AI English Translation, Pages 51-75
Ezra Menachem Daniel
12/34 Al-Mustansir Street
Telephone Number { 3044
6367
Council Administration ⟦illegible⟧
Number 45
Date 7 / 2 / 1946
File Number ⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad on 6 / 3 / 1946 ⟦line⟧
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council of the Jewish Community
After greetings and respect,
I received a copy of an appeal signed by Mr. Shua Sassoon Shashua on behalf of the
Dorshei Torah Society, urging the zeal of community members to assist this project.
Since the Lay Council of the community is the legal supervisor and monitor
of the community's charitable societies, I submit this petition inquiring whether the respected Council
has reviewed the income and expenditures of this society and the activities it intends to undertake to raise
the level of the institution managed by this society. And about the work it has done so far and what is
the justified reason for not publishing its accounts to the public from whom it derives its revenues. And about the reasons
calling for the existence of two societies - this society and the Tomchei Torah society - targeting the same goal. And they
are not successful in raising the educational level in their institutions so that their students can achieve a decent position
in society, which helps them serve this society and creates a feeling of sympathy and assistance for the institution
under its management.
Please accept my respects,
Sincerely,
Ezra ⟦illegible⟧
Daniel
March 19, 946
His Excellency the virtuous Senator Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel, Respected
After greetings and respect,
I thank you very much for your letter dated 3/6/946. Furthermore, I assure your Excellency that
the Lay Council is interested in organizing the affairs of the Dorshei and Tomchei Torah societies in a manner that ensures the achievement of
the desired goal of their establishment.
The Council has previously decided to invite these two societies to deliberate with them on this subject in a
forthcoming session, during which the points mentioned in your letter will be studied, and we will inform you of the result in due course.
I hope to reiterate our great thanks to your Excellency for your interest in this matter. Please accept
the highest respect.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
The President
of the Council
Dorshei Torah
⟦signature⟧
7555
9121
25 / 11 / 946
His Excellency the Respectable Minister of Social Affairs
After greetings and respect,
I attach herewith the petition of the Dorshei Torah Society, which is a religious society whose purpose is
the religious education of poor orphaned students. Therefore, I hope ⟦your Excellency⟧ will kindly fulfill the request
of the aforementioned society and look upon its representations with kindness, in view of the humanitarian service
that this society provides.
Please, your Excellency, accept my utmost respect, with thanks in advance.
Editor
Head of the Community
⟦signature⟧
11/28
Dorshei Torah Society
Supplying fabrics to the Dori Torah Society
5/⟦illegible⟧/1947
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Supply
After greetings,
We request confirmation of our letter No. 9121 dated 11/25/1946, to which we attached
the petition of the Dori Torah Society regarding supplying them with:-
1- Cotton fabric for summer suits with lining for ten senior students and three teachers.
2- Cotton fabric for summer suits with lining for ten junior students.
3- Poplin for clothes (shirts) for the twenty-three persons mentioned above.
4- White calico for underwear for the twenty-three persons mentioned above.
Given that this religious society aims to raise poor students with a religious upbringing
to prepare them as spiritual men for the future, I repeat my request to Your Excellency to consider the possibility
of fulfilling the request of the aforementioned society and to look upon its submissions with kindness.
Please accept our utmost respect, with thanks in advance.
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
5/7
Number 858
Date 22 / 5 / 47
Ministry of Supply
Cotton and Woolen Textiles Division
"Woolens"
To -
Dorshei Torah Association
The Jewish Community - Baghdad
Please visit the merchant Ezra Eliyahu Al-Ani to receive (70) seventy yards of Santim fabric
for suits, 27 inches wide, from the form numbered (465) after paying the price to the Accounting Division.
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Supply
A copy thereof to:-
Head of the Jewish Community - referring to their letter numbered 205 and dated
on 18 / 5 / 947 - for your kind information.
Accounting Division } To collect the price in cash, provided that the importer's price is calculated
Accountant } plus the government's profit.
Mr. Ezra Eliyahu Al-Ani - To deliver the aforementioned fabric against a receipt after ensuring
that the aforementioned association has paid the price of the fabric
to the Accounting Division.
Head of the Jewish Community
Incoming Number 800
Date 25 / 5 / 1947
785
22 / 5 / 47
92
Hand-delivered
⟦signature⟧
Iraqi Government
Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs:
Number: 11608
Affairs Office:
Date: 14 / 9 / 1947
15
Subject: Request for the Association's Bylaws
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community, Baghdad.
Please provide this Ministry with three copies of the Bylaws
belonging to the (Dorshei Torah Association Baghdad) in its final form, along with a copy
of the Ministry of Interior's permit issued for the opening of this association, stating its headquarters
at the present time, as quickly as possible.
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Social Affairs
Copy to the Social Affairs Distinction Office
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number 274
Date 18 / 9 / 947
Muhammad.
Dorshei Torah Association
422
17 / 10 / 1947
The Honorable Ministry of Social Affairs
After greetings
With reference to your letter numbered 11608 and dated 15 / 9 / 1947
We attach herewith three copies of the basic statute belonging to the
Dorshei Torah Association with a copy of the Ministry of Interior license No. 4619 issued on
19 March 1928 regarding its opening, noting that its headquarters at the present time is
is in the (Torah) Beit Rekhma synagogue located in the Abu al-Saad neighborhood in Baghdad
This and may you remain ⟦line⟧
Head of the Community
Attachments
⟦line⟧
3 copies of the basic statute
One copy of the license
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Dorshei Torah Association
Baghdad
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
File No. 585
Date 29 / 12 / 948
Date 27 / 12 / 948
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the Respected
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
After greetings. -
We submit herewith our association's reply to the letter of the esteemed Ministry of Social Affairs addressed
to us through you, numbered 15421 and dated 14 / 11 / 1948, requesting that it be forwarded to
the mentioned Ministry.
Please accept, Your Eminence, the assurances of our respect. -
The President
⟦Sassoon⟧
Dorshe Torah Society
Baghdad
Date - 12 / 27 / 1948
⟦illegible⟧
Exalted Ministry of Social Affairs
Baghdad
After greetings
With reference to your letter numbered 15421 and dated 11 / 14 / 1948, the administrative body
of our society is composed of the persons whose names are listed below
President | Shoa Sassoon
Vice President | Ibrahim Eliahou
Secretary | Ezra Yona
Members | Khedhouri Murad
| Menashi Ezra
| Daoud Shamoon
| Abdul Nabi Murad
We will inform you in due course when a change occurs among the society members, and remain,
The President
(True copy of the original)
⟦A A⟧
Dorshei Torah Association
864
30 / 12 / 1948
The Honorable Ministry of Social Affairs
Greetings,
Based on the request of the Dorshei Torah Association in its letter dated 27 / 12 / 48,
we enclose herewith the response of the aforementioned association regarding your letter No. 15421 dated
14 / 11 / 1948 addressed to it through us. Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
29 / 12
Number 4
Sha'ban
Copy
of the aforementioned association's letter
For filing in the dossier
⟦signature⟧
29 / 12
A. A.
Baghdad 30 January 1950
G/457 / 950
30 / 1 / 950
His Excellency the respected President of the Lay Council
Baghdad
Greetings and respect
What is presented to your presence is that I, Rabbi Aboudi Saleh, have spent a period of 25 years in the Torah of Beit Zalkha
and throughout this period I did not work in any other profession except for reading the Talmud and other religious sciences, for I am now
a rabbi registered in the Register of Rabbis for the Israelite community in Baghdad, which is sent to the honorable Ministry of Justice.
Furthermore, I add that the salary I receive is six dinars per month from the Dorshei Torah Association and five dinars
per month for reading in the Meir Tweig Synagogue ⟦line⟧ Chazzanut ⟦line⟧ while I must support my family consisting of nine individuals
⟦line⟧ including five daughters ⟦line⟧ For a long time, I used to depend for my affairs on a small amount of money
placed in my wife's name ⟦line⟧ Mohar ⟦line⟧ and now this last resource has been completely exhausted and I do not know how I will be able
to manage my family's affairs at the present time or in the near future if conditions continue as they are.
The Dorshei Torah Association cannot increase my salary as it depends for its income on contributions
only, and for this reason, I plead with your high council to help me by arranging a monthly salary for me like the rest of the rabbis
registered and residing in the Yeshivot. On this occasion, I inform your Excellency that I am the only one from the Dorshei Torah
Association registered in the Register of Rabbis, and I believe that my right to this request will not be hidden from
your presence, especially in this difficult time for a provider of a large family and in my condition, having spent all
my life in the Torah of Beit Zalkha, and it is impossible for me to try any other profession.
This is for your presence's knowledge that the virtuous gentlemen Sh. Heskel Zubeida, Youssef Ibrahim Shalim, and Saleh
Youssef Samira know the truth of my situation as I have described it.
And the matter is yours, sir.
The Petitioner
Rabbi Aboudi Saleh
⟦stamp: revenue stamp with portrait⟧
Aboudi Saleh
30 / 1 / 50
⟦stamp: revenue stamp with portrait⟧
Aboudi Saleh
30 / 1 / 50
The Secretary
After taking detailed
information about the applicant
it shall be presented to the council
30 / 1
It is recommended to appoint him as a rabbi in the Yeshivot
with a salary of 1/- Dinar and cost of living
allowance of 2/500
11 / 2
16/2/50
His Excellency, the Respected President of the Bodily Council
Greetings: We address our request to your esteemed Excellency.
The presented is from us, the rabbis of "Dorshei Torah", who have been in this association for 25 years
studying the Talmud, the laws, and religious rulings, and dealing with various religious matters
and directing individuals toward the religious goals that must be fulfilled. But we have not found
a suitable salary for us to secure our lives and guarantee our livelihood. How can the
small salary we receive suffice when we are heads of families?
Circumstances have forced us to sell household items to deal with the hardships that hinder
our progress in the field of education.
The "Dorshei Torah" association did not consider raising our salaries because subscriptions decreased significantly and did not
suffice for us given the state of affairs and weakness.
Dear sirs, it is known that poverty is a social affliction that must be treated first,
and secondly, religion does not stand firm unless the condition of its men is upright and they find the
prosperity and ease of circumstances that provide them with a happy and contented life to devote themselves to this noble service.
Therefore, we hope your Excellency will look into our case and treat us equally with the other rabbis in terms of
salary, and for this we offer you our holiest wishes, and may you remain safe,
And we ask the Creator for health, well-being, and success.
Ovadia Sasson ⟦Menashe⟧ ⟦...⟧ Aboudi Saleh Morshi Eliyahu
⟦illegible⟧
Note - Although Rabbi Aboudi Saleh sent a letter to your Excellency, since he is part
of the association - he signed with us as well.
To be presented to the Council
⟦...⟧ 21/2/50
Baghdad 12 - 8 - 50
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 5 / 544 / 50
Date: 17 / 8 / 50
File Number:
His Excellency, the Respected President of the Lay Council
Presented to your Excellency
I, the undersigned, one of the Rabbis of Dorshei Torah, have come to seek mercy from your Excellency
to allocate one of the salaries of Hakham Michael, which, ⟦given⟧ the harsh circumstances I am suffering from
due to the low salary amounting to ten and a half dinars, which is not enough to cover some of the needs
of the family. Therefore, I hope you will look into my case with an eye of mercy and compassion, and in doing so, you
will have performed the greatest duty toward the members of your community and the children of humanity. Respectfully yours,
With high respect
Your supplicant
Moshe Eliyahu
Mahlab
To be presented to the council
17 / 8 / 50
D
Azzi Dulaim Association
Internal Regulations of the Society
«Ozre Dalim» Helpers of the Poor
Al-Sharqiya Printing House - Baghdad
The Internal Regulations of the "Ozri Dalim" Association for Aid to the Poor
Formed with a permit from the Honorable Ministry of Interior pursuant to its order
Issued on 17 / 7 / 1939 and No. 14436
Internal Regulations of the "Ozri Dalim" Association, Supporters of the Poor.
1 – Name of the Association. This association is called the "Ozri Dalim" Association, meaning the association of supporters
of the poor.
2 – Purpose of the Association. Assisting the Israeli poor in Baghdad with their livelihood and clothing
as much as possible, and the association has no relation to politics.
3 – Supervision. The association is managed by a committee consisting of seven members elected
at the general meeting held by the founding body for the first time
and the committee elects from among its members by secret ballot a president, a vice
president, and a secretary.
4 – Term of the Committee A – The term of the committee is six years. At the conclusion of the first two years
and the withdrawal of its members. Three of its members shall be removed by lot and their replacements appointed by secret
ballot in a general session, and at the conclusion of the next two years, the
remaining four members shall be removed and their replacement shall likewise be carried out by secret
ballot in a general session, and after the end of the six-year cycle
the committee is re-elected in a general session.
B – Members who were removed by lot, withdrew, or were separated
may be re-elected.
C – If one or two members withdraw from the committee in any form
the remaining members of the committee shall immediately elect replacements from the association's members
and if more than two members withdraw during the two years, they shall be replaced
by election in the general session.
- 2 -
d - A member is considered resigned from the committee if they do not participate in more than four
consecutive sessions without a legitimate excuse.
5 - Administration.
a - General administration is entrusted to the Association Committee, which seeks to increase the number
of subscribers to the association, accept subsidies for it, ensure their proper spending,
and consider everything necessary to ensure the intended purpose of the association.
b - The committee is tasked with keeping and maintaining the necessary books, controlling accounts,
and collecting and spending subscriptions and subsidies.
c - The committee shall publish to the public a detailed account of receipts and payments up to
the end of the Hebrew month of Nisan of each year, provided that publication is not delayed
more than four months.
d - The committee holds its sessions once every two weeks or more. It is considered
convened when at least five of its members are present, provided that
the president or his deputy is among them, and decisions are issued by majority.
In the event of a tie, the opinions on the side of the session chair shall prevail.
e - The president and the secretary are authorized to conduct transactions jointly and to perform
representation of the association and sign correspondence papers, documents,
and others, provided that their signatures are accompanied by the official association seal.
f - No member of the committee has the right to receive any fee or gratuity
whatsoever in exchange for their services.
6 - Documentation.
The secretary records the proceedings of the sessions and the work of the committee in a
special register known as the "Minutes Register," which is signed by the members
present at the end of each session.
- 3 -
7 - Membership. Every male who pays into the fund of the
society an annual subscription fee of at least 480 fils is considered a member of the society, provided
that he is not under twenty years of age or deprived of
civil rights. A special register shall be organized in which the names of the members are entered.
8 - General Meeting. The society holds its general meeting once every two years in the Hebrew month of Nisan,
and the secretary shall present to that session a report showing the activities of
the committee during the past two years and a table of the realized accounts.
9 - Extraordinary General Meeting. An extraordinary general meeting may be held at any time of the year
whenever circumstances require it to perform some necessary tasks. This meeting is held
either "a" by a direct decision of the committee or "b" based on
a request submitted in writing by at least thirty members to the president
stating the purpose for the meeting.
10 - Discipline of the General Meetings. A - Members must be notified in writing of the meeting of every general session,
at least one week before it is held, and the committee must state
the purpose for which the announcement to hold the general session was issued.
B - The attendance of 1/5 (one-fifth) of the members of the society is considered a quorum for holding the session,
provided that their number is not less than thirty. No business shall be undertaken
unless a quorum is reached. If a quorum is not reached, the
session is postponed for at least two weeks, and the president and secretary shall announce the date
of the postponed session as is the case for the original session. The
postponed session is obliged to proceed with the work at the appointed time even if a quorum
is not reached.
- 4 -
C - Votes shall be taken on every proposal or resolution in general sessions
in the manner decided by the President, provided that each member has
one vote and decisions are made by a majority of the members present.
D - The Chairman of the Committee shall preside over the general sessions by virtue of his office, and in
his absence, his deputy shall preside, and in their absence, the committee members
present shall elect one of them to preside over the session.
E - Voting by proxy is not permitted.
F - Members who have fallen behind in paying the
subscription fee for one year do not have the right to vote.
11 - Minutes of Sessions. | The Secretary must record the proceedings of the sessions in the General Proceedings
General Proceedings. | Record. The President and the Secretary sign the minutes of each session. Members
have the right to view the record of proceedings when the session is held if they request
that from the Secretary.
12 - Amendment of the Bylaws. It is permissible to make changes to the society's bylaws, modify them, and add to them
as decided by the general sessions, provided that the Ministry of
Interior approves it, and the following provisions must be followed at that time:
A - Every proposal involving an amendment to the bylaws must be announced in detail.
B - Every proposal or resolution must be signed by a two-thirds majority of the members
present.
13 - Funds. | Subscriptions and subsidies shall be deposited in the name of the society at one of the banks
that are a joint-stock company in Baghdad, and amounts shall be withdrawn with the signatures of the President
and the Secretary. No amount may be spent without a committee resolution.
- 5 -
Just as the committee is not permitted to keep more than one hundred dinars with it,
it must keep them at a bank decided upon by the committee.
14 - Accounting. | A - The secretary shall keep books showing in detail the accounts of receipts
and expenditures, and shall prepare every two years a statement of the committee's work and a table showing
the account of receipts and payments for the two years ending in the month of Adar
Hebrew, and the financial position of the association at its conclusion, and this shall be presented to
the General Meeting (Article 8), signed by him and by the President.
B - The members in the General Meeting shall appoint an accountant or accountants to audit
the association's accounts, and the aforementioned shall submit a certified statement
on the budget schedule and the income and expenditure account as stipulated
in the preceding paragraph A. This statement shall be kept by the committee's administration
to be presented at the nearest General Meeting.
C - Members in the ordinary or extraordinary General Meeting have the right to
inspect all accounts and discuss them with the committee in the
manner decided by the General Assembly.
15 - Dissolution of the committee | Deciding on the dissolution of the committee in an exceptional manner is the responsibility of a general meeting announced
and its reconstitution. | and held in the manner prescribed in Articles 9 and 10, without obligating
| the General Assembly to state the reasons for dissolving the committee, provided
| that it is re-elected immediately and that the number of members present
| in that meeting is not less than one hundred members.
16 - Association properties | In the event of the dissolution of the association or in the event of its closure by the government, the
after its dissolution. | properties of the association shall be deposited with the Israeli Communal Council in Baghdad
| to be spent on the poor.
⟦Presidency of the Jewish Community⟧
Number ⟦212⟧
Date 5/7/46
Ozre Dalim Association (Helpers of the Poor)
Torat Ezra Daoud — Bataween
Baghdad on: May 11, 1946
194:
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, Respectfully
Greetings and respect — —
In accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of the internal regulations of our association (Helpers of the Poor Association
Ozre Dalim) authorized by the venerable Ministry of Interior pursuant to its order issued on 7/17/1939
and numbered 14436, the regular general session was held on April 8, 1946, in the Ezra
Daoud Synagogue for the purpose of re-electing the association's management committee. The election was held by secret ballot and resulted
in the victory of the gentlemen — —
1— Isaac Saleh Jouri
2— Salman Ezra Shahrabani
3— Elias Menashi Aguerib
4— Ibrahim Eliyahu Shamshoua
5— Benjamin Aboudi Aslan
6— Joseph Salman Nissan
7— <del>Khedhouri</del> Cohen Saleh Isaac
Accordingly, the management committee composed of the gentlemen mentioned above met on
April 28, 946 and elected from among its members Mr. Isaac Saleh Jouri as President, Mr. Salman Ezra Shahrabani
as Vice President, and Mr. Elias Menashi Aguerib as Secretary in accordance with Article 3 of the aforementioned regulations.
We have the honor to inform your Eminence of this, and please accept our highest respect and appreciation.
Secretary
President
An Appeal
I address this appeal of mine to all those with living consciences to assist the Ozri
Dalim Association on the occasion of Passover to provide unleavened bread and other needs for the poor.
The high prices and the increase in poverty make the mission of the association in these difficult
circumstances extremely arduous, and it therefore awaits the determination of the honorable members of the community, their assistance, and their zeal
to complete this great charitable project. The association is aware of the apathy that has affected the work
of some of the zealous individuals who supported it in the past due to current circumstances, but I nevertheless
address this appeal to them to contribute to this humanitarian work, praying to the Almighty to
grant them success and prosperity.
The association will be extremely grateful if the donors would kindly send
what their hands generously offer directly to it, given that the association will not be able to contact all
the zealous gentlemen due to the lack of time and the magnitude of the duty placed upon its shoulders.
The association will be extremely grateful if the donors would kindly send
what their hands generously offer directly to it, given that the association will not be able to contact all
the zealous gentlemen due to the lack of time and the magnitude of the duty placed upon its shoulders.
Our hope is firm that the generous public appreciates the efforts of the association and supports it,
and God is the Granter of success.
Baghdad, February 14, 1947
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Head of the Israelite Community
⟦illegible⟧
Note: - We request the donors to send their donations to one of the gentlemen
whose names are listed below.
Isaac Gori | Salman Ezra Shahrabani | Ibrahim Shashoua
Elias Aqirab | Yamin Aslan | Yusuf Salman Nissan | Yusuf Heskel Mukhtar
Or to the association's collector, Mr. Sion Abed Cohen, in exchange for a stamped receipt from the association.
Appeal
I direct this appeal of mine to all those with a living conscience to assist the Ozeri
Dalim Society on the occasion of Passover to provide unleavened bread and other needs for the poor.
The high prices and increasing poverty make the society's mission in these difficult
circumstances extremely arduous, and it is therefore waiting for the determination, assistance, and zeal of the honorable members of the community
to accomplish this great charitable project. The society is aware of the slackness that has affected the work
of some of the zealous individuals who supported it in the past due to current circumstances, but despite
that, I direct this appeal to them to contribute to this humanitarian work, praying to the Almighty to
bestow upon them success and prosperity.
The society will be extremely grateful if the honorable donors would kindly send
what their hands generously give directly to it, given that the society will not be able to contact all
the zealous gentlemen due to short time and the magnitude of the duty placed upon its shoulders.
Our hope is firm that the honorable public appreciates the society's efforts and supports it,
and God is the granter of success.
Baghdad, February 14, 1947
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Head of the Jewish Community
Note: - We request the honorable donors to send their donations to one of the gentlemen
whose names are listed below.
Isaac Gouri | Salman Ezra Shahrabani | Ibrahim Shashoua
Elias Aqirib | Yamin Aslan | Yusuf Salman Nissan | Yusuf Heskel Mukhtar
Or to the society's collector, Mr. Zion Abid Cohen, in exchange for a stamped receipt from the society.
An Appeal
I address this appeal of mine to all those with a living conscience to assist the Ozri
Dalim Association on the occasion of Passover to provide unleavened bread and other needs for the poor.
The high prices and the increase in poverty make the mission of the Association in these difficult
circumstances extremely arduous, and it therefore awaits the vigor of the honorable members of the community, their assistance, and their zeal
to complete this great charitable project. The Association is aware of the slackness that has affected the work
of some of the zealous individuals who supported it in the past due to current circumstances, but I nonetheless
address this appeal of mine to them to contribute to this humanitarian work, praying to the Almighty to
bestow upon them success and prosperity.
The Association will be extremely grateful if the donors would kindly send
their contributions directly to it, as the Association will not be able to contact all
zealous gentlemen due to lack of time and the magnitude of the duty placed upon its shoulders.
Our hope is firm that the honorable public appreciates the efforts of the Association and supports it.
And God is the granter of success.
Baghdad, February 14, 1947
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Jewish Community
Note: - We request the donors to send their donations to one of the gentlemen
whose names are listed below.
Isaac Gouri | Salman Ezra Shahrabani | Ibrahim Shohet
Elias Akairib | Yamin Aslan | Yusuf Salman Nissan | Yusuf Heskel Mukhtar
Naji Yusuf ⟦Akairib⟧
Or to the Association's collector, Mr. Sion Abid Cohen, in exchange for a stamped receipt from the Association.