Correspondence to and from Rabbi Sasson Khedouri
View interactive document pageThis archival material includes most correspondence with Rabbi Sasson Khedouri. Topics include: correspondence from Midrash Talmud Torah regarding educational and financial matters; election of members to a Management Committee for the Baghdad Brigade; letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Rabbi Khedouri’s testimony before a British-American Commission of Inquiry on the state of Israel; document of questions and Rabbi Khedouri’s answers on the following issues: Jewish status in Iraq, the state of Israel, equality of Jews on paying taxes, education, obtaining jobs, business, religion freedom, travelling, teaching Hebrew, and the number of Jews in Iraq; a form to collect factual information on the Jewish community to be published in the al-Rafidain Directory; a letter from Iraq Red Crescent Society to the head of Jewish community regarding the death of three Iraqis in Java, Indonesia prisons; a letter from a researcher; an invitation for a theater play from the Children's Protection Society; Shamash Company asking for help to distribute fabric to the poor; letter of complaint from a Muslim because some Jews entered the al-Kazmia holy place; a complaint regarding the Jewish community's girls behavior; letter asking for help on a forgery matter; letter asking for help from a Russian Jew who moved to Baghdad; letter asking for help to get papers from the Ministry of Supply to print the Jewish annual calendar for 5708; letter from the al-Jafería Schools Association asking for book donations to build a library; letters to the head of the Jewish community regarding obituaries for martyrs; letter to write an introduction for a book about Iraqi Crown Prince Abdullah; letters from the President of the Jewish Community asking for help on some matters.
Name of the deceased: Marshi Shabbo Occupation: Boy in the Al-Jawahirji schools Residence: Al-Kilani neighborhood, adjacent to Abdullah Jadu' Date of death: Thursday 11/12/947 Wife: Marcelle Khedhouri The witnesses who } Eliyahu Shlomo - Shanta Khayyat (may she rest in God's mercy) accompanied him } An amount of eight dinars was paid to the deceased Marshi Shabbo President ⟦Sassoon⟧ Khedhouri
1 / 1 / 1948 Respectful Mr. Director of Baghdad District Police After greetings We request the kindness of renewing the weapon carrying license No. (185) granted to Kol Muhammad, the guard of the sect's administration headquarters, for the year 1948. Please accept our respect ⟦line⟧ , ⟦Sassoon Khedhouri⟧ Head of the Community on behalf of
14 / 1 / 1948 We hereby confirm our receipt of ten coats for women and ten trousers for boys and that is from the Girls' Charitable Sewing Association for the purpose of distributing them to the department's custodians ⟦line⟧ . On behalf of.
Baghdad, February 5, 1948 To the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri President of the Jewish Community O Honorable President We have the honor to be proud of your noble person as the head of our Jewish community for the good work you have done, especially the Al-Fatiha service you held for the souls of the nation's martyrs. And when we visited your flourishing establishment and saw the order and arrangement you have provided with your care, it was truly great. Truly, the awe, the setting, the reverence, the children's hymns, and the candles attract the attention of other nations. Especially your noble self, who surrounded this ceremony with his care. Truly a remarkable scene. And I draw your attention to the fact that on the 4th of this month I was at the office of the Al-Ittihad Al-Masa'i newspaper and I noted the efforts of the community under your leadership in this regard. In truth, they were very pleased with your efforts and especially regarding the Al-Fatiha service you held. Finally, I ask the Almighty Creator to grant you success in serving this nation, with many thanks to the teachers and students. This and nothing else; please accept our greetings, and may you remain so. Hayawi Shaul Tweigman via P.O. Box No. (16) Baghdad. To be archived Special archive
To their Excellencies and Highnesses I ask ⟦your excellencies⟧ to donate for the sake of the youth who were killed unjustly and aggressively for the sake of the noble Iraqi people, for they are righteous martyrs for this and to your Excellencies happiness The Yusufiya Aid Long live the independent Arab nation Long live His Majesty King Faisal II ⟦the Great⟧, His Highness the Regent of the Throne of Iraq, and long live the noble Iraqi people, I ask God to preserve you and preserve Iraq Youth of the Yusufiya neighborhood For filing Charity
To his Excellency the respected Rabbi Sasson Khidouri After kissing your noble hands Sir, I am a young man who has been afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis and the Ministry of Social Affairs ordered my referral to Lebanon at the government's expense Since I am poor, I began collecting donations from famous figures in Iraq, and His Excellency the Minister of Supply helped me, and all the ministers helped me Today I have come to request a donation and assistance through your grace It has increased our honor, and you, sir, as the head of the Israelite community, everyone has risen among the classes of the people as you are a man of goodness and kindness, and for this you have our heartiest thanks Your servant Abdul-Jabbar ⟦...⟧ May our Lord grant you success And preserve you ⟦...⟧ For archiving Miscellaneous
Baghdad 5 / 5 / 1948 Thursday ⟦illegible⟧ To His Eminence, my respected Master, Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad After kissing your hands, we pray to the Almighty Lord to raise your status and bless your patriotism before His Glory and Highness for the noted duties you have performed towards the righteous martyrs of the nation. This glorious act of yours will remain immortalized with every patriot, and may you remain a pride for the community under the shadow of His Majesty the Redeemer and the great victory. We wish to bring to Your Eminence's attention what the young children of the Israelite community are doing on Saturdays, specifically on King Ghazi Street. They play roles that are not without risks, and in this state they ride bicycles in an unbearable manner and eat lettuce, oranges, and seeds exactly as they appear on their holidays. It is not hidden from Your Eminence that these images, even if they appear from young children, yet the public applies them to their elders, and this is something that contradicts the glorious deeds that Your Eminence performs. And I do not wish to suggest to Your Eminence (in my capacity as one of the community's youth) that you impose strict punishment, yes, strict punishment on everyone who does not observe the order. Here is a jealous patriotic youth suggesting that you close the doors of the shops of the bicycle owners who are on King Ghazi Street on Thursdays and Saturdays, and the community pays the owner's wages for those days. This matter is up to Your Eminence, and we are but servants of the respected President, my master. Sincere, ⟦A Jealous Patriot⟧ For preservation Miscellaneous ⟦signature⟧
Baghdad on Our vision in the complete narrowness and distress of the confusion ⟦...⟧ In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Respectable To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Greetings, respect, and a fragrant peace from the bottom of the heart directed To your pure self and your soul, clear from the filth of stupidity May God protect you from every evil. An inquiry about your precious health Enjoying permanent health. I present to your Excellency I was honored yesterday at your prosperous place, but to my regret Very much, I was not successful in visiting you, and I requested From the polite, refined brother, your secretary, and he informed That he would present to your Excellency ... so what is hoped from your fatherhood ⟦...⟧ is that you favor us and extend a helping hand
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
His Eminence Mr. Subhi al-Qazwini, respected
Building of Ayatollah Kashif al-Ghita, may his shadow endure
Al-Khalisi School - Al-Kadhimiya
Greetings and respect
I presented your eminence's letter to the President
And his excellency expressed his great interest regarding it ⟦...⟧
and the needy, and it will be under his patronage with gratitude if
you would kindly send your representative or if you would honor us with your visit
to present ⟦...⟧ to your eminence the Sheikh, and please accept, O
eminent scholar, the acceptance of our sincere greetings and our respect
General President
Sassoon Khadhouri
Dated 2/7/1948
By the Presidency car
With additions to p. ⟦...⟧ I pray to God Almighty to grant success to
everyone
Sincerely yours
Salim Subhi
Servant of Knowledge
In Al-Khalisi School
Al-Kadhimiya
Department Copy 584 2/18/1948 His Excellency the Respected President of the Lay Council Greetings, The approval of your esteemed council to hold the funeral service at the headquarters of the community presidency for the souls of the righteous martyrs and the laying of wreaths on their tombs had the best impact and the best results, as you encouraged the members of the community by this to show their sincere feelings towards the martyrs among their fellow citizens. The members of the community are truly proud of your esteemed council in view of the actions it has taken in this regard. In light of your encouragement and assistance, I can only extend to your esteemed council my heartfelt thanks, praying to the Almighty to guide your steps toward everything that is good and prosperous. In closing, please accept the assurances of my highest respect, Sincerely, ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community For Filing Notes ⟦A⟧
Mutasarrifate of Baghdad Liwa Editing Bureau No. / 9 / 2059 Date 21 / 2 / 1948 Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Incoming No. ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ To His Eminence, the Judge of the Sunni Sharia Court in Baghdad, Respectfully " " " Ja'fari " His Beatitude, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Community, Respectfully His Eminence, the Head of the Jewish Community " His Eminence, the Bishop of the <del>Syriac</del> Syriac Catholics, Respectfully " " Armenian Catholics, Respectfully " " " Orthodox " Subject / Nomination of half the members of the Baghdad Liwa Administrative Council Due to the expiration of the term for half the members of the Baghdad Liwa Administrative Council, namely Mr. Hussein Ali Al-Abdul Hadi and Mr. Meir Shaul Basri, we request your presence at the office of this Mutasarrifate at ten o'clock <del>from the day</del> on the morning of Wednesday, 25 / 2 / 1948 to nominate the necessary members in accordance with the provisions of Article 47 of the Liwa Administration Law No. 16 for the year 1945. ⟦signature⟧ Mutasarrif of Baghdad Liwa Copy to: - Directorate of Baghdad Liwa Revenues Directorate of Baghdad Liwa Land Registry: For the same purpose Director of Editing of Baghdad Liwa: ⟦illegible⟧