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 English Translation, Pages 276-300

Archival unit 276

Reverend Father Connell, the Respected
Baghdad College
Sulaikh
Baghdad
The Principal
⟦line⟧
Reverend Father Dean of Schools, the Respected
Baghdad College
Sulaikh
Baghdad
The Dean

Archival unit 278

Rabbi Sassoon Kadori
LEE GINFFA
Chargé d'Affaires A. I. of China
p. r.
Baghdad

Archival unit 279

⟦illegible⟧ Janssen
Charg⟦illegible⟧ s of Belgium A.I.
⟦illegible⟧ thanks you and
sends you his best
wishes for the
new year.
Baghdad

Archival unit 280

Grigori Zaitsev
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics
p. r.

Archival unit 283

With best wishes
for a Happy New Year
COLONEL WILLIAM EWEN SHIPP
MILITARY ATTACHÉ
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Archival unit 284

Amara, December 12, 947
His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the respected, Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
Today we were honored by your dear letter, current, containing your congratulations on the occasion of
the marriage contract of our daughter Rosette to Naeem Abbar, and we hope to take this opportunity
to offer our thanks and gratitude, along with the newlyweds, to your Excellency for
your kind wishes, praying to the Almighty Creator to preserve you at
the head of the community and make you a safe fortress, always and forever, for it through your
honorable positions. Please accept our greetings and heartfelt wishes, and may you remain
under the care of the Creator, Amen.
Sincerely,
Ezra Meir
Daoud

Archival unit 285

12/26/1947
The Honorable Mr. Saber Ahmed, respected
Assistant Police Officer of Karradat Maryam - Baghdad
My dear Mr. Saber,
Your concern yesterday in recovering my car from the mud had a deep impact on
me, as my car was about to slide and plunge into the riverbank if it were not for your
precious efforts and the activity of your loyal men. I cannot but offer to
your presence my deepest thanks and appreciation for this work, praying to the Almighty to grant you success in ⟦...⟧
and guide your steps to all that is good and successful.
I would be most grateful if you would kindly convey my thanks and appreciation to the
active Commissioner, Mr. Abdul Wahid Abdul Wahab, and the police officers who participated
with him in this commendable work. Please accept my sincere greetings.
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
To be kept
Personal File

Archival unit 286

His Excellency
Rabbi Sassoon
Khedouri, the respected
After greetings and respect
The bearer of this letter of mine - is the son of
Khedouri, one of your employees in this institute
And he came to me saying that he fell into debt at his school
He has been warned by ⟦you⟧ and he is waiting
Please ⟦grant him⟧ a seat in the
Nutrition department, which would not cause harm to either party
I see the assistance and I offer to your Excellency in this
With my thanks and respect, peace
Your brother
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 287

Dear His Eminence, Head of the Community
Please contact Sami Ibrahim
As the eggs came to the Hijaz
during the period of India in it
7 / 4 / 1948 Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
For filing
Personal file

Archival unit 288

Ministry of Justice
Private Office
8 / 2 / 48
His Eminence the Virtuous One
After offering abundant greetings and respect. I hope
that you are enjoying the best of health and wellness.
Furthermore, the old ties between our two families
encourage me to approach your noble eminence with this
simple request, hoping in the name of these ties and the friendship
between our families that you assist the bearer of this letter,
Mr. Asif Nazhat, who is a person dear to us and whose
interest concerns us greatly. He submitted an application for employment in the Directorate
of Railways some time ago, and his case remained dependent
on the will of Monsieur Shohet. Were it not for my knowledge and certainty
of his dire need for the job, I would not have troubled your noble head
with this request.
So my hope in you is that you help him and do not turn him away
disappointed, and to you from me much gratitude and highest respect.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
Sumaya Dhafer al-Zahawi
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 289

On 10 / 2 / 1948
Respected Gentlemen Isaac Daoud Sonier and Partners
After greetings,
I wish to extend to you my sincere thanks and gratitude for your kindness
in lending us four large carpets along with a number of small carpets on the occasion of holding
the funeral for the souls of the righteous martyrs at the headquarters of the community presidency.
I cannot but repeat my thanks to you in view of your constant readiness to support us on various occasions
and providing the required assistance from your side with all welcome,
wishing the Almighty to make success your ally and to guide your steps to all
that is good and prosperous.
Please accept my warmest greetings ⟦line⟧
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
For filing
Administration ⟦illegible⟧
A.

Archival unit 290

On February 12, 1948
His Excellency Mr. Fakhri Al-Jamil, Respectfully
After greetings and respect,
I offer your Excellency my sincere thanks and gratitude for your kindness in gifting us
five boxes of cigarettes from the Al-Thawra Tobacco Company on the occasion of the funeral service for the souls of
the righteous martyrs at the headquarters of the community presidency.
While I pray to the Almighty that He makes this tragedy the end of
the sorrows of the noble Iraqi people, I pray to the Creator to grant you success in serving the public interest.
Please accept my sincere greetings;
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Personal File
A.

Archival unit 291

The children of Rabbi Meir Moallem Rahmin thank His Eminence Rabbi
Sassoon Khadhuri and his colleagues for their attendance to offer condolences on the occasion of the death of their mother
And they pray to Almighty God that He may not show them any misfortune
Keep
The private file
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 292

To the esteemed council
Regarding Miz'al, who was in our synagogue, and since we found him in truth to be of good character and conduct
and upright in behavior and extremely chaste, and during the period of his residence in the house we did not witness
any ill-treatment from him, and we have no ⟦illegible⟧ regarding his place
948
⟦line⟧
2
⟦line⟧
12
⟦illegible⟧

Archival unit 293

11/2/948
His Excellency Mr. Hamid Abdul Majeed Al-Shahwani, Respectfully
Director General of Imports
My dear Hamid Bey
I would be most grateful if Your Excellency would kindly provide all possible assistance
to the bearer of this letter, Hashim Miz'al, regarding his employment in your esteemed directorate.
With my thanks in advance, please accept my abundant gratitude and respect.
⟦illegible⟧
Mr. President
Sincerely,
Head of the Community

Archival unit 294

On 13 / 2 / 1948
The honorable Mr. Hayim Ezra Agam, respected
After greetings ⟦line⟧
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to
Mr. Salman Al-Shuwayhat, formerly with you, regarding the payment of his remaining salary and settling
the dispute between you in a way that ensures the aforementioned Mr. Salman is not harmed
With my thanks in advance, please accept my ⟦line⟧ respect;
⟦signature⟧
With my thanks in advance, please accept my respect ⟦line⟧
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
A.

Archival unit 295

On February 15, 1948
The Honorable Mr. Daoud Khadduri, the Respected
Honorary Secretary of the Israeli Hospitals Committee
Baghdad
My dear Daoud Effendi,
I kindly request you to provide possible assistance regarding the X-ray examination of Saida, daughter of
Rabbi Eliyahu Abraham, free of charge at Meir Elias Hospital.
I hope I have not troubled you with this request. Please accept my thanks.
I kindly request you to provide possible assistance regarding the X-ray examination of Saida, daughter of
Rabbi Eliyahu Abraham, free of charge at Meir Elias Hospital.
I hope I have not troubled you with this request. Please accept my thanks
and res⟦line⟧pect;
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
A.

Archival unit 296

His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the respected
President of the Jewish Community
Greetings and respect,
Furthermore, I present to your Eminence a portrait of your noble self, which is a hand-drawn
painting by my artistic brush. I have aimed to present it in its current state
of artistic creativity, which makes me believe that I have fulfilled what the duty of
art requires in portraying great men. My hope is that it will be the best gift accepted
by your Eminence, knowing your appreciation for art and artists.
Wishing you continued health and longevity.
The Painter
Mazhar Khamis

Archival unit 297

Rafidain Bank
Baghdad
Established under Law No. (33) of (1941) with a capital of
500,000 Dinars
Number: 18218
Date: ⟦illegible⟧
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the respected
President of the Jewish Community
With reference to the Iraqi 3% Loan Bonds of 1944 deposited with us by you under receipt
numbered 24 and dated
In view of the expiration of these bonds on 12/31/947, please inform us if you wish
us to collect their amounts from the Directorate of General Accounts for your account. Note that we charge for
this work a commission of 25 fils per bond, provided that the commission is in no case less than 250 fils.
On behalf of Rafidain Bank
⟦signature⟧
⟦stamp with illegible text and date⟧

Archival unit 298

On February 24, 1948
Department Copy
The Honorable Mr. Dr. Gurji Rabie, Respectfully
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to Naeema
Shaul, the wife of one of the community administration's servants, regarding her examination for free due to her poor condition.
Hoping that I have not troubled you with this request, please accept my highest respect.
⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
A.

Archival unit 299

On February 24, 1948
Department Copy
The Honorable Dr. Gurji Rabie, Respectfully
After greetings,
I would be most grateful if you would kindly provide possible assistance to Naeema
Shaul, the wife of one of the community administration's servants, regarding her examination free of charge due to her poor condition.
Hoping that I have not troubled you with this request, please accept my highest respect.
⟦line⟧
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
A.

Archival unit 300

Baghdad 25 / 2 / 48
His Eminence the Grand Rabbi
Sassoon Khedhouri, the highly respected
After offering my great respect to your venerable person
Sir
Your greeting on the occasion of attending the funeral service
of our family's deceased has truly eased the impact of the event
and the loss of my father, and as we are pleased to extend
our thanks to you, praying to the Almighty Lord to grant
you happiness and a long life, for He is the Hearer of
prayers.
Sincerely: Shakir al-Ani
Judge of the Karkh Court of First Instance ⟦illegible⟧
To be filed
Wills
⟦illegible⟧