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 51-75

Page 51

To the Honorable Mr. Israel Nassim Hay
Honorary President of the Girls' Charitable Sewing Association
After greetings,
I wish to offer to your esteemed association, on my own behalf and on behalf of my wife, our sincere thanks and gratitude
for your kind wishes contained in your gracious letter and for your valuable gift which you were kind enough to present to us on the occasion
of our marriage contract; that gift which we will keep with all care, as it will always remind us of your
generous contributions in the care and success of this charitable institution.
In closing, please accept my respect, with my sincere wishes for your noble person for permanent success.
⟦illegible⟧
4/25
Sincerely,
⟦Youssef⟧

Page 52

To His Excellency and Sovereignty, the Respected Prime Minister
Please accept the highest expressions of respect and appreciation
My Lord, His Excellency
On the occasion of the end of the Hijri year and the arrival of a new Hijri year, we offer Your Excellency our warmest congratulations and best wishes
Praying to God Almighty to preserve you as an asset to the country and to grant you success in what is good for the glorious Arab nation
And that He returns many such happy occasions to Your Excellency while you enjoy health and well-being under
your wise leadership, and please accept the highest expressions of respect and appreciation
On behalf of the Jewish community in Baghdad, the Spiritual Council, the Charitable Society, and the Israelite Schools
⟦illegible⟧
1365
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon Khadhuri⟧

Page 54

To his honorable excellence
Baghdad
The complete sage, the honorable Rabbi Sasson Kadoorie, may his light shine
After inquiring of your honor's peace from the messenger and also the peace of all those accompanying him
The honored letter No. 21 from ⟦June⟧ reached us and we were very happy about everything written
in it, and especially that you arrived in peace and healthy and whole ⟦at your home⟧ and we also enjoyed very much
all the things you wrote and that you arrived in peace and also from the letter you sent
to the director and also ⟦we were happy⟧ from the ⟦second⟧ letter from ⟦...⟧ because they were caught at that
time and we are always ⟦praying⟧ and asking from ⟦the Name⟧ that He should guard you from every
evil and be with you wherever you go Amen Selah and much peace
From me, the one who awaits salvation
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧

Page 55

The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Effendi Khedouri
Respectfully,
After greetings:
I hope you will be so kind as to favor us
by accepting the tea of your paternal care, which is
the graduation ceremony of ⟦my son⟧, to which he invites you
among these blessed occasions
and thanks you.
Sincerely,
⟦Muslim⟧
Baghdad
2 / 4 / 1942

Page 56

His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Effendi Khedhouri
The Respected
After greetings:
I hope you will be so kind as to accept
a modest gift on the occasion of the holidays, which is
a ceremony that serves ⟦the country⟧ and invites you
within these blessed occasions.
And thank you.
Sincerely
⟦...⟧
Baghdad
2 / 4 / 1942

Page 57

April 25, 946
His Excellency Mr. Nusrat al-Farisi, the respected
Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
With great regret and deep sadness, I received the news of the passing of your well-remembered cousin, Mr.
Abdul Aziz al-Farisi. I hasten to express to Your Excellency my sincere condolences for this
sorrowful loss, praying to the Almighty to grant the dear deceased a place in His vast paradise
and to inspire you with patience and solace.
Requesting your apology for my delay in offering condolences as I spent the Easter holiday outside the capital.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest respect.
Filed
4/25
Sincerely,
Sassoon
Head of the Community

Page 58

25 April 946
His Excellency Mr. Nusrat al-Farisi, the respected
Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
With great regret and deep sadness, I received the news of the passing of your late cousin, Mr.
Abdul Aziz al-Farisi. I hasten to express to Your Excellency my sincere condolences for this
sorrowful loss, praying to the Almighty to grant the dear deceased a place in His vast paradise
and to inspire you with patience and solace.
I ask for your forgiveness for the delay in offering my condolences as I spent the Easter holiday outside the capital.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest respect.
Sincerely,
Sassoon
Head of the Community
⟦H⟧
⟦24/4⟧

Page 59

The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community
After greetings and offering due respect
We hope that you are in the best of health and happiness
Sir! A group of benevolent people approached us
And requested that we mediate with your Excellency that
You kindly provide the possible assistance in
Their case which they will present to your high office
And in advance we thank your efforts, Sir.
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Jewish Community
In Mosul
26 / 5 / 1946

Page 62

29 April 946
The Honorable Professor Murad Mikhail, Respectfully
Director of Shamash Secondary School - Baghdad
Greetings and respect,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to the bearer
of this letter, named Saleh Haroun Saleh Hakham Shimon, a student in
the first intermediate grade in your school, regarding the school fees.
Please accept my respect with my thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
4/29

Page 63

7 May 946
The Honorable Mr. Heskel Gora Shua, Respectfully
Association for Aiding Poor Girls for Marriage
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly assist the bearer of this letter and consider
the possibility of accepting her into the school intended to be established by your esteemed association.
With my thanks in advance, please accept my respects.
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community

Page 64

13 May 946
His Excellency Mr. Nuri al-Qarah Ghuli, the respected
Assistant Mayor of the Capital - Baghdad
My dear Nuri Bey
I hope to ⟦remind you⟧ regarding this ⟦matter⟧ to provide possible assistance to the bearer
of this letter of mine, Yaqub Eliyahu, regarding granting him a license to sell vegetables
I hope I have not troubled you with this request of mine. Please accept my utmost
thanks in advance.
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community

Page 65

16 May 946
The Honorable Mr. Koji Sion Sheena, respected
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide any possible assistance to Mr.
Abdul Wahab, the bearer of this letter, in the matter he will explain to you.
Please accept my best wishes with my thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
7 Head of the Community

Page 66

16 May 946
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri is honored to accept with thanks the invitation
of His Excellency the Minister Plenipotentiary of Afghanistan to the tea party that will be held
at six o'clock on the evening of Monday, May 27,
946, on the occasion of the Afghan National Day.

Page 67

16 May 946
The Honorable and Virtuous Lady Mazli Nouri
Atelier Laura Kadoorie - Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly assist the bearer of this letter of mine,
Miss Saliha Karaj, in the matter she will explain to you.
With my thanks in advance, please accept my greetings.
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community

Page 68

May 21, 946
His Excellency Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad, Respectfully
President of the Society for Aiding Poor Girls for Marriage
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to the bearer
of this letter of mine, Salha Shaul, in the matter she will explain to you.
With my thanks in advance, please accept my highest respect.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
5/21
Head of the Community

Page 69

28 May 946
The Honorable Mr. Gurji Naftali, Respectfully
Railway Directorate - Baghdad
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would provide possible assistance to the bearer of this letter,
Muhammad Sultan, in the matter he will explain to you.
With my thanks in advance, please accept the highest respect.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
28/5 Head of the Community
⟦Colonel⟧
⟦5/28⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Page 70

31 May 946
The Honorable Dr. Sustman, respected
After greetings
I would be most grateful if you would kindly assist the bearer of this letter as much
as possible in the matter of his medical treatment
With my thanks in advance, please accept my highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Youssef
Raad

Page 71

Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
The Honorable Mr. Salman Ezra Sharbani, Respected
Baghdad
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide
possible assistance to the bearer "Larry" in the matter which
he will explain to you.
With my thanks in advance, and please accept
the highest respect.
Sincerely,
President of the Community

Page 72

Ministry of Defense
Baghdad on 3 / 6 / 1946
My dear Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
We thank you very much for your kind congratulations which
were a source of joy and pleasure, and we wish you continued progress
and success.
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Sassoon Khedouri File

Page 73

Ministry of Defense
Baghdad on 3 / 6 / 1946
My dear Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
We thank you very much for your kind congratulations which
were a source of joy and pleasure, and we wish you continued progress
and success.
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Sassoon Khedouri File

Page 75

EZRA M. DAVID EZRA
BAGHDAD
Telegraphic Address :-
EZRA MIER METANA
Ezra Meir David Ezra - Baghdad
Telegraphically
Ezra Meir Metana
Baghdad: 19
Baghdad: May 1, 1946
Copy of the resignation
To the Honorable Trustee of the Meir Tweg David Sahayek and Tawfiq Synagogue
Please accept my resignation from your esteemed committee for private reasons, and I wish you
all the best in your perseverance and your appreciated efforts in this sacred project, and please
accept my respect for you, and remain well
Ezra Meir
David
⟦To the owner⟧
⟦Mr. President⟧
15
⟦Keep in file⟧