AI en Translation, Pages 426-450
Page 426
Israeli Hospitals Committee
Baghdad
Date / 14 February 1945
To
The Temporary Committee for Studying the Status of Hospitals
Respectfully,
The committee reviewed in its session held on 13 / 2 / 1945 your letter dated
12 / 2 / 1945 and found it strange that your committee interferes in matters whose decision belongs
to this committee, which is within its sole jurisdiction and no other. Even stranger is your
writing to Dr. Balyan, Director of Meir Elias Hospital, in this regard and requesting him to state
his opinion to you directly. Sincerely.
The President
A copy of it to
His Excellency the President of the Honorable Lay Council for kind review
Dr. Balyan, Director of Meir Elias Hospital, with the request to ignore
what was stated in the aforementioned committee's letter for bypassing the proper authority.
Page 427
13 February 945
The honorable and virtuous friend, Mr. Yahya Shmuel Nahafi
Secretary of the Israelite Community in Mosul
The Respected
Mosul
After greetings and respect
Your kind letter No. 15/298 dated 2/8/945
had the greatest impact on me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your
generous sentiments towards me, wishing you every success and prosperity
May you remain in perfect respect;
Sincerely
Sassoon
Head of the Community
Elections
Page 428
8158
6 March 945
The Illustrious Ministry of Justice
Baghdad
Due to the death of His Eminence Rabbi Benjamin Hakham Bushi, President of
the Spiritual Council and one of the spiritual members of the General Council,
one of the memberships of the General Council has become vacant. Since the name of His Eminence
Rabbi Sassoon Sahayeq is the first in the list of surplus names in the minutes of
the election of spiritual members for the current General Council, he has replaced
the deceased member according to the wording of Article 15 of the Jewish Community Regulation
No. 36 of 1931. I request that you record this accordingly.
On behalf of
The President of the Community
Justice
Elections
Page 429
Telegram 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number:
Telegram Type:
Time of Registration:
Department Stamp
⟦illegible⟧
Arrived at 18:58
From ⟦A⟧ Received by ⟦A⟧
Word count 29 Administrative instructions ⟦2⟧ Date 21 Issuing office Basra
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri President of the Jewish
Community Baghdad
We were delighted for the community upon your re-election
for the fourth time as its president. May the Creator grant you success in elevating its status
and may you remain in continued health and righteousness
Lawyer Daoud Salman ⟦Hayanat⟧
Page 430
Telegram 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
BAGHDAD
ELS
11 DEC 49
Telegraph Department
Number:
Telegram Type:
Registration Time:
Arrived at hour: ⟦illegible⟧
Minute: 18
From: ⟦illegible⟧
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 24
Administrative Instructions:
Date: ⟦illegible⟧
Issuing Office: ⟦illegible⟧
To: His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
I was very pleased with your Eminence's re-election as President of the community
I ask God to grant you success for what is good and I pray to the Lord to
support you greatly for the interest of the entire community and long
life
Rabbi Aqeel Hoki Rabbi
America on the fifth
461
274
Page 431
46
Security
Telegram 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number
Telegram Type
Time of Registration
Arrived at Hour: 8
Minute: 55
From: ⟦illegible⟧
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word Count: 20
Administrative Instructions:
Date: 12/12
Issuing Office: Basra
Office Stamp
12.12.49
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon
Khedouri, President of the Jewish
Community, Baghdad
We congratulate you on your re-election for the fourth time
for the Jewish community and we wish the community through you
all the best, and for your eminence continued health and wellness
Isaac Abed, President of the Community
Page 432
8157
6 March 945
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the respected
After greetings and respect
Since your name is the first in the list of surplus names in the minutes of
the election of spiritual members for the current General Council, you shall, according to
Article Fifteen of the Jewish Community Regulation No. 36 of the year
1931, occupy the membership vacated by the death of His Eminence Rabbi Benjamin
Hakham Moshe, may God have mercy on him.
Please accept my wishes for your success;
⟦Ezra⟧
Head of the Community
⟦Elections⟧
Page 433
8058
7 January 945
The Honorable Ministry of Justice
Baghdad
Since the term of my election to the presidency of the community ends on
18 February 945, I have invited the General Council to hold an extraordinary
meeting to elect a president for the next term, at
five o'clock on the evening of Sunday, 17 December 944. The
Council met at the appointed time and voted to elect me as president of the community
for the next four years starting on 19 February 945.
I submit herewith to your honorable Ministry the minutes of the aforementioned meeting, requesting
the favor of mediating to issue the obeyed Royal Decree in this regard.
⟦Sassoon⟧
President of the Community
Page 434
Copy of the minutes of the General Council meeting
Dated December 17, 944
On December 10, 944, the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad called the General Council
to convene at five o'clock on the evening of Sunday, December 17, 944, to elect a new
President for the community for the upcoming term starting on the nineteenth day of February 945. At
the appointed time, the fifty members whose names are recorded elsewhere in this register attended. The
President opened the meeting and instructed the secretary to read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were read. He then asked if
anyone had an objection to the minutes, and no objection occurred. Then His Eminence invited Mr. Eliyahu Hayyim
Tawfiq, President of the Lay Council, to chair the meeting in his stead to manage the election and left the chair of
the presidency to him. The President asked the members if any of them wished to speak before proceeding with the election.
Member Mr. Daoud Samra spoke, praising the great services rendered by His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon
Khedhouri, the current President of the community, during his tenure in the presidency over the last twelve
years. He said that this venerable spiritual man has been able, through his knowledge and wisdom, to gain the
appreciation and trust of his fellow citizens. He stated that although the community law allowed the election of a layman to the presidency of
the community, in Eastern countries, such a position can only be filled by a spiritual man, and the current
President is the most worthy man for this position among our spiritual men. He was followed by Mr. Heskel Yaqub
Murad, supporting Mr. Daoud Samra in everything he said about His Eminence the President, adding that His Eminence, before
being elected to the presidency twelve years ago, had held important religious positions in the community, such as the head of the slaughterhouse,
membership in the Religious Court, then presiding over the court more than once, presiding over the Spiritual Council, then acting as the Haham
Bashi. During this long period, he has proven that he is worthy of unlimited trust, and he requested his
re-election for the next term, as there is no one among the rabbis more worthy of this position than him. Mr.
Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem Nassim spoke and supported the two previous speakers, pointing out the strenuous work
performed by His Eminence the President and the fatigue he endures in his arduous job. Then Mr. Ibrahim
Al-Kabir spoke and said that he has known His Eminence the President of the community for twenty years and praised his ability to manage the affairs
of the community. He then added, saying that while we regret the occurrence of misplaced attacks from
some individuals for personal purposes, we must pay attention to the sincere criticisms issued by some
youth and give them their due study and attention. Then the President ordered the distribution of papers and invited members
Yehoshua Moshe Heskel, Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad, and Mr. Daoud Salman to supervise the
election and classify the votes. The election was held by secret ballot under the supervision of the aforementioned gentlemen,
and the papers were classified, and the result was as follows:
⟦illegible⟧
In the troubles that
Mr. Ibrahim mentioned
his name that he
wanted to inform
the Council
about some
general matters
on the occasion of
one of which is
the required fee
from the pilgrims
of the Holy House
from the Mosaic community
which is still being plundered for the purpose of these
occasions
Page 435
Name | Number of Votes
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri | 49 votes
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem Nassim | 1 one vote
Total | 50
The President announced that His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri has been elected President of the community for the four years
beginning on the nineteenth of February, nineteen hundred and forty-five AD. The
result was met with applause, and His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri was invited to the presidential chair, where His Eminence addressed
the members of the council, thanking them for the precious trust they placed in his person and asking them all for blessings
and success, then the meeting was adjourned.
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq
Chairman of the Session
Election Supervision Committee
Daoud Salman | Heskel Yaqub Murad | Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel
Member | Member | Member
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
Page 436
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
16 April 945
The Honorable and Distinguished Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect.
I request you to kindly attend at the headquarters of the community administration at
six o'clock in the evening on Sunday, 22 April 945, to continue holding
the adjourned meeting of the General Council and to review the remaining agenda items
from the meeting of 15 April 945.
With continued respect
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Page 437
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad 8 April 945
To the Honorable Notable Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect
In view of the lack of a quorum in the meeting for which I invited the
Honorable General Council to hold on Sunday evening 18 March 945, I invite you to attend
at the headquarters of the Community Presidency at six o'clock in the evening on Sunday
15 April 945 to hold the meeting again in accordance with Article 14 of the Bylaws
Please accept my respect
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Elections
Page 438
⟦8204⟧
18 April 945
His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim, the respected
After greetings and respect,
I am very pleased to announce to your Eminence that the esteemed General Council
in its meeting held on 15 April 945 has placed its trust in your
Eminence and elected you as Chief Rabbi for the next four years.
I congratulate you from the heart on this precious trust and wish your Eminence continued
success.
Please accept the highest respect;
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
A copy of it to the esteemed Spiritual Council
A copy of it to the esteemed Lay Council
⟦Proof⟧
Page 439
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 8204
Subject:
Date: 18 April 945
His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim, Respectfully
After greetings and respect
I am very pleased to announce to your Eminence that the esteemed General Council
in its meeting held on 15 April 945 has placed its trust in your
Eminence and elected you as Chief Rabbi for the next four years.
I congratulate you from the heart on this precious trust and wish your Eminence continued
success.
Please accept the highest respect;
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Community
A copy of it to the esteemed Spiritual Council
A copy of it to the esteemed Lay Council
Elections
Page 440
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 825 - 5
Subject:
Date: 18 April 945
His Eminence Rabbi Yosef Rabi, Respectfully
After greetings and respect
With the election of His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim to the Chief Rabbinate,
his membership in the Spiritual Council has become vacant, and therefore the General Council
esteemed in its meeting held on Sunday evening, 15 April 945, has
elected you by majority to fill this vacant membership.
I congratulate you on this precious trust placed by the Council in the person of
Your Eminence, and I wish you continued success.
Sincerely;
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
A copy of it to the Presidency of the Esteemed Spiritual Council
A copy of it to the Presidency of the Esteemed Lay Council ✓
Elections
Page 441
Election of a Chief Rabbi
Due to the death of the late, of blessed memory, His Eminence Rabbi Benjamin Hakham Moshe,
Chief Rabbi of the Israelite community in Baghdad, His Excellency Rabbi
Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the community, called the General Council to an extraordinary
session to elect a new president to succeed the late honorable one in the Chief Rabbinate.
Last Sunday evening, thirty-four members of the aforementioned Council met
at the headquarters of the community presidency. They held a meeting chaired by His Excellency the President of the community, and His Excellency
opened the meeting expressing regret for the death of the late Chief Rabbi and eulogized him with
moving words, and asked the members of the Council to stand for one minute of silence. After a
religious prayer was recited for the soul of the deceased, the election took place by secret ballot and the votes were sorted
under the supervision of a committee from the Council. The result was that His Eminence Rabbi Raphael
Isaac, member of the Spiritual Council, won a majority of twenty-three votes.
Thus, His Eminence became Chief Rabbi and President of the Spiritual Council. With his election
to the presidency, his membership in the Spiritual Council became vacant, so the Council elected in the same meeting
His Eminence Rabbi Yosef Rabi' to fill the vacant membership.
Presidency of the Israelite Community | Date: 16 April 945
Newspaper | Al-Gharra
Please publish the above news in your information and thank you!
⟦illegible⟧
The Secretary.
Miscellaneous
Elections
Page 442
A.C. 6
22 April 945
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice
His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim, the new Chief Rabbi elected in accordance with
what we explained in our letter to Your Excellency No. 8202 dated 8 / 4 / 945, had occupied the membership of
the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad in recent years. Since a number of lawsuits
in which he participated in issuing the preliminary judgment are now presented for review in the Jewish Religious
Court of Cassation, of which he has become president by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Article 15 of the Community Law,
and since His Eminence is prohibited from participating in their review on appeal due to his prior participation in considering
them in the Religious Court. And since the third paragraph of Article 15 of the Community Law
stipulated that the Chief Rabbi himself shall preside over the Court of Cassation, I therefore request Your Excellency to order
the taking of necessary measures to amend the aforementioned Article 15 in the following manner:
"The following phrase shall be added to the end of the third paragraph of Article fifteen of the
Jewish Community Law No. 77 of the year 931:
If the Chief Rabbi is unable to attend for any reason, the eldest member shall preside over the court."
If this proposal gains approval and the article is amended in this manner, it will be possible to review those
judgments in the Court of Cassation, which would convene under the chairmanship of the eldest member.
With great respect to Your Excellency;
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Elections
Page 443
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
May 6, 1945
To the Honorable and Distinguished Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect.
I request your kind presence at the headquarters of the Community Presidency at
six-thirty in the evening on Sunday, May 13, 1945, to continue
holding the adjourned meeting of the General Council and to review the agenda items
remaining from the meeting of April 22, 1945.
With continued respect,
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
President of the Community
Elections
Page 444
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
June 10, 945
To the Honorable Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect
Please be so kind as to attend at the headquarters of the Community Presidency at six-thirty in the afternoon
on Sunday evening, June 24, 945, to hold an extraordinary meeting of the General Council to consider
the following items :-
1 - Reading the minutes of the previous meeting
2 - Ratification of the budget of the Lay Council for the year 44 / 945 (pp. 22 and 23 of the budget book)
3 - Ratification of the amounts spent in excess of the allocation for the year 43 / 944 (p. 26 of the budget
book)
4 - Ratification of the budget of the Lay Council for the year 45 / 946
5 - Appointment of three auditors to audit the accounts of the Lay Council for the year 44 / 945
6 - The Lay Council's request for permission from the General Council to form a subcommittee to oversee the affairs
of the Jewish community in Hillah
7 - Report of the committee assigned to study the reforms needed by the hospitals
8 - Report of the committee assigned to study the reforms needed by the schools
9 - Report of the committee assigned to study the principles of bookkeeping in the community's institutions
10- Report of Mr. Yusuf al-Kabir, the lawyer
Please accept my respects
⟦S. Khedouri⟧
President of the Community
Attachments
Budget book for the year 44 / 945
Budget estimates sheet for the year 45 / 946
Report of Mr. Yusuf al-Kabir, the lawyer
Elections
Page 445
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
July 2, 1945
The Honorable Distinguished Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect
I request you to kindly attend at the headquarters of the Community Presidency at
six-thirty in the evening on Sunday, July 8, 1945, to continue
holding the adjourned meeting of the General Council to review the remaining agenda items
from the meeting of July 1, 1945
With respect.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
For filing
Elections
Page 446
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad, August 12, 1945
To the Honorable Member of the General Council
After greetings and respect,
Since the term of the current Lay Council ends on August 29, 1945,
I invite the esteemed General Council to hold an extraordinary meeting
at the headquarters of the Jewish Community Presidency in Baghdad at six
thirty in the evening on Sunday, August 19, 1945, to elect a new
Lay Council. Respectfully yours.
Sassoon Khedouri
President of the Community
⟦Anwar Sassoon⟧
Page 447
The Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Legal Codification Department
General Number 10/1/1/19
Telegraphic Address: Adliya
Date: 22 Sha'ban / 1360
16 September / 1941
Subject Summary:
Please refer to the general number
Presidency of the Jewish Community
With reference to your letter numbered 6613 and dated 3 / 9 / 1941
Upon examination, it appears that the Spiritual Council is headed by the Chief
Rabbi, and since it is not mentioned in the community law nor in its regulations the existence of
a Deputy Chief Rabbi, we do not see it possible to elect such. As for the
Lay Council, an explicit text has been provided regarding the method of electing a Vice President, which is
the third paragraph of Article (6) of the community law, as it has stipulated that
if the head of the community is a layman, he shall head the Lay Council, and in this case
a president for this council is not elected, but rather the Lay Council elects one of its members as a deputy
for the president to chair the council's sessions and perform the duties of the head of the community when
necessary, as the mentioned paragraph has restricted the Lay Council's election of a vice
president for it to one case, which is if the head of the community is a layman. But if
the head of the community is a clergyman, we do not see it possible for the Lay Council also to elect
a vice president for it.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Minister of Justice
A. Z.
2922
18 / 9 / 41
Page 448
2212
3 September 941
The Honorable Ministry of Justice
Baghdad
The first paragraph of Article Nine of the Jewish Community Law No. 77 of the year 31
stipulated that the Spiritual Council consists of the Chief Rabbi, who presides over it, and seven members elected by
the General Council for a term of four years.
The aforementioned law, as well as the Community Regulation No. 36 of 1931, did not stipulate whether the
said Council has the right to elect a Vice President to assume the presidency of the Council when the President is unable to attend
for any emergency reason. We have found in practice that the failure to elect a Vice President for the Spiritual Council
affects the natural course of the Council's work, which is not consistent with the public interest.
On the other hand, although the aforementioned law and regulation were silent regarding the election of a Vice
President for the Lay Council, Article Twenty-Four of the regulation referred to this
incidentally, as it stated the following:
"And if it is decided to dissolve the Lay Council or dismiss its President or Vice President, the Head of the Community must
inform the Minister of Justice... etc." which allowed the Lay Council to elect its Vice President.
This helped in conducting its business easily, but for the Spiritual Council, the matter is otherwise.
Since the election of a Vice President is a customary matter for all councils and is necessary given the
impossibility of leaving councils suspended merely due to the absence of their presidents for reasons such as illness or travel, it can be assumed
that the legislator's silence on mentioning it is because he found no need for it, considering that the councils' need
for vice presidents is a natural matter about which there is no room for hesitation. Our opinion is supported by what we mentioned
above, that the legislator did not refer to the Vice President of the Lay Council except when addressing his dismissal,
considering that his existence is a matter that needs no explanation. In view of what we explained above, we hope you will kindly
inform us whether the Spiritual Council has the right to elect a Vice President from among its members or not. Respectfully.
⟦Salloum⟧
Elections
⟦The Council⟧
Page 449
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 8024
Subject:
Date: 10 October 944
Honorable Gentlemen,
Israel Nassim Hay
Albert Heskel Shamtob
Sassoon Aboudi Bashi
After greetings and respect,
The General Council decided in its meeting held on 3 December
944 to form a committee of your honors to study the accounting principles
followed in the community's institutions and to submit a report including your recommendations
in this regard. I request you to kindly begin this task and submit
the report in question to the esteemed Council.
Please accept our respect;
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
President of the Community
A copy of it to the esteemed Lay Council
To the Schools Committee
To the Hospitals Committee - Schools Committee
To provide possible facilities for the committee
For filing
Ended ⟦died⟧
Page 450
8202
18 April 945
His Excellency the Minister of Justice, the Respected
After greetings and respect,
Due to the death of the lamented His Eminence Rabbi Benjamin Hakham Moshe, the Chief Rabbi,
I invited the General Council to an extraordinary meeting at the community administration headquarters at
six o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, March 18, 945, to elect a Chief Rabbi
for the next four years. In view of the lack of a legal quorum at this meeting,
I invited the Council to meet again in accordance with Article 14 of the Community Bylaws at
six o'clock on the evening of Sunday, April 15, 945. The meeting was attended at the appointed time by
34 members besides the President. The election was held by secret ballot under the supervision of a committee of Council members
consisting of His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi, Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad,
and Mr. Saleh Faraj Hayyim. The result was that His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim,
member of the Spiritual Council, won a majority of twenty-three votes and thus became Chief Rabbi. By his election
to the presidency, his membership in the Spiritual Council became vacant, so the General Council elected in the same meeting
His Eminence Rabbi Joseph Rabi' to fill the vacant membership by a majority of twenty-four votes.
Please accept my respect,
⟦Sassoon⟧
President of the Community ⟦line⟧
Sassoon Khedouri
Acting
⟦signature⟧ ⟦signature⟧
Member Member
Member of the Election Supervision Committee
Elections