkados took place David Rahmin Shin ⟦line⟧ ⟦signature⟧ Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Miscellaneous
24 August 1929 - Baghdad Chief Rabbinate of Baghdad To Menachem Shmuel Sam La Salat Souri Acting Chief Rabbi M M A
Iraqi Government IRAQ TELEGRAPHS 59 BAGHDAD C.T.O. JUN 29 ⟦illegible⟧ Class Prefix: C. Code: ⟦illegible⟧ No.: ⟦illegible⟧ Recd. from: Baghdad Sent at: H. ⟦illegible⟧ M. ⟦illegible⟧ Minute: ⟦illegible⟧ Office Stamp: By: LO To: By: Handed in at (Office of Origin) | Date | Hour | Minute | Service Instructions | Words Amara | 29 | 10 | 15 | | 19 To Baghdad Acting Hakham Bashi The marriage of Daoud Rahim Shino did not take place here and his original name is Menachem Rahim Shino Hakham Bashi Recd here at H. ⟦illegible⟧ M. ⟦illegible⟧ Minute ⟦illegible⟧ To ⟦illegible⟧ Number 109 Date 29/8/929 OFFICE OF TELEGRAPHS BAGHDAD
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. 3 IRAQ TELEGRAPHS. Iraq Telegraph Department Received here at: ⟦line⟧ H. ⟦line⟧ M. Arrived here at hour: ⟦line⟧ minute ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
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 -
201 / C 26 September 1929 Salary of Yehuda Isaac Ajami ⟦line⟧ The honorable Ibrahim Shalom Effendi Youssef Moshi 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 Salwa Hadouri Acting Hakham Bashi Miscellaneous M. A.
⟦illegible⟧ brotherhood for those mentioned in this paragraph if their period of service is less than five years Non-Iraqi Rabbis are excluded from this system Seconds ⟦line⟧ (Yosef Mordechai ⟦illegible⟧) (Ezra Nassim ⟦illegible⟧) (Menashe Karmi) (Yehuda Saleh Zalouf) (Menashe Murad Mashal) (Ezra Menachem Daniel) ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
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
November 10, 1929 The Honorable Skilled Physician Dr. Kelekian, Respectfully After greetings, We request hereby that you provide all possible assistance to the bearer of this recommendation, named Esther Nassim Suleiman, as she is in a state of poverty. With much gratitude and respect to you, ⟦illegible⟧ Deputy Chief Rabbi M. M. Miscellaneous (74)
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⟧
Baghdad 1959 26 ⟦illegible⟧ 1959 The known, our master, the Hakham Basha After greetings. The enslaved servant presents before the presence of our master, the Hakham Basha, victorious by God Almighty, that in these days there was a large fire in my house and there occurred in it great harm, and the shutters that were in my house were broken from the fire. So, O our master, we hope from you to be gracious to us in this calamity that occurred in my house in these days, in this year that we are in, in this blessed year, in this year that we are in. And just as our master the Hakham Basha is merciful, compassionate, and pitying towards the servants, just as God Almighty has mercy on the servants, so too our master the Hakham Basha has mercy on the servants in this blessed year. And this is what was necessary for the statement, and peace. The enslaved servant Nissim Salem Yehuda His Eminence the Head of the Rabbinate, I request consideration of this case 29 / 9 / 59 Archived
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
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⟧
To the dear one who is not forgotten, much peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings, and justice and all that is added to that of peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, in letters of tears and sighs in my heart that none knows but God Almighty; and peace be upon you and upon all who seek refuge in you, of peace, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, and the family, the children, and the brothers in peace, dignity, unity, love, and longing for you, O people of the house and neighbors, Day above ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Hasson ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ and Naaman ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ To the respected Spiritual Court Regarding what came in this request and taking the necessary action Transfer number 51 11/29 928 Agent of the Hakham Bashi ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ My beloved, my dear, and his honor, dear Father Yahya ⟦illegible⟧ Peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings. Furthermore, O dear Father, you cannot imagine how much I long for you and to see you in every minute, and I pray for you in every prayer that God preserves you and keeps you for us and gives you well-being and complete health, Amen, O Lord of the Worlds. Dear Father, I am writing this letter to you by the hand of my uncle Salih, and give my regards to the people of the house. ⟦illegible⟧ Sincerely
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
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
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