AI English Translation, Pages 76-100
Number 64
Since the differences formed between the institutions of the Israelite community in Baghdad have
reached a degree of danger, and since the Spiritual and Lay Councils are in a situation that prevents
them from performing the duties legally entrusted to them, which calls for the election of the General Council
anew.
And since the current situation requires conducting the aforementioned election in the presence of a person in the position
of the Chief Rabbinate who is not biased toward any of the disagreeing parties,
I have issued my Royal Decree
Based on what was presented by the Prime Minister,
To suspend the ruling of the Royal Decree No. 90 issued on May 28, 1928, regarding
the appointment of Sassoon Effendi Khedhouri as Acting Chief Rabbi,
And to appoint Rabbi Abraham Aslan Yehuda as Locum Tenens for the position of the Chief Rabbinate, provided that
the ruling of this decree ends upon the completion of the aforementioned elections or by the issuance of another decree in this
regard.
The Prime Minister shall implement this decree.
Written in Baghdad on the thirtieth day of the month of March in the year 1930 and the thirtieth day of
the month of Shawwal in the year 1348.
Faisal
Nuri al-Said
Prime Minister
N. M.
⟦red mark/initials⟧
⟦illegible⟧
4 November 1932
The honorable and virtuous Yamin Effendi Aslan,
There is a family consisting of seven people, most of whom are sick and in very poor condition, so I request
hereby to assist them as much as possible, and I thank you.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
98
⟦illegible ghost text from reverse side⟧
2191
27 March 933
⟦Baghdad⟧
⟦...⟧
To
The Honorable Yamin Effendi Abboudi Aslan
After greetings,
Enclosed you will find a check to your order on the Ottoman Bank for the amount of thirty-seven Dinars and five hundred
Fils, which is what this Presidency has decided to spend for bread for the poor for the upcoming Passover holiday. Please notify us
of its receipt,
On behalf of
The President of the Jewish Community
58
⟦squiggle⟧
Baghdad, April 21, 1924
To the Honorable Head of the Jewish Community
Presented to your Excellency
Years ago, our late mother endowed a property in Karana al-Sharqiya for Torahs for the community
And since we are seeing all the receipts and ledgers of the synagogue associations are not in the name of our late
mother, but in the name of another person who has no connection to the mentioned property, ⟦therefore⟧ I beg
of your kindness to look into this matter with precision and you shall earn the reward from the endower
And we want this synagogue to be in her name (Mahalla Ghaza) and there should also be on the synagogue
a plaque written on it (Mahalla Ghaza Synagogue) and you give an order to all the associations to the agent
of the mentioned synagogue also regarding your loyalty, sir
One of the heirs of Mahalla
⟦signature⟧
One of the heirs of Mahalla, Daoud Hazqeel Hayyim
Karam Ayoun
⟦signature⟧
Salim ⟦illegible⟧
Diwan ⟦illegible⟧ Al-Hajj Sassoon ⟦illegible⟧
Number ⟦illegible⟧
I have reviewed with His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
And the matter concluded that he will summon the Torah treasury
And take all measures that ensure what the petitioner requested
1911
24/4/29
24/4/29
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
2082
11/1/33
Dear Rabbi Salman
I have learned from Gurji Effendi that the restoration of the Karrada synagogue is nearing completion
and it must be placed in the synagogue according to your instructions. Since the aforementioned person wishes
to issue a statement regarding the ownership of the synagogue to his mother, I hope you will inform me if
you can resolve this matter quickly. With respect,
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
98
⟦illegible⟧
JEWISH LADIES
COMMITTEE
ATELIER
BAGHDAD
1918
No. 131 / 113
Baghdad on May 14, 1922
To His Excellency the President of the Honorable Lay Council
Baghdad
Greetings and respect, I have received your letter No. 2281 dated the 10th of this month. I thank
your kindness for appointing me to be one of the members of the clerical committee, but as you know I am
always honored by every work for the benefit of the community. However, since I am always busy with the interests of the community
and my responsibilities are many, for this reason I cannot accept this appointment and I beg your pardon. The
matter is yours, and may you remain so.
Sincerely,
Salman Meir
⟦signature⟧
Salman Ibrahim Yusuf Sabih
81
Baghdad, February 24, 933
Sir:
We are a group of Jewish students who are known for their excellence in science
and ethics, from secondary school, medicine, and law students who
have divested themselves of personal interests. We have met and formed a literary
and theatrical society that seeks to raise the level of Jewish youth in all aspects
without interfering in administrative matters and the like.
We have been pained by all the society's calamities, and due to our need, we ask your Eminence to write
to the director of the Alliance School to give us one of the two empty rooms
located in his school so that we can repair and furnish it so that we can
meet there after classes for reading and deliberation.
We hope that you will look upon our request with kindness, and we, sir, in the face of
this encouragement, will spare no effort in serving the noble Jewish
community. We thank you for your kindness in advance, and may you remain in respect, sir.
Naeem Meir Brij | Ezra Ibrahim | Yusuf Haroun | Some members of the society
⟦signature⟧ | A. Ibrahim | ⟦signature⟧ | Shaul Shalabi
Abdullah Moshi | Abdullah Yaqub | Shua Khadouri | Jacol Nassim
A. Moshi | Abdullah Yaqub | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧
| | | Ezra Meir
98
Muhammad Ali Mahmoud
M. A. Mahmood
Baghdad:
Date: 6/6/1933
His Eminence, Head of the Jewish Community
The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri.
With respect.
I would be very grateful if you would kindly inform me whether a daughter inherits from her father in the event that she was not
given a (Ketubah), i.e., the dowry as it is locally termed, upon marriage, in view of the Jewish
religious laws. Please provide the aforementioned information in the form of an official certification. With respect.
Lawyer ⟦illegible signature⟧
2117
Referred to the esteemed Spiritual Court to provide an answer regarding what is stated in this letter
as quickly as possible and to return the letter to this office;
Sassoon Khedhouri
Head of the Community
5 June 1933
606
14 Sivan 93
Response to No. ⟦...⟧ 2117
972
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
2124
7 June 1933
A daughter's inheritance from her father
The honorable and distinguished lawyer Muhammad Ali Effendi Mahmoud
After greetings,
With reference to your letter dated 6 / 6 / 1933
We have referred your inquiry to the competent Israelite Spiritual Court, and they have responded
as we have set out in the certification attached to this letter. Sincerely,
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
98
7 June 1933
A daughter's inheritance from her father
Certification
A daughter does not inherit from her father if she has married, whether her father gave her a (dowry) at the time of
marriage or did not give her. This certification was given at the request of the lawyer Muhammad Ali Effendi Mahmoud
to be presented when necessary.
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq
General Center - Baghdad -
Number: 3
21 Rajab 252
Date 10 / 11 / 1933
Subject: Request for preparation to boycott the Electricity Company
His Eminence, the Head of the Jewish Community, the Honorable Sassoon Effendi Khedhouri
After offering respects.
In view of the exorbitant fees charged by the foreign Lighting and Electric Power Company for the city of Baghdad, which are much higher than the fees charged even by other local companies in the Iraqi provinces, despite their low expenses which do not equal one-tenth of what this company spends in Baghdad. The Supreme Council of the Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq (composed of representatives of all labor associations, guilds, and professionals) has requested this company, through the Ministry of Economics and Communications, to reduce the price of the electrical unit to a degree that removes the injustice inflicted upon the citizens. When the Supreme Syndicate Council saw that the company began to stall and procrastinate in its negotiations, it decided to start spreading propaganda to boycott this company if the final negotiations with it do not result in its submission to reality and answering the legitimate request of the citizens.
Therefore, we approach your Eminence in the name of the Supreme Syndicate Council, hoping for the circulation of the request for the readiness of the honorable members of the Jewish community to boycott this foreign company when it is announced, and to prepare from now for what will compensate them for electric lamps. Your honorable stances for the good of the sons of this country, without distinction between their sects and creeds, make us rely on your assistance and help to us in this regard, and on urging the members of your respected community to implement the boycott decision when it is issued. In order that no misunderstanding occurs at that time between the sons of the two communities (Jewish and Muslim) who have lived for ages and generations as brothers with no difference between them and supported one another in critical situations, we have taken the initiative to send this letter, hoping to present it to the members of the esteemed Jewish Community Council and inform us of what it decides in this regard so that the members of the Supreme Syndicate Council may review it.
Please accept the highest respect.
Sincerely,
Mohamed Saleh al-Qazzaz
General Delegate of the Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq
Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq
Number ⟦...⟧
Date ⟦...⟧
General Center Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Special Number 1597
Date 12 / 11 / 33
With you
Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq
General Center -- Baghdad --
Number: 16
Date: 28 / 11 / 942
Corresponding to: 15 Sha'ban 1361
Subject: Memorandum
To His Eminence, the Head of the Jewish Community, the Venerable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
After offering respect:
Further to our letter numbered (2) and dated 21 Rajab 1361 corresponding to 10 / 11 / 942
We request you to kindly inform us of the position of the esteemed Community Council regarding the boycott of
electricity, so that the Supreme Council of the Syndicate may review it -
Please accept the assurances of our highest respect -
Sincerely
General Authorized Representative of the Labor Union Syndicate
Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq
Number 16
Date 28 / 11 / 942
General Center Baghdad
Administration of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Rabbinate Presidency
Number 1078
Date 29 / 11 / 942
File Number
7 December 1942
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
2464
7 December 1933
Electricity Boycott
To the Honorable General Representative of the Labor Union Syndicate in Iraq
Greetings,
Reference to your letter No. 3 dated 21 Rajab 352 and 1 / 11 / 1933
The administration of the Jewish Community and all institutions and synagogues belonging to our community
have cut off the electricity at the time appointed by your esteemed Supreme Council of the Labor Union Syndicate.
May God grant you success in serving the nation;
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
⟦Al-R⟧
81
⟦illegible⟧
Received 4 / 11 / 1922
22
Number ⟦illegible⟧
To the respected Director of the Talmud Torah School
After greetings,,, yesterday the father of the student Daoud Ibrahim Hezekiel came to the school
and informed me that one of the textbooks had been lost by his aforementioned son, as was also evident to me
through a quick inspection of the aforementioned student's bag. Accordingly, please be so kind
as to grant him a replacement for the lost book so that he can continue his lessons. We also hope
that you will provide us with the other books that the student needs in his class, and to you
much thanks and gratitude with highest respect
The Teacher
⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Number 1125
Date 9 / 11 / 22
Baghdad
File
7008by 2 v9
The Lawyer
Shimon Hiskail
ADVOCATE
S. Hiskail.
Baghdad 27 May 1922
Baghdad, ⟦line⟧
To the Honorable President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
Presented to your Excellency:
The lands of the Jewish quarter have been since ancient times under the disposal of my clients, the Gabbay family, the trustees of the Al-Noor endowments, and they have managed
them with the full rights of ownership. However, the Governor of Amarah had attempted to seize the aforementioned lands from my clients
and grant them to Zahir al-Sayhoud, the titled one in the Liwa of Amarah. Therefore, based on my appeal to the Ministry of Interior regarding
the request to prevent the tribes of Amarah from infringing upon my clients' rights and to hand over the lands to them, the Ministry issued a decision to the Ministry
of Finance to carry out the necessary orders and informed the Governorate of the necessity of removing the infringement and handing the lands over to us. Yet, the
Governorate ignored all these orders and remained insistent on its attempt to seize the lands from our hands. For this reason, we beg
your Excellency to mediate with the competent authorities in an official manner regarding this matter, as the case is
a community matter. We have firm hope that your Excellency, through this mediation, will conclude the case in a
satisfactory manner to preserve the rights of the endowment from harm. With highest respect, my Lord.
Your obedient servant
Shimon
Dated
⟦illegible⟧
D1
⟦22/4/33⟧
His Excellency the virtuous notable Sassoon Effendi Khedhouri
The respected President of the Jewish Community.
After greetings:
To facilitate for those who wish to join the ranks of the Iraqi Aviation
Association, we have brought the neighborhood mukhtars and given each of them a copy of the
aforementioned association's bylaws. Upon receipt of the names sent by the mukhtars, ⟦we will send⟧ them
special cards for cash and monthly donations. It is our belief that the honorable sons of the nation will spare no
effort in encouraging, assisting, and joining the association. We have no doubt
that the sons of the nation will not withhold their material and moral support from the association
which seeks to strengthen a critical tool among the tools for defending the territory of the beloved homeland.
It is requested of your presence to instruct all our brothers, the members of your community, accordingly.
Please accept the highest respect.
Deputy General Director of the Iraqi Aviation Association
An Appeal
To the honorable members of the Jewish community
It is a blessed national movement that has emerged from the determination of a righteous elite of the country's sons, as the
young Iraqi Aviation Association was founded to encourage aviation and support the sophisticated air force, which is the most important
tool for defending the borders of the dear homeland and raising the status of the emerging Iraq, honored and respected among nations.
With my certain knowledge and deep confidence in the honorable members of the community that they will take the initiative, as is their custom in such situations,
to actively participate in this excellent project, I see it as my duty to address this appeal to every individual of
the Jewish community, urging them to support the Iraqi aviation project materially and morally: materially through
cash donations and monthly subscriptions, each according to their capacity; and morally through the publicity they spread among their brothers
and peers, and the moral encouragement they bestow upon those in charge of this project, which they deserve.
Life is without glory or protection in weakness, but for Iraq to live dear and honorable, it must be strong
to an extent that enables it to preserve its dignity and defend its borders. Therefore, I call for the strengthening of the air force
to Iraqis in general and the members of the Jewish community in particular, and may God help the sincere.
Baghdad, July 25, 1933
Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Jewish Charitable Society Press
An Appeal
To the honorable members of the Jewish community
It is a blessed national movement that has emerged from the determination of a righteous elite of the country's sons
as the young Iraqi Aviation Association was founded to encourage
aviation and support the Iraqi air force, which is the most important tool for defending
the borders of the dear homeland and raising the status of the emerging Iraq, honored and respected among nations.
With my certain knowledge and deep confidence in the honorable members of the community that they will take the initiative,
as is their custom in such situations, to actively participate in this
excellent project, I see it as my duty to address this appeal to every individual of the
Jewish community, urging them to support the Iraqi aviation project
materially and morally: materially through cash donations and monthly subscriptions, each
according to their capacity; and morally through the publicity they spread among their brothers and peers, and the
moral encouragement they bestow upon those in charge of this project, which they deserve.
Life is without glory or protection in weakness, but for Iraq to live dear and honorable,
it must be strong to an extent that enables it to preserve its dignity and defend its borders.
Therefore, I call for the strengthening of the air force to Iraqis in general and the members of the
Jewish community in particular, and may God help the sincere.
Baghdad, July 25, 1933
Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
2196
4 Rabi' al-Thani 1352
26 July 1933
An Appeal to the Members of the Jewish Community
His Excellency the General Director of the Iraqi Aviation Association, Respected
After greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 7 dated 13/7/933
I submit herewith to Your Excellency several copies of the appeal I addressed to the members of
the Jewish community, urging them to support your respected association, printed in Arabic
and Hebrew characters. May God grant you success in what is for the good of this dear homeland;
Sassoon
Head of the Jewish Community
24 5
<del>30 July 933</del>
8 August
Copy of a circular to the heads of the community departments
His Excellency the President of the General Iraqi Aviation Association, respected
Ministry of Defense
After greetings and respect
I have the great honor to present to your Excellency a copy of the circular that I addressed to
the heads of the departments of the Jewish community regarding urging them to encourage your esteemed association.
With great respect to your Excellency
⟦illegible⟧
Sadiq
Head of the Community
Presidency of the Jewish Community Number 2254
Baghdad Date 28 / 7 / 1933
Subject: Encouraging the General Iraqi Aviation Association is a duty
To
All administrations of schools and community institutions
I do not find myself in need of reminding you that it is incumbent upon us to strive with all our power to
encourage the General Iraqi Aviation Association, which was established for the purpose of developing the air force, which will be,
with God's help, among the most important defense forces for this dear homeland.
I have firm hope that you will explain to your subordinates the necessity of supporting this national project
and urge them to participate in the association by paying a monthly subscription, each according to their ability, as I also hope
that you mention to them that they can provide a monthly subscription as small as twenty fils.
May God grant us all success in serving this dear homeland;
For him
⟦Sassoon Khedhouri⟧
President of the Jewish Community
18 ⟦illegible⟧ 92
To the honor of the presence of the honor of the excellence of the Haham Bashi, may his light shine . / .
Honor of ⟦illegible⟧
We place before your hands, O my master, that you give us a legal ruling (faskh shar'i) in the name of
your servant, the honor of ⟦illegible⟧ who died in ⟦illegible⟧ year ⟦illegible⟧ in the river ⟦illegible⟧
from ⟦illegible⟧ in the name of his mother ⟦illegible⟧ and our intention in it is our right from the property
which ⟦illegible⟧ dirhams in Dubai in the honor of Mr. ⟦illegible⟧ who died in
⟦illegible⟧ in the river ⟦illegible⟧ from ⟦illegible⟧ and our intention is our right from the property which is
in the estate of the woman ⟦illegible⟧ who died in ⟦illegible⟧ year ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Preservation
Office of the Haham Bashi - Baghdad:
Number: 889
Date: 14 / 8 / 22
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI: BAGHDAD
72
TOEG'S PHARMACY
HARON S. TOEG
BAGHDAD
Toeg's Pharmacy, owned by
Haron Salman Toeg
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Baghdad ⟦line⟧ Baghdad
To the honor of the Excellency of Hakham Zion, may his light shine
Your Excellency, please do a favor and send us
eleven ⟦...⟧ Dinars ⟦...⟧
so that we may arrange everything and you shall send us
The one who waits
for salvation
⟦illegible⟧
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad
Number ⟦...⟧
Date ⟦...⟧
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
Number: 820
Date: 20 / 8 / 872
73
B"H
Baghdad 28 Av 5704
To the honor of his eminence the Great Rabbi Hakham Sasson Kadoorie, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, may he live long and good years
After inquiring of your peace and welfare as is fitting, here Yehezkel Ovadia Avraham, may God protect and sustain him, inquires of your peace and welfare all the days
from the Holy One, Blessed be He, that He may grant you life and merit, and merit you to see the consolation of Zion and Jerusalem and the coming of the Redeemer speedily in our days
Amen. Selah. And I request from your eminence to make an effort for me regarding the matter of work with the government there. And you, in your Torah honor, please make an effort for me
⟦illegible⟧
Hakham Sasson Kadoorie
Baghdad
Since your servant has not found work
With great respect, your servant
The young Yehezkel Ovadia Avraham son of Yehezkel Ovadia son of Avraham HaLevi Zilka
And I request from your eminence that you do with me kindness and charity and answer me — my address is ⟦illegible⟧
Yehezkel Ovadia
Be strong and blessed
Amen
94
Date 22 / 8 / 944
File number
Silent
Directorate Office of the ⟦illegible⟧ Community
2188
June 19, 1933
<del>Secret</del>
Respected Secretary of the Laura Kadoorie Club
After greetings:
I have been informed that a dispute exists between your respected club's board and the member Abdul Nabi Effendi
Shamaun. Although I fully believe that the matter of resolving this dispute belongs solely to
your respected committee, I have seen fit, for the sake of the public interest, to request your respected committee to postpone the general
meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow evening, July 20, 1933, to another date and to kindly attend
with all the members of the honorable committee at the Community Administration at five o'clock in the afternoon of
tomorrow evening to deliberate on this matter together with the participation of the esteemed Lay Council.
I thank you, and remain with respect,
Ezra
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
General Directorate of Agriculture
DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE.
Office of the Director of Inspection
Office of the Plant Industry Directorate
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.
Central Experimental Farm
CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL
Rustamiyah - Baghdad
FARM, RUSTAM,
BAGHDAD.
Telephone Number: - Baghdad 1765
Telephone :- Baghdad 1765.
Telegraphic Address: - General Agriculture
Telegrams :- "Agriculture," Baghdad.
No. 54 / 2 / 6
Date: 17 September 1933
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Subject - Tomato Sauce.
This Directorate is honored to present to your Eminence one bottle of tomato sauce
manufactured in this department.
For your information on this subject, we would like to inform you that it was made from the best and finest
type of tomatoes that were picked and prepared in one day, and neither industrial materials
used to preserve it from rot or spoilage nor chemical dyes were used in its manufacture, and it cost this
department one-sixth of the value of what is sold in the markets of the foreign type imported from America.
Therefore, we hope you will use it and inform us of your opinion on it and provide observations which will undoubtedly
benefit us in our work.
With respect.
John ⟦Aboy⟧
For the Director of Plant Industry
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 871
Date
To be filed