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.
EZRA M. DAVID EZRA BAGHDAD Telegraphic Address :- EZRA MIER METANA Ezra Meir David Ezra - Baghdad Telegraphically Ezra Meir Metana Baghdad 1 May 1946 His Excellency the President of the Community, Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the Respected Greetings and respect We request that you record my resignation from the Meir Tweg Synagogue Committee Please accept my respect for your Excellency, and remain well Sincerely Ezra Meir David
Number 9 Incoming Internal Telegram 74 Number: Telegram Type: 4 Registration Time: 10:20 Telegraph Department Mosul 20 MAR 46 TELS MOSUL Arrived at hour: Minute: 5/18 From: Mosul Received by: 82 Word count: 18 Administrative Instructions: Date: Issuing Office: Mosul To Yuna Kadoorie Khayeh Al-Makhsous Cloth Merchant Baghdad Intercede with Makhlouf Ali Hakham Bashi so that he sends a letter to the Hakham Bashi of Baghdad quickly
April 25, 946 His Excellency Mr. Abdul Latif Al-Farsi, the respected Baghdad After greetings, The obituary of your late brother ⟦Mr.⟧ Abdul Aziz Al-Farsi had a painful impact on my soul, so I hasten to offer my sincere condolences for this great loss, praying to the Almighty to bestow mercy and pleasure upon the dear deceased and to grant you patience and solace. I ask for your forgiveness for my delay in offering condolences as I spent the Easter holiday outside the capital. Please accept my highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community ⟦...⟧ 25/4
25 April 946 His Excellency Mr. Izzat al-Farisi, the respected Baghdad After greetings I was deeply pained by your loss of your late cousin, Mr. Abdul Aziz al-Farisi, and it grieved my soul. I hasten to offer my sincere condolences, praying to the Almighty to bestow His vast mercy and pleasure upon the dear departed and to grant you patience and solace. Requesting ⟦forgiveness⟧ for my delay in offering condolences as I spent the Easter holiday outside the capital. Please accept my highest respect. ⟦...⟧ 4/25 Sincerely ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community
9 June 946 The Honorable Mr. Salman Ezra Shahrabani, Respectfully Baghdad After greetings, I would be extremely grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to its bearer "Levi" in the matter he will explain to you. With my thanks in advance, please accept my highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦On behalf of⟧ the Head of the Community
8828 12 June 946 His Excellency the Director General of Telegraphs and Posts, respected Baghdad After greetings, My son-in-law, the lawyer Edward Youssef Samih, has previously submitted a request to install a telephone set in his house located in Al-Bataween, and His Excellency the former Minister of Works and Communications had previously approved this request, given that I spend all evenings there. I hope to facilitate the installation of the telephone set to be able to manage the necessary business from there in the evening. Awaiting Your Excellency's approval of this request, please accept my utmost thanks with abundant respect. ⟦illegible⟧ 6/12 Sassoon Head of the Community
July 9, 1946 His Excellency Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad, the respected President of the Association for Aiding Poor Jewish Girls for Marriage After greetings, I would be most grateful if you would kindly assist the bearer of this letter in the matter she will explain to you, as much as possible. With my thanks in advance, please accept the highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ 9/7 Head of the Community
11 July 946 His Excellency Mr. Hussein Al-Ani, the respected Director of Al-Tafayudh School - Baghdad After greetings and respect, I present to your Excellency my son Salman Saleh, and I have entrusted him with my greetings and heartfelt longing for your Excellency. My son Salman intends to benefit from the laboratory of your prosperous school during the summer vacation to conduct some experiments. I would be extremely grateful if you would kindly allow him to do so if possible, noting that he will pay all the necessary fees. Please accept my thanks along with my fragrant greetings. Sincerely, ⟦Sassoon⟧ Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri Head of the Community Delivered to S ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
July 11, 946 His Excellency Dr. Khalid Al-Hashimi, Respectfully Dean of the Higher Teachers' Training College - Baghdad After greetings and respect, I present to your Excellency my son Salman Saleh, who carries my greetings and heartfelt longing to your Excellency. My son Salman intends to benefit from your school's prosperous laboratory during the summer vacation to conduct some experiments. I would be extremely grateful if you would kindly allow him to do so if possible, noting that he will pay all the necessary fees. Please accept my thanks along with my fragrant greetings. ⟦stamp⟧ Sincerely, ⟦Sassoon⟧ Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri Head of the Community
July 14, 946 Dear Mr. Moshe Shochet Fragrant greetings. I present to your Excellency Mr. Abdullah Hayyim, who carries to you my good wishes, hoping that you will include him in your well-known kindness and provide him with your valuable assistance in the matter that he will explain to your Excellency. With my thanks in advance, please accept my highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community
Iraqi Government Department of ⟦line⟧ Deanship Number 1447 Higher Teachers' Training College Baghdad Date 14 / 7 / 946 Section ⟦line⟧ Subject ⟦line⟧ His Excellency the Head of the Jewish Community Mr. Sassoon Khedhouri, the Respected After greetings and respect You had requested assistance for one of the students to train in our laboratory And how much I regret that I cannot fulfill this request in view of the occurrence of this request during the summer vacation and the crowding of the laboratories department with new orders that were recently received from England This, and please accept my sincere respect. Sincerely ⟦signature⟧ Dean of the Higher Teachers' Training College
Al-Tafayudh National Association General Center Baghdad Telephone Number 6559 Number 482/8 Date 1/10/1947 In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Subject: His Eminence Rabbi Mr. Sassoon Khadhuri, the respected Head of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Greetings and respect, and thereafter: I thank your Eminence for your good opinion of me and I offer you my highest respects and heartfelt longings And I am very sorry for not being able to fulfill your dear request because our school laboratory is entrusted to the Professor of Natural Sciences, and he has locked the doors of the laboratory stores and its tools and traveled outside Iraq after keeping the keys with him, as he is the only one responsible for the laboratory and its materials. Therefore, I ask your Eminence to accept our apology with great respect. ⟦illegible⟧ Administrative Director ⟦Ali Khudar⟧
July 19, 1946 To the honorable Mr. Yamin Aslan, respected After greetings, I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide all possible assistance to the bearer of this letter. With my thanks in advance, please accept my highest respect. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community
July 25, 946 His Excellency Mr. Moshe Shochet, the respected Assistant General Manager Railway Directorate After greetings and respect, I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to the bearer of this letter of mine, Moshe Hakham Michael, in the case which he will explain to your Excellency, with my thanks in advance. Please accept my highest respect. Sincerely, Head of the Community ⟦For research⟧ ⟦25 / 7⟧ ⟦...⟧
Telephones: COrtlandt 7-8457 7-8458 BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD An Authentic Record of Notable Living Men and Women compiled and published by INSTITUTE for RESEARCH in BIOGRAPHY (Incorporated 1934) 296 Broadway New York 7, N. Y. Office of the Editor THIRD EDITION SECTIONS COMPRISING THE BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD WHO'S ⟦illegible⟧ IN THE ARMED FORCES WHO'S ⟦illegible⟧ IN ART WHO'S IMPORTANT IN BUSINESS WHO'S IMPORTANT IN EDUCATION WHO'S IMPORTANT IN ENGINEERING WHO'S IMPORTANT IN GOVERNMENT WHO'S IMPORTANT IN LAW WHO'S IMPORTANT IN LITERATURE WHO'S IMPORTANT IN MEDICINE WHO'S IMPORTANT IN MUSIC WHO'S IMPORTANT IN RELIGION WHO'S IMPORTANT IN SCIENCE December 10, 1945 Rabbi Khedoori H. E. Sassoon President of Jewish Community Baghdad, Iraq. Dear Rabbi Sassoon: Your biography has been edited and is now sub- mitted to you prior to publication of the Fourth (1946) Edition of the BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD, which records those persons in each country whose achievements in their respective fields are worthy of recognition. Please go over this sketch carefully, making any corrections or changes you desire, and then return the proof to me with your personal signature of approval. Should you like to own a copy of the forthcoming volume, containing your biography and photograph, reservation card is enclosed for your convenience. Sincerely yours, ⟦S. A. Kaye⟧ S. A. Kaye.
Soon To Be Published. Third (1945) Edition of the BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD CHURCHILL, Rt. Hon. WINSTON LEONARD SPENCER, P.C., C.H., F.R.S., Prime Minister of Great Britain; born Nov. 30, 1874, Blenheim Palace, Oxford-shire; son of Rt. Hon. Lord Randolph and Jennie Jerome Churchill; descendant of 1st Duke of Marlborough; educated at Harrow and Sandhurst; married Clemen-tine Hozier, 1908; four children—Diana, Sarah, Randolph and Mary. Entered Brit-ish Army, 1895, serving with Spanish Forces in Cuba, with the Malakand Field Forces at operations in Bajaui (India), with the Tirah Expeditionary Force (India), and with the Nile Expeditionary Force. During the South African War he was present at the actions of Acton Homes, Venter's Spruit, Hussar Hill, Cin- STALIN, Marshal JOSEF VISSARI-ONOVICH, Premier of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; born in Gori, Geor-gian Province, Russia; educated at a seminary for priests; married twice; now a widower; a son—Vassily and a daughter—Svetlana. Became leader of the Marx-ist group in Tiflis, 1897, and of the Party Committee, 1900. Arrested in 1901 and two years later was deported to North-ern Siberia, but escaped. In 1908 he was deported to Vologda Province, but again escaped. Between periods of exile he at-tended Party Congresses in Finland, Stockholm and London, and edited news-papers, including "Zveizda" and the chief party organ, "Pravda." Again deported and on return to Petersburg he headed the Bolshevik group in Duma (Czarist Parliament). Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party since 1922. Member of the Pres-idium Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics since 1925; Commissar for Defense of the U.S.S.R. and Chairman, Union Council of People's Commissars, since 1941. In 1934 the So-viet Union joined the League of Nations and began its "Popular Front" policy, adopting the principle of security against the thrust of "fascist aggression." Out- TRUMAN, HARRY S., President of the United States of America; born May 8, 1884, on a farm near Lamar, Mo.; son of John Anderson and Martha Ellen (Young) Truman; attended public schools in Inde-pendence, Mo.; Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill, Okla., 1917-18; Kansas City School of Law, 1923-25; married Bess Wallace, June 28, 1919; one daughter—Mary Mar-garet. President Truman began his career in the mailing room of The Kansas City Star, 1901; served as timekeeper for a railroad contractor, 1902; with the Na-tional Bank of Commerce and the Union National Bank, Kansas City, 1903-05; op-erated family farm, 1906-17. During First World War served as First Lieutenant, Battery F, and Captain, Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division, U. S. Army; participated in Vosges operations, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, Aug. 18 to Nov. 11, 1918; discharged with rank of Major, U.S.A.R.C., May 6, 1919; Colonel, U.S.A.R.C., since 1927. Judge, Jackson County (Mo.) Court, 1922-24; Presiding Judge, 1926-34. Elected to United States Senate from Missouri, Nov. 6, 1934; re-elected Nov. 5, 1940 for term expiring Jan. 3, 1947. Served as a Member of Sen-ate Committees on Appropriations, En-rolled Bills, Interstate Commerce, Mili- BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD ⟦illegible⟧ THE BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD is not a set of books, but one large, comprehensive volume, containing an au-thentic record of the notable living men and women in every country. The volume records the careers of the heads of all countries as well as thousands of leaders in the fields of art, science, government, religion, jurisprudence, medicine, education, music, literature, com-merce, engineering, and the outstanding military figures. Designed to be the largest one-volume biographical encyclopedia published and the only book to cover all countries with such thoroughness, this volume is actually equivalent to twelve biographi-cal publications recording the careers of outstanding persons in all fields of endeavor. The complete volume comprises over 1,000 pages. Published by Institute for Research in Biography, Inc. 296 Broadway New York 7, N. Y. Size: 9 1/2" wide, 12 1/4" high. Beautifully bound and printed on white coated stock. $25.00. (Pre-Publication Price—$19.50).
Name in full: Rabbi Khedoori Heskel Ezra Sassoon Present position title or profession: President of the Jewish Community Address business or professional: City: Baghdad State: Iraq Residence: Baghdad Date of Birth: 1886 Place: Baghdad State: Iraq Name of Parents: Heskel Ezra Simha Shimoon Nessim Education: Rabbinical Institute Baghdad Married: Loulou Shaul Toeg 1905 Children Males: Saul Naji, Dr. Meir Haim, Salman Saleh (females: Victoria & Marcelle) Began career as: Member Ecclesiastical Court 1919 ( List Chronologically all important business or professional positions held from beginning of career to present. Please mention dates. President Rabbinical Council | 1927 President Ecclesiastical Court | 1927 Chief Rabbi | 1928 President Jewish Community | 1933 up to the present time. You may recommend the names of those whom you believe to be eligible for inclusion in the Biographical Encyclopedia Of The World. Ezra Menahem Daniel | Joseph S. Elkebir Senate Member | Lawyer. ⟦illegible⟧ A few of ⟦th⟧ousands of subscribers to publications of the Institute for Research in Biography, Inc., 320 Broadway, New York 7, N. Y. : General Charles de Gaulle, Head of the Government of France Avila Camacho, President of Mexico Ismet Inonu, President of Turkey Farouk I, King of Egypt Wladyslaw Rackiewicz, President of Poland (London) Getulio D. Vargas, President of Brazil Manuel Prado, President of Peru Enrique Penaranda, President of Bolivia Fulgencio Batista, former President of Cuba Ricardo A. de la Guardia, President of Panama General Isaias Medina Angarita, President of Venezuela Sergio Osmena, President of the Philippine Islands General Anastasio Somoza, President of Nicaragua Dr. O. W. Caldwell, Gen. Secy., American Assn. Advancement of Science Sir Richard A. Gregory, President, British Assn. Advancement of Science Sir Upendranath Brachmachari, President, Indian Science Congress Owen D. Young, Industrialist and Lawyer Bernard M. Baruch, Consultant, U. S. Government Henry Ford, Manufacturer Serge Koussevitzky, Conductor Dr. Edward R. Weidlein, Director of the Mellon Institute William Draper Lewis, Director of the American Law Institute Basil O'Connor, Chairman of the American Red Cross Dr. Carl Joachim Hambro, President, Assembly of League of Nations Maxim M. Litvinoff, Soviet diplomat Johan Nygaardsvold, Prime Minister of Norway Ezequiel Padilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico General Nuri As-Said, Prime Minister of Iraq Dr. Antonio De Oliveira Salazar, Prime Minister of Portugal Paul-Henri Spaak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Wei Tao-Ming, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Rodolfo Michels, Chilean Ambassador to the United States Diogenes Escalante, Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States Myron C. Taylor, Ambassador to the Vatican Walter Thurnheer, Swiss Minister to London Rt. Hon. William M. Hughes, Attorney General of Australia Algot F. J. Bagge, Judge of the Supreme Court of Sweden Hon. Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives Marquess of Linlithgow, former Viceroy of India The Most Rev. Samuel A. Stritch, Catholic Archbishop of Chicago Rt. Hon. Viscount Weir, British industrialist D'Alton C. Coleman, President, Canadian Pacific Railway Lammot du Pont, Chairman of Board, E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co. Ezequiel P. Paz, Director of "La Prensa" (newspaper), Buenos Aires Vicente Lombardo T., President, Confederation of Latin-American Workers Also Royal Society (London); Royal Library (Sweden); Library of Columbia University; Imperial Library (Government of India); The New York Times, and numerous other Public Libraries, Colleges and Universities, News- papers, Corporation Libraries, etc.
Telephones: COrtlandt 7-8457 7-8458 BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD An Authentic Record of Notable Living Men and Women compiled and published by INSTITUTE for RESEARCH in BIOGRAPHY (Incorporated 1934) 320 Broadway New York 7, N. Y. Office of the Editor THIRD EDITION SECTIONS COMPRISING THE BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD WHO'S IMPORTANT IN THE ARMED FORCES WHO'S IMPORTANT IN ART WHO'S IMPORTANT IN BUSINESS WHO'S IMPORTANT IN EDUCATION WHO'S IMPORTANT IN ENGINEERING WHO'S IMPORTANT IN GOVERNMENT WHO'S IMPORTANT IN LAW WHO'S IMPORTANT IN LITERATURE WHO'S IMPORTANT IN MEDICINE WHO'S IMPORTANT IN MUSIC WHO'S IMPORTANT IN RELIGION WHO'S IMPORTANT IN SCIENCE June 4, 1945 Rabbi Sassoon Khedhoori Pres. of Jewish Community Baghdad, Iraq. Dear Rabbi Khedhoori: I have the honor to inform you that your name has been suggested for inclusion in the Third (1945) Edition of the BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD, which records those persons in each country whose achievements in their respective fields are worthy of recognition. Please fill out and return the enclosed brief questionnaire. If time permits, I shall be glad to mail you a proof of your edited biography prior to publication. There is, of course, no obligation of any kind. Faithfully yours, ⟦S. A. Kaye⟧ S. A. Kaye. P.S. You may also send us one of your photographs.
8471 November 1945 Biographical Encyclopedia of the World 320 Broadway NEW YORK 7, N.Y Dear Sirs, I have the honour to receive your letter of the 9th June 1945 and I am sending you back your questionnaire filled out as requested. Please find enclosed my photograph. Sassoon President Enclosures. 1. Questionnaire 1. Photograph. S.K/E.M His Eminence the Rabbi ⟦Biographic⟧ (book to America) please send your photograph to send it ⟦illegible⟧ 11/9
Name in full: Rabbi Khedoori Heskel Ezra Sassoon Present position title or profession: President of the Jewish Community Address business or professional: City.: Baghdad State.: Iraq Residence.: Baghdad Date of Birth.: 1886 Place.: Baghdad State.: Iraq Name of Parents.: Heskel Ezra Simha Shimoon Nessim Education.: Rabbinical Institute Baghdad Married: Loulou Shaul Toeg 1905 Children Males: Saul Naji, Dr. Meir Haim, Salman Saleh )(females: Victoria & Marcelle) Began career as: Member Ecclesiastical Court 1919 ( List Chronologically all important business or professional positions held from beginning of career to present. Please mention dates. President Rabbinical Council | 1927 President Ecclesiastical Court | 1927 Chief Rabbi | 1928 President Jewish Community | 1933 up to the present time. You may recommend the names of those whom you believe to be eligible for inclusion in the Biographical Encyclopedia Of The World. Ezra Menahem Daniel | Joseph S. Elkebir Senate Member | Lawyer.
GOING TO PRESS PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. [No charge of any kind is made for inclusion in this work.] WHO'S IMPORTANT IN RELIGION An Authentic Record of Religious Leaders, Educators and Church Officials [A Division of the BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD] compiled and published by INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOGRAPHY (Incorporated 1934) 320 Broadway New York 7, N. Y. [THERE IS NO OBLIGATION WHATEVER INVOLVED IN THE SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE.] Name (in full): Present Position or Title: Denomination: Address (office or study): Street: City: State: Residence: Street: City: State: Date of Birth: Place: City: State: Name of Parents: Father's: Mother's Maiden Name: Education (Please list Colleges or Universities attended and degrees received. Give dates.): Married: Wife's Maiden Name: Date of Marriage: Children (Please give names): Ordained: (Date and Place): (List chronologically all appointments held from beginning of career to present. Please mention dates.): (OVER)
WORLD LEADERS IN ALL FIELDS ARE HONORED BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE WORLD LISTS NOTABLE LIVING PERSONS United Nations Leaders, Atom- ic Bomb Scientists, all living Nobel Prize Winners, and thou- sands of other important persons in all fields of endeavor are in- cluded in the BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD, the 1946 Edition of which was published in March. The volume is divided into four- teen sections: "Who's Important in Government," "Who's Import- ant in Business," "Who's Import- ant in Law," "Who's Important in Medicine," "Who's Important in Religion," "Who's Important in Science," "Who's Important in Literature," "Who's Important in Music," "Who's Important in Radio, Stage and Screen," "Who's Important in Art," "Who's Im- portant in Engineering," "Who's Important in the Armed Forces," and "Leaders in Other Fields." The book represents probably the largest worldwide biographi- cal compilation, and is designed to serve as an accurate and im- portant reference work for news- papers, colleges and universities, public and private libraries, gov- ernment departments, embassies, etc. The 1946 Edition of the BIO- GRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WORLD contained some 20,000 biographical sketches, ac- companied by 3,000 photographs. The new edition is expected to be even larger in scope. The volume is compiled and published by In- stitute for Research in Biogra- phy, Inc., 296 Broadway, New York. Director or Trustee (indicate which) of the following Church, Educational or Public Institutions:: Civic Activities (Indicate if identified with civic, charitable or defense movements. Give dates when you served as officer of such organizations.): Member of the following Religious Organizations, Educational Associations, etc.:: Recipient of the following Honors and Decorations:: Hobby or Special Interest:: Author of the following books and important pamphlets, and their dates of publication:: Military Record: You may recommend below two names of those whom you believe to be eligible for inclusion in WHO'S IMPORTANT IN RELIGION. Name: Name: Position or Title: Position or Title: Address: Address: ⟦WHO'S IMPORTANT IN RELIGION⟧ ⟦as Assistant Dean of Faculty⟧ ⟦accepted and published⟧ ⟦THERE IS NO OBLIGATION WHATEVER INVOLVED IN THE⟧