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 English Translation, Pages 176-200

Archival unit 176

JOSEPH M. GARAY
COMMISSION - REPRESENTATION
IMPORTATION
PRIVATE & BUSINESS
⟦illegible⟧
Family Status
File Number: ⟦illegible⟧
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Archival unit 177

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

Archival unit 178

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

Archival unit 179

Al-Iqab
"A Comprehensive Political Daily Newspaper"
⟦line⟧
Postal and Telegraphic Address: - Baghdad - Al-Iqab
Administration: 24 / 21 Jadid Hassan Pasha: Telephone Number - 651
Date: 12 / 4 / 44 Year
His Eminence the Respected President Sassoon Khadduri, may his blessings endure.
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
⟦signature⟧
Owner of Al-Iqab Newspaper

Archival unit 180

Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Directorate of General Propaganda
Technical Department
Number - 452
Date 26 - November - 947
Memorandum to the Accounting Directorate
Subject / Installation fees
We send you herewith the list of installation fees for the wireless radio in Basra
according to the disbursement document (36 / 37 / 26 November 947) amounting to eighty-five dinars
hoping for its payment according to the regulations.
⟦signature⟧
Technical Director
⟦illegible stamp⟧
85

Archival unit 182

⟦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

Archival unit 183

My Lord Governor, this is only a picture
The paper
That ⟦illegible⟧ an honorable man and he protected
his son, a man who did not know that he
was bad, and now he wants the salvation of
his son from this, the man who
is in his halls for the sake of the government ⟦illegible⟧
salvation, will he be forgiven in this predicament
The juror
his son

Archival unit 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

Archival unit 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

Archival unit 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

Archival unit 187

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

Archival unit 188

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

Archival unit 189

My dear and most glorious Yehuda Ut Zaluf
The Respected
Greetings and peace <del>Naji</del>
On behalf of your family, a known officer arrived
You are very weak, and according to what I have learned
The Criminal Council is allocating a salary for you
Rank 28, and may God be with you always
Until your salaries are cut off; so now I have come
To plead with your Excellency, and for the sake of feeding your children, you strive
For them so that the salary remains, and do not make me extremely
Aggrieved, and may you remain protected

Archival unit 190

⟦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⟧

Archival unit 191

Good luck and a sign of blessing in a time of favor and success
We who are present from us for this document today ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
to Mr. Abraham Aziz from the hour of today in this place in which we are present
And if it occurred from our honored master ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Abraham Aziz
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
81

Archival unit 192

Ahmed
Qasim Al
Hadhari
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Archival unit 193

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

Archival unit 194

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⟧

Archival unit 195

P.S.R.Bd.—387—799—13-5-33—12,000. Form No. A. 5. IRAQ RAILWAYS
‘IRAQ RAILWAYS.
Telegrams:—"RAILAUDIT, BAGHDAD." Telegraphic Address: "RAILAUDIT - BAGHDAD"
Telephones:— Telephones:—
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT ... Rly. Exchange No. 14. Chief Accountant . Railway Telephone 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. 3rd May, 1934. Baghdad
Reference 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,
⟦signature⟧
for CHIEF ACCOUNTANT,
'IRAQ RAILWAYS.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
No. S ⟦1415⟧
Date ⟦5/5/934⟧
mj.

Archival unit 196

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

Archival unit 197

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

Archival unit 198

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

Archival unit 199

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⟧

Archival unit 200

Number 2742
Date 9 May 934
The Honorable and Distinguished Lawyer ⟦Yousef Hindi the Elder⟧
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, 9 May 934)
to consult with you regarding a legal matter related to the community's affairs
Lawyer Shaul Hindi ⟦lawyer⟧ ⟦...⟧ will also be present with you
I thank you in advance and remain with respect
Head of the Community
⟦stamp⟧