AI English Translation, Pages 151-175
The Delegation of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
to Najaf al-Ashraf
On Wednesday, 11/13/1946, a delegation headed by His Eminence Rabbi
Sassoon Khedouri, President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, traveled to Najaf al-Ashraf, consisting of His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim,
President of the Israelite Spiritual Council in Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hogi Aboudi, President of the Israelite
Religious Court in Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi David Musfi, member of the Israelite Spiritual Council in
Baghdad, Mr. Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq, President of the Israelite Lay Council in Baghdad, and Mr. Selim
Khabbaza, Secretary of the Administration of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, to offer the condolences of the Israelite community to
Their Eminences the scholars of Najaf and the family of the dear deceased, Ayatollah Sheikh Abi al-Hasan al-Musawi,
may God bless his soul. The delegation attended the funeral councils there, where His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon
Khedouri recited a religious prayer for the soul of the deceased.
Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Number 9107
Date 11/14/1946
To the Editor of the esteemed newspaper
After greetings,
We kindly request the publication of the above news in the local section of the first issue of your newspaper.
With thanks.
Secretary
The Delegation of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
to Najaf al-Ashraf
⟦line⟧
On Wednesday, 11/13/1946, a delegation traveled to Najaf al-Ashraf headed by His Excellency Rabbi
Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, composed of His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim,
President of the Israelite Spiritual Council in Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoqi Abboudi, President of the
Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Daoud Musfi, member of the Israelite Spiritual Council
in Baghdad, Mr. Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq, President of the Israelite Lay Council in Baghdad, and Mr. Salim
Amara, Secretary of the Administration of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, to offer the condolences of the Israelite community to
Their Eminences the scholars of Najaf and the family of the dear departed, Ayatollah Sheikh Abi al-Hassan al-Musawi,
may God rest his soul. The delegation attended the funeral councils there, where His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon
Khedhouri recited a religious prayer for the soul of the deceased.
⟦line⟧
Presidency of the Israelite Community:
In Baghdad:
Number: 2107
Date: 11/14/1946
To the owner of the distinguished newspaper
In protected Baghdad
We kindly ask you to publish the above news in the local section of the first issue of your newspaper
And we thank you ⟦line⟧
⟦signature⟧
The Secretary
O eminent gentlemen,
<del>In the name of</del> this humble delegation representing the councils of the Israelite community
in Baghdad, I offer to your excellencies my deepest thanks for your celebration of us and your reception
of us with such brotherly sentiments emanating from your pure souls,
arising from your noble hearts.
This delegation, which is honored today to visit this noble and holy city,
has come to convey to the people of Najaf al-Ashraf in particular and our Muslim brothers in general feelings
of deep sorrow and comprehensive grief shared by your cousins and fellow citizens,
the loyal members of the Israelite community, for the painful calamity and the heavy loss that
has befallen the noble Islamic nation with the passing of its greatest Imam, its greatest Mujtahid,
and its unique scholar, the Sign of God (Ayatollah), the Proof of Islam, the loss of religion and the world, Imam
Abu al-Hasan al-Musawi, may God sanctify his secret, whom the Almighty Lord has chosen
to be by His side, leaving in hearts a painful memory and a stinging anguish. The Muslims wept
for him as a righteous Imam and a venerable scholar, just as all Iraqis wept for him as a reforming
leader and a pious, devout guide who sought goodness and righteousness for everyone under the
sky of this dear region and blessed homeland.
<del>Your calamity in the passing of the Imam, O noble gentlemen, is but our calamity, and your affliction</del>
<del>at his loss is our affliction. For we have long heard mention of the venerable Imam Abu al-Hasan, may God bless</del>
<del>his soul. And his illustrious virtues and abundant knowledge have long reached our ears,</del>
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Shamash Secondary School
BAGHDAD
Tel. No. 6028
Shamash Secondary School
Baghdad
Telephone 6028
Najaf al-Ashraf:
Al-Rabita Association
Professor Al-Yaqoubi
Tomorrow, Wednesday morning, the head of the Jewish community will head
with their senior clergy to offer condolences and visit their
Eminences the scholars, please honor them with your attention
Ali al-Sadr
and his asceticism and piety, his vast merit, his kindness to men of science, and his benevolence to those in need
and want. In a more specific way, we knew your nobility, the valuable guidance and eternal sermons
that emanated from his tranquil soul and his noble heart overflowing with love for all humanity. For
he, may God sanctify his secret, used to urge the sons of Iraq in general toward harmony, mutual love, sincere brotherhood,
honest neighborliness, and the fulfillment of obligations. ⟦And such⟧ golden advice that was disseminated by
the great Imam, may God bless his soul, was derived from the inspiration of the true Islamic religion
and the tolerant Sharia of Islam, which spread the banner of justice and raised the true word of God in
the east and west of the earth.
It is no wonder then, O Sadiq of the Imam, if our loss in the passing of your great Imam
is a great one that is not easy to compensate. And it is no surprise if we share with you the grief and pain
on behalf of our brothers, the Jews of Iraq. For we are in most need of reformers like him to declare the principles
of the upright religion, to raise the word of God, and to breathe the spirit of harmony and solidarity among the various elements
of the noble Iraqi nation, so that we may all march in one rank, supporting one another like a solid
structure toward the prosperous future that awaits this dear homeland, by the will of God Almighty
and the blessing of ⟦his greatness⟧ the righteous.
So, condolences to the sons of the noble nation on the passing of Imam Abu al-Hasan, may God sanctify his secret. And condolences
to the land of Najaf al-Ashraf, whose soil embraced that pure body just as it embraced before him
the grandson of the Messenger and the family of the Chosen One, peace be upon them all.
In conclusion, please accept these sincere sentiments emanating from our faithful hearts,
and may God Almighty take care of you and us with His watchful eye. He is the All-Hearing, the Responder.
Ayatollah Al-Allama Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita
Najaf al-Ashraf
I offer to your Eminence expressions of gratitude for your noble sentiments toward our delegation, and I am certain
that the seed will grow into a good plant, and I hope to convey my great thanks to our brothers, the people of Najaf
al-Ashraf, and their Eminences the scholars for their celebration of us. Please accept my kindest greetings.
⟦signature⟧
11/14
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
His Excellency Al-Hajj Abdul Razzaq Shamsa, the respected
Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf
Your meeting with our delegation along with your brothers, the sons of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf, and your kind hospitality towards us have left a deep impact
on ourselves. Please accept my sincere thanks along with my heartfelt greetings to your noble person, wishing you success and prosperity.
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
⟦signature⟧
11/14
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Mr. Khedouri Rezen
⟦Hilla⟧
I offer to your presence and the presence of your local brothers many thanks for your celebration of our delegation
and your visit to us during our passage through your city, wishing you success
⟦illegible⟧
12
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Israelite Community
Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
His Excellency the Police Director, Mr. Muhammad Nur Haddad
Karbala
I thank you for taking the trouble to accompany our delegation during its movement in Najaf al-Ashraf. May God increase the likes of you
and the loyal ones
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
11/14
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
His Eminence Hajj Agha Hussein al-Isfahani
Najaf al-Ashraf
I offer your Eminence my deepest thanks for the hospitality our delegation received from the eminent scholars
and our brothers, the people of Najaf al-Ashraf, when we visited your holy city to offer condolences for our shared loss.
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
⟦signature⟧
⟦illegible⟧
His Eminence Sayyid Mirza al-Qazwini, the respected
Hilla
I extend to your Eminence my deepest thanks for the hospitality and care you have shown us, and your generosity
and the trouble you took to travel when you accompanied our delegation to Najaf al-Ashraf has left a deep impression on us that we cannot
forget. May God increase people like you and bless your long life.
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
4/11
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Al-Hajj Amin, Mayor
Mahmoudiyah
I thank you for receiving our delegation, wishing you success
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Teacher Moshi Hoki Abboudi
Al-Hillah
I thank you for your interest in our flowers, wishing you success
⟦signature⟧
12/17
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Mr. Reuven Yehuda
Al-Karkh
I thank you for your hospitality to our delegation, wishing you success
⟦illegible⟧
11/12
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Mr. Muhyi al-Din al-Haj Dhib
Respected
I thank you for your interest in our delegation, wishing you success
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
⟦signature⟧
11/10
His Excellency Al-Hajj Muhsin Shallash
Najaf Al-Ashraf
With great thanks
I extend to Your Excellency for your generosity and hospitality to our delegation and your noble
sentiments, wishing Your Excellency success and prosperity.
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
12 / 12
CVI
⟦illegible⟧
10. 91
Department Stamp
Incoming Internal Telegram: No. 9
Number:
Telegram Type:
Time of registration: ⟦illegible⟧
Arrived at hour: 12
Minute: ⟦illegible⟧
From:
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 27
Administrative Instructions:
Date: 16
Issuing Office: Amman
To His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, President
of the Jewish Community, Baghdad
We thank you for your appreciated ⟦message⟧. Notification now in Jerusalem
that all members of your community have maintained their safety.
Hussein bin Nasser, Chief of the Royal Court
Barq 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
The Telegram
17 NOV 46
TELS.
BAGHDAD
Number:
Type of Telegram:
Time of Registration: 10/10
Arrived at Hour: 10
Minute: 25
From: Hillah 12
Received by: ⟦signature⟧
Word Count: 49
Administration Instructions:
Date: 17
Issuing Office: Hillah
Office Stamp:
To Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri, Head of the Jewish Community
Your kind telegram had a deep impact on me, and indeed on the souls of the entire Jafari community
Your lines are as lines of light on the pages of hearts, and our greeting on the occasion of
the Arbaeen is but a fulfillment of part of the duty placed upon us; we thank you, wishing you
long life and happiness
Mabrouk Al-Qazwini
222
Number: 9
Incoming Internal Telegram:
Number: 4
Telegram Type:
Registration Time: 14:10
BAGHDAD
19 NOV 46
TEL.S.
Arrived at hour: 12:15
Minute:
From: ⟦Mahmoud⟧
Received by:
Word count: 27
Administrative Instructions:
Date: 18
Issuing Office: ⟦Kahouriya⟧
To Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
I received your telegram, I thank you for what you have done
And also my greetings to all members of the delegation, wishing
everyone success
Abdullah Al-Haj Amin
Mayor
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number 2
BAGHDAD
17 NOV 46
Number: 2
Telegram Type:
Time of registration: ⟦illegible⟧
Arrived at hour: ⟦illegible⟧
Minute: 12
From: ⟦Najaf⟧
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 29
For administration instructions:
Date: 17 / 11 / 46
Issuing office: ⟦Najaf⟧
In: Baghdad
His Excellency the Head of the Israelite Community
Sassoon, the Respected
We are pleased to offer praise and our noble sentiments for your arrival
Thanking the Almighty God for your success
Kashif al-Ghita
The license holder must place his photograph: ⟦illegible⟧
Identity: ⟦illegible⟧
Type of transport vehicle: Saison ⟦illegible⟧
Engine number: 172921
Foreigners' sequence number: ⟦illegible⟧
Registration number and its code: 1889
It is required of the holder of this license
to place it inside a frame and hang it in the transport
vehicle in the place designated by <del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
the Registration Officer
Signature of the Registration Officer
1949
July 1
Affairs
Regarding
Duties
In the name of the Merciful
His name
9/5
15/9
Iraq
IRAQ
POSTAGE
REVENUE
5
FILS
5
Fils
25
9
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
8
21 / 11 / 946
The Honorable Mr. Yaqub Moallem Nassim, the respected
After greetings
I would be most grateful if you would kindly accept the student Eliyahu Ibrahim into
your school, wishing you health and gratitude.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Head of the Community
In the River Administration
Department Copy
21 / 11 / 946
The Honorable Mr. Habib ⟦...⟧ President of the Israeli Spiritual Council
Mosul
After greetings and respect
The great hospitality with which you received their Eminences
the Rabbis has increased our gratitude and appreciation, so please accept our sincere
wishes for your person and for the gentlemen of the honorable Israeli community in Mosul
My thanks to you and to all our honorable sons in Mosul with respect
Sincerely
On behalf of
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
11/21