AI en Translation, Pages 176-200
Page 176
Rabbi ⟦Sassoon Khedouri⟧
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad, October 6, 1940
To the Honorable Distinguished Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect
Based on Article Eleven of the Jewish Community Regulation No. 36
for the year 1931, I invite the esteemed General Council to hold its first meeting
at five o'clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, October 8, 940, to examine
any potential objections regarding the election of one of the Council members and to decide upon them
So I request your attendance at the appointed time
And please accept my respect
Sincerely
⟦Sassoon Khedouri⟧
Head of the Community
Page 177
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad, October 28, 1940
To the Honorable Notable Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect
In view of the lack of a quorum in the meeting to which I invited the General
Council to hold on 10/8/1940, I invite the esteemed Council to hold
the meeting again at five-thirty in the afternoon on Thursday,
October 31, 1940. I hope for your attendance at the meeting on time
and I thank you ⟦?⟧
President of the Community
Page 178
Members of the Israeli General Council
Session 1940 - 1944
President
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Members
A
Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem Nassim
Ibrahim Saleh El-Kabir
Lawyer Ibrahim Abboudi Khazam
Ibrahim Daoud Nahoum
Israel Nassim Hay
Eliyahu Heskel El-Ani
Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq
Eliyahu Meir Daoud
Lawyer Anwar Shaul
B
Rabbi Benjamin Hakham Moshe
H
Heskel Daoud Shamtoob
Lawyer Heskel Yaqub Murad
Kh
Khedhouri Meir Levi
Khedhouri Murad Shukur
D
Daoud Samra
Daoud Shaul Tweig
Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musfi
Dr. Daoud Moallem Nassim
R
Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim
Reuben Ezra Daoud
Reuben Yehuda Zeloof
S
Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Ishaq
Sassoon Murad Sassoon
Sassoon Hakham Nassim Cohen
Sassoon Heskel Bahar
Lawyer Salman Saleh El-Kabir
Lawyer Salman Sion Sheina
Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
Lawyer Selim Isaac
Dr. Selim Kouei
S (Sad)
Saleh Shlomo Abdullah
Saleh Faraj Hayyim
Sion Shoa Gigi
Sion Ezra Nissan
A (Ain)
Abdullah Sion Sheina
Lawyer Abboudi Setti
Ezra Eliyahu El-Ani
Ezra Heskel Bahar
Dr. Ezra Qaz'een
Ezra Meir Matana
Ezra Menachem Daniel
Ezra Nassim Al-Wiyah
K
Karji Ibrahim Hayyim Hakham Isaac
Dr. Karji Meir Rabie
Karji Shalom Levi
M
Meir Shaul Menashi Shooshua
Meir Hakham Moshe Dangour
Menashi Ibrahim Karji
Menashi Heskel Dangour
Mozaita
Moshe Shaul Sofer
Dr. Nurallah Moussa
Nunu Mukammal
H
Haroun Heskel Smouha
Y
Yamin Murad
Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel
Dr. Joseph Rosenfeld
Lawyer Joseph Saleh El-Kabir
Joseph Nassim Abboudi
Page 179
Based on Article 11 of the Israelite Community Regulation No. 36 of 1931, His
Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, convened the
General Council at five o'clock in the afternoon on Tuesday 8/10/1940 to examine
potential objections regarding the election of one of the council members and to decide upon them. Due to the lack of
a quorum at this meeting, the meeting was postponed to another date.
President of the Community
⟦faint pencil scribbles⟧
Page 181
The Twenty-Fourth Meeting
Based on the invitation addressed to the members of the General Council to hold an extraordinary
meeting on the evening of Tuesday, September 10, 1940, at 6:15 PM, to consider
the following agenda items -
1) The general budget for the year 39 / 940
2) Amounts spent outside the budget of the year 38 / 939
3) A proposal to impose a fee on certificates issued by the Presidency of the Community
Ten members, whose names are recorded in the special register, attended the Community administration,
and due to the lack of a legal quorum, the meeting was postponed to another date.
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Page 182
The Twenty-Fifth Meeting
Based on the lack of a quorum in the General Council meeting on September 10, 1940, I have invited
the General Council to meet again at the Community Administration at 6:15 PM on Sunday,
September 15, 1940, to consider the following agenda items:
1) The general budget for the year 39/940
2) Amounts spent outside the budget for the year 38/939
3) A proposal to impose a fee on certificates issued by the Community Presidency
Twenty members attended the meeting (excluding the President), whose names are recorded in the special register.
The quorum was considered achieved according to Article 14 of the Community Bylaws, and the meeting was held under my chairmanship. Consideration of
the agenda items began, and members Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim, Moshe Eina, Heskel Murad,
and Anwar Shaul spoke, pointing out the Lay Council's delay in submitting the general budget for the year 39/940 until
this time, when the year is nearly over, such that the General Council finds itself facing a fait accompli,
leaving its ratification without the effect intended by the legislator.
Member Mr. Munir Doctor, Vice President of the Lay Council, responded to this by saying that Article
26 of the Community Bylaws, which states that (if a fiscal year occurs and the General Council has not ratified
its budget, the Lay Council may spend from the community fund according to the previous budget
until its new budget is ratified), authorizes the Lay Council the right to delay the budget when unusual
circumstances occur, especially since the deficit prevailing over the community fund makes it difficult for the Lay
Council to organize the general budget on time, and it must wait for revenues to be realized so it can
organize the required budget. As for the claim that delaying the General Council's ratification of the budget until the passing
of the greater part of the year makes it ineffective, the Vice President replied that the Council's ratification
does not lose its effect because the General Council can now reject the increases proposed by the Lay
Council in some allocations, and what the Lay Council paid to institutions on account for the year
39/940 was according to the previous budget, and accounts will not be settled according to the new budget except after
the General Council's ratification of it.
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim responded to the remarks of the Vice President of the Lay Council, stating that the intent of
the referred article is that when it is impossible to convene the General Council for any reason, the Lay
Council can spend from the community fund according to the previous budget. However, if it were possible to convene
the General Council to ratify the new budget, there is no excuse for resorting to this article. He insisted on
the necessity of submitting the general budget at the beginning of the year, and the Vice President promised to do so. Then the General Council ratified,
by unanimous vote of those present, the general budget for the year 39/940 and the amounts spent outside the budget
for the year 38/939 as submitted by the Lay Council in the budget ledger. It also approved the proposal of the Lay
Council to impose a fee on certificates issued by the Community Presidency in Baghdad, provided that it is studied
Page 183
- 2 -
The subject by a committee composed of the members, Messrs. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nissim, Heskel Yaqub Murad, and Anwar
Shaul, for the purpose of classifying fees according to certificates. The Lay Council recommended studying the issue of imposing fees
on lawsuits filed before the Israeli Religious Courts of Baghdad, and with that the meeting was concluded;
Sassoon
President of the Community
Page 184
Based on the invitation of His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
the members of the General Council whose names are listed below met at the Jewish Community administration
at five-thirty in the afternoon on Thursday, October 31, 1940, namely:
as follows:
Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim | Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim | Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq | Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Isaac | Salim Isaac
Anwar Shaul | Sassoon Murad Sassoon | Zion Shua Gigi
Khedhouri Mutheer Lawi | Sassoon Rabbi Nassim Cohen | Mutheer Rabbi Moshe Dangoor
Daoud Shaul Tweig | Salman Saleh Al-Kabir | Menashe Ibrahim Karji
Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musfi | Salman Zion Sheina | Haron Hesqel Smouha
| | Yamin Murad
This was to hold the meeting for a second time in accordance with Article 11 of the Jewish Community Regulation No. 36 of
1931. Based on Article 14 of the Community Regulation, the quorum was considered present and the meeting was held
under the chairmanship of His Eminence the President of the Community. Article 11 of the regulation was read, and the President was asked if there
was any objection to the election of any of the council members, and nothing of the sort occurred. Accordingly,
the session was adjourned;
⟦Sassoon⟧
President of the Community
Page 185
Based on the invitation of His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad,
there met at the administration of the Jewish Community at five-thirty in the afternoon
on Thursday, October 31, 1940, the members of the General Council whose names are listed
below, namely:
Ibrahim Hayim Moallem Nassim | Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayim | Rabbi Salman Hoki Aboudi
Eliyahu Hayim Tawfiq | Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Ishaq | Salim Isaac
Anwar Shaul | Sassoon Murad Sassoon | Zion Shua Gigi
Khedhouri Meir Lawi | Sassoon Rabbi Nassim Cohen | Meir Rabbi Moshe Dangoor
Daoud Shaul Tweig | Salman Saleh Al-Kabir | Menashi Ibrahim Karji
Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musfi | Salman Zion Sheina | Haron Hesqel Smouha
| | Yamin Murad
This was to hold the meeting for a second time in accordance with Article 11 of the Jewish Community Regulation No. 36 of the year
1931. Based on Article 14 of the Community Regulation, the quorum was considered present and the meeting was held
under the chairmanship of His Eminence the President of the Community. Article 11 of the Regulation was read, and the President was asked if there
was any objection to the election of any of the Council members, and nothing of the sort occurred. Accordingly,
the session was adjourned;
President of the Community
Page 186
Based on the decision of the esteemed General Council taken on September 15, 940, and communicated to us by the letter of the Presidency
of the Community No. 6176 dated 11/25/940, we met on the evening of 2/23/941 and placed the issue of classifying
certificate fees under study, and the following became clear to us:
1 - The certificates whose issuance was verified by the Presidency of the Community in the last two years are as follows:
Type of Certificate | Year 1939 | Year 1940
Marriage Certificate | 322 | 353
Authentication of Seal | 63 | 48
Death Certificate | 17 | 38
Birth Certificate | 20 | 42
Divorce Certificate | 6 | 10
| 428 | 491
It is clear from the above that the average number of certificates of various types for these two years is 460 certificates
annually. If we consider that the average certificate fee is a quarter of a dinar, then the total expected to be collected annually from
certificate fees is approximately one hundred dinars. This is if it is possible to maintain the number of applicants, but we
believe that 25% of this number will refrain from applying for certificates that are not of extreme necessity,
and 25% will claim poverty, especially those requesting certificates that themselves state poverty. Despite the
possibility of the usual increase in certificates, we do not believe, upon starting to collect fees, that the number of
certificates for which a fee can actually be collected ⟦increases⟧ will exceed 300 certificates, and this would result in revenue
not exceeding 75 dinars.
2 - After careful consideration, we decided to submit to the esteemed Council a proposal to postpone the implementation of this project
at the present time for the following reasons:
A - Since this project involves the first modern communal fee to be established pursuant to paragraph B of Article
18 of the Community Bylaws No. 36 of 1931, the smallness of the amount expected to be obtained does not encourage
the administration of the community to approach the government regarding its approval.
B - Since there is an intention to impose other fees on religious court cases and others, it is more appropriate and beneficial
to approach the government regarding all these fees at once at the appropriate time when the general crisis
is relieved.
For the aforementioned reasons, we submit this proposal of ours to postpone consideration of the issue of establishing these fees, even if we
agree with the esteemed Council on establishing them in principle. Accordingly, this minutes was organized and deposited with His Excellency the President
of the Community to be submitted to the esteemed General Council at its next meeting.
Baghdad, February 23, 941
⟦signatures⟧
Page 187
Based on the decision of the esteemed General Council taken on September 15, 940, and communicated to us by the letter of the Presidency
of the Community No. 6176 dated 11/25/940, we met on the evening of 2/23/941 and placed the issue of classifying
certificate fees under study, and the following became clear to us:
1 - The certificates whose issuance was verified by the Presidency of the Community in the last two years are as follows:
Type of Certificate | Year 1939 | Year 1940
Marriage Certificate | 322 | 353
Authentication of Seal | 63 | 48
Death Certificate | 17 | 38
Birth Certificate | 20 | 42
Divorce Certificate | 6 | 10
Total | 428 | 491
It is clear from the above that the average number of certificates of various types for these two years is 460 certificates
annually. If we consider that the average certificate fee is a quarter of a dinar, then the total expected to be collected annually from
certificate fees is approximately ⟦one hundred and fifteen⟧ dinars. This is if it is possible to maintain the number of applicants, but we
believe that 25% of this number will refrain from applying for certificates that are not of extreme necessity,
and 25% will claim poverty, especially those requesting certificates that themselves state poverty. Despite
the possibility of the usual increase in certificates, we do not believe, upon starting to collect fees, that the number of
certificates for which a fee can actually be collected ⟦formerly⟧ will exceed 300 certificates, and this would result in revenue not
exceeding 75 dinars.
2 - After careful consideration, we decided to submit to the esteemed Council a proposal to postpone the implementation of this project
at the present time for the following reasons:
A - Since this project involves the first modern communal fee to be established pursuant to paragraph B of Article
18 of the Community Bylaws No. 36 of 1931, the smallness of the amount expected to be obtained does not encourage
the Community administration to approach the government regarding its approval.
B - Since there is an intention to impose other fees on religious court cases and others, it is more appropriate and beneficial
to approach the government regarding all these fees at once at the appropriate time when the general crisis
is relieved.
For the aforementioned reasons, we submit this proposal of ours to postpone consideration of the issue of establishing these fees, even if we
agree with the esteemed Council on establishing them in principle. Accordingly, this minutes was organized and deposited with His Eminence the Head of
the Community to be submitted to the esteemed General Council at its next meeting.
Baghdad, February 23, 941
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
Page 188
Based on the lack of a legal quorum at the meeting to which I invited the General Council
to be held on the evening of Thursday, September 25, 1941, to consider the budget for the year 1940/41 submitted by the
Lay Council according to its letter No. 3334 dated 8/26/1941, I have invited the Council to meet
a second time at five-thirty in the evening on Sunday, September 28, 1941, in accordance with Article 14 of
the Jewish Community Regulation No. 36 of 1931. In addition to the President, the members whose names are listed
below attended: ⟦line⟧
Ibrahim Abboudi Khozem | Rabbi Salman Hooki Abboudi
Eliyahu Meir Daoud | Selim Isaac
Anwar Shaul | Saleh Fattouh Hayyim
Heskel Yaqoub Murad | Abdullah Sayon Sheena
Khedhouri Murad Shaker | Meir Hakham Moshi Dangour
Rabbi Daoud Ezra Sofi | Moshi Zayta
Dr. Daoud Moallem Nassim | Yamin Murad
Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim | Rabbi Yehoshua Moshi Heskel
Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Ishaq |
Sassoon Murad Sassoon |
Sassoon Heskel Bahar |
Salman Saleh Al-Kabir |
The total number of attendees was twenty-one. A discussion took place regarding the budget, and the members criticized its delay
until this time and demanded that the Council expedite its submission in the future so that the Council could
discuss and decide upon it before the start of the year. The member Mr. Sassoon Murad Sassoon, in his capacity as a member
of the Lay Council, promised to include the Council's desire in this regard. The attendees approved the
budget as submitted by the Lay Council, and the meeting was adjourned;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
Page 189
Based on the lack of a legal quorum in the meeting to which I invited the General Council to
hold on Thursday evening, September 25, 941, to consider the budget for the year 941/40 submitted by the
Lay Council according to its letter No. 3334 dated 8/26/941, I have invited the Council to a
second meeting at five-thirty on the evening of Sunday, September 28, 941, in accordance with Article 14 of
the Israeli Community Regulation No. 36 of the year 931. In addition to the President, the members whose names are listed
below attended: -
Ibrahim Abboudi Khuwaym | Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
Eliyahu Meir Daoud | Selim Isaac
Anwar Shaul | Saleh Qawim Hayyim
Heskel Yaqoub Murad | Abdullah Sahyoun Sheina
Khedhouri Murad Shaker | Munir Hakham Moshi Dangour
Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musaffi | Moise Absha
Dr. Daoud Moallem Nassim | Yamin Murad
Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim | Hakham Yehoshua Moshi Heskel
Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Ishaq |
Sassoon Murad Sassoon |
Sassoon Heskel Bahar |
Salman Saleh Al-Kabir |
The total number of attendees was twenty-one. A discussion took place regarding the budget, and the members criticized its delay
until this time and demanded that the Council expedite its submission in the future so that the Council could
discuss and decide upon it before the start of the year. The member Mr. Sassoon Murad Sassoon, in his capacity as a member
of the Lay Council, promised to satisfy the Council's desire in this regard. The attendees approved the
budget as submitted by the Lay Council, and the meeting was adjourned;
Head of the Community
Page 191
Rabbi ⟦Sassoon Khedouri⟧ Baghdad on January 21, 1937
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
To the honorable and distinguished member of the esteemed General Council
After greetings and respect, on the occasion of my re-election to the presidency of
the community, I consider myself very happy to seize this precious opportunity to
offer to your esteemed council my sincere thanks for the precious trust that
you have placed in my person, hoping that the Almighty Lord will grant me success in performing the task entrusted
to me and working for the happiness of this noble community and the service of this
dear homeland
Hoping that I will always remain worthy of the high expectations of your council
Please accept my highest respects
President of the Community
Page 192
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 531
Subject Summary: Election of the President of the Jewish Community
Number: 4121
Date: 24 January 937
His Excellency the Respected Minister of Justice
In view of the fact that my term of election for the presidency of the Jewish community ends on 18
February 1937 (the date of the issuance of the obeyed Royal Decree was 19 February 933), I
saw fit to invite the esteemed General Council to elect a president for the community for the four
coming years on 20 January 1937, so that there remains ample time to issue the Royal
Decree in this regard on the coming 19th of February.
Accordingly, the Council met on the aforementioned date and the election took place, and the
result was the renewal of my election for four years starting at the end of the current term
ending 18 / 2 / 937, in accordance with what is recorded in the copy of the minutes attached herewith. We request
Your Excellency to kindly take the necessary legal measures in this regard.
⟦Sassoon Khedhouri⟧
President of the Community
To
Page 194
Election of the President of the Jewish Community
January 24, 1937
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice
Given that my term of election for the presidency of the Jewish community ends on February 18,
1937 (the date of the issuance of the obeyed Royal Decree was February 19, 1933), I have
decided to invite the esteemed General Council to elect a president for the community for the next four
years on January 20, 1937, so that there remains ample time to issue the Royal
Decree in this regard on the upcoming February 19.
Accordingly, the Council met on the mentioned date and the election took place x
as recorded in the copy of the minutes attached herewith. We request Your Excellency to kindly
take the necessary legal measures in this regard,
President of the Community
x
The result also led to the renewal of his election for four years starting at the end of the current term ending on 2/18/1937
Page 195
Based on the invitation of His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish
Community in Baghdad, fifty-five members of the General Council, whose names are recorded
in the special register, met on the evening of Wednesday, January 20, 1937,
to elect a president for the community in accordance with Article 3 of the Community Law No. 77 of
1931. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Yehuda Saleh Zeloof, President of the Lay Council.
Upon distributing and sorting the ballots by a committee composed of Rabbi Salman Hoogi Aboudi,
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem Nassim, and Mr. Saleh Faraj Hayyim, it appeared that His Eminence Rabbi
Sassoon Khedhouri won by unanimous vote and became President of the Community. Accordingly, this protocol was organized.
Committee Members | Session Chair
Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem | Saleh Faraj | Rabbi | Yehuda Saleh Zeloof
Nassim | Hayyim | Salman Hoogi
Page 196
Based on the invitation of His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish
Community in Baghdad, fifty-five members of the General Council, whose names are recorded
in the special register, met on the evening of Wednesday, January 20, 1937, to elect a
President for the Community in accordance with Article 3 of the Community Law No. 77 of
1931. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Yehuda Saleh Zeloof, President of the Lay Council.
Upon distributing the ballots and sorting them by a committee composed of Rabbi Salman Hoki Aboudi,
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem Nassim, and Mr. Saleh Faraj Hayyim, it appeared that His Eminence Rabbi
Sassoon Khedhouri won by unanimous vote and became President of the Community, and thus this protocol was organized.
| Committee Members | | Chairman of the Session
Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem | Saleh Faraj | Rabbi | Yehuda Saleh Zeloof
Nassim | Hayyim | Salman Hoki |
Page 197
The Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Editing Department
General Number 7/1/19/4
Date 27 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1355
8 February 1937
To - His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
We send you herewith a copy of the obeyed Royal Decree No. 69
for the year 1937 issued for your appointment as Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad.
Minister of Justice
A copy to -
Secretariat of the Council of Ministers - Reference to its letter No. 1173
dated 4 / 2 / 1937
For filing
Page 198
69
Number
I have issued my Royal Decree
After reviewing Article Four of the Law of the Jewish Community
No. 77 of the year 1931
And based on what was presented by the Minister of Justice
To appoint Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri as President of the Jewish Community
Council in Baghdad
The Minister of Justice shall execute this Decree
Written in Baghdad on the twenty-first day of the month of Dhu al-Qi'dah, year 1355
And the first day of the month of February, year 1937.
Ghazi
Salih Jabr | Hikmat Sulayman
Minister of Justice | Prime Minister
Page 199
M. ITTAH
GENERAL MERCHANT &
COMMISSION AGENT
TELEPHONE No. 417
TELEGRAMS : MASCHITA
CODES A. B. C. 6TH BENTLEY'S
Moise Ittah
Telephone No. 417
Telegraphic Address (Maschita)
Baghdad, 5 May 1937
P. O. BOX No. 18
No.
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the Respected
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Greetings and Respect,
I hereby submit to you my resignation from membership in the Lay Council
and membership in the Schools Committee.
Sincerely,
M. Ittah
Page 200
422
10 May 937
The Honorable and Distinguished Mr. Meir Eita, Respectfully
After greetings and respect,
It is very difficult for me to receive your resignation dated 5 May 937 from the membership of
the Lay Council and the Schools Committee at this time when I find
the community in greater need of your blessed efforts than at any other time.
In view of what I know of your noble person regarding sacrifice for the good of
the group, we are certain that your presence - and I apologize for refusing your resignation -
will not hesitate to add this new favor to the series of your favors
and your well-known sacrifices for the sake of the public interest.
I hope to remain sincerely;
Haroun
Head of the Community