Voices from the Archive

IJA 3781

President of the Baghdadi Jewish Community: Correspondence, Invoices, Legal Matters

Description

These are documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. They include correspondence between the President of the Jewish community and Iraqi government agencies; invoices from both private companies and government utilities; an appeal from the French Sisters Convent for a hospital building fund; letters from Al-Amir Sporting – Baghdad and the Orient Trading Corp. Ltd.; notes from the Eastern Bank, Ltd., the Ottoman Bank, and the Bank of Iraq; responses to request for information on specific individuals; an index; legal issues regarding assets; records of loans and beneficiaries for 1970 and 1975. There are also birth, engagement, marriage, and death certificates; on some of the certificates, the names are listed in Hebrew. For one of the death confirmation certificates, the President of the Jewish community lists the family of the deceased.

Metadata

Archive Reference: IJA 3781
Item Number: 12392
Date: Approx. January 1, 1941 to December 31, 1950
Languages: Multiple Languages
Keywords: Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, Annotation, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Baghdad Light and Power, Bank Note, Bank of Iraq, Bank of the East, Birth Certificate, Correspondence, Court of Baghdad, Death Certificate, Eagle Crest, Electricity Bill, Engagement Certificate, Envelope, Financial, Form, Fragments, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Illustration, Ink Stamp, Invoice, Iran, Jewish Lay Council, Judeo-Arabic, Legal, Letterhead, Marriage Certificate, Ministry of Justice, Office of General Citizenship, Office of Public Security – Frozen Assets, Ottoman Bank, Personal Letterhead, President of the Jewish Community, President of the Mosaic Community, Property, Receipt, Revenue Stamp, thumbprint, Typed

AI English Translation, Pages 151-175

Archival unit 151

20/2/52
20/2/53
Loan Bonds
25721 — 25727 (7) numbers
122420
122510
122506
122447
258862 — 259112

Archival unit 152

Rabbi
Sassoon Khedhouri
Baghdad / 4 / 9 / 1967
Respected Manager of Rafidain Bank
Greetings and respect,
Enclosed are bonds from the National Loan bonds
from number 720275 to 720224. Please keep them in
your envelope and deliver the deposit receipt to Mr. Naji Hayyek.
Please accept my highest respect.
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Bond value 10 / 227 Dinars
516/850 Dinars
Bank custody fee 1/925
Purchased 100
⟦line⟧
517/875

Archival unit 153

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 1082 / 73
Date: 19 / 9 / 1973
Subject /: ⟦line⟧
Mr. Director General of Nationality, Respected
After greetings
Based on your discussion with the Secretary of the Community Presidency, we agree to lease building No.
Doors 6/15, formerly used as the Frank Iny School, located in New Alwiyah
(Hamdi Al-Pachachi Farm 33) for an annual rent of -/4400 Dinars
(Four thousand four hundred Dinars), noting that the lease does not include the school of
Menahem Salih Daniel, whose door number is 63/1/45 New Alwiyah. And
we have authorized the Community Secretary, Mr. Naji Chachak, to receive the rent or a portion of it
in advance.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community
Approval
⟦illegible⟧
⟦signature⟧

Archival unit 154

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 1082 / 73
Date: 16 / 9 / 1973
Subject /: ⟦line⟧
Mr. Director General of Nationality, Respected
After greetings
Based on your discussion with the Secretary of the Community Presidency, we agree to lease building No.
Doors 6/15, formerly used as the Frank Iny School, located in Al-Alwiya Al-Jadida
(Hamdi Al-Pachachi Farm) for an annual rent of -/4400 Dinars
(Four thousand four hundred Dinars), noting that the lease does not include the school of
Menachem Salih Daniel, whose door number is 63/9/45 Al-Alwiya Al-Jadida. And
we have authorized the Community Secretary, Mr. Naji Chachak, to receive the rent or a portion of it
in advance.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 155

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 1082 / 73
Date: 16 / 9 / 1973
Subject /:
The Honorable Director General of Nationality
Greetings,
Based on your discussions with the Secretary of the Community Presidency, we agree to lease building No.
Doors 6/15, formerly used as the Frank Iny School, located in New Alwiyah
(Hamdi Al-Pachachi Farm) for an annual rent of -/4400 Dinars
(Four thousand four hundred Dinars), noting that the lease does not include the
Menahem Salih Daniel School, whose door number is 63/9/45 New Alwiyah. We
have authorized the Community Secretary, Mr. Naji Chaschak, to receive the rent or a portion of it
in advance.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 156

11 / 7 / 1969
Expenses spent on ⟦preparing⟧ and burying the late Maryam ⟦Daoud⟧
Israel Tobia, who passed away on 10 / 27 / 1969
Dinar | Fils
5 | ..
5 | ..
2 | ..
1 | ...
⟦line⟧
13
⟦illegible⟧ only
1/6

Archival unit 157

The Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number
President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number: ⟦illegible⟧ /
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject: ⟦line⟧ /
Mr. Secretary General for Frozen Assets, Respected
- Center Properties - Confirmation of Ownership -
After greetings
Reference to your two letters numbered 23444 and 21615 and dated
on 21 and 22 / 6 / 1972.
Each of the three properties sequence 384, 386, and 388
Bab al-Agha neighborhood are endowments of the Mosaic Community, and this endowment
is registered in the Land Registry, enclosed are photocopies of the deeds for the mentioned properties.
With a photocopy of the endowment deed issued by the Personal Status Court
in Baghdad under number 44/90 Sh and dated 2 / 10 / 1944.
Please accept the highest respect.
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 158

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number
President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 815 / 72
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /: ⟦line⟧
The Respected Secretary General for Frozen Assets
- Center Properties - Confirmation of Ownership -
After greetings
Reference to your two letters numbered 23444 and 23615 and dated
on 21 and 22 / 6 / 1972.
Each of the three properties sequence 384, 386, and 388
Bab al-Agha district is an endowment of the Jewish community endowments, and this endowment
is registered in the Tabu, enclosed are photocopies of the deeds of the mentioned properties.
With a photocopy of the endowment deed issued by the Personal Status Court
in Baghdad under number 44/90Sh and dated 2 / 10 / 1944.
Please accept the highest respect
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 159

To the Respected Director General of Personal Status
Through the Director of the Ownership Office
Based on your letter numbered ⟦illegible⟧ on ⟦illegible⟧ and ⟦illegible⟧
And numbered ⟦illegible⟧ on ⟦illegible⟧
The deeds bearing numbers ⟦illegible⟧ and ⟦illegible⟧
In the name of ⟦illegible⟧ Bab al-Agha district, endowment of ⟦illegible⟧
The Mosaic community <del>under the guardianship of ⟦illegible⟧</del>
And this endowment is registered in the name of ⟦illegible⟧ Tapu ⟦illegible⟧
From the mentioned records with a certified copy
Of the endowment deed issued by the Personal Status Court in Baghdad
Under number ⟦illegible⟧ and date ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ This, and please accept our regards
Director of Endowments

Archival unit 160

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Please refer to the number and date of this letter
and the secretariat department from which it was issued when replying
Secretariat: Center Properties
Department: Ownership Verification
Number: /
Date: / / 197
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Special Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad
Subject / Property 388 Doors 4/15 / 7 Bab Al-Agha
Please provide us with the information available to you regarding the above property and state
whether your community has a relationship with the endowments of the Elisha Naqqar prizes. Hoping for a prompt
response
On behalf of / The Secretary-General
A copy of it to /
Ownership Verification / Property Notification 79 / for follow-up
Salah 6/21
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 161

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Please refer to the number and date of this letter
and the secretariat department from which it was issued when replying
Number /:
Date: / / 197
Secretariat: Center Properties
Department: Title Confirmation
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Special Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Endowments of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad
Subject/ Real Estate Sequence 384 Doors 7/4/11
Bab Al-Agha
⟦line⟧
Please provide us with the information available to you regarding the above property
and whether the endowments of Jara'iz Elisha Naqqar are under your management or not
and the extent of your relationship with the above endowments, hoping that this will be done urgently.
On behalf of/ The Secretary-General
A copy of it to /
Property Confirmation Committee / Please conduct a site inspection
on the above property and state the occupying party and the party
utilizing it, hoping for your report to arrive urgently.
Center Properties / Title Confirmation / with file 78 and attachments /
for follow-up.
Title Confirmation Observer.
Abdul Aziz 19
1/5

Archival unit 162

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Number /: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 1 / 1 / 197
Secretariat: Center Properties
Division: Ownership Verification
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Special Number 1496
Date 9 / 8 / 1972
To :-
Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad
Subject / Property 388 Abwab 15 / 4 / 7 Bab Al-Agha
We confirm our letter 23615 F ⟦line⟧ on 22 / 6 / 1972
Please provide us with the information available to you regarding the above property and state if
your community has a relationship with the endowments of the Elisha Naqqar awards, hoping for a prompt response.
On behalf of the Secretary-General
A copy of it to :-
Center Properties - Ownership Verification / with attachments file 7
Ghannam 6 / 8

Archival unit 163

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Number /: 210
Date: 8 / 6 / 197
Secretariat: Center Properties
Division: Title Settlement
To :-
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Special Number 1295
Date 9 / 8 / 972
Presidency of the Jewish Community Endowments in Baghdad
Subject/ Property Sequence 384 Abwab ⟦1/4⟧
Bab Al-Agha
⟦line⟧
We reiterate our letter 23444 on 21 / 6 / 1972
Please provide us with the information available to you regarding the above property
And whether the Elisha Naqqar Prize Endowments are under your management or not
And the extent of your relationship with the above endowments, hoping that this will be done as quickly as possible
Please.
On behalf of / The Secretary General
A copy of it to /-
Center Properties / Title Settlement / with attachments
File 78
General Papers / for filing.
Abdul Aziz 6 / 8
75

Archival unit 164

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number
President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 814 / 72
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /:
74
Mr. Secretary General for Frozen Assets, Respected
- Rights -
After greetings
Reference to your letter numbered 30968 and dated 4/8/1972.
Edward and Victoria, children of Shmeil Yaqub Sh⟦line⟧ashua, are
members of our community.
Please accept our highest respect.
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 165

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 814 / 72
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /: ⟦line⟧
The Honorable Secretary General of Frozen Assets
- Rights -
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
⟦illegible⟧
After greetings
Reference to your letter numbered 30968 and dated 4/8/1972.
Edouard and Victoria, children of Shamil Yaqub Shamshua, are
members of our community.
Please accept our highest respect.
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community
⟦illegible faded text in background⟧

Archival unit 166

74
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Number: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 14 / 8 / 1972
Secretariat: Rights
Division: Rights
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
To: ⟦line⟧
Special Number 1210
Date 15 / 8 / 1972
To: Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad
Subject / Religion of two persons
We confirm our letter No. 16988 dated 2 / 5 / 972
And we request you to provide us with the information available to you regarding the religion of the two persons
Edward and Victoria, children of Shamil Yaqoub Sha'shou', hoping for a response as quickly
as possible.
On behalf of / The Secretary General
A copy to /
Directorate of General Nationality / IDs / your letter No. 269 T
11776 on 3 / 7 / 972.
Secretariat of Center Properties / Title Settlement / following our letter No.
28249 on 24 / 8 / 72, please await the answer
Secretariat of Rights 6 / Q 3 for follow-up
General Papers / for filing.
Abdul Aziz 12 / 8
Edward and Victoria, your children, are Jewish according to
the records of our community members
⟦signature⟧
15 October

Archival unit 167

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
President 83531
Telephone Number {
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 812 / 72
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /:
72
The Honorable Secretary General of Frozen Assets
- Rights -
After greetings
Reference to your letter numbered 30661 and dated 14 / 8 / 1972.
Sion Haron Kharmoush is from the people of Basra and if any
legal distribution of estate was issued for him, it was issued by the Personal Status Court in Basra
and we do not have any information about him or about Rosa Moshi Isaac Kurji and their heirs.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 168

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 812 / 72
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /: ⟦line⟧
The Honorable Secretary General of Frozen Assets
- Legal Affairs -
Greetings,
Reference to your letter numbered 30661 and dated 14/8/1972.
Sion Haron Kharmoush is from the people of Basra, and if any
inheritance distribution was issued for him, it was issued by the Personal Status Court in Basra.
We do not have any information about him or about Rosa Moshi Isaac Kurji and her heirs.
Please accept our highest respect.
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 169

To the Honorable General Custodian of Seized Funds
Greetings,
Hassoun Haroun Khadouri is a resident of Rusafa and
⟦illegible⟧ <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> any judgment for him was issued by the Personal Status
Courts in Basra. We do not have any information about
him, and upon receipt of any information, we will provide it to you immediately ⟦illegible⟧
The Commissioner
⟦line⟧

Archival unit 170

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Number /:
Date:
Rights Secretariat: ⟦line⟧
Rights Division: ⟦line⟧
To: - Presidency of the Jewish Community / Baghdad
Subject / Inheritance Distributions
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Please provide us with the information available to you regarding the heirs of Sion Haroun
Kharmoush and Roza Moussa Ishaq Karji and their specific inheritance distributions and the distribution numbers
and the court that issued them, and we hope to receive your answer as quickly as possible.
On behalf of / The Secretary General
A copy of it to /-
Secretariat of Provincial Properties / Confirmation of Ownership / Your letter numbered 30104 on
8/7/1972, please wait for the community's response
Secretariat of Frozen Assets in Basra / To investigate the required two inheritance distributions
in the property file and inform us please
Rights Secretariat / For follow-up
General Papers
Saadoun / 12 / 8
72

Archival unit 171

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
for Frozen Assets
Number /
Date / / 197
74
Secretariat ⟦line⟧
Division ⟦line⟧
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Special Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Secretariat of Companies
Subject / Department
Further to our letter No. 30404 on 8/9/1972
The Directorate of General Nationality/Identities informed us in its letter No. T/12/8/
972 on 8/16/1972 that it has no information regarding the legal inheritance division
belonging to the deceased Serene Youssef Shamshua, and likewise for the Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in its letter No. T 812/72 dated 8/16/1972 regarding the non-existence of
the legal inheritance division with them ⟦...⟧ .
On behalf of the Secretary-General
A copy to /
Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad / their letter above, please
Secretariat of Rights / 3 / 1
General Papers
Archive
Salah 8/4

Archival unit 172

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T / 812 / 72
Date 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject / ⟦line⟧
V
Mr. Secretary General for Frozen Assets, Respected
- Legal Affairs -
After greetings
Reference to your letter numbered 30404 and dated 9 / 8 / 1972
We do not have information regarding the Sharia distribution of estate for the deceased
Serah Yusuf Shamshua .
Please accept our highest respect .
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 173

Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: 74 / 814
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /:
The Honorable Secretary General of Frozen Assets
- Legal -
After greetings
Reference to your letter numbered 30404 and dated 9/8/1972
We do not have information regarding the Sharia distribution of estate for the deceased
Serah Yusuf Shamshua .
Please accept our highest respect .
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community

Archival unit 174

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
General Secretariat
For Frozen Assets
Number /:
Date /: ⟦line⟧ / 8 / 197
Secretariat: Rights
Division: Rights
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Number 1200
Date 7 / 8 / 1972
Presidency of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad
Subject / Legal Distribution of Estate
Please provide us with the legal distribution of the estate belonging to the deceased Seih Yusuf
Shashua, stating its number, the court that issued it, and the names of his heirs. We hope to receive
your reply as soon as possible.
On behalf of / The Secretary General
Copy to /
Secretariat of Companies / Your letter No. 29463 on 3 / 8 / 1972, awaiting
the community's reply, please.
= Rights / (3 / 1)
General Papers
Salah 8 / 8
Please provide us with information about the late Seih Yusuf Shashua
Head of the Mosaic Community

Archival unit 175

Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number
President 83531
Secretary 80452
Number T/: ⟦line⟧ / ⟦line⟧
Date: 16 / 8 / 1972
Subject /: ⟦line⟧
The Honorable Secretary General for Frozen Assets
- Legal Affairs -
After greetings
Reference to your letter numbered 29775 and dated 5/8/1972.
We do not have information regarding the legal inheritance divisions for the deceased
whose names are listed in your above-mentioned letter.
Please accept our highest respect.
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Community