President of the Baghdadi Jewish Community, Personal and Communal Documents
View interactive document pageThese documents contain correspondence, mostly on a personal level, of the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad. Included are requests for a telephone to be installed in a school, teacher labor issues, student transfers, receipts and invoices, thank you notes and condolences to members of the Jewish Diaspora in Europe, America, and the Middle East. The documents include an excerpt from the 1945 edition of the Biographical Encyclopedia of the World, featuring the president of the Jewish community of Baghdad, Sassoon Khedouri; a license to import one Chevrolet car from the U.S.; a wedding invitation; and several business cards of foreign dignitaries.
Iraqi Red Crescent Society General Headquarters Baghdad Number - 608 Date 5 / 12 / 945 Telephone - 3847 To the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri The General Assembly of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society will meet at five o'clock in the evening on Friday, 14 / 12 / 945, in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of the Basic Law. Please attend at the appointed time at the General Headquarters. Respectfully yours. ⟦illegible⟧ President of the Administrative Board
Rabbinate of Egypt Office of the Chief Rabbi The Honorable and Distinguished Khedouri Sassoon President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Greetings and respect. We are honored to introduce to you Mr. Simon Mani, former President of the B'nai B'rith Lodge and one of the well-known men of our community who loves charitable work, and we hope that you will assist him in the requested service from you if that is possible. Please accept our highest respect; Cairo, October 18, 1945 The Chief Rabbi ⟦illegible⟧
8528 10 December 945 To the Honorable Secretary of the Office of the Chief Rabbi Rabbinate of Egypt Cairo After greetings and respect, I am pleased to inform you that the letter dated 18 October 945 and signed by His Eminence the Chief Rabbi of the honorable Israelite community in Egypt has arrived to His Eminence the President of the community here, and His Eminence was kind enough to provide all necessary assistance to the recommended person, Mr. Simon Mani. It has come to my attention that the aforementioned letter was addressed to (The Honorable Notable Khedouri Sassoon, President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad). It appears that the name of the President of the community has not reached you correctly, as the President of our community is His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, who has held this exalted position for more than thirteen years, so I wished for you to be aware of that. I hope to ⟦be⟧ sincere. Please accept the highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ The Secretary
His Eminence the Director of the Midrash Schools, respected After greetings and respect I request that you provide possible assistance to the bearer of my letter, named Nadim Hillel to accept his son into the Midrash for free. I thank you in advance and may you remain. Sincerely ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦1722⟧ On behalf of the Head of the Community Baghdad 22 / 11 / 945
January 28, 1946 To the Honorable President of the Girls' Charitable Sewing Association Baghdad After greetings, I visited your school on Sunday morning and my joy was great at what I witnessed in your school regarding the good organization, the level of study, and cleanliness. The work of the students in embroidery, silk work, sewing, knitting, and their good character and pleasant speech was a cause for my admiration and full praise directed to the students, the teachers, the principal, and the members of the association, especially its president, the honorable Mr. Israel Nassim Hay. At the same time, I seize this opportunity to congratulate you and the members of your respected association for your continuous vigilance over this charitable institution which exerts every effort to rescue poor girls from the clutches of misery and ignorance. I look forward with confidence to a prosperous future for your charitable institution. Please accept my highest respect. S Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 2/28 Baghdad ⟦line⟧ His Excellency the Chairman of the Israeli Charitable Hospitals Committee, Respected In Meir Elias Hospital Baghdad After greetings and respect I request to be considered a subscriber in your respected committee with a monthly fee of ⟦line⟧ fils I pay it once every year. May you remain successful in serving charitable projects? Six months Sincerely ⟦illegible⟧
139 ⟦1⟧ April 86 His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, the Respected Baghdad Greetings and respect, On the occasion of your election as President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, I am pleased to offer Your Excellency my warmest congratulations, wishing you success and prosperity in occupying your new position in service to the community in particular and to the country in general. I am certain that your high competence will overcome difficulties and reconcile the members of the community, making them one strong, solidary bloc ruled by harmony, inspired by your wise guidance to reach the intended goal of serving the public good, wishing you continued health, happiness, and prosperity. As I extend these congratulations to Your Excellency, I offer my apologies for the delay in sending them, and that is due to my illness which kept me in bed for a long time, and I was unable to attend to congratulate you personally. So I ask for your excuse, and I ask God to grant you success in your work for what is good and of public benefit, and to grant everyone success for the good of the country and its interests under the shadow of His Majesty our Great King. May you remain protected by the care of God. Sincerely, Constantine Orfali
GIRL'S SEWING CHARITABLE SOCIETY BAGHDAD ESTABLISHED 1929 Girl's Sewing Charitable Society Baghdad Established in the year 1929 Location: Under the Takiyah 101/133 Telephone Number 3146 Presidency of the Israelite Community Incoming Number 154 Date 4 / 2 / 1946 Number: Date: 1 / 2 / 1946 In the society there are about 400 female students Among them are 75 orphans and all of them are from the poor class No tuition fees are collected from the students rather, they are provided with cash gratuities and clothing on some occasions ⟦The students receive⟧ lessons in:- 1 - Sewing and embroidery 2 - Technical cutting 3 - Reading, writing, and arithmetic 4 - General knowledge 5 - Upbringing and refinement 6 - Health and hygiene His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, President of the Respected Israelite Community After greetings and respect I received your letter numbered 8606 and dated 28 / 1 / 946 and your precious words had a beautiful impact on all our souls. Also, your visit to our institution and inspection of its conditions had a great echo in our hearts and the hearts of its students. I hope to present to your Eminence some words that the students of our society wrote in celebration of your honor and the deep impact that affected their souls during your kind visit. I am sending them as they are, requesting their return after reading them to be kept in its records. Furthermore, I hope to offer your Eminence my sincere greetings and thanks along with the administrative body for the kindness and encouragement we always receive from your Eminence to continue serving the poor class. May God grant you success and preserve you as a treasure for the service of the public good Please accept the highest respect ⟦signature⟧ Honorary President The society sews women's clothing, dresses, and embroidery, and has a special branch for sewing men's suits, and it is also ready to accept contracts for various types of sewing
Association for the Relief of the Poor Number 289 Date 5/2/946 To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Due to the lack of a quorum for the meeting of the Administrative Board of the Association for the Relief of the Poor on Thursday, 31/12/945 it has been decided to hold the meeting on Wednesday, 6/2/946 in the office of the Director General of Agriculture at ten o'clock in the morning, requesting - your kind attendance. The Authorized Representative.
17 February 946 The Honorable Professor Meir Zakaria, Respectfully Director of the National Preparatory School - Baghdad After greetings, I request your assistance for the bearer of this letter, named Moshe Isaac, a student in the fifth preparatory class in your school, and to provide possible facilities regarding the school fees, in view of his poverty. Please accept my highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ 2/17 16 Head of the Community
Number: Inland Telegram "A": Outgoing Inland Telegram: Telegram Type: Time: Issuing Department: Date: Sent to: Hour: Minute: Signature of Sending Clerk: Word Count: Fee: Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration Nothing to be written by sender above this line. Nothing to be written by sender above this line. To.: His Excellency Sheikh Abd al-Salam Pasha A'yan Basra: The sender of the telegram must observe the third paragraph written on the back of this form Your loss in the passing of your late father, the highly esteemed, I offer my sincere condolences praying to the Creator to cover the dear deceased with His mercy and pleasure. Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Head of the Jewish Community Name.: Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Signature: Sassoon Address: Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Not to be telegraphed Written on the back of this form The telegram is sent according to the conditions This telegram is sent according to conditions on reverse.
Summary of conditions under which inland telegrams are accepted 1 - This telegram is sent in accordance with the inland telegraph regulations published in the Iraqi Post and Telegraph Guide. 2 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration shall not be responsible for delay, error, loss, or damage that may occur to the telegram from non-transmission, non-delivery, negligence, or distribution. 3 - The sender of the telegram must write in the space provided on the left side of the address on the face of the form the indication under which they wish to send the telegram, such as urgent, or that the cost of its reply is paid in advance - but if the telegram is for the interest of the Iraqi government, the word (Official) is written. 4 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration has the right to refuse to register the telegram, and it also has the right not to send it even if it has been registered for delivery or distribution - and in this case, its fee is returned to the sender upon submitting a request for that. 5 - Requests related to the recovery of fees and all complaints about telegrams are submitted to the General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs in Baghdad. 6 - To prevent errors, this telegram should be written carefully and clearly. Conditions on which Inland Telegrams are accepted. 1. This telegram shall be forwarded in accordance with the Inland Telegraph Rules, published in the 'Iraq Post and Telegraph Guide. 2. The Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, 'Iraq, shall not be liable to make compensation for any delay, error, loss, injury or damage arising from omission, non-transmission or non-delivery of the telegram. 3. The sender may write the instructions in the space provided at the left side of the address, on the face of this form, such as Urgent, Reply Paid, or State of on 'Iraq Government Service. 4. The Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, 'Iraq, may decline to accept the telegram. It may also decline to forward it although it has been booked. In such case the amount paid for transmission shall be refunded to the sender on application. 5. Complaints and applications for refund should be addressed to the Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs, Baghdad. 6. To prevent mistakes this telegram must be legibly written. ⟦illegible⟧
864 12 February 946 His Excellency Salim Bey Tarzi, the respected General Inspector of Telegraphs, Posts, and Telephones My dear Salim Bey, I offer to your high position my sincerest wishes and best greetings. Furthermore, Mr. Muhammad Rafiq al-Ghadhanfari, Director of Revenues for the Mosul Province, had submitted a request regarding the installation of a telephone in his house. His request was referred to the General Directorate of Telegraphs and Posts by a letter from the telephone engineer in Mosul, numbered 12 H / 136 and dated 5 / 7 / 945. Additionally, the Governorate of Mosul Province formed a committee chaired by His Excellency the Governor to consider the requests, and it nominated a number of requests, among which was the request of the aforementioned Director of Revenues according to the Governorate's letter to the General Directorate of Telegraphs and Posts, numbered 49 and dated 1 / 1 / 946. What I know of your immense kindness has encouraged me to write this letter of mine, requesting Your Excellency to kindly provide possible assistance to the Director of Mosul Revenues in this matter of his. Hoping that I have not troubled you with this request of mine, I remain sincerely yours. Sassoon Sincerely ⟦H⟧ ⟦5 / 2⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ On ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦25⟧ / ⟦12⟧ / ⟦1948⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦1945⟧ ⟦1323⟧ ⟦1346⟧ / ⟦22⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 280 1244 280 920 280 20 ⟦line⟧ 124 840 ⟦line⟧ 2344 840 ⟦line⟧ 3184 ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
11 February 946 The Honorable Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad, the respected lawyer President of the Jewish Society for Aiding Poor Girls to Marry After greetings, I request assistance for the girl named Tuffaha, daughter of Shaul ⟦Yaqub⟧ Abu al-Abyad, who was previously engaged two years ago, by registering her in your society and providing the possible assistance to her. With much gratitude to you. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ 11/2 On behalf of the Head of the Community
February 27, 946 To the honorable Mr. Salim Korji, respected Railway Directorate After greetings and respect, I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to the bearer of this letter, Mr. Daoud Ibrahim, in the matter which he will explain to you. Please accept my thanks in advance. 27/2 Sincerely, Sassoon Head of the Community
To the honorable and distinguished Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad, the respected lawyer President of the Society for Aiding Poor Girls After greetings and respect I would be most grateful if you would kindly assist the bearer of this letter, Yehuda Youssef Rashti, in the matter of his daughter's marriage Please accept my thanks Sincerely ⟦illegible⟧ On behalf of / President of the Community Baghdad 8 / 2 / 946
To the honorable Mr. Heskel Murad, the respected lawyer, President of the Society for Aiding Poor Girls After greetings I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide whatever possible assistance to the bearer of this letter, Shaul Saleh al-Shamma, regarding ⟦all that he explains⟧ concerning the marriage of his daughter. Please accept my thanks in advance. ⟦.⟧ ⟦...⟧ 2/6 Sincerely ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community
Baghdad 6th March 1946. Controller of Programing & Licensing D. G. I. Baghdad. Dear Sir, I have been asked by the Controller of Foreign Exchange through the Ottoman Bank Baghdad to approach you with view to obtain the necessary Import Licence in respect of the transfer of $19.50. for purchasing one copy of the Biographical Ecyclopedia of the World, form the U.S.A. for my personal use. Thanking you in anticipation, Yours faithfully. Sassoon President The Jewish Community Baghdad. Controller of Programming and Imports Directorate General of Imported Goods I have been requested by the Foreign Exchange Controller through the Ottoman Bank to contact your esteemed Directorate to obtain the necessary import license to purchase a copy of the book "Biographical Encyclopedia" from the United States. Please grant me the necessary license, with my thanks in advance. President of the Community
The Honorable Mr. Heskel Murad, the respected lawyer President of the Society for Aiding Poor Girls After greetings, I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to the bearer of this letter of mine, ⟦Ajwa⟧ ⟦Masraniya⟧. Please accept my thanks in advance with the highest respect. ⟦illegible⟧ 2/6 Sincerely, Sassoon Head of the Community Baghdad 6th March 1946. Controller of Programming & Licensing D. G. I. S. Baghdad. Dear Sir, I have been asked by the Controller of Foreign Exchange through the Ottoman Bank Baghdad to approach you with view to obtain the necessary Import Licence in respect of the transfer of $12.50 for purchasing one copy of the Biographical Encyclopedia of the World from the U.S.A. for my personal use. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours faithfully, President The Jewish Community Baghdad. The Respected Director of General Trade It has been impossible for us to obtain a copy of the aforementioned book in the local markets Therefore, we hope for approval of the required transfer With thanks in advance, please accept our highest respects On behalf of the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
1 / 5 / 1946 To His Eminence the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri After greetings, I thank you for your noble sentiments and your kind feelings in consoling us on the loss of our brother Abdul Aziz al-Farsi, asking the Almighty Lord not to show you any harm nor to afflict you with a loved one. Please accept my respects. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ Al-Farsi
His Excellency Mr. Mustafa Al-Umari, the respected Minister of Interior - Baghdad After greetings and respect Mr. Daoud Munshi has been proven to be suffering from a disease that requires traveling to outside Iraq for medical treatment, and therefore I have come requesting Your Excellency to provide the possible assistance to him to facilitate his mission. With further thanks to Your Excellency and abundant respect. Sincerely, Sassoon Head of the Community Baghdad 13 / 11 / 945 His Excellency the Governor For notification ⟦...⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 12 / 11 ⟦illegible⟧
2 December 945 Headquarters of the Army of Iraq and Iran Baghdad After greetings, I am pleased to inform you that His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, has received your invitation card to watch the military parade that will be held at the Scouts Square in Baghdad at ten o'clock on the morning of Tuesday corresponding to 4 / 11 / 945, and I am pleased to inform you that he will attend this parade. Please accept my highest respects. ⟦illegible⟧ Secretary S. Kh. / M. Private After greetings and respect, I request to be considered a member of your esteemed committee with a monthly fee of ⟦...⟧ fils, which I will pay once every ⟦year⟧. May you remain successful in serving charitable projects. Baghdad At Meir Elias Hospital His Excellency, the Chairman of the Israelite Charitable Hospitals Committee, Respected Baghdad
DR. AFLATUN YACUB B. A; M. D; L. R. C. P. & S. (Edinburgh) Etc. Rashid St., Near Exchamge Square Baghdad-Iraq. Teleph. : 955 Telegrams : Dr. Aflatun Baghdad Clinic of Dr. Aflatun Holder of the title of Master of Science and Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the Royal Medical College in Edinburgh, Istanbul, and the American University of Beirut Al-Rashid Street, near Murjan Mosque Baghdad Telephone: 955 ⟦His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri⟧ ⟦The Respected⟧ ⟦I submit that⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦care⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦that he receives⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦the school located in the alley of⟧ ⟦the Christians⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦the illness⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦especially⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦this⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦Al-Hilu⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
761 Telegraph 11 Internal and External Intermediate Telegram Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration Telegram Type: ⟦E⟧ Registration Time: 14/5 TELEGRAPHS 16 APR 46 BAGHDAD Office Stamp Sent at hour .... minute .... To .... Serial Number .... Dispatched by .... Received at hour 20 minute 5 From ⟦Basra⟧ Received by ⟦...⟧ Words: 12 Remarks: Date: 16 Issuing Office: ⟦London⟧ To Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri I offer my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the holiday Daniel ⟦Ake⟧ The Reply I thank you and wish you success on the holiday May God grant you many returns of these days Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri 18 / 4 / 46
⟦Sir⟧ ⟦...⟧ After kissing your two noble hands I did not write to your excellency ⟦...⟧ arrival ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ much in ⟦...⟧ and my wishes ⟦...⟧ That you appear in good health and wellness ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Please let me know if ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ the cousin ⟦...⟧ And more if you would be so kind ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ the cousin ⟦...⟧ takes the result ⟦...⟧ I act in ⟦...⟧ upon you If possible, and my thanks to you Give my greetings to the family, friends, and dear ones very much ⟦...⟧ and the virtuous ones and the brother ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ to Abur ⟦...⟧