Sale of Shamash School Building; Correspondence from Government; List of Synagogues in Iraq
View interactive document pageThese 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.
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T/ 56/7647
Subject: ⟦line⟧
Date: 9 / 1 / 1956
270
Directorate of Education of Hilla Province ⟦line⟧
After greetings
With reference to your letter numbered 147/9 and dated 5/1/56, we return the contract after
affixing a 150 fils stamp and canceling it.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Acting President of the Community
Drafted
Directorate of Education of Hilla District Greetings, With reference to your letter No. 147 / 9 dated 5 / 7 / 65, we are sending to you accompanied by ⟦its owner⟧ 15 document files. Please accept our highest respect. Abi Hatem
Directorate of Education of Hilla Province Accounting Number /: ⟦illegible⟧ Date /: 1 / 1 / 1956 Very Urgent ⟦line⟧ To / Presidency of the Jewish Community We send you herewith the second copy of the contract for the Al-Fayha School for Girls building 53 - 954 Requesting that you affix stamps worth 150 / fils and sign them by you, provided that the total stamps affixed is 250 / fils, noting that the Ministry is organized with the amount, but the Treasury stopped payment due to not affixing the full stamps on this copy which is attached to the memorandum, and return it as quickly as possible. Ibrahim Habib Al-Mufti Director of Education of Hilla Province Presidency of the Jewish Community Department Accountant ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ A copy of it to / Department Accountant Saleh / 4 / 1
Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad ⟦line⟧ Fils: 750 Dinar: I received from the accountant of the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad the above-mentioned amount And that is for ⟦line⟧ Only ⟦line⟧ Date: ⟦line⟧ Signature of the recipient: ⟦illegible handwriting in blue ink⟧
⟦illegible⟧ After greetings Reference to your letter numbered 9/1602 and dated 12/4/53 We have disbursed to the mentioned center the amount of ⟦illegible⟧ Dinars ⟦illegible⟧ Payment order numbered 9/50664 and dated 22/8/53 Delivered to the secretary of the community and its amount is ⟦illegible⟧ Dinars Therefore, we send enclosed herewith the payment order numbered ⟦illegible⟧ 9/5122 and dated 21/1/53 ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ from ⟦illegible⟧ the center, and that is for the building rent of Al-Fayhaa Center for the period from 6/6/53 to 5/9/53 Please accept our highest respect ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> The President
Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number :: M / 56 / 244 Date :: 12 / 2 / 1956 Subject Summary: Receipt of payment authorization note ⟦line⟧ 272 To ⟦line⟧ Directorate of Education of Hilla Province ⟦line⟧ Greetings, With reference to your letter numbered 1603/9 dated 12 / 2 / 956 ⟦uncertain⟧ We confirm our receipt of the payment authorization note numbered 5066/4 dated 31 / 1 / 956 from Mr. Naji Jajak, Secretary of the Community Presidency, and the collection of an amount of 270/- Dinars from the Central Treasury, and that is for the rent of the Al-Fayha School building for the period from 6 / 10 / 54 until 5 / 2 / 956. Please accept our highest respect. Chairman of the Administrative Committee
Directorate of Education of Hilla Province Accounting Number /: ⟦illegible⟧ Date /: 8 / 2 / 956 To / Presidency of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Mr. Naji Jaji has received your memorandum, payment permit number 4 / 50664 dated 31 / 1 / 56 in the amount of (300) Dinars, including property tax, for the rent of the Al-Fayha School for Girls building, which is owned by the community for the period from 6 / 10 / 954 to 5 / 2 / 956. We request your confirmation of receipt. Ibrahim Hassib Al-Mufti Director of Education of Hilla Province Presidency of the Jewish Community Incoming ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ A copy of it to / Central Treasury Directorate - Please disburse the mentioned amount as local transfers to the account of Babylon Province Treasury Department Accountant. I received the amount of 300 Dinars only ⟦illegible⟧ Salah / 9 / 2
Directorate of Education of Hilla Province Accounting Number / ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ Date / ⟦illegible⟧ / 12 / 955 To / <del>Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad</del> We are sending you herewith five copies of the lease contract for Al-Fayha School for Girls, which belongs to your community, requesting the signing of the contract after affixing revenue stamps on the first copy valued at 500 / fils, as well as on the second 500 / fils, and the rest are to be signed without stamps and sent to us so that we can pay the rent for the years 54 - 55 and 55 - 56 As for the rent for the year 53 - 54, the contract for which was paid by you and sent to us enclosed with your letter No. 3506 dated 24 / 10 / 955, we will send its memorandum to you when the Provincial Governor's office responds to the correspondence regarding that. Presidency of the Jewish Community Incoming Number 4944 Date ⟦illegible⟧ Ibrahim Hassib Al-Mufti Director of Education of Hilla Province Copy to / Department Accountant 274 Saleh / 1 of it
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Number: T/56 Date: 5/11/1956 Telephone Number: 3531 / 5452 Subject: Heskel Tahim Daniel Private Vocational School His Excellency the Director of Education for Baghdad Province (Center), Respected After greetings, With reference to your letter numbered 27296 and dated 20/10/1956 regarding the Heskel Tahim Daniel Vocational School ⟦line⟧ 1 - The Heskel Tahim Daniel School had its doors open for a period to female students wishing to learn the art of sewing, including cutting, embroidery, and what pertains to this profession. It has recently occurred that the number of female students wishing to learn this profession has decreased to a degree that does not justify the expenditure on a full school for the sake of a small number of female students. 2 - But at the same time, this Presidency was and still is keen on the continuation of this school as a vocational school to ensure the benefit of needy students. The Presidency of the Community was thinking throughout this period about the most suitable professions whose teaching would be appropriate in this school at the present time, taking into consideration the possibility of absorbing male and female students to join the aforementioned school. Accordingly, we saw fit at the time to postpone writing to your respected directorate regarding the subject until a specific curriculum crystallized, according to which the school would proceed. 3 - And now, since a number of male and female students have applied requesting to join a commercial branch in addition to the sewing profession, we have decided to add the commercial preparatory curriculum to the sewing curriculum in this school after the approval of the venerable Ministry of Education for that. 4 - Accordingly, we request you to approach the Directorate of General Education for approval to change the name of the school to (Heskel Tahim Daniel Private Vocational High School), noting that this Presidency is preparing the staff and budget for this school for the current academic year 1956-1957, provided that its students attend in the Frank Iny School building under the management of Mr. Abdullah Oweidia until it becomes possible for us to allocate a special building for it in the future. Please accept our highest respect. Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Acting President of the Community A copy of it to: - Director of Frank Iny School, Mr. Abdullah Oweidia - for information
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Number - Date - ⟦illegible⟧ Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center Subject / Heskel Menachem Daniel Private Vocational School. Greetings. Reference to your letter No. 27296 dated 20 / 10 / 1956 regarding the Heskel Menachem Daniel Vocational School. 1- The Heskel Menachem Daniel School was for a period open to female students wishing to learn the art of sewing, including cutting, embroidery, and what pertains to this profession. It happened about a year ago that the number of female students wishing to learn this profession decreased to a degree that does not justify the expenditure on a full school for a small number of students. 2- But at the same time, this Presidency was and still is keen on the continuation of this school as a vocational school to fulfill the condition of the endower. The Presidency of the Community was thinking throughout this period about the most suitable professions whose teaching would be appropriate in this school at the present time, taking into consideration the possibility of attracting the largest number of male and female students to join the aforementioned school. Accordingly, we saw fit at the time to postpone writing to your respected directorate on the subject until a specific curriculum crystallized according to which the school would proceed. 3- And now, since a significant number of male and female students have applied requesting to join a commercial branch in addition to the sewing profession, we have decided to add the commercial preparatory curriculum to the sewing curriculum in this school after the approval of the esteemed Ministry of Education for that. 4- Therefore, we hope to approach the Directorate of General Education for approval to change the name of the school to (Heskel Menachem Daniel Private Vocational High School), noting that this Presidency is preparing the staff and budget for this school for the current academic year 1956 / 1957, provided that its students attend in the Frank Iny School building under the management of Mr. Abdullah Owaidya until it is possible for us to allocate a private building for it in the future. Please accept our highest respect. Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri Acting President of the Community Copy to: - Director of Frank Iny School, Mr. Abdullah Owaidya - for information
Extremely Urgent Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province Center: Private and Foreign Education Number /: 27296 Date /: 20 / 10 / 1956 Subject / Regarding the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School Private Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad With reference to your letter numbered T/3757 and dated 8 / 10 / 1956 Your aforementioned letter did not include the data we requested from you in our letter numbered 24119 and dated 26 / 9 / 956 regarding the reasons for the interruption of correspondence from the administration of the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School with this Directorate for approximately more than a year. Therefore, it is not possible to present your request to the General Directorate of Education before providing us with the clarifications requested in our aforementioned letter. Please take the necessary action and inform us. ⟦signature⟧ And Director of Education of Baghdad Province The Center Copy to / General Directorate of Education / Secondary / Private / Private Education Personnel / For follow-up Administration of Frank Iny Private School / For information Presented to His Excellency the President ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 27 / 10 Presidency of the Jewish Community Number: Date: Mahdi / M / 18
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Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center Private and Foreign Education Number / 24119 Date 26 / 9 / 1956 Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Subject / Regarding the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School For a period of one year until now, we have not received any correspondence from the administration of the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School belonging to the Presidency of the Jewish Lay Council, which indicates to us that the mentioned school is not continuing its studies, and therefore we hope to be informed whether this school has indeed closed, and otherwise we request a statement of the reasons for that so that we can take the necessary action. For the Director of Education of Baghdad Province The Center Copy to :- General Directorate of Education / Secondary Education - Private. General Inspectorate of Education. Private Education Personnel Department / for follow-up. 278 Kadhim / 25
Dear Mr. Naji Greetings and respect, I did not find in the attached reply letter any note you made. So please, after sending the letter, send me a copy of it, and in the letter of the Directorate of Education, with your notes on it, considering it a true copy. ⟦illegible⟧ and it is assumed that Mr. Abdullah Oweida has approved the draft. Best regards, 9/10/1956 Dear Mr. Naji Also write the original of the two attached letters in one, to show them on two pages, secondly, as a true copy and send them to me. Sincerely, Lawyer Sahyoun Hay ⟦signature⟧ from it Print 2 copies of each of the two letters attached herewith The first copy of them on official paper for applications
Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province / Center Private and Foreign Education Number /: 24119 Date /: 9 / 9 / 956 Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Subject / Regarding the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School ⟦line⟧ Urgent 26 For a period of one year until now, we have not received any correspondence from the administration of the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School belonging to the Presidency of the Jewish Lay Council, which indicates to us that the aforementioned school is not continuing its teaching. Therefore, please inform us if this school has actually closed, and if not, please state the reasons for that so that we may take the necessary action. ⟦signature⟧ Director of Education of Baghdad Province Center Copy to :- General Directorate of Education / Secondary Education - Private. General Education Inspectorate. Private Education Personnel / for follow-up Presidency of the Jewish Community Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ Kazem / 25 His Excellency the President The Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School remains, even if it has been closed for five years ⟦illegible⟧ Director of Education ⟦illegible⟧ Extremely Urgent Mr. Khairallah, our editor To examine the file and inform us of what is necessary and our response ⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Number: T / 56 Date: 8 / 10 / 1956 Telephone Number: 3531 / 5452 Subject: Regarding the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School. His Excellency the Director of Education for Baghdad Province - Center Greetings, With reference to your letter numbered 24119 and dated 26 / 9 / 1956; Due to the desire of many male and female students who passed the third intermediate grade to complete their preparatory studies in the commercial branch, this Presidency has decided to make the Heskel Menahem Daniel School a preparatory school for commerce and the profession of tailoring, and to change its name to (Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational Preparatory School). Please approve this change, noting that this Presidency is concerned with preparing the staff and budget for this school for the current academic year 1956 / 1957, provided that its students attend classes in the Frank Iny School building under the management of Mr. Abdullah Ovadia until we are able to allocate a special building for it in the future. Please accept our highest respect. Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Acting President of the Community A copy to: Director of the Frank Iny School, Mr. Abdullah Ovadia - for information ⟦illegible⟧ 10 / 10
His Excellency the Director General of the ⟦Municipality⟧ of Baghdad - Center Subject: Regarding the Khedouri Sayem Daniel Private Vocational School Dear Sir, With reference to your letter No. 28119 dated 9/22/56 regarding the desire of a large number of male and female students who passed the third intermediate grade to complete their preparatory studies in the commercial branch - the Presidency Board has decided to open the Fadl Sayem Daniel Preparatory School for Commerce and Tailoring and change its name to (Khedouri Sayem Daniel Private Vocational Preparatory School). Please approve this change. Note that the Presidency Board is interested in preparing the staff, the curriculum, and the school furniture for the current academic year 1956/1957, provided that its students attend classes in the Frank Iny school building under the management of Mr. Issa Oweidia until we are able to allocate a private building for it in the future. Please accept our highest respect. Any Hakam Fadl School
Directorate of Education of Baghdad District / Center Greetings. Reference to your letter No. 24119 dated 26/9/1956 regarding the Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational School. Since the demand for the sewing profession, for which this school used to prepare its students in the past, was ⟦little⟧, and in view of the desire of a large number of students (male and female) who passed the third intermediate grade to complete their preparatory studies in the ⟦sewing⟧ commercial branch. The leadership of this community has decided to make this school a preparatory school for commerce ⟦and others⟧ and change its name to (Heskel Menahem Daniel Private Vocational Preparatory School). Please approve this change ⟦in the naming⟧. Note that the community leadership is interested in preparing the staff and the budget for this school for the current academic year 1956-1957, provided that its students attend in the building of Frank Iny School under the management of Mr. Abdullah Ovadia until we are able to allocate a building specifically for it in the future. Please accept our highest respect. Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Signature Acting Head of the Community Sewing 1956 - 1957
The Iraqi Government Ministry of Social Affairs Directorate General of Social Services Section / Refugees Number Kh/: 260 Date: 10 / 1 / 1956 Subject: ⟦line⟧ Presidency of the Israelite Community Number 2974 Date 22 / 1 / 56 To - Presidency of the Israelite Community In view of the approaching expiration of the lease for the Laura Kadoorie School building, and in view of our desire to renew the contract for another year, please inform us of your approval of this as soon as possible. Dr. A. Al-Rizali Director General of Social Services A copy to - Refugee Accountant. Sami / 12 Ahmed Al-Sarraj 12 / 1 Attachment
Iraqi Government Ministry of Health Accounts Department Number 6629 Date 8 / 2 / 1956 To the Directorate of Karkh Hospital Subject: Leasing of Hospital Buildings Further to our letter No. 2127 dated 21 / 1 / 956 and with reference to the approval of the Ministry of Finance in its letter No. 1055 dated 1 / 2 / 1956. We approve the renewal of the lease for your hospital buildings for another year for the period from 25 / 10 / 955 until 24 / 10 / 956 at the previous annual rent of (7000/-) seven thousand dinars, provided the necessary credit is available for that, and that the Jewish Community (owner of the buildings) pays an amount of (600/-) six hundred dinars for the cost of replacing the electrical transformer and an amount of (350/-) three hundred and fifty dinars for the required repairs to the buildings, and that it be stipulated in the lease contract to recover what the community owes from the rent in the event that the expropriation transaction is finalized before the end of the lease period. Please conclude the contract and submit it, noting the deduction of secondary income tax from the original rent upon payment. ⟦handwritten signature⟧ Minister of Health A copy to: Central Treasury Directorate Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad ⟦handwritten signature⟧ 2 / 8 Presidency of the Jewish Community Incoming Number 2927 Date 9 / 2 / 1956 Hassan
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone No. 3531 5452 Number: T/ ⟦illegible⟧ / 57 Date: 26 / 1 / 1957 Subject: 284 His Excellency the Director of Education of Baghdad Province (Center) Respected After greetings With reference to your letter No. 324 dated 5 / 1 / 57, please note our letter No. T / 3644 / 56 dated 11 / 1 / 57, by which we had opened correspondence on the subject, but no reply has been received from your respected directorate. We would also like on this occasion to point out to your Excellency that the annual rent for this school is 180 Dinars only, and that this amount is not sufficient for its maintenance, as an amount of 200 Dinars was spent a while ago for its renovation. Please refer to your letter No. 28598 dated 30 / 10 / 54 on the subject. Accordingly, please establish a new basis for carrying out repairs and maintenance of the schools leased by this Presidency. Also, please take into consideration your request regarding the renovation of Al-Nabaha School for Girls according to your letter No. 784 dated 9 / 1 / 57, as well as the Bani Al-Said Directorate to be included in this basis. Please accept our highest respect Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Acting President of the Community Copy to:- Presidency of the General Provincial Council for kind information
Excellency To the Honorable Director of Education for Baghdad District (Center) Baghdad Greetings, With reference to your letter No. 742 dated 1/5/1957 regarding our letter No. 1224 dated 11/7/56, according to which we had inquired about the ⟦health⟧ condition of the school, a response has not yet arrived from your esteemed directorate. We also wish to inform you that the school has ⟦moved⟧ from its old building located in its house No. 78 on Al-Rashid Street, ⟦Sayyid Sultan⟧ ⟦Ali⟧ neighborhood, to its new building located in ⟦Al-Bataween⟧ neighborhood on a plot of land belonging to the Jewish Schools Association in Iraq No. ⟦19/11⟧ dated 10/20/54, located behind the building of ⟦Frank Iny⟧ Primary School for Girls in Al-Bataween neighborhood by ⟦the contractor⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ the buildings and corner lighting issues by the department, and this has It is hoped that this project will be completed, and please furnish the building ⟦...⟧ a report from the engineer is due on ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ 782 dated 1/4/57 and also has ⟦...⟧ to include this lesson, and please accept our highest respect General Guardian Copy to the Presidency of the High Council of Ministers for kind information.
224 Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province | Number / Center / Primary Accounts | Date / 5 / 1 / 1957 Presidency of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community Upon conducting an inspection of the building of the Al-Haydariyah Branch School ⟦for⟧ Girls located in the Taht al-Takiya neighborhood by the local administration engineer, it was found that the right side of the building is dangerous and its construction is old and cannot be restored except by removing this side and ⟦rebuilding⟧ it. To avoid the occurrence of undesirable consequences and the necessity of maintaining and restoring the building, please take the necessary action as quickly as possible and work on rebuilding the right side of the building due to its danger, within one week from the date of your receipt of this letter of ours. We hope to complete the work as quickly as possible, otherwise we will be forced to carry it out ourselves and deduct the necessary expenses from the rent and inform us. ⟦...⟧ Jewish Number ⟦...⟧ Date ⟦...⟧ Director of Education of Baghdad Province The Center A copy of it to / Presidency of the General Provincial Council / Baghdad Provincial Governorate / Your letter numbered ⟦...⟧ 16954 and dated 26 / 12 / 956 for your kind information Administration of Al-Haydariyah Branch School for Girls / For information and to inform us of the result Primary Accountant / For follow-up Urgent High ⟦...⟧ To conduct the inspection ⟦...⟧ Mahdi / 4 / 2
Date 1/9/1957 His Excellency, the Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Israelite Community, Respected Subject: Al-Jadida School for Girls (formerly Laura Kadoorie Institute for Boys) Based on the instructions of the Secretary, Mr. Naji, I inspected the aforementioned school and found the following: | Fils | Dinar 1- A cracked wall needs quick treatment. This wall was shared with the neighbor's house, so the community must bear half of the expenses. The cost of construction after demolition and repairing the plaster is: | ... | 50 2- There is a wall belonging to the administration room that the local administration built last year after receiving fifty dinars from the community. This wall is not only cracked, but it also has large cracks that would be better treated by burying iron beams in the necessary places. The cost is: | ... | 25 3- A necessary wainscot in the store room costs: | ... | 20 4- The principal suggested building a partition (wall) to divide one room into two rooms. This process is not necessary for the safety of the building, but the principal suggested it and the cost is: | ... | 40 5- Possible renovations in the courtyard and rooms not necessary for the building safety: | ... | 15 | ... | 150 Only one hundred and fifty dinars and nothing else. This is for your order ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number | 3531 President | 5452 Secretary Number: T / 7657 / 56 Subject: ⟦line⟧ Date: 5 / 2 / 1956 ⟦illegible⟧ His Excellency the Director of Education for Baghdad Province, Respected - Center - After greetings With reference to your letter numbered 2861 and dated 29 / 1 / 956, please note our letter numbered T / 3644 / 56 and dated 11 / 1 / 956, from which it appears that this school is among the schools listed in our letter referred to above. Please accept our highest respect Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Acting President of the Community