AI English Translation, Pages 26-50
Amanat al-Asima (Mayoralty of the Capital)
Equipment Department
Telephone Number: Saray 3
Number: 2224
Date: July 22, 1931
To
The Honorable Chief Rabbi
The tax farmer of the slaughterhouse (Al-Fabilla) approached us today and informed us that he suspects the Jews will buy meat tomorrow from
the slaughterhouse ⟦and that they will⟧ slaughter their sheep in homes to evade legal fees, and your presence knows
that the Government and the Mayoralty are interested in the matter of ending the strike in the Kingdom and easing the burden of hardship
suffered by the people, and that the Jewish community's undertaking of such acts at the present time
would lead to confusion of minds; therefore, we ask you to take whatever preventive measures you have
regarding these observations and oblige them to slaughter their sheep in the slaughterhouse as usual and not give
room for such things, and to inform us of the wise measures you take in this regard.
⟦signature⟧
Mayor of the Capital
⟦official circular stamp: Amanat al-Asima ...⟧
A. S.
⟦faint bleed-through text from reverse side⟧
1472
July 15, 1931
Presidency of the Israeli Slaughterhouse
This department has taken a decision to pay half salaries and allowances to all
employees and institutions of the community without exception of any individual or institution; therefore, your return of
check No. 583770 in the amount of 8/815 Rupees without sending us a letter explaining
the reason was a matter of surprise. For this reason, we are returning the mentioned check to you
with this letter; you may submit your requests to this department in a
formal letter;
⟦signature⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
ASLAN YEHOODA
Chief Rabbi Abraham
Acting Hakham Bashi Ibrahim Aslan Yehuda in Baghdad
1931
Baghdad 1 Nisan 91
To the honor of the Treasurer of the Gemilut Hasadim Society Committee
The Jewish Community Committee
After inquiring of your welfare and goodness according to law and custom, and much peace and blessing
We, your servants, members of the Jewish Community Committee in Baghdad ⟦illegible⟧ and the Gemilut Hasadim Society Committee
We hereby inform you that since it has come to our knowledge that in the Jewish Hospital there are poor and lonely patients
Who have no relatives or redeemers to care for them and their needs, and also have no change of clothes
Therefore, we the undersigned have decided to give them a sum of ⟦illegible⟧ Iraqi Dinars
For the purpose of buying clothes and other needs for the aforementioned poor patients in the aforementioned hospital
So that they may change their clothes and live in cleanliness and dignity as is fitting for every person of Israel
Therefore we request you to withdraw the aforementioned sum from the society's fund and give it to the Treasurer
Who will handle the purchase of the clothes and their distribution to the patients mentioned above under the supervision of the Community Committee
And herewith we have signed today, the day of ⟦illegible⟧ of the month of Nisan, the year 5691 from the creation of the world
Ezra Sasson ⟦illegible⟧
Yaakov Saleh ⟦illegible⟧
Meir Yitzhak ⟦illegible⟧
Salman David ⟦illegible⟧
Yosef Avraham ⟦illegible⟧
Nissim Ezra ⟦illegible⟧
Menashe Shalom ⟦illegible⟧
Yehezkel Yehuda ⟦illegible⟧
Office of the Hakhambashi - Baghdad:
Number: 775
Date: 19/4/931
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI: BAGHDAD
1478
July 19, 1931
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Reference to your letter dated 1 Tammuz 5691
This department has not exempted anyone in its decision by which it decreed
halving the salaries and allowances for the month of June 1931, and therefore it sees no
justification there to exempt your administration from the rest of the community's departments and institutions
Therefore, we entrust to you herewith check No. 58377 in the amount of 815 rupees in
the hope that you will proceed to collect it like the rest of the departments and distribute it to your employees who
must be in dire need of their salaries
This is with the note that we will not be able to pay the second half of the allowances
of your administration exceptionally;
Acting Chief Rabbi
Acting Chief Rabbi Abraham A. Aslan
ABR. ASLAN
Kaymakam
Hakham Bashi
Baghdad
Acting Chief Rabbi
⟦illegible signature⟧
⟦illegible scribbles⟧
91 / ⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Now a letter arrived from Daoud M. Hanukkah ⟦illegible⟧ 20 June
⟦line⟧
Known to you regarding the text of the lawsuits ⟦illegible⟧ 815 ⟦illegible⟧ except from us ⟦illegible⟧ on 4 Tammuz 23 June
With all that the judgment obtains ⟦illegible⟧ in the first ⟦illegible⟧ lawsuits ⟦illegible⟧ 815 ⟦illegible⟧ and in the papers
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
12th July
02736
160
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad
Number 782
Date 22 / 7 / 921
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
Al-Jazra - Al-Khafaji
⟦line⟧
Notary Public:
Notary Public:
Annual Number Gen. No.: 1106
Special Number Sp. No.: 128
Register Number Reg. No.: 14/2
Page Number Page No.:
Through the Notary Public of Baghdad.
To
The President of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community.
I have participated in the auction for the Gabila commitment and reached a bid of one hundred and eight hundred
and fifty thousand rupees, and as I was willing to take the commitment for more than that as ⟦line⟧
you awarded it to another person for one hundred and sixty-two and six hundred rupees, while I have an increase over
that of two thousand and four hundred rupees and I asked you to accept it but you refused and excluded me from the auction before
I desisted, and you returned my deposits without a legal reason. Since your action is contrary to the principles of
auctioning and harmful to the rights of the community and my personal rights, and you have no right to award it to anyone else,
I hereby warn you of the necessity of accepting my guarantee, otherwise I will be forced to resort to legal means for the loss of
my right except for the benefit of the community itself. He who warns is excused.
The Petitioner
Eliyahu Saleh Muzayyin
Gabila Papers
A copy of it to the Hakham Bashi
To notify the Jews as stated in this minutes in ⟦illegible⟧ the community ⟦illegible⟧ to ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ to ⟦illegible⟧
The Israelite community and I mentioned to him to ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ in ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
To the applicant for notification according to the rules ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Notary Public Office
Baghdad
Iraq
I, Eliyahu Saleh Muzayyin, have agreed to add the sum of three thousand rupees to
the amount of the commitment for Al-Ajila and soap for the year 24 - 925, which was awarded in a ⟦illegible⟧ manner
to Mulla Zouni Al-Mulla Nattu and Muhammad Farhan for the sum of one hundred and sixty-two
thousand and six hundred rupees. By adding my contribution, the commitment amount becomes one hundred and sixty-eight
thousand and six hundred rupees, provided that the Council retains its choice and right as stipulated
in paragraph (d) of Article Twelve of the Al-Ajila commitment auction regulations
in force in the administration of the community, which states that the Council has the right of choice to extend the period of the final
award if it deems it necessary, and it alone has the right to confirm the final award or cancel it
or accept other additions within three full days from the day following the mentioned
award. 12 March 924
Eliyahu Saleh Muzayyin
⟦signature⟧
The above signatory, Eliyahu Saleh Muzayyin, has submitted as a deposit a check for the amount of five
thousand rupees signed by Salman Zilkha - 12 March 924 ⟦stamp⟧
Receipt Form No. 86
Receipts for Dirhams collected for the Government
Serial Number: 47 / 19158
Department Name: ⟦illegible⟧ South Baghdad
Fils / Dinar: 1500
Received from: Yehuda Zalouf
Amount: Fifteen Dinars and ⟦illegible⟧ Fils
On account of: Two revenues
Date: 7 / 12 / 1952
Job Title: Clerk ⟦illegible⟧ South Baghdad
5617
Signature of the Receiver
Irshad Asim
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number: ⟦282⟧
Date: 14 March 1933
Yehuda Zelouf
Menashe Saleh
Salim Akka
The respected and distinguished Abdullah Battat
Hesqel Murad
Musa Abia
Saleh Faraj Sam Sion Suwairi
Ezra Al-Ani
Ibrahim Naqoum
Greetings and respect,
The public auction for the commitment of the Qaboola and intestines will take place at four-thirty
in the afternoon of tomorrow (Wednesday) the 15th of it. We request the favor of your presence at the community administration at
the aforementioned hour to oversee the conduct of the auction. To you much gratitude and respect.
H
Ezra Dangour
President of the Jewish Community
March 10, 1933
Upon arrival
My dear Ibrahim Bey
Warm greetings. It is not hidden from Your Excellency that it has been the custom to collect the Gabelle tax
on each kilogram of Kosher meat, and given that the contract for this fiscal year will be awarded on
the 20th of the current month, and given that the Indian currency has been replaced by Iraqi currency, and that the equivalent
of two Annas in Iraqi currency is slightly more than 9 Fils, and awarding the contract on the basis of collecting
9 Fils per kilogram would cause a disadvantage to this administration and an unjustified reduction in the contract value at
a time when we are suffering from a severe financial crisis, while awarding it on the basis of 10 Fils results in an increase
in the tax that may not have a legal justification.
Therefore, I request that, after reviewing Article 18 of the Jewish Community Regulations attached
to this letter, you provide us with your sound opinion in resolving this issue in a manner that does not conflict with the observed law
nor cause a disadvantage to this administration. I would be very grateful if you would kindly provide us with the answer before the 15th of
the current month, which is the day designated for awarding the Gabelle by temporary referral.
Sincerely,
Alwan
Special
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Effendi
Respected President of the Jewish Community
After greetings:
Before me is your letter dated March 10, / 33 regarding how to
convert the Gabella fees into Iraqi currency. It is no secret that solving
the problems arising from the application of the Iraqi Currency Law is a
legal issue more than a financial one, and its consideration belongs to men of law.
Nevertheless, I present below my observations on the problem discussed
in your above-mentioned letter.
Article 4 of the Iraqi Currency Law stipulates that
one Rupee in the laws and regulations in force in Iraq
on April 1, / 32 shall be considered as seventy-five fils, and the Anna
shall be considered as five fils (for the payment of Rupee fractions). I do not know
the reasons that prompted the legislator to place the restriction mentioned in the article,
as the goal is to convert the unit of fees into Iraqi currency
and it has no relation to the issue of payment.
Accordingly, I believe that the Gabella fees must be set by commitment
on the basis of the Iraqi currency in accordance with Article 4 referred to
above, and that the amount of the fee, which is two Annas, must be converted to ten
fils, considering that the amount represents fractions of the Rupee, and I do not see the possibility of applying
the article practically in any other way. Please accept my highest respect.
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad, March 12, / 33
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
No. 2163
Date: March 15, ⟦33⟧
Lawyer Ibrahim Effendi Hayyim
"Salman" Sheena
The Honorable and Distinguished "Anwar" Shaul
"Munshi Effendi Ibrahim Levy"
Greetings and Respect,
The public auction for the commitment of the
Khabila and intestines will be held at four-thirty in the afternoon today. We request your presence at the community administration at the aforementioned hour to supervise the
conduct of the auction. With much gratitude and respect to you.
S. L.
President of the Jewish Community
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 2163
Date 15 March ⟦3⟧
His Eminence the Respected Rabbi
Greetings and Respect
The public auction for the weighing and gut contracting will take place at four-thirty
post meridiem this evening the 15th, so we request your eminence to please attend the Community Administration at the
aforementioned hour to supervise the proceedings of the auction, and to your presence much thanks in advance
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of
President of the Jewish Community
Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
" Raphael Elohim
" Joshua Moshe
" Sassoon Ezra Asaf
" Eliya Joshua
" Eliahu Ibrahim
" Daoud Ezra Safi
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
19 March 1933
Sh. Joshua
⟦Ezekiel⟧ Shatoub
The honorable and distinguished Ezra Fattal, Respected
Aaron Shatoub
Khedouri Shukur
Greetings and respect,
The final award for the commitment of the Fadhilah and the Mihrabs will take place at four-thirty P.M.
on Monday afternoon, 20 March 1933. Please kindly attend the Community administration at the mentioned hour
to supervise the progress of the auction. With respect,
1000
On behalf of
President of the Jewish Commun⟦ity⟧
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Honorable Notables, President of the Lay Council and its respected members,
Greetings and respect,
Since I had decided to postpone the final award for the Ghabila
and intestines contract until four-thirty in the afternoon of Sunday 26 / 3 / 933, and considering
that granting the Ghabila and intestines contract is among the duties of your esteemed council, I invite you
to attend at the community administration at the appointed time to oversee the final award decision.
May you remain in respect,
⟦For him⟧
⟦Ezra Dangoor⟧
President of the Israelite Community
⟦illegible⟧
2202
2 April 1933
Important and Urgent
To the Honorable Director of Police of the Baghdad District
This Presidency had granted the slaughter tax fees for the fiscal year 33-934 by contract
to the contractors Muhammad Najib Effendi Farhat and Mulla Razzuqi al-Mulla Qadu according to the Jewish
Community Law No. 77 of 1931. However, some butchers in the Jewish slaughterhouse have begun
preventing meat sellers from purchasing it in the slaughterhouse and creating disturbances that would cause
damages to the contractor and the community. Since the contractor is the one responsible (per the contract concluded
between us and him) for providing sufficient sheep for slaughter and meeting the community's meat needs, and
since he has the right to request the prevention of butchers who provide sheep for slaughter against his will, and to maintain
order and protect the rights of the contractor and prevent damages, it has become necessary to prevent these troublemakers from
slaughtering entirely. Therefore, I request your Excellency to kindly issue urgent orders to a commissioner
and a few police officers to attend the aforementioned slaughterhouse located near the Secretariat of the
Capital's slaughterhouse on the Rusafa side at three o'clock (afternoon/early morning) every day (temporarily)
to prevent the mentioned persons from slaughtering and causing disturbance, under the supervision of the contractor Mulla Razzuqi al-Mulla Qadu
who will be present there, in order to protect the interests of this community from tampering and to prevent
the occurrence of undesirable consequences.
We request that urgent measures be taken in this regard due to the importance of the case.
Thanking your Excellency in advance,
⟦L⟧
⟦Sassoon⟧
President of the Jewish Community
Basra, April 21, 922
His Eminence, the respected Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Greetings and respect, please send a certified copy of the order of the Ministry of Justice and Sects No. 6
dated September 21, 912, regarding the issue of the midwife, and if there are other documents related to the matter
send a certified copy of them as well, for presentation in a lawsuit filed by us against the aforementioned woman
We request you inform us of the amount of expenses so we may send them, and we thank you in advance. May you remain well.
General Agent on behalf of the Head of the Jewish Community
in Basra
Lawyer Shafiq ⟦Hay⟧
⟦illegible⟧
An official order issued by the Sublime Ministry of Justice and Sects
Number 116, to the Province of Baghdad
My Gracious Sir,
Regarding the securing of the collection of the Gabela tax, which is among the sectarian revenues,
upon the application made by the Chief Rabbinate, in the minutes organized by the Council of State
and sent with the sublime memorandum dated 6 Jumada al-Awwal 228, it is understood that in the Jewish faith,
the slaughter of animals is exclusively granted to authorized Rabbis, and that these Rabbis assigned to this duty
are sent to the slaughterhouses, and it is customary to collect the Gabela tax upon the application of the Kosher stamp
on the animals slaughtered through them. Therefore, these slaughterer Rabbis must in any case
possess a certificate of authorization from the Rabbinate, and they must be
authorized to collect the necessary Gabela tax for the animals they slaughter, regardless of who the owner is.
This has been indicated and the situation has been communicated to the necessary provinces by circular.
It is appropriate that the necessary action be taken there as well within the scope of the decision made.
In this regard, the command and will belong to the one who holds the authority. 11 Ramadan 228 ⟦...⟧
2090
4 May 1933
The Honorable Lawyer Ibrahim Effendi Khazam, Respectfully
After greetings
The lawyer Munshi Effendi Ishaq, the agent for the head of the Jewish community in
Basra, has requested from us a certified copy of the order of the Ministry of Justice and Sects No. 116 dated 2 September 326
regarding the midwife, so we request you provide us with a copy of this order if you have it, and remain with respect
Harun
Head of the Community
A copy of the letter from the lawyer ⟦Mahmoud⟧ Al-Qaisi 15 / 5 / 33
Baghdad ⟦line⟧ on May 14, 1933
To the Presence of the Respected Head of the Israelite Community
After offering respect. With reference to your letter dated May 4, 1933 and numbered 590
I do not have any copy of the orders regarding the ⟦treatment⟧ and therefore I cannot provide the
requested copy. ⟦We hope⟧ for your excuse ⟦regarding⟧ the above. Please accept our highest respect.
Lawyer Ibrahim
⟦Hazqeel⟧
Ibrahim Abboudi
⟦...⟧
275
13 Safar 353 and 28 May 934
His Excellency the Respectable Minister of Justice
I submit to Your Excellency herewith a copy of the minutes of the General Council meeting held on
13 May 934
I request Your Excellency to kindly issue your approval of the decision taken by the
aforementioned Council to increase the marriage certificate fees and create a fee on the slaughter of chickens according to the second
paragraph of Article 18 of the Jewish Community Regulation No. 26 of 1931
Furthermore, I wish to inform Your Excellency that the Lay Council, before presenting these
proposals to the General Council, had consulted the Spiritual Council on the matter and obtained
its written approval on the legality of the case according to religious provisions.
On behalf of
Head of the Community
Mutasarrifate of Baghdad Province
Sects
Office: Correspondence
Telegraphic Address: Mutasarrif of Baghdad
Telephone: Baghdad 555
Subject
To: Hakham Bashi
We request your presence at the council of this ⟦...⟧
Our morning, corresponding to 2 / August / 1933
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ BAGHDAD
⟦illegible⟧
61 ⟦illegible⟧ 656 ⟦illegible⟧ 36 ⟦illegible⟧
Summary of the Sharia document
According to its requirements, Musadiq Sulayman, daughter of Ibrahim, from the village of Mahdi and Hamana, returned, and in what was expanded
61 ⟦illegible⟧ 36
Its recipient from this return of the remainder, and he has one hundred and eighty-four thousand and eighty ⟦illegible⟧
In the judgment and the removal of the hand of the Sharqa, our father, and what was consumed and occupied, and its preservation, and from seventy-eight
1601 Qintar 26 until it was said to him 12 donkey baskets, and now whoever is in the binding of this Sharqa donkey from us
From it, and he disposes of Rabia, and he has Simya or Sulayman son of your mother and eighty hundred that ⟦illegible⟧ son of Azid
In the remains of a scrap ⟦illegible⟧ hardship of our father and perished ⟦illegible⟧ and the truth of the matter, and it is Spiter ⟦illegible⟧ North
1601 parts 26 in a tribe to him 17 donkey baskets and not in the binding of his nest for Shaz the donkey from Qin for Shaz
H Banwi Sahn Rabia and Nah Siya to Sad Saman to him your mother and his north Tehran to Sahn to Zid
Na Sahata to him 17 I see Rannah for Ali Bal Sasma L ⟦illegible⟧ 1100 Rannah Saman Sasma L and perished ⟦illegible⟧ Liyah 17
1 Qamnah Sar and for us Bal and Ashna Qamnaqa A Tamwi Nah and perished Qilah Mashqay
Baghdad
Donkey basket Sahn
The Plaintiff ⟦line⟧ Nasima Daniel
The Defendant ⟦line⟧ Daoud Murad ⟦line⟧ residing in the Torah neighborhood ⟦line⟧ Court No. ⟦line⟧
The plaintiff, Nasima Daniel, filed a lawsuit in the Israeli Religious Court against her fiancé, the defendant
Daoud Murad, and the aforementioned court notified him to appear before the court for the hearing. In view of the fact that
he rebelled and did not attend the court at the time appointed for the hearing, the court ruled against him in absentia
and imposed on him a monthly alimony of one dinar to be received by the plaintiff, Nasima Daniel, from her fiancé, the aforementioned Daoud,
starting from the second day of the month of August 933.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
And they bear witness, and time bears witness to him ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ 17 ⟦...⟧ 1811 ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
This and what we have clarified, so he was a Muslim, and for this ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ 662 B Amina ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦illegible⟧