Voices from the Archive

IJA 3723

Sale of Shamash School Building; Correspondence from Government; List of Synagogues in Iraq

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Description

These are documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. Included is a newspaper with an article concerning the seizure of property owned by Iraqi Jews who renounced their Iraqi citizenship. The documents also contain correspondence between branches of the Iraqi government and the Baghdadi Jewish community, such as a notice from the Ministry of Culture to the Jewish community informing them the Jewish schools would remain unharmed after the emigration of the community. The documents also include the Jewish Community's payments and receipts; correspondence from the Iranian Foreign Ministry about the rental of the former Shamash School building; a report overseeing a Jewish school clinic; a list of synagogues in Iraq and their approximate date of establishment.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 3723
Item Number
6839
Date
Approx. January 1, 1951 to December 31, 1960
Languages
Arabic
Keywords
Financial, Menahem S. Daniel's School, Masooda Saliman School, Revenue Stamp, Synagogue, Newspaper, Ledger, Laura Khedouri School for Girls, Thumbprint, Typed, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Ink Stamp, Letterhead, Jewish Lay Council, Abrogation of Citizenship, President of the Jewish Community, Envelope, Bani Said Elementary School for Boys, Receipt, Birth Certificate, Correspondence, Architectural Plans, Al-Fār’ah Primary School, Maintenance, Annotation, Handwritten, Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital

AI English Translation, Pages 251-275

Archival unit 251

T/ 2001 / 53
27 / 4 / 1953
The second installment of the rent for house No. 103/52
(Qanbar Ali)
To -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Greetings,
With reference to the lease agreement dated 2 / 12 / 1952 concluded between your esteemed directorate
and this Presidency, and confirming our letter No. T/ 2960 / 53 dated 15 / 3 / 1953.
We kindly request the payment of the second installment of the rent for house No. 103/52 located in Qanbar
Ali neighborhood, belonging to this Presidency and occupied by the Al-Mahdiya School for Boys, which became due on
6 / 4 / 1953, amounting to two hundred dinars (200/000 dinars). As for the required repairs, what must
be carried out by this Presidency according to the terms of the contract will be started as soon as you pay the aforementioned rent.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
Head of the Lay Council

Archival unit 252

T / ⟦illegible⟧ 53 /
15 / 2 / 954
The second installment of the rent for the house numbered 52 /
103 (Qabr Ali)
To "-
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Greetings,
With reference to the lease agreement dated 2 / 12 / 1953, concluded between your esteemed
Directorate and this Presidency.
We kindly request the payment of the second installment of the rent for the house numbered 52 / 103 located in the district of
Qabr Ali, which is currently occupied by the Mahdia School for Boys, and which will be due on 6 / 4 / 1953
amounting to two hundred dinars (200/000 dinars).
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
Head of the Lay Council

Archival unit 253

⟦Directorate of Education of Baghdad Liwa⟧
Accounts
12155
55
Number /:
Date /: 1 / 6 / 1953
Subject /: Property Tax
To - .
Directorate of General Revenue
Tax Division
Based on the request of the Presidency of the Jewish Community, we confirm to you that the house numbered 52 / 103
located in the Qanbar Ali neighborhood belonging to the aforementioned community presidency is rented by us
at an amount of (400) Dinars annually and occupied by the Al-Saadia School for Boys since the date of 6 / 10 / 51
and we have deducted the property tax on it from the mentioned date until 5 / 10 / 53 within the payments that
we paid for the rent accordingly.
⟦signature⟧
Abdul Rasul Najm
Abdul Rasul Najm
Director of Education of Baghdad Liwa
A copy of it to - .
Presidency of the Jewish Community - with reference to your letter numbered 3039 / 53
and dated 1 / 6 / 1953 / for information
Said / 8

Archival unit 254

T / 53/2190
Dispensary No. 393/94 (Tawrat).
10/7/1953
⟦illegible⟧
To -
Directorate of General Social Services
Refugee Department
Greetings,
Reference to your letter No. 2830 dated 8/11/1953;
And following up on our letter No. T / 52/3132 dated 8/12/1953, please inform us
of what has been done regarding the matter of the rent for Dispensary No. 393/94 located in the Tawrat neighborhood.
Please accept our highest respect ⟦line⟧
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
⟦illegible⟧
Schools

Archival unit 255

T / 53/2122
1953/8/12
Dispensary No. 94/393 (Tawrat)
187
To "-
Directorate General of Social Services
Refugee Department
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 2830 dated 1953/8/11;
We agree to your lease of the dispensary No. 94/393 located in the Tawrat neighborhood from the endowments of this
community; for the purposes of your respected Directorate General; at an annual rent of six hundred dinars
(600/000 Dinars).
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Heskel Dawood Shattub
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council

Archival unit 256

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Social Affairs
Directorate of General Social Services
"Refugee Affairs"
Number Kh/: 2870
Date: 11 / 8 / 1953
⟦illegible⟧
Number 2280
Date 11 / 8 / 1953
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad.
It is intended to rent the Rifqa Dispensary building located in the Al-Tawrat neighborhood, numbered 94 / 393, for the purposes of the Directorate
of General Social Services.
Please inform us of its final annual rent so that we may obtain the approval of the Ministry of Finance for it
as quickly as possible.
Dr. "A" Al-Ruwaizali
Director of General Social Services
Muti' /

Archival unit 257

⟦illegible⟧ The Jewish Community
Very Urgent ⟦illegible⟧
Number / ⟦illegible⟧
Date / ⟦illegible⟧
Iraqi Ministry of Education
Directorate General of Education
Accounts Department
20997
15/11/1953
To - Directorate of Al-Najibiya Preparatory School
With reference to our letter No. 36435 dated ⟦line⟧ 24/10/1953
The Presidency of the Committee for Leasing Immovable Property has reconsidered the estimation of the rent for your school building
belonging to the Jewish Community, and decided in its letter No. 319 dated 9/11/953 and its decision No.
240 dated 24/10/953 to set the rent at (400) Dinars instead of (350), on the basis of
the Community carrying out the repairs and renovations mentioned in our aforementioned letter. Therefore, please confirm to us that the Community
has carried out those repairs and that the building is suitable for the purpose for which it is occupied at the earliest possible opportunity, and inform us
of the matter urgently so that the contract can be concluded with them according to the regulations.
Director General of Education
Copy to -
Presidency of the Jewish Community
With reference to our aforementioned letter - please carry out the repairs discussed
in our referred letter immediately so that we can contract on that basis.
Accounts Department.
14/A
⟦illegible⟧
Mr. ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 258

2255
25 / 10 / 953
Iraqi Ministry of Education
Directorate of General Education
Accounts
Number: 26425
Date: 22 / 10 / 1953
Presidency of the Committee for Leasing Immovable Property
Your committee previously confirmed in its letter No. 270 dated 27 / 9 / 1953 and pursuant to its resolution No.
191 dated 7 / 9 / 1953 the moderation of the rent for the building No. 4 / 9 / 1 located in the Al-Senak district
currently occupied by the Preparatory School of Commerce for Boys belonging to the Jewish Community
in the amount of 350 Dinars. However, the aforementioned community informed us in its letter No. 3197 / 53 dated 12 / 10 / 53
that it does not agree to renew the contract at that rate, but rather requests a rent of (450) Dinars. Since
the aforementioned building is in need of the renovations and repairs listed below, please reconsider the estimation of its rent
taking into account the community's undertaking of the mentioned repairs and inform us, noting that our representative in this
matter is Mr. Abdul Razzaq Jassim.
⟦illegible⟧
For Director of General Education
1 - Paving three rooms with tiles.
2 - Painting the classrooms.
3 - Plastering a section of the roof.
4 - Repairing some broken tile pieces.
5 - Completing ⟦illegible⟧ missing window glass.
6 - Repairing some room doors and making keys for them.
A copy to - Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce - with reference to your letter No. 212 dated 13 / 9 / 1953.
Presidency of the Jewish Community - with reference to your aforementioned letter, please carry out the repairs
and renovations mentioned at the earliest possible opportunity and inform us.
Accounts Directorate
Representative Mr. Abdul Razzaq Jassim - Please prepare the building so the committee can inspect it quickly.
⟦illegible⟧
Hamid / 19

Archival unit 259

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number: 3531 / 5452
Number: T/2192/53
Date: 12 / 10 / 1953
Subject: Rent of the building numbered 1/9/4 (Sinak) ⟦line⟧
124
To -
Directorate of General Education
Greetings,
With reference to the letter from the Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce No. 212 dated 13 / 9 / 1953 regarding
its request to carry out some renovations in the school building and its confirmation of that by telephone on 12 / 10 / 1953.
We would like to inform your esteemed General Directorate that this Presidency has previously stated its viewpoint regarding
the rent for the building for the new year, as it requested an amount of 450/000 Dinars (four hundred and fifty Dinars)
as a minimum, according to its two letters numbered T/3165 and T/3191/53 dated 9 / 9 / 1953
and 7 / 10 / 1953. Therefore, we hope for your approval of the rent so that we can respond to the school administration's request.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council

Archival unit 260

192
T / 2165 / 53
9 / 9 / 1953
Rent of the building numbered 4 / 9 / 1 (Sinak).
To "
Directorate of General Education
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 29716 dated 6 / 6 / 1953
In view of the low rental value of the building numbered 4 / 9 / 1 located in the Sinak district belonging to this
Presidency and occupied by the Preparatory School of Commerce, and its inappropriateness with current rental rates,
Therefore, we kindly request increasing the annual rent to four hundred and fifty Dinars, which is the minimum
allowance approved by this Presidency.
Please accept our highest respects.
On behalf of the Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
A copy to "
Presidency of the Immovable Property Leasing Committee - for the same purpose

Archival unit 261

Iraqi Ministry of Education
Directorate General of Education
Accounts Department
Number /: ⟦illegible⟧
Date /: 9/ /1953
2716
Presidency of the Jewish Community
2214
4 / 9 / 1953
Subject: Inspection and appraisal for building rent
To - Presidency of the Committee for Leasing Immovable Property
In view of the approaching expiry of the lease contract for the building numbered 1/9/4 located in the Sinak district
belonging to the Jewish Community, which is occupied by the Preparatory School of Commerce for Boys. Please
inspect it and appraise its rent and inform us, noting that its current rent is (350) three hundred and fifty
dinars, and our representative in the case is Mr. (Abdul Razzaq Jassim).
⟦signature⟧
Director General of Education
A copy to:-
Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce for Boys
Please inform us whether the building in question is in need of repairs or not.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Accounts Department
Detailed Mr. ⟦line⟧
4 / 5 / 9

Archival unit 262

T / 2191 / 53
7 / 10 / 1953
Rent of the building numbered 1/9/4 (Sinak).
195
To ⟦...⟧
Directorate of General Education
After greetings
We confirm our letter numbered T/3165/53 dated 9/9/1953
Hoping you will kindly decide on the matter of renting the building numbered 1/9/4 located on Sinak Street,
Occupied by the Preparatory School of Commerce on the basis requested by this Presidency in its
confirmed letter.
Please accept our highest respect
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
A copy to:-
Presidency of the Committee for Renting Immovable Property - Behind Al-Fard.

Archival unit 263

Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce
Baghdad
Telephone No. 7838
Number: ⟦line⟧
Date: 13 / 9 / 195
2216
Subject: - School building renovations
12 / 9 / 1953
To: -
General Directorate of Education
Reference to your letter No. 29716 dated September 6, 1953
We list below the necessary renovations for the school building for your information.
Director of the Preparatory School of Commerce
1 - Tiling three rooms with tiles
2 - Painting the classrooms
3 - Repairing a section of the roof.
4 - Repairing some broken tiles
5 - Completing the missing window glass.
6 - Repairing some room doors and making their keys.
A copy to: -
Presidency of the Jewish Community.

Archival unit 264

⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the ⟦...⟧ Community
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 265

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Social Affairs
Directorate General of Social Services
Number Kh/ ⟦line⟧ 2227
Date ⟦line⟧ 17 / 10 / 1953
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 2247
Date 18 / 10 / 1953
Refugee Division
Subject
Baghdad Province Police Directorate.
We support the viewpoint stated in the letter of the Presidency of the Jewish Community numbered
T/ 3198 / 53 and dated 13 / 10 / 1953. Requesting that the necessary measures be taken
as quickly as possible given the importance of this regarding the housing of Palestinian refugees
in the building under discussion, and to inform us.
⟦illegible⟧
Dr. "A. Al-Barzali"
Director General of Social Services
A copy to:-
Al-Shorja Police Assistantship - for the same purpose.
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad - in reference to its letter above.
Director of Baghdad Shelters - for follow-up and to inform us.
Muti' / 15th of it.

Archival unit 266

Presidency of the Jewish Community
Incoming Number 2244
Date 18 / 10 / 1953
Baghdad District Police Directorate
"Administration"
Number / ⟦line⟧ 0 / 0
Date 10 / 10 / 1953 To / Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Subject / Evacuation of a house
Reference to your letter numbered / Z / 3198 / 153 and dated 13 / 10 / 953
The request contained in your above letter concerns the Directorate of General Social Services
which we request you to contact regarding this matter.
Younis Al-Sayegh
For / Director of Baghdad District Police
Copy to / Directorate of General Social Services / for your kind information, reference to the above letter
" " / Assistant Police Chief of Al-Bataween / for information and reference to the mentioned Presidency letter.
Jabbar / M 17 of it
16

Archival unit 267

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Social Affairs
Directorate General of Social Services
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Number: Kh/ ⟦illegible⟧
Date: ⟦illegible⟧ / 11 / 1953
Section: Accounting
Subject: Building Rent
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community
We had rented from you the Saleh Hospital building to be occupied by Palestinian
refugees, and the rent was paid to you in advance since 5 / 10 / 1953, provided that you
carry out the necessary repairs to the building and hand it over to us vacant. Despite
the passage of this long period and the non-execution of the contract, we hereby warn you for a period of seven days to
hand over the mentioned building, otherwise we will be forced to refer to the courts according to the procedures.
Dr. Abdul Hadi Al-Pachachi
Director General of Social Services
A copy to: -
Ministry of Social Affairs - <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> following up on our letter number 3776
dated 5 / 10 / 1953 for your kind information
and support.
Baghdad Shelters Directorate
Accounting
⟦illegible⟧
And His Excellency the President of the Community was informed
today by His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hadi
Al-Pachachi the General regarding the postponement of the matter
from the ⟦illegible⟧ committee
Printed

Archival unit 268

T / 2197 / 53
13 / 10 / 1956
To -
Baghdad District Police Directorate
Greetings,
The Directorate of General Social Services has leased the building numbered 137/59 located
in the Al-Thawrat neighborhood to be used as a shelter for housing Palestinian refugees; and since this building
is currently occupied by five families in an unauthorized manner; and in view of the General Directorate's
urgent need to occupy the building; we kindly request you to issue your order to evacuate the mentioned building,
noting that this Presidency has prepared the necessary places for the residence of the five mentioned families.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community
Vice President of the Spiritual Council
⟦illegible⟧
A copy to -
1 - Al-Thawra Police Station - for the same purpose.
2 - Directorate of General Social Services - for confirmation.

Archival unit 269

T / 2189 / 53
6 / 10 / 1953
Munshi Saleh School Building.
To -
Directorate General of Social Services
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 3776 dated 5 / 10 / 1953.
1 - We inform you of our receipt of the payment authorization note No. 42216/25 dated 5 / 10 / 1953 for the amount of 990 Dinars
(Nine hundred and ninety Dinars) for the net rent of the Munshi Saleh School building No. 127/59 after deducting
the property tax amounting to (110 Dinars). Therefore, we attach herewith receipt No. 73 dated 6 / 10 / 1953
as notification of receipt.
2 - We will carry out the repairs stipulated in the lease contract immediately.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
A copy to -
The Community Presidency Accountant - and we attach herewith check No. 323500 dated 6 / 10 / 1953 for the amount of 990 Dinars
(Nine hundred and ninety Dinars) for the net rent mentioned above,
provided that a special account be opened for the mentioned rent similar to the accounts of other school
rents.

Archival unit 270

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Social Affairs
Directorate General of Social Services
Number: Kh / ⟦line⟧ 2776
Date: ⟦line⟧ 5 / 10 / 1953
Section: Accounting
Subject: Munshi Saleh Building
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Number 227
Date 5 / 10 / 1953
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. T / 3188 / 53 dated 4 / 10 / 1953
We attach herewith the payment authorization note No. 42216 / 25 dated
5 / 10 / 1953 for the amount of (990) nine hundred <del>and nine</del> and ninety Dinars, which is for the net
rent of the Munshi Saleh building No. 59 / 137 after deducting the property tax
amounting to (110) one hundred and ten Dinars, and attached are two copies of the lease contract, requesting
to inform us of receipt and send the necessary voucher to support the expenditure.
Attachment /
Note
Lease contract (2)
⟦signature⟧
Dr. A. Al-Wizali
Director General of Social Services
Copy to: -
Ministry of Social Affairs - Reference to your letter No. 5198 dated
30 / 9 / 1953 with a copy of the contract.
Central Treasury Directorate.
Refugee Administration - To inform us of the receipt of the building after completing the necessary
repairs.
Accounting - With the first copy of the contract.
From ⟦illegible⟧ Department
⟦illegible⟧ 5 / 10 / 53
Personnel
For registration and action
⟦signature⟧
5 / 10 / 53

Archival unit 271

T/ 53/2188
4 / 10 / 1953
To -
Directorate of General Social Services.
Greetings,
With reference to your letter numbered 3667 and dated 30 / 9 / 1952.
We return herewith four copies of the lease contract for the Manshi Saleh building numbered 59 / 137 located
in the Al-Tawrat neighborhood after being signed by us, requesting the payment of the rent amount and kindly returning a copy of the
mentioned lease contract.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
202
M K

Archival unit 272

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Social Affairs
Directorate General of Social Services
Number: Kh / 2667
Date: 2 / 9 / 1953
Section: Refugees
Subject:
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Incoming Number 4222
Date 2 / 9 / 1953
To the Presidency of the Israelite Community.
Reference to your letter numbered 53/3155 and dated 2 / 9 / 1953
We attach herewith four copies of the lease contract for the Menashi Saleh school building numbered
59 / 137 located in the Taura neighborhood, requesting you to sign them and return them to us so that we may
pay the rent.
⟦signature⟧
Dr. A. Al-Wajeezi
Director General of Social Services
Copy to the Accounting Section.
Printer / 30

Archival unit 273

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Social Affairs
Directorate of General Social Services
Number Kh/: 2229
Date: 9 / 9 / 953
Presidency of the Jewish Community
2209
8 / 9 / 1953
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Division "Accounting"
Subject
To - Ministry of Social Affairs
Reference to your letter numbered 4112 and dated 8 / 8 / 1953.
The Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad has agreed to lease the building
of Menashi Saleh numbered 59 / 137 located in the Taura neighborhood for an annual
rent of (1100) Dinars, provided that the necessary renovations are carried out
for the mentioned building. Please kindly obtain the approval of the Ministry of Finance to spend the
mentioned amount as a deduction from Article 15 of Chapter 83 and kindly inform us..
Director of General Social Services
Abdul Jabbar Al-Rizali
A copy of it to -
Presidency of the Community - Reference to your letter numbered T / 315 / 53
and dated 2 / 9 / 1953.
Accounting.
The Clerk
To Mr. Al-Arkan
⟦illegible⟧
7 / 9 / 53
Raghib / 6 of it

Archival unit 274

T / 53/2154
Evacuation of the Munshi Saleh school building No. 137/59
1 / 9 / 1956
406
To -
Shorja Police Station Sub-district
Greetings,
In view of the Directorate of General Social Services leasing the Munshi Saleh school building
No. 137/59 located in the Torah neighborhood to be occupied by refugees, we request
the assistance of this Presidency in evacuating the aforementioned building of its occupants and moving them to the locations
prepared for their residence.
Please accept our highest respect.
Aboudi Sety
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
⟦signature⟧

Archival unit 275

T / ⟦illegible⟧ / 53
1 / 9 / 1953
Lease of the Munshi Saleh School building No. 59/137
(Torah)
To -
Directorate General of Social Services
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 2803 dated 10 / 8 / 1953.
1 - We agree to lease the Munshi Saleh School building No. 59/137 located in the Torah district to your esteemed
General Directorate for an annual rent of 1100 Dinars (one thousand and one hundred Dinars) starting from the date of occupancy,
provided that the rent is paid in one installment.
2 - We will construct toilets for women and men, rebuild the demolished part of the building's outer wall, and carry out
electrical and water repairs and complete the window glass.
Therefore, we kindly request the preparation of the lease contract, provided it follows the model of this Presidency's contracts with your esteemed
General Directorate, and the disbursement of the aforementioned rent so that we can carry out the repairs and hand over the building to you.
Please accept our highest respect ⟦line⟧
Aboudi City
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council