AI English Translation, Pages 201-225
The Chief Rabbi of the city of
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Number: 552
Date: 7 / Tammuz / 944
To the honor of the Excellency the President of the Honorable Jewish Community Committee, may God protect him
Menachem S. Isaac Daniel, may God protect him
May the Lord be upon them, may they live, Amen
I hereby inform your Excellency that on the day 24 Tammuz year 5704 corresponding to the day 15 Tammuz 944
Mrs. Na'ima daughter of Isaac Elijah entered the bridal canopy with the groom Mr. Isaac son of Abraham Isaac
And I hereby attach a copy of the marriage contract (Ketubah) of the aforementioned and request to certify them
With great respect
⟦signature⟧
Chief Rabbi for the Jewish Community
To the Secretary
Please record this in the marriage register and provide a copy
To be filed
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Special number 1284
Date 20 / 7 / 944
87
⟦line⟧
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
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
⟦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
Administration of the Lay Council
of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Lay Council * Baghdad
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
BAGHDAD
⟦line⟧
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 visit the community administration requesting assistance.
⟦illegible⟧
The President ⟦line⟧
98
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
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⟧
⟦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
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
276 -
23 Safar 353 and 6 June 934
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
precious coverings and flags for the shrine of our master Ezra, peace be upon him, and what falls under 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 community's worshippers who remain at 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 said 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 duty;
Sassoon
Head of the Community
98
Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
27
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 Province
as you specifically addressed the letter .
⟦signature⟧
For the Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
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 ⟦...⟧
Iraq
Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Customs and Excise
Baghdad (Telephone 258)
Number: 5125
Date: 12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1353
⟦line⟧: 26 June 1934
His Eminence, 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 it is affixed with
a revenue stamp worth 40 fils according to item 46, Schedule (A) of
the Iraqi Stamp Law of 1922, as amended by Law No. 75
of 1931. Respectfully yours.
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 2982
Reference 1 / 7 / 934
⟦signature⟧
For the Director General of Customs and Excise
To be filed, no need
for it
N. M
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
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
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
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
Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Date: 11 Rabi' al-Thani / 53 24 July / 34
Number: 14652
His Eminence, the Head of the Jewish Community, Respected
Baghdad.
After greetings /
With reference to your letter No. 2838 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
1932, we cannot, in this case, consider it and we return it to you enclosed for completion
and return to this department.
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
For the Director of Customs and Excise
Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 2222
Date 29 / 7 / 934
Note from the Director of Trade and General Income Tax
Z/
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
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 containing your warm condolences,
which had the greatest impact on me. On this occasion, I thank your
Eminence's noble sentiments 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
2775
369 N for the year 71
Urgent
⟦illegible⟧
Regarding the nomination of Rebecca Sassoon for the purpose of appointing her as a custodian
And due to the insufficiency of the price allocation
In view of her request and the shortage of our current allocations, we were unable to appoint her at the price
Our current allocations are one hundred and five two liras, as we decided today to appoint Rebecca
T for Rebecca, Rebecca as an administrative custodian, custodian of items, administrative custodian, our allocations
And she has been registered ⟦illegible⟧
Sincerely yours
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of the Al-Musawi Management Committee
⟦red stamp illegible⟧
Ministry of Justice
The Bureau
16 / 6 / 1934
4 / 142 / 24
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Jewish Community
His Excellency the Minister of Justice has instructed me to inform you to kindly
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
⟦illegible⟧
Headship of the Jewish
Community
⟦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
78
Amanat al-Asima (Mayoralty of Baghdad)
Baghdad
Special Form No. 14
Baghdad: Date ⟦line⟧ 6054 / 17 / 24
Safar 353
May 934
11 / 5 / 934
To ⟦line⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
With reference to your letter No. 2733 dated May 15, 1934.
Although we have instructed the Director of Administration to investigate what was stated in your
referenced 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 that the Mayoralty is pleased to accept
applicants regarding.
⟦signature⟧
Mayor of the Capital
Copy to ⟦line⟧
Director of Administration with the letter mentioned above
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Special Number 2461
Date 15 / 5 / 934
⟦illegible⟧
24 / 5 / 934
A. R.
88
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