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 26-50

Archival unit 27

25722
Iraqi Ministry of Education
Directorate General of Education
Accounts
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date 8 / 9 / 1951
To -
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Subject: Renting buildings for schools
⟦line⟧
We refer to the letter of the Baghdad Governorate Administration No. 19162 dated 26 / 8 / 1951
supporting its viewpoint on the subject.
Director General of Education
A copy to -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Governorate
Accounts Department
Presidency of the Jewish Community
1526 7 / 9

Archival unit 28

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 3531
5452
Number: 51/T
Date: 11 / 1951
To - Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Subject - Prices of desks and blackboards.
After greetings,
With reference to the agreement reached between your respected directorate and the presidency of this community.
We request the favor of ordering the disbursement of the following amount as detailed below:
Dinars Fils | Item Type | Quantity | Unit Price
736 650 | Desks | (1637) | 450 Fils
58 500 | Blackboards (including (11) blackboards in Shamash School ready for delivery). | (90) | 650 Fils
795 150 | | | 
Only seven hundred and ninety-five dinars and one hundred and fifty fils and no more.
Note that the number of desks and blackboards received by the Education [Directorate] is confirmed by receipts signed by Mr. Abdul Hamid
Al-Sakin, Principal of Al-Mahdiya School for Boys, appointed for this purpose pursuant to your respected directorate's letter No. 13629 dated
21 / 8 / 1951.
Please accept our highest respects.
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council

Archival unit 29

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 3531
5452
Number :: 510 / ⟦illegible⟧
Date :: 11 / 11 / 1951
⟦illegible⟧
To - Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Subject: The first installment of the rental fees for the community schools.
After greetings
With reference to the decision of the committee appointed by Ministerial Order No. 24556 dated 26 / 8 / 1951 taken on
2 / 9 / 1951.
Agreed Rent | School Name | Date of Occupation
200 ... | Muwasat al-Umyan | Not yet received and is ready for receipt
400 ... | Nurm (National School) | 7 / 10 / 1951
300 ... | Nuriel | 3 / 10 / 1951
900 ... | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
Therefore, we request the order to pay half of the rental fees shown above as a first installment, amounting to only four hundred and fifty dinars, provided that
the second installment, also amounting to four hundred and fifty dinars, be paid six months after the date of occupation, as per the established procedures.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council

Archival unit 30

Decision
The committee inspected the Laura Kadoorie building belonging to the Jewish community on
1- 4 / 11 / 1951 and decided to lease it for the purposes of the Ministry of Education for an annual rent of (1000) one thousand Dinars
provided that the community repairs the electrical installations and the accompanying wiring and installs the glass for the windows
only. As for the renovations required by the building for the purpose of making it fit for occupation, the tenant shall carry them out at his own
expense, provided that it does not exceed one thousand Dinars, and the community shall not be asked for any amount if the mentioned amount is exceeded.
2- The community shall not be responsible for carrying out any future renovations in the mentioned building.
Member ⟦signature⟧ Member ⟦signature⟧ Member ⟦signature⟧ Chairman of the Committee
Member of the | Vice President of the | Ministry Accounts | Director of Education | Director of the
Tax Council | Jewish Community | Distinguished Officer | of Baghdad Province | Government Press
Mourad Sitti | Mr. Naeem Zubaida

Archival unit 31

T / ⟦illegible⟧ / 51
12/ /1951
To " ⟦line⟧ Directorate of General Education.
⟦illegible⟧
With reference to the decision of the committee appointed by Ministerial Order No. 24556 dated 8/26/51
taken on 11/4/151 and your letter No. 26006 dated 11/20/1951.
Agreed Rent | School Name | Date of Receipt
1000/000 Dinars | Laura Kadoorie | 11/23/1951
Received by the Deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences
We request the order to pay half of the rent shown above as a first installment, amounting to only five hundred dinars
provided that the second installment, also amounting to five hundred dinars, is paid six months after the date of occupation and ⟦illegible⟧
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
Copy to " ⟦line⟧
Directorate of Baghdad Province Consumption - for information.
College of Arts and Sciences -- for information.

Archival unit 32

Arch
The first installment of the community schools' rent allowances
⟦line⟧
2177 / 51
4 / 12 / 1951
To -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Greetings,
We follow up on our letter No. 2148 / 51 dated 4 / 11 / 1951, requesting the favor of paying
the first installment of the rent allowances indicated in our aforementioned letter.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 33

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 51/2177
Subject: The first installment of the rent for the community schools
Date: 4/12/1951
To -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Greetings,
We confirm our letter No. 51/2148 dated 4/11/1951, requesting you to kindly pay
the first installment of the rents indicated in our aforementioned letter.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
⟦illegible stamp⟧

Archival unit 34

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 51/ ⟦illegible⟧
Subject: Desk pens and blackboards
Date: 4 / 12 / 1951
To ⟦-⟧
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
After greetings
We confirm our letter numbered T/ 2147 / 51 and dated 4 / 11 / 1951, requesting
the disbursement of the desk pens and blackboards indicated in our aforementioned letter.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council

Archival unit 35

Values of desks and blackboards
⟦line⟧
51 / 2189
4 / 12 / 1951
Receipt Number
51 / 2178
To ⟦...⟧
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Greetings,
We follow up on our letter numbered T / 2147 dated 4 / 11 / 1951, requesting
the payment of the values for the desks and blackboards indicated in our aforementioned letter.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
Head of the Spiritual Council
⟦illegible stamp⟧

Archival unit 37

Number - ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ tea maker missing cycle and their number is ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ missing tea bottle in the building ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ broken bottle
Clerk
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
⟦signature⟧
22 / 7 / 952

Archival unit 38

26
Iraqi Ministry of Education
Directorate of General Education
Accounts
Number: 26006
Date: 20 / 11 / 1951
Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Special No. 1591
Date 21 / 11 / 951
Subject / Laura Kadoorie Building
⟦line⟧
In view of the agreement reached between your representatives and this Ministry to lease the Laura Kadoorie building for the purposes of this
Ministry ⟦illegible⟧ for an annual rent of (1000) one thousand Dinars, please hand over the keys of the building to the Deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences
after which the contract will be organized.
Director of General Education
A copy to:-
Deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences - for follow-up
Accounts Directorate
Hassan / 20 / 11

Archival unit 39

Laura Kadoorie School for Girls
⟦line⟧
Third Grade ⟦...⟧
Name :-: Aline ⟦...⟧
Age :-: 10 years
Date :-: 20 / 11 / 1944
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 40

27
51 / 2188
12 / 12 / 1951
To ⟦line⟧
Ministry of Education
Directorate of General Education
Greetings,
Your letter No. 36006 dated 11/20/1951.
We have handed over the keys of the Laura Kadoorie School building belonging to the presidency of this community to the clerk
of the College of Arts and Sciences authorized to receive them according to the letter of the Deanship of the said college No. 2437 dated
11/22/1951, and the handover took place on 11/23/1951.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
Copy to ⟦line⟧
To the Deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences with reference to its letter mentioned above, and in addition
to handing over the building keys, the broken glass was counted and it appeared to be (259) panes, and the
counting was in the presence of your representative.

Archival unit 41

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number | 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: ⟦illegible⟧ / 51
Date: 10 / 12 / 1951
Subject:
⟦illegible stamp⟧
7
To -
Ministry of Education
Directorate of General Education
Greetings,
Your letter numbered 36006 and dated 20 / 11 / 1951.
We have handed over the keys of the Laura Kadoorie School building belonging to the presidency of this community to the clerk
of the College of Arts and Sciences authorized to receive them according to the letter of the deanship of the mentioned college numbered 2437 and dated
on 22 / 11 / 1951, and the handover took place on 23 / 11 / 1951.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it -
To the Deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences with reference to its letter mentioned above, and in addition
to handing over the building keys, the broken glass was counted and it appeared to be (259) panes, and the
counting was in the presence of your representative.

Archival unit 42

Number 568
Date 17 / 12 / 1951
Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce
Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Directorate of General Education
Our school building has many broken glass panes, and when we moved into it, the Jewish Community
promised to repair these glass panes as soon as possible. Despite this long period since our move
and our telephone communications with the Community, they have not carried out this repair until now. Please warn the
mentioned Community to hasten the repair of the mentioned glass or authorize us the necessary amount to do so, provided it is deducted
from the rent.
Director of the Preparatory School of Commerce
A copy of it to -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad.
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad

Archival unit 43

51 / 2191
12/17/1951
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
12/17/1951
51 /
28
A copy of it to:-
Directorate of General Education - supporting our letter No. 2148 dated 11/4/1951 sent
to the Baghdad Province Education Directorate regarding the payment of rent for schools leased by you
and supported by our letter No. 2177 / 51 dated 12/4/1951 addressed to the aforementioned directorate, requesting
kindly ordering the payment of the rent mentioned in the letters referred to above to enable spending
on the required repairs.
Baghdad Province Education Directorate - for the same purpose -
Management of the Commercial Preparatory School
After greetings
Your letter No. 568 dated 12/17/1951.
The rent schedule for your school building leased by the Directorate of General Education has not arrived
so far, and we will repair the glass as soon as we receive the allowance to be able to spend from it.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it to:-
Directorate of General Education - supporting our letter No. 2148 dated 11/4/1951 sent
to the Baghdad Province Education Directorate regarding the payment of rent for schools leased by you
and supported by our letter No. 2177 / 51 dated 12/4/1951 addressed to the aforementioned directorate, requesting
kindly ordering the payment of the rent mentioned in the letters referred to above to enable spending
on the required repairs.
Baghdad Province Education Directorate - for the same purpose -

Archival unit 44

Iraq
Ministry of Education
Accounts Department
Number /: 40002
Date: 20 / 7 / 1951
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Outgoing Number 1609
Date 21 / 7 / 51
Subject: Payment of an amount
To: Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
With reference to your letter numbered 808 and dated 7 / 7 / 51
We send you herewith the payment authorization note numbered 26668/9 and dated 20 / 7 / 1951 for an amount of one thousand dinars
for the rent of building ⟦11/2⟧ for the period from 1 / 4 / 50 until 31 / 3 / 1951 and we request you to inform us of receipt.
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Education
A copy to: - Ministry of Social Affairs - your letter numbered 698 and dated 17 / 5 / 51
(Directorate of General Social Services) with a copy of the contract.
Deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences - your letter numbered 271 and dated 1 / 5 / 51
Ministry Accounts Directorate

Archival unit 45

71
T / 9196 / 51
20 / 12 / 1951
To ⟦line⟧
The Honorable Ministry of Education
Accounts Department
After greetings
Your letter No. 40002 dated 20 / 12 / 951.
We inform you of our receipt of the payment permit note No. (Volume 36668 Sequence 4) in the amount of
900 Dinars (Nine hundred Dinars) attached within the letter referred to above, for the
rent of the building No. 115 / 137 located in the Al-Tawrat neighborhood for a period of one year starting from
15 / 12 / 1951 until 14 / 12 / 1952 after deducting (100) Dinars as property tax at a rate of
10% for one year ⟦line⟧
Please accept our highest respect ⟦line⟧
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council

Archival unit 46

Second Confirmation
⟦line⟧
T/ 51/ ⟦illegible⟧
12 / 1951 / ⟦illegible⟧
Rental fees for the Blind Institute and the National School
buildings.
⟦line⟧
To -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
Greetings,
We confirm our letter No. T/ 51/ 2148 dated 11/4/1951.
Requesting the favor of paying the rental fees for the Blind Institute and the National School buildings
as indicated in our aforementioned letter.
Please accept our highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
22

Archival unit 47

Second Confirmation
⟦line⟧
Values of Desks and Blackboards
⟦line⟧
T/: 51/2188
21 / 12 / 1951
To -
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province
After greetings
We confirm our letter No. T/ 51/2147 dated 4/11/1951 -
Requesting the favor of paying the values of the desks and blackboards shown in our letter referred to
above, the values of which amount to 795/150 Dinars.
Please accept the highest respect.
Acting Head of the Community
Head of the Spiritual Council

Archival unit 48

Iraqi Ministry of Education
Directorate of General Education
Accounts
Number /: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 12/29/1951
4225
To -
Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
We refer you to the letter of the Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce No. 568 dated 12/17/1951.
Please take the necessary action as soon as possible regarding the repair of the broken glass panes, especially since you
promised to repair them when the school moved into it. In the event that you do not do so, we will authorize the administration of
the school to carry it out, provided that the amounts that will be spent for the purpose in question are deducted from the rent allowance
and inform us.
Director General of Education
A copy of it to -
Directorate of the Preparatory School of Commerce - your letter above for information
Ministry Accounts Distinction
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Incoming Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
N / 26 / 12

Archival unit 49

25
T / 2222 / 51
2 / 12 / 1952
To -
Directorate of General Education - Baghdad
Greetings,
Your letter No. 41645 dated 26 / 12 / 1951.
We refer you to our letter No. T / 2161 / 51 dated 27 / 12 / 1951 addressed
to the administration of the Preparatory School of Commerce and a copy thereof to your esteemed General Directorate.
We will repair the broken glass panes in the Preparatory School of Commerce, requesting at the
same time that you kindly instruct the Accounts Department in your esteemed General Directorate to expedite the payment of the
rent for the aforementioned school.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A copy thereof to -
Administration of the Preparatory School of Commerce.

Archival unit 50

Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province:
Accounts:
Number /:
Date: 1 / 1 / 952
Subject /: Electrical Installations
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
To " -
Presidency of the Jewish Community
With reference to your letter No. / T / 2197 / 51 dated 21 / 12 / 951
Most of the electrical installations that you placed in the building of the Mwasat Al-Umyan School, which we rented
for the Haydariya Branch School for Girls, were stolen before it was occupied by the aforementioned school. In view of the necessity of having electrical power in the building
of the referred school to light the school when needed, we request that you send someone to replace the stolen installations from the school
as soon as possible and inform us. Note that we will pay the rent for the two school buildings mentioned above and the National School
upon receipt of the approval of the Baghdad Provincial Administration, which will be soon . .
Director of Education of Baghdad Province
A copy to " -
Administration of the Haydariya Branch School for Girls - for information
Department Accountant - for follow-up
Hassan / H