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.
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the respected I hope you are in good health and happiness The bearer of this, the person named Rahim Sion, wishes to transfer as a servant in the community court, so I hope to facilitate his procedure, and to you many thanks Sincerely President Mustafa Hinnawi For filing In person
Department Copy On 4 / 1 / 1949 His Eminence, the Chairman of the Midrash Committee, respected Greetings and respect, Further to the above, I request that you provide possible assistance regarding Mr. Sasson Haddad, the teacher whose services were terminated at the Midrash school, regarding the determination of a pension for him that suits his long service which is nearly fifty years at the aforementioned school. Hoping that your respected committee will consider this request with kindness. Please accept our respect ⟦line⟧ Sincerely, Sasson Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 4 / 1 For filing ⟦illegible⟧ 1 / 1 14
Dear owner of the ⟦...⟧ The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, respected Greetings with abundant respect Furthermore, I present that I am a target for what your directives require, which are among the necessities of orders to participate in the charitable works that you have seen fit. Therefore, believe that I do not approach your verification except when necessity urges me to seek mercy and to step forward to be the first response in doing good. For the one who points towards good is like the one who does it. Therefore, my friend Mr. Khedhouri was previously authorized in the appointment to the commander and worked and was first employed in his time he has a case specific to him and his children, may God be pleased with them, and of course you are more aware and know more and older than it, like one Baba Shalom, as you are for some of the people of my religion of health, wellness, and success in your work, and may you remain under God the Merciful Sincere ⟦Muhammad⟧ 11 / 1 / (42) Assistant to Saeed Affairs A letter of recommendation is to be drafted ⟦...⟧ For filing Personal
28th, January, 9. Mr. W.A. Shoane, 12 Hollywood Rd., London, S.W.10. Dear My daughter Victoria has been telling me how nice you and Mrs. Shoane have been to her and her son all the time and of the great assistance you have rendered to her on various occasions. I am writing this letter mainly to thank you and Mrs. Shoane for the grand spirit you have shown her and for the generous hospitality you have exten- ded to her. I shall be very pleased if both of you will always consider my home opened to you and your friends and to reme- mber always that you have a home in Baghdad. Victoria has written to me often about your sweet baby Alexander who resembles one of my grandsons. May God preserve him for you and preserve you for him. Sending you my fatherly blessings and thanks, and wishing you all the best, Yours Rabbi Sasson Khadhouri. For filing Adjust the minutes ⟦illegible⟧ 2/1
ABDULLA S. SHINA
ADVOCATE
BAGHDAD
(IRAQ)
Telephones { Office 3909
{ Res. 6408
Abdulla Shina
Advocate
Baghdad
Telephone Number { Office 3909
{ Residence 6408
Baghdad on 20 / 1 / 949
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, may God Almighty protect him
After offering my greetings and respects.
The bearer of this letter (Hayim Sassoon) has four children and has been licensed for
12 years and is in need of working in the interest - if that is possible -
And I learned that he met with your successor, your eminence, and you referred him to
Rabbi Daoud Masfi. I wanted to petition Rabbi Daoud
myself for his sake to give him some job in the interest, but I feared that
you might be upset with me if I petitioned someone other than your eminence
I would be very grateful to your eminence if it is possible to arrange something
for this man and help him in his request as much as possible: and I continue
to pray to God for you always and from the bottom of my heart for long life
success, honor, and glory. And please, your eminence, accept my highest
respects.
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
⟦illegible red stamp⟧
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
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⟧
⟦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
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
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
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 / ⟦...⟧
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 to nine o'clock in the afternoon on July 4, 1949. ⟦illegible⟧ Private Car
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
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
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
I offer my sincerest congratulations on the happy Eid Mosul ⟦949⟧ ⟦12 / 10⟧ To the servant Salimun Barazi
I congratulate you on the happy Eid wishing you happiness and prosperity ⟦Al-Hajj Ahmed Al-Hajj Haddad Al-Fayli⟧
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
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
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 well-remembered late Dr. Max Krumach, and I deeply regret my inability to attend due to a health setback. I hope you will convey this apology to the family of the deceased along with my sincere condolences, 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 assurances of my highest respect. Sincerely, Rabbi Sassoon Khadouri
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
Rafidain Bank General Center - Baghdad Number: 36 Date: ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ / 1949 To His Excellency my brother, the respected Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri President of the Jewish Community - Baghdad We enclose herewith a receipt for the amount of 1 / 010 Dinars being the interest due on the bonds of the Iraqi Loan as of 12/31/1948 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 ⟦signature⟧
OTTOMAN BANK SECURITIES DEPARTMENT. Ottoman Bank Baghdad: MAR 18 1949 19: 19: Name/Address: Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Baghdad. We give you hereunder list of | We list below the list of securities deposited with us for your account Securities held for your account at 31st Dec. 1948. | on the date of After checking, please sign and | After checking, please return the attached form signed return to us the attached form without delay. | by you without delay Please note to your debit in | We have debited you in the current / provisional account I.D. -/100 current / provisional account I.D. -/100 | Dinars as a custody fee for this year. in respect of custody fee for the current year. ⟦signature⟧ | Manager | Assistant Manager SUB - MANAGER. | MANAGER.
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Head of the Israelite Community in Baghdad ⟦line⟧ Baghdad