AI English Translation, Pages 426-450
20 / 7 / 44
His Excellency the Acting Director
After the splendid greetings and offering of peace, I hope you will accept ⟦with thanks⟧
from the bottom of the heart for your magnificent condolences for our loss with these royal traces ⟦which⟧
⟦...⟧ may He grant you success in what is good for the nation and the country under the shadow of His
Majesty and His Royal Highness, and let your motto be sincerity and
sincerity for your most precious country
Sincerely
Dr. ⟦Fouad⟧ Toub
End
Telegraphic Address "Mukamal"
TELEGRAMS:
"MUKAMAL"
TELEPHONE NO. 729 <del>729</del> 6770
Telephone <del>729</del> 6770 Baghdad
Isaac Sassoon Mukamal - Baghdad
ISAAC SASSOON MUKAMAL
P. O. B. No. 14
CODES:
SCHOFIELDS 3 LETTERS
ORIENTAL 3 LETTERS
BENTLEY'S
ACME
No.:
Baghdad on: November 8, 1944
Baghdad:
(Iraq)
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the Respected
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
After greetings /
I received with great pleasure the news of my election along with the honorable gentlemen, my colleagues, to the membership of
the esteemed General Council, accompanied by your kind wishes. I send your Eminence my sincere thanks and I hope
that I will succeed in serving the community in a way that fulfills its hopes, so that I may be worthy of its precious trust.
Please accept my highest respect.
Sincerely,
Isaac Sassoon Mukamal
⟦signature⟧
Elections
18 / 12 / 944
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, the Respected
After greetings and respect,
I would like to inform your esteemed council that the General Council has taken, in its meeting
held on December 3, 944, the following resolutions:-
(1) Forming a committee of the members, Messrs. Abdullah Shina, Yaqub Ezra Abdullah,
and Yaqub Yehuda Cohen, to study the condition of the hospitals and submit a report on the aspects of reform
possible to be carried out in these institutions.
(2) Forming a committee of the members, Messrs. Lawyer Anwar Zilkha, Heskel Yaqub Murad,
and Salman Sion Shina, to study the condition of the schools and submit a report on the aspects of reform possible
to be carried out in these institutions.
(3) Forming a committee of the members, Messrs. Albert Heskel Shammash, Israel Nassim Hay,
and Sassoon Aboudi Bashi, to study the principles of bookkeeping in the various institutions of the community
and submit its recommendations in this regard.
(4) Instructing your council to appoint a permanent auditor to supervise the accounts of the community's
institutions.
(5) Recommending to your council the necessity of expediting the submission of the general budget estimates for consideration.
(6) Recommending to your council the necessity of organizing the community's property records and striving to complete their transactions
in the Land Registry Department to preserve the community's rights therein.
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
By Election
Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 531
Number ::
Date :: 18 / 12 / 944
Subject ::
His Excellency the Respected President of the Lay Council
After greetings and respect
I would like to inform your esteemed council that the General Council has taken in its meeting
held on December 3, 944, the following resolutions :-
1) Formation of a committee from the members: Mr. Abdullah Shahna • Yaqub Ezra Abdullah
and Yaqub Yehuda Cohen to study the condition of the hospitals and submit a report on the aspects of reform
possible to be carried out in these institutions.
2) Formation of a committee from the members: Lawyer Anwar Zilkha • Heskel Yaqub Murad
and Salman Sion Shahna to study the condition of the schools and submit a report on the aspects of reform possible
to be carried out in these institutions.
3) Formation of a committee from the members: Albert Heskel Shammash • Israel Nassim Hay
and Sassoon Aboudi Bashi • to study the principles of bookkeeping in the various institutions of the community
and submit its recommendations in this regard.
4) Instructing your council to appoint a permanent auditor to supervise the accounts of the community's
institutions.
5) Recommending to your council the necessity of expediting the submission of the general budget estimates for consideration.
6) Recommending to your council the necessity of organizing the community's property records and striving to complete their transactions
in the Land Registry Department to preserve the community's rights therein.
⟦illegible signature⟧
President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
22 / 12
News
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Political Department
Baghdad on ⟦illegible⟧ November ⟦illegible⟧
Issuing Department ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ to ⟦line⟧
Notes ⟦line⟧ Words ( )
Received by ⟦illegible⟧ by ⟦line⟧
Received at ⟦illegible⟧ hour ⟦illegible⟧ minute Sent at ⟦line⟧ hour ⟦line⟧ minute
To ⟦line⟧
Serial Number ⟦line⟧
Telegraphed by ⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
11 NOV 45
⟦illegible⟧
Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration
Telegram Type ⟦illegible⟧ Time of Registration 10/15 Number ⟦line⟧
Telegram via Internal and External
Number 11 B
89
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 7992
Subject:
Date: 20 November 944
Honorable Gentlemen
Daoud Shaul Tweig
Shimon Sofer
Saleh Faraj Hayyim
Respected
After greetings and respect
The esteemed General Council had decided in its meeting held on
25 July 944 to delegate you as an auditing body to review the accounts of the Lay Council
for the years 42/943 and 43/944 and to submit a report on them to the Council
So I ask you to please begin the audit so that we may be able to submit
your report to the Council along with the budget.
Please accept our respect.
On behalf of
President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
I ⟦...⟧
To the Honorable Israeli General Council
After offering our respects: -
We request the convening of the General Council for an extraordinary session in accordance with Article 12 of the Israeli Community Regulations for
the following matters: -
1- Establishing a society to assist poor girls with marriage.
2- Merging the Mebra Kadisha Society with the Israeli Cemeteries Society and unifying the efforts of the two societies ⟦...⟧
3- Forming a committee to monitor the synagogues and their contents and to hold those responsible for them accountable.
4- Preaching and guidance in synagogues and other community institutions.
5- Establishing a committee to monitor the community's real estate and endowments, and their development and utilization.
6- Introducing the necessary reforms to the religious courts.
7- Establishing a permanent advisory committee for the community leadership.
8- Reviewing the report of the lawyer, Mr. Yusuf Al-Kabir.
With our utmost respect to your Excellency
Baghdad 22 / 4 / 45
Members of the General Council
Lawyer Salman Shina ⟦signature⟧
Lawyer Nouri Rad ⟦signature⟧
Lawyer Aboudi Si ⟦signature⟧
Naji ⟦...⟧ ⟦signature⟧
Nasser Murad ⟦signature⟧
Yaqub Oraibi ⟦signature⟧
Daoud Salam ⟦signature⟧
Dr. Jaafar Azar ⟦signature⟧
Yaqub Cohen ⟦signature⟧
Abdullah Shina ⟦signature⟧
Ibrahim ⟦...⟧ ⟦signature⟧
Dr. Ezra Suwayri ⟦signature⟧
Sadiq ⟦...⟧ ⟦signature⟧
Elections
Ministry of Justice
Editing
Number A / 1 / 1 / 7
Date ⟦line⟧ Dhu al-Hijjah / 1363
⟦line⟧ December / 1944
General Council Meeting
⟦line⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Your letter number 8021 dated 4 / 12 / 1944.
It has been reviewed.
⟦illegible⟧
And Minister of Justice
Elections
Moallem Sion Moorad Nahom - Khorramshahr
M. SION MOORAD NAHOM
Telegraph: Moallem
KHORAMSHAHR
Telegraphic Address :
MOOALLEM
Code: Bentley's
Khorramshahr on: 22 / 8 / 1939
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the Respected
Respectful greetings
Today we were informed by the Iraq newspaper that your Eminence
has been honored with the presidency of the community in Baghdad, and this election has greatly gladdened our hearts with great joy.
We wish your Eminence success and guidance in assisting the community. Please accept our highest respect
from us and from the protection of Rabbi Sion Moorad. May you remain in the best of wishes.
Sincere
Elections
1921/5/7
Presidency of the Israelite Community
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No.: 3531 President / 5452 Secretary
Number: 8027
Subject: ⟦line⟧
Date: 4 December 944
Honorable and Distinguished Gentlemen
Abdullah Sayon Shabna
Yaqub Ezra Abdullah
Yaqub Yehuda Cohen
After greetings and respect
In the meeting of the esteemed General Council on December 3, 944
The Council decided to appoint you as a temporary committee to study the status of hospitals at the
present time and to submit a report addressing the aspects of reforms that can be introduced to
these institutions. We request you to begin your mission and kindly submit the
required report as soon as possible, with much respect.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
A copy of it to the esteemed Hospitals Committee
To kindly provide all possible assistance to facilitate the mission of this committee
Elections
Telegram 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number: ⟦4⟧
Telegram Type: H
Time of Registration: 745
BAGHDAD
13 JUL 49
TELEGRAPHS
Baghdad
Telegram
Office Stamp
Arrived at hour: ⟦✓⟧
Minute: 57
From: Basra
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 19
Administrative Instructions:
Date: 13
Issuing Office: Basra
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri President
of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
We congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the community
for the fourth time and wish you success
Elections
Yosef Hay
Members of the Spiritual Council
⟦line⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
His Eminence Rabbi Raphael Isaac Hayyim
His Eminence Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Hastil
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Ishaq
His Eminence Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musfi
His Eminence Rabbi Daoud Shaul Shamash
His Eminence Rabbi Elia Yehoshua
⟦line⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Saleh Yusuf Hayyim
His Eminence Rabbi Ezra Bekhor
His Eminence Rabbi Moshe Ibrahim
His Eminence Rabbi Yusuf Ibrahim Anbar
His Eminence Rabbi Yusuf Eliahu Rabia
His Eminence Rabbi Yusuf Hayyim Moallem Ezra
And there are 6 other rabbis who are relatives of the rabbis above.
⟦illegible⟧
Minutes of the second meeting held on December 3, 944
Based on the receipt of a written request dated November 19, 944 addressed to the Presidency of
the Community and signed by twenty-six members of the General Council requesting the convening of the Council
to discuss the subject of reforms needed by hospitals, schools, and accounts,
the President of the Community issued an invitation to the members of the General Council dated November 21, 944
to hold an extraordinary meeting in accordance with Article 13 of the Community Bylaws at
five o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, November 26, 944, at the Community Administration headquarters
to consider the items of the following agenda:-
1) Reading the minutes of the previous meeting.
2) Discussing the reforms needed by the hospitals.
3) Discussing the reforms needed by the schools.
4) Discussing the reforms needed by the accounts.
5) The resignation of Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel from the membership of the General Council.
At the appointed time, only the twenty-eight members whose names are recorded elsewhere
in this register attended, and due to the lack of a quorum, the meeting was postponed to another date.
The President of the Community issued another invitation to the members of the General Council to hold the meeting again in accordance
with Article 14 of the Bylaws at five-thirty in the evening on Sunday, December 3,
944. At the appointed time, the thirty-eight members whose names are recorded elsewhere
in this register attended, so the President announced the opening of the session and instructed ⟦the secretary⟧ to read the minutes of the
previous meeting. It was read, and the President asked if anyone had an objection to the contents of the minutes, and no
objection occurred. Then the President requested a discussion on the second item, which is the reforms needed by
the hospitals. After the discussion, it was deemed necessary to form a committee to study this subject and submit
a report to the Council on the aspects of reform that it sees possible to undertake in our health institutions
such as Meir Elias Hospital, Rima Khedouri Hospital, the Dispensary for the Poor, Dar Al-Shifa Pharmacy, and school
dispensaries. Member Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad ⟦received⟧ submitted a proposal to form this committee
from the members: Messrs. Yaqoub Cohen, Yaqoub Ezra Abdullah, and Abdullah Shina. The
President put this proposal to a vote, and it was accepted.
⟦Isaac⟧
Minutes of the second meeting held on December 3, 944
Based on the receipt of a written request dated November 19, 944, addressed to the Presidency of
the Community and signed by twenty-six members of the General Council requesting the convening of the Council
to discuss the subject of reforms needed by hospitals, schools, and accounts,
the President of the Community issued an invitation to the members of the General Council dated November 21, 944,
to hold an extraordinary meeting in accordance with Article 13 of the Community Bylaws at
five o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, November 26, 944, at the Community Administration headquarters
to consider the items of the following agenda: ⟦line⟧
1) Reading the minutes of the previous meeting.
2) Discussing the reforms needed by the hospitals.
3) Discussing the reforms needed by the schools.
4) Discussing the reforms needed by the accounts.
5) The resignation of Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel from the membership of the General Council.
At the appointed time, only the twenty-eight members whose names are recorded elsewhere
in this register attended, and due to the lack of a quorum, the meeting was postponed to another date.
The President of the Community issued another invitation to the members of the General Council to hold the meeting again in accordance
with Article 14 of the Bylaws, at five-thirty in the evening on Sunday, December 3,
944. At the appointed time, the thirty-eight members whose names are recorded elsewhere
in this register attended. The President announced the opening of the session and instructed the Secretary to read the minutes of the
previous meeting. It was read, and the President asked if anyone had an objection to the contents of the minutes; there was
no objection. Then the President requested a discussion on the second item, which is the reforms needed by
the hospitals. After the discussion, it was deemed necessary to form a committee to study this subject and submit
a report to the Council on the aspects of reform that it sees possible to undertake in our health institutions,
such as Meir Elias Hospital, Rima Khedouri Hospital, the Dispensary for the Poor, Dar al-Shifa Pharmacy, and school
dispensaries. Member Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad ⟦illegible⟧ submitted a proposal to form this committee
from the members: Mr. Yaqoub Cohen, Mr. Yaqoub Ezra Abdullah, and Mr. Abdullah Sheina. The
President put this proposal to a vote, and it was accepted.
Then the discussion took place on the third paragraph of the agenda, which is the reforms needed by
the schools. A number of members spoke on this subject and praised the efforts of the Schools Committee
with great praise. Then they also pointed out the necessity of forming a committee to submit a report on the reforms that
the schools may need in some aspects, such as studying the issue of the percentage of poor students
who study for free in each of the schools, and so on. The member Mr.
Heskel Yaqoub Murad submitted a proposal to form the committee from the members Messrs. Heskel Yaqoub Murad,
Salman Sion Sheina, and Anwar Zilkha. The President put this proposal to a vote, and it was accepted.
Then the discussion took place on the fourth item of the agenda regarding the reforms needed by
the accounts. The discussants clarified that this subject covers two points. First, the principles of bookkeeping
for the accounts, and second, the permanent supervision of the accounts to verify their accuracy. As for the principles of keeping
the accounts in each institution, they are determined by the specialized committee belonging to that institution. As for the supervision
of the accounts to verify their accuracy, it is one of the functions of the Lay Council, which must exercise
this authority through its employees, especially since the General Council has previously ⟦expressed⟧ recommendations
from the board of auditors it appoints to audit the accounts of the Lay Council, stating that there is an extreme
necessity for a specialized employee to audit the accounts of the community's institutions in detail, something which is not expected
to be carried out by that board itself. Accordingly, the member Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad submitted a proposal
to form an accounts committee consisting of the members: Albert Heskel Shammash - <ins>Azrail Hay Hay and Skouri Abhi B.</ins> - Yaqoub Salman. The
President put this proposal to a vote and it was accepted. Then the member Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Nassim submitted <del>this</del>
<del>proposal</del> a proposal to take a decision to instruct the Lay Council to appoint a permanent internal auditor
to supervise the accounts of the community's institutions. The proposal was put to a vote and accepted. During the discussion
on <ins>the accounts</ins> the accounts, some members pointed out the Lay Council's habit of delaying the submission of the budget every
year until after the greater part of the year has passed, so that there is no meaning in presenting the budget to the General Council
for approval after most of it has been spent and it has become like final accounts. Reference was made
to those recommendations of the General Council in this regard and the lack of results from them. Some
speakers pointed out the status of the community's properties and urged the necessity of organizing their records and completing their transactions in the
Land Registry departments to preserve the community's rights in them. A discussion took place regarding the resignation of Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel
from the membership of the General Council. The members spoke, highlighting the valuable services rendered by Mr. Ezra Menachem
to the community. The Council decided to reject the resignation and form a delegation of members Heskel Shemtob, Khedhouri Meir Lawee,
and Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq to meet Mr. Ezra Menachem and convey to him the Council's request to withdraw the resignation.
Then the meeting was adjourned.
Then the discussion took place on the third paragraph of the agenda, which is the reforms needed by
the schools. A number of members spoke on this subject and praised the efforts of the Schools Committee
with high praise. They also pointed out the necessity of forming a committee to submit a report on the reforms that
the schools may need in some aspects, such as studying the issue of the percentage of the number of poor students
who study for free in each of the schools, and so on. The member Mr.
Heskel Yaqoub Murad submitted a proposal to form the committee from the members: Messrs. Heskel Yaqoub Murad,
Salman Sion Sheina, and Anwar Zilkha. The President put this proposal to a vote, and it was accepted.
Then the discussion took place on the fourth item of the agenda regarding the reforms needed by
the accounts. The discussants clarified that this subject covers two points: first, the principles of bookkeeping
for the accounts, and second, the permanent supervision of the accounts to verify their correctness. As for the principles of keeping
accounts in each institution, they are determined by the specialized committee to which that institution belongs. As for the supervision
of the accounts to verify their correctness, it is one of the functions of the Lay Council, which must exercise
this authority through its employees, especially since the General Council had previously ⟦to it⟧ supported the recommendations
of the Board of Auditors, which it appoints to audit the accounts of the Lay Council, stating that there is an extreme
necessity for a specialized employee to audit the accounts of the community's institutions in detail, a matter that is not expected
to be carried out by that board itself. Accordingly, the member Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad submitted a proposal
to form an accounts committee consisting of the members: Albert Heskel Shamash and Daoud Salman. The
President put this proposal to a vote, and it was accepted. Then the member Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Moallem Nassim submitted this
proposal: "A proposal to take a decision to instruct the Lay Council to appoint a permanent auditor
to supervise the accounts of the community's institutions." The proposal was put to a vote and accepted. During the discussion
on the accounts, some members pointed out the Lay Council's habit of delaying the submission of the budget every
year until after the greater part of the year has passed, so that there is no meaning in presenting the budget to the General Council
for approval after most of it has been spent and it has become like final accounts. Reference was made
to the General Council's recommendations in this regard and the lack of results from them. Some
speakers pointed out the status of the community's properties and insisted on the necessity of organizing their records and completing their transactions in the
Land Registry departments to preserve the community's rights in them. A discussion took place regarding the resignation of Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel
from the membership of the General Council. The members spoke, highlighting the valuable services rendered by Mr. Ezra Menachem
to the community. The Council decided to reject the resignation and form a delegation of members: Heskel Shemtob, Khedhouri Meerlawi,
and Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq to meet Mr. Ezra Menachem and convey the Council's request to withdraw the resignation.
Then the meeting was adjourned.
On December 10, 944, the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad invited 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. They were read, and then he 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. 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, to the community during his tenure in the chair of the presidency over the last twelve years. He said
that this venerable spiritual man was able, through his knowledge and wisdom, to gain the appreciation and trust of his fellow citizens. He said
that although the community law allowed for the election of a layman to the presidency of the community, the spiritual man
is the only person who can fill such a position in the countries of the East, and His Eminence the current President is
the man most worthy of 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. Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim spoke, and after supporting
the two previous speakers, he pointed to the strenuous work carried out by His Eminence the President and the fatigue he endures
in his arduous job. Then he said that we must admit that the complaints we hear from members of the community are
due to the lack of interest of the General Councils in practicing their duties in the required manner on one hand, and to the weakness
of the Lay Council on the other. He said that he expects the current Council, which shows an apparent readiness,
to remove the causes of these complaints. Then Mr. Ibrahim spoke, praising His Eminence the current President, and then said
that while we regret the issuance of misplaced attacks by some individuals for personal purposes,
we must pay attention to the sincere criticisms issued by some youth and give them their due of study and attention.
Then the President ordered the distribution of the papers and invited the members Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel, Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad,
and Mr. Daoud Salman to supervise the election and classify the votes. The aforementioned gentlemen [distributed]
the papers, and the result was as follows: ⟦line⟧
Name | Number of votes obtained
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri | 49
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim | 1 one vote
The President announced that His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri had been elected President of the Community for the four years starting
on the nineteenth of February, the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-five AD. The result was met with applause, and
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri was invited to the chair of the presidency. His Eminence addressed the members of the Council, thanking them for the precious trust
they placed in his person and asked for blessings and success for all of them. Then the meeting was adjourned.
The Election Supervision Committee
Member ⟦line⟧ Member ⟦line⟧ Member ⟦line⟧ The President
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 next 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. They were read, and then he asked if anyone had an objection to the minutes; no objection was raised.
Then His Eminence called upon Mr. Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq, President of the Lay Council, who presided over the meeting in his stead to manage
the election, and he left the chair. 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 was able, through his knowledge and wisdom, to gain the appreciation and trust of his fellow citizens. He said
that although the community law allowed for the election of a layman to the presidency of the community, the spiritual man
is the only person who can fill such a position in the countries of the East, 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. Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim spoke, and after supporting
the two previous speakers, he pointed to the exhausting work carried out by His Eminence the President and the hardships he endures
in his arduous job. Then he said that we must admit that the complaints we hear from members of the community are
due to the lack of interest of the General Councils in practicing their duties as required on one hand, and to the weakness
of the Lay Council on the other. He said he expects the current council, which shows apparent alertness,
to remove the causes of these complaints. Then Mr. Ibrahim Al-Kabir spoke and praised the current President, then said
that while we regret the issuance 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 called upon members Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel, Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad,
and Mr. Daoud Salman to supervise the election and classify the votes. The General members handed them
the papers, and the result was as follows:
Name | Number of votes obtained
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri | 49
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim | 1 one vote
The President announced that His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri had been elected President of the community for the four years starting
on the nineteenth of February, nineteen hundred and forty-five AD. The result was met with applause, and
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri was invited to the chair. His Eminence addressed the council members, thanking them for the precious trust
they placed in his person and asked for blessings and success for all of them. Then the meeting was adjourned.
Election Supervisors
Member ⟦line⟧ Member ⟦line⟧ Member ⟦line⟧ The President
On December 10, 944, the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad invited 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. They were read, and then he asked if anyone had an objection to the minutes; no objection was raised.
Then His Eminence invited Mr. Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq, President of the Lay Council, who presided over the meeting in his stead to manage
the election and vacated the chair. 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 said
that although the community law allowed for the election of a layman to the presidency of the community, the spiritual man
is the only person who can fill such a position in the countries of the East, 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. Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim spoke, and after supporting
the two previous speakers, he pointed out the strenuous work performed by His Eminence the President and the hardships he endures
in his difficult job. Then he said that we must admit that the complaints we hear from members of the community are
due to the lack of interest of the General Councils in practicing their duties in the required manner on one hand, and to the weakness
of the Lay Council on the other. He said that he expects the current council, which shows visible alertness,
to remove the causes of these complaints. Then Mr. Ibrahim Al-Kabir spoke and praised the current President, then said
that while we regret the issuance of misplaced attacks by 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 the papers and invited the members Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel, Mr. Heskel Yaqub Murad,
and Mr. Daoud Salman to supervise the election and classify the votes. The aforementioned gentlemen sorted
the papers, and the result was as follows:
Name | Number of votes obtained
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri | 49
Mr. Ibrahim Hayyim Mu'allim Nassim | 1 one vote
The President announced that His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri had been elected President of the community for the four years starting
on the nineteenth of February, the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-five AD. The result was met with applause, and
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri was invited to the chair. His Eminence addressed the council members, thanking them for the precious trust
they placed in his person and asked all of them for blessings and success. Then the meeting was adjourned.
Election Supervision Committee
Member Member Member President
13 February 945
His Eminence Rabbi Solomon Barzani, the Respected
Head of the Israelite Community in Mosul
Mosul
After greetings and respect
I thank Your Eminence for your kind wishes and blessings
which you included in your honorable letter No. 298/C dated
8/2/945 on the occasion of my re-election as Head of the Community, and I wish
for Your Eminence continued prosperity and for the honorable Israelite Community in Mosul
glory and success.
Please accept my respect;
Sincerely
On behalf of
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Isaac Sassoon
Baghdad / 18 February 1945
His Excellency the Respected President of the General Council
Greetings and respect.
With reference to Your Excellency's letter dated 4/12/944 and numbered 8027
Since this committee began performing its assigned mission pursuant to the decision of the
respected General Council on 3/12/1944, it has continued to suffer hardships due to the position of the Chairman of the
Hospitals Committee, which involves a lack of support and obstruction of its duties.
Among these is his refusal to allow us to view the construction accounts for the premium section of Meir
Elias Hospital until now, despite our repeated requests for it, as the aforementioned account does not exist in
the hospital's books. Also, Dr. Heskel Daoud's services were recently terminated - as we learned -
in a manner contrary to procedures and inconsistent with the public interest to the extent that the hospital director himself,
Dr. Balayan, informed us orally that his opinion was not taken regarding this measure and indeed he
knew nothing about it until after the decision was issued, despite the fact that the dismissal of the mentioned doctor causes
a deficiency in the hospital's technical efficiency.
In view of this, we saw it as our duty to clarify the factors that necessitated the dismissal of the
mentioned doctor, so we addressed a letter dated 2/2/1945 to the Chairmanship of the Hospitals Committee in this regard.
Although the study of such a subject is at the core of our mission, as is not hidden from Your Excellency, and although
such actions and others are vital matters that must be studied and which the respected General Council
⟦expressed⟧ its explicit desire to be informed about through our committee, the Chairman of the Hospitals Committee
has refused to provide any information in this regard in a manner that we can only record our condemnation of his tone,
as is clear from his letter dated 14/2/45, a copy of which is attached herewith for your kind perusal
and consideration of what is necessary.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our highest respect.
The Mandated Committee to Study the Condition
of Hospitals
Copy to: The Chairmanship of the Respected Lay Council;
" The Chairmanship of the Hospitals Committee; for information
⟦A. S.⟧
⟦Correct⟧
⟦illegible⟧
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.
13 February 945
The Honorable Virtuous Friend Mr. Yahya Shmuel Nahafi
Secretary of the Israelite Community in Mosul
Respected
Mosul
⟦line⟧
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 full respect;
Sincerely
Alwan
Head of the Community
Elections
8158
6 March 945
The Honorable Ministry of Justice
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Due to the death of His Eminence Rabbi Benjamin Hakham Bashi, 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 Khedouri 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.
Sassoon
Head of the Community
Justice
Elections