Voices from the Archive

IJA 3077

President of the Baghdadi Jewish Community, Personal and Communal Documents

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Description

These 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.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 3077
Item Number
15744
Date
Approx. January 1, 1941 to December 31, 1950
Languages
Multiple Languages
Keywords
Menahem S. Daniel's School, Afghanistan, Iraqi Consulate in Tehran, Shamash Secondary School, Karbala, Army Command Center, Mosul, David Sassoon Primary School for Boys, Laura Khedouri School for Girls, China, Iraqi Government, Business Card, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Ministry of Defense, University of London, Midrash Talmud Torah, Invoice, Chief Rabbi, Assistant Secretary of the Capital, Administrative Offices of Public Railways, Chargé d‘Affaires, Marriage, Controller of Programming & Licensing, Soviet Union, Annotation, Al-Rāfadīn Bank, Employment, Najaf, Ezra Menahem Daniel, Crown Crest, Jerusalem, Encyclopedia, Ottoman Bank, Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, American Consulate, Ministry of Supply, Paris, Ministry of Social Affairs, Imports, Association of Helping the Poor, Al-Zamān, Iraqi Red Crescent Society, University of Baghdad, Handwritten, Travel, Printed Text, Telegram, Jewish Religious Court, Teachers, Form, Medicine, Silas Khedouri High School, The Royal Court, Primary School, Public School, Tobacco, Ink Stamp, Engineering, Letterhead, Jewish Life, Postage Stamp, President of the Jewish Community, American School for Boys in Baghdad, Personal Letterhead, Kirkuk, Financial, Judeo-Arabic, Cairo, London, Iran, Newspaper, Department of Posts & Telegraphs, Baghdad College, Typed, Basrah, Ministry of the Interior, Ambulance Association, U.S., Department of Imports and Exports, Office of Telephone Administration, New York, Alliance School, Meir Elias Hospital, French Consulate, Labor, Charitable, Palestine, Jewish Lay Council, Frank Iny School, Exports, Receipt, Charitable Sewing Society for Girls, Jewish Hospitals Committee, Correspondence, Military

AI en Translation, Pages 326-350

Page 327

On March 3, 1949
⟦illegible⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Moshe Khadouri Dali, the respected
Member of the Religious Court
Basra
Greetings and respect
And after, I received with much thanks your kind letter dated
March 1, 1949, and your good feelings towards me and your congratulations to me
on the occasion of the issuance of the obeyed Royal Decree appointing me as President of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad had a deep impact on myself
Please accept my respect;
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon⟧
President of the Community
⟦sh⟧
⟦ele⟧
14

Page 328

Basra on March 1, 1949
The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Jewish Community
After greetings
I congratulate you on the occasion of your election to the presidency of the Jewish community and we pray to God to grant you success in serving this dear
homeland under the shadow of His Majesty the beloved King and his faithful Regent.
Please accept my highest regards.
Sincerely
Heskel Yousif
Member of the Religious Court - Basra
⟦Heskel Yousif⟧

Page 329

⟦Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad⟧
On March 3, 1949
The Honorable Mr. Heskel Youssef,
Member of the Religious Court
Basra
Greetings and respect,
I have received with much gratitude your kind letter dated March 1,
1949. Your kind feelings toward me and your congratulations on the occasion of the issuance of the
obeyed Royal Decree appointing me as President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad have had a deep impact
on myself.
Please accept my respect,
Sincerely,
Sassoon
President of the Community
14

Page 330

On March 4, 1949
Presidency of the Lay Council
Baghdad
Greetings and respect,
Furthermore, your dear gift to my son Munir Hayyim on the occasion of
his marriage contract had a deep impact on me. Please accept my sincere thanks along with the thanks of my son
and his spouse for this kind gesture and for your precious gift which they will cherish and keep
with all honor and gratitude.
Please accept my highest respects and appreciation, praying to the Almighty
for your continued happiness.
Sincerely,
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
For filing
AA

Page 331

3/8/1949
His Excellency Mr. Ali Khalid, the respected
Director General of Police
Baghdad
My dear Ali Pasha
I kindly request you to provide possible assistance to Mr.
Nuri Abdul Amir regarding his application submitted to your respected directorate
concerning filling a vacant clerk position, noting that he participated in
the examination that was conducted in this regard.
Please accept, Your Excellency, my further thanks and respects.
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
For filing
Personal file
Y

Page 332

Respected Khedhouri
To His Eminence the Rabbi, Mr. Sassoon
After greetings and great respect
Firstly, I inquire about your health, if it is as we desire
Praise be to God, safe from all evil and harm, and may He preserve you
My dear, the bearer of this letter of mine, I request from your Eminence
To appoint him with you to a position in the private ⟦Al-Rusafa⟧ school
Al-Shuwayki, and his brilliant name is Khedhouri, and I have received from him
⟦...⟧ in health, wellness, and greetings
Good, and may you remain well and in peace
13 / 4 / 49
The Sincere
Khedhouri ⟦...⟧
Mr. Makki Al-Sayyed
Mr. ⟦...⟧
For preservation / ⟦...⟧

Page 333

On 6/30/1949
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri is honored to accept with thanks the invitation of
His Excellency the American Ambassador on the occasion of the celebration of Independence Day 1776, which
will be held at the American Embassy from seven-thirty until
nine o'clock in the afternoon on July 4, 1949.
To be filed
Personal car

Page 334

12/9/1949
His Excellency Mr. Abdul Baqi Abdullah, the respected
Acting Director General of Posts and Telegraphs
My dear Abdul Baqi Bey
The trouble you have taken on the occasion of completing the transaction
of installing a telephone for the Director of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Yaqub Balbul, has had a deep impact
on myself, so please accept my thanks and appreciation to your Excellency.
And please accept my highest respects;
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
12

Page 335

September 13, 1949
14
His Excellency Mr. Adel Al-Wakil, the respected
Director of Transport Police
My dear Adel Bey
Please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for the assistance you kindly
provided regarding the completion of the driving licenses I requested from you.
Please accept my highest respects;
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community

Page 336

On 4 / 11 / 1949
To the Honorable Director of the Albert David Sassoon School, respected
After greetings and respect,
I kindly request you to provide possible assistance regarding the reduction of school
fees for the female student and the two male students mentioned below, due to their family's poor financial situation.
1 - Suzette Youssef Akri - Fifth Grade - Laura Kadoorie School
2 - Sami Youssef Akri - First Grade - Laura Kadoorie School
3 - Maurice Youssef Akri - Fourth Grade - Albert David Sassoon School
Please accept my thanks and respect;
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
14
14

Page 337

I offer my sincerest congratulations
on the happy holiday
Mosul ⟦249⟧
12 / 1 / ⟦...⟧
The Rabbi
Sassoon Khedouri

Page 338

I congratulate you on the happy Eid
Wishing you happiness and prosperity
⟦Al-Hajj Ahmad Al-Hajj Jawad Al-Shalji⟧

Page 339

Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad 10/23/1949
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice
Greetings and respect,
In view of the deterioration of my health for some time, I have begun to feel unable to
perform my duties, therefore I request the acceptance of my resignation.
Please accept the highest expressions of respect,
Sincerely,
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Copy to -
His Excellency the Honorable President of the Jewish Lay Council
⟦Keep⟧
Personal File

Page 340

11/23/1949
His Excellency the Minister of Justice, the Respected
After greetings and respect,
In view of the decline in my health for some time, I have begun to feel unable
to perform my duties; therefore, I request the acceptance of my resignation.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest respect.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Copy to -
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Lay Council - the Respected

Page 341

His Excellency Dr. Kamal Al-Samarrai, the respected
After greetings and respect,
I received with great appreciation your invitation to attend the memorial service that
will be held on the occasion of the fortieth day since the passing of the late physician
Dr. Max Kroplich, and I deeply regret my inability to
attend due to a health ailment.
I hope you will convey my apology to the family of the deceased with my
sincere wishes, and I also hope you will convey my deep thanks and appreciation to the memorial committee
which took it upon itself to organize this ceremony to immortalize the memory of
the deceased.
Please accept the highest expressions of respect.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri

Page 342

Ottoman Bank
OTTOMAN BANK.
TELEGRAMS: OTTO MBANK, BAGHDAD. Post Box No. 41
TELEPHONE: BAGHDAD 5161 (PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE BAGHDAD, 14 JUL 1949
THREE LINES.) IRAQ
To Hakham Sasson Khedouri
BAGHDAD After greetings
We inform you that the transfers listed below have been paid according to the following details and we have credited the balance
to you with us
Dear Sirs,
We have pleasure in informing you that the undermentioned bill(s) has/have been
paid, producing ID. 0-932
which we are placing to your credit in Prov. Account with us.
OUR NUMBER | YOUR NUMBER | DRAWEE | AMOUNT ID. Fils
|  | H Cpa CFdg 1903 | 1 032
LESS:
Stamps on bills
Postage
Commission 25 fils p.c. - 100
Exchange
- 932
CONTROL
O. B.
BAGHDAD
⟦signature⟧
for Manager

Page 343

Rafidain Bank
General Center - Baghdad
36
Number: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ / 1946
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, the respected
Head of the Mosaic Community - Baghdad
We attach herewith a receipt for the amount of 5/10 Dinars
representing the interest due on the Iraqi
Loan bonds as of 12/31/1945 at an interest rate of
3% percent deposited / pledged with us.
Please sign it and return it to us
so that we may credit the aforementioned amount
above to the account.
On behalf of Rafidain Bank
Baghdad
⟦illegible signature⟧

Page 344

OTTOMAN BANK SECURITIES DEPARTMENT. Ottoman Bank
Baghdad MAR 18 1949 19 19
Hakham Sasson Khedouri,
Baghdad.
We give you hereunder list of Securities held for your account at 31st Dec 1948. | We show below the list of securities deposited with us for your account as of the date
After checking, please sign and return to us the attached form without delay. | After checking, we request the return of the attached form signed by you without delay
Please note to your debit in current / provisional account I.D. -/150 in respect of custody fee for the current year. | We have debited you in the current / temporary account with us -/150 Dinars for the custody fee for this year.
⟦signature⟧
SUB - MANAGER. MANAGER.
Assistant Manager Manager

Page 345

Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
⟦line⟧ Baghdad