Correspondence Regarding Legal (Marriage and Divorce) Proceedings between the Ministry of Justice and the Jewish Religious Courts
View interactive document pageThese documents include several construction contracts and accounting information for the Baghdadi Jewish Community. Also included are letters of correspondence between the Iraqi Ministry of Justice and the Jewish Religious Courts regarding legal issues, often involve marriage and divorce proceedings and jurisdiction issues. Most documents originating from the Jewish Courts are handwritten in Judeo-Arabic.
Administration of the Israelite Community Baghdad Department :: Presidency of the Community Number :: 3705 Date :: 24 April 936 To the President of the Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad We request a prompt reply to the letter of this department Number :: 3695 Dated :: 2 April 936 Subject :: The case of Khedhouri Sassoon Bakhash With respect Signature : ⟦illegible⟧ Position : President of the Community Cancelled
26 / 5 / 2 28 April 936 To Investigating Magistrate of Rusafa Reference to your letter No. 884 dated 31 / 3 / 936 Enclosed herewith are two papers from the Israeli Religious Court in Damascus; we request their return to us after your review of them; ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community 51 M
Investigating Judge of the Rusafa Court Presidency of the Jewish Community Number 2280 Date 7 / 5 / 926 To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community Reference to your letter numbered 2722 and dated 2 / 5 / 26 We are returning to you the two papers sent to us in your aforementioned letter to be kept by you, and please order their translation into Arabic and send the translation to us after certifying it as a true copy by the responsible official in your department ⟦signature⟧ Copy to the Religious Court Investigating Judge of the Rusafa District, Baghdad
7 7 2 2 7 May 936 12 His Eminence, the President of the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad, the Respected Based on the request of the Rusafa Investigation Judge in his letter numbered 1221 and dated 5/5/936, we return to you the two papers sent to us to be kept with you, and please order their translation into Arabic and send the translation to us after certifying it as a true copy by the responsible official in your department so that we may send it to the Investigation Judge; ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community ⟦illegible stamp⟧ 501 M
The Court of Justice of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: Year: 569 Date: ⟦...⟧ 1909 Our master, you are over us, we have taken ⟦...⟧ This letter which reached us We established and we verified To what is written in the letter which reached us ⟦...⟧ the letter which reached us ⟦...⟧ 942 Naim Moallem Hazni Ezra ⟦...⟧ Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Special Number 2887 Date 4 / 8 / 52
The Religious Court of the Holy City: Baghdad, May G-d Protect It: The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad: JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD: No.: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: ⟦illegible⟧ Year: 569 To the Honor of His Eminence the Rabbi Chief of Baghdad To the Honor of His Eminence the Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, May G-d Protect It Peace and blessing from Heaven as is proper Since a letter has reached us from Your Honor (may he be spared) dated ⟦...⟧ in which he informs That a letter reached him from the Government in which they inform that a letter reached them from The honorable Priest of the Jewish community in which he requests that permission be given to him To arrange a divorce. Therefore, we are hereby informing Your Honor that the order of this divorce was arranged Before us in the Religious Court, and in it we gave permission to the aforementioned Rabbi to arrange the divorce Aforementioned, and may there be peace and blessing from now and forever, Amen, Netzach, Selah And all that is right in the eyes of G-d and man, may it be the will that G-d fulfills the wishes of your heart for good Amen and Amen. Nissim Isaac | Eliyahu son of Joseph | Meir Salman (Second Judge) | Head of the Court | Member of the Court The Religious Court of the Holy City Baghdad, May G-d Protect It The Religious Jewish Court Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD Copy of the letter That was sent to the Rabbi To the Honor of His Eminence The Hakham Bashi The Honorable and Exalted May G-d live upon him In Baghdad
The Court of Justice of the Holy Congregation Baghdad, may God protect it The Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: Date: ⟦...⟧ Year 569 Mahzaron Ltd. ⟦...⟧ Hakham Sassoon Kadoorie ⟦...⟧ For ⟦...⟧ On the date 24 Kislev ⟦...⟧ 1925 ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Nissim Hazan Kadoorie ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
From the Investigating Judge of the Rusafa District in the Baghdad Governorate Number 85 Date 26 / 5 / 20 To the Head of the Jewish Community Baghdad Following up on our letter numbered 221 and dated 26 / 5 / 5 Please order the sending of the two marriage papers under discussion The statement for the speed of the court ⟦signature⟧ Investigating Judge of the Rusafa District, Baghdad
The Israeli Religious Court in Damascus, Syria (Copy) Damascus, Syria 3 Nisan Hebrew 94 To the presence of the Honorable Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad After greetings and respect We inform your presence that we have received your letter attached with a copy of the divorce decree and the powers of attorney and we have acted according to your order because the right is with you and you will find enclosed the divorce decree and the powers of attorney and everything was done in our presence and enclosed you will find the divorce decree and the powers of attorney in the mail as your presence will expect and since there was a slight doubt in the divorce decree and the powers of attorney, however this does not matter legally as your presence knows the name of the first agent Nathaniel nicknamed Shahdia Rima and the name of the second agent on your side Suleiman bin Mordechai and the name of the fiancé Khedouri bin Sasson and the name of the fiancée Marcelle nicknamed Nona as shown enclosed And for clarification we have written and sealed our names in Damascus, Syria and everything is correct and we ask for your health. Nissim Isaac Nadado Elazar Isaac Eliyahu Shlomo Hares Cohen Cohen Seal of the Religious Court in Damascus, Syria ⟦signature⟧ True copy Baghdad / 19 / 5 / 1936
(Copy) The Israeli Religious Court in Damascus, Syria Damascus, Syria 1 Tevet 96 Hebrew His Excellency the President of the Israeli Community in Baghdad The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri After greetings and respect Reference to your letter dated December 20, 935, via the Secretary of the Sharia Court of Cassation in Baghdad, Rabbi Daoud Shaul, regarding the divorce of the fiancé Khedhouri Sassoon Bakhash from his fiancée Marcelle Al-Ta'ifa Nouna daughter of Nassim Aqoub, whom he divorced in our court via the agent Nathaniel nicknamed Shehadeh Riba. Before the delivery of the divorce document, a crowd of men was present, including five men from the people of Baghdad who know the husband, that he is the aforementioned Khedhouri Sassoon Bakhash. Before the divorce document was handed to the aforementioned agent, he was wearing a ghutra covering his head and neck. At that time, we told him he must lift the ghutra so that all those standing could identify him with certainty. Then he lifted the ghutra and all those standing verified him. After that, the divorce document was handed to the aforementioned agent according to religious law and the law. Now, the aforementioned Rabbi Daoud Shaul has come to us and informed us that the aforementioned Khedhouri Sassoon Sassoon denies his presence in Damascus and his failure to deliver the divorce document to his aforementioned fiancée. When we heard this, we remained disturbed by how such a thing could happen among Israelis. In the end, it became clear that his intention with the ghutra on his head and neck was to deny what happened. We asked the aforementioned Rabbi Daoud if he had a photograph of the aforementioned Khedhouri, and then he presented his photograph to us, and we recognized it as the photograph of the aforementioned Khedhouri who divorced his aforementioned fiancée Marcelle before us. The photograph he presented is inside the letter and stamped with the seal of our city's court, Damascus, Syria, to serve as verified testimony that everything the aforementioned Khedhouri said about not coming to Damascus and not divorcing his fiancée is a lie, and his intention thereby is to imprison the aforementioned Marcelle without cause, and the Lord will not accept to forgive him. Your Excellency is wise, likewise the Lord, to stand in support of the aforementioned poor woman and break the teeth of falsehood so that he cannot complete any evil deed, and bring him to ruin, and your reward is double from the Lord of the Worlds. Nassim Ishaq Nadado Youssef Yehuda Danka Yehuda Ibrahim Ma'ari Hallaq Seal of the Religious Court in Damascus, Syria ⟦signature⟧ True Copy Baghdad 19 May 1936
2728 31 May 936 6 2 Investigating Judge of the Rusafa District Baghdad Province Reference your letter No. 1221 dated 5/5/936 Enclosed you will find a certified translation of the two mentioned letters, provided as per your request, On behalf of Head of the Community
H. Sassoon Khedouri President of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri President of the Israelite Community - Baghdad Telephone Number 531: Number :: 2048 Subject: Date :: Day 20 Tevet 5696 14.1.36 To the Honorable The Great Rabbi, Head of the Rabbinical Court of the Holy Community, may God protect him, and the servants of Damascus, may God establish it Damascus R.M.N. I received your letter from Friday, 8 Tevet of this year. And I cannot restrain my feelings from thanking you from the bottom of my heart for the warm welcome with which you received the Honorable Rabbi David Shaul, may his soul rest in Eden, Secretary of the Hebrew Court of Appeals in Baghdad, and the assistance you provided him. And on this occasion, I thank you very much for your efforts in submitting this precious notice which helped to uphold truth and justice and to strike down violence and wickedness. Please accept my heartfelt blessings to you and to your entire congregation. With great respect and admiration For filing ⟦signature⟧ President of the Jewish Community Baghdad
2510 20 December 1935 His Eminence, the President of the Israelite Religious Court in Damascus, the Respected After greetings The bearer of this letter, Rabbi David Shaul, Secretary of the Israelite Sharia Court of Cassation in Baghdad, is sent by us to explain to your Eminence an important matter, so I hope you will provide him all possible facilities, and to your Eminence further respect; By hand Sassoon Head of the Community Najib 10 M ⟦illegible⟧
General Form (11) Court: Hilla Peace Court Number: 2102 Date: 9 / 5 / 952 Subject: The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, President of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad Memorandum: Based on the lawsuit filed in this court by the person named Anwar Maher against the defendant Maher Nouri Al-Rusafa for his employment with the defendant for a wage, as his father Hosni Nasser passed away on ⟦22⟧ / 4 / 952 and is registered in the community records Please send the aforementioned record to this court and provide your opinion regarding the cause of death, with it being returned to you provided we view it ⟦during⟧ 25 / 5 Hilla Peace Court The Clerk ⟦illegible⟧
Please refer to the general number Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Division: Bureau of Legal Codification General Number: 276 / 11 Special Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya: Date: 17 / November / 1935 21 / Sha'ban / 1354 Subject Summary: Certification of a certificate regarding the status of a community Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad With reference to your two letters numbered 3423 and 3431 and dated 10 November year 1935. We return to you herewith the certified certificate along with all the papers. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Minister of Justice Order / 16
Iraq Ministry of Interior Baghdad Directorate of Rights Date: 12 / Sha'ban / 54 AH 9 / November / 35 Number: 26972 Head of the Jewish Community Subject - Raising the Iraqi flag on the building of the Rima Khedouri Eye Hospital. Reference to your letter numbered 3424 and dated 3 / 11 / 1935. Based on Article 10 of the Iraqi Flag Use Regulation No. 29 of 1930, we authorize the installation of a flagpole and the raising of the Iraqi flag on the building of the Rima Khedouri Eye Hospital; ⟦signature⟧ Minister of Interior Copy for information to Directorate of Public Health Governorate of Baghdad Brigade M. Y
The Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Department: Legal Codification Bureau General Number: A / 119 / 26 Subject Summary: The case of Nouri Ephraim and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi Private Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 9 / 1 / 1355 Hijri 31 / March Year 1936 Presidency of the Israelite Community In Baghdad Based on the petition submitted to this Ministry on 8 / 3 / 1936 by the petitioner Nouri Ephraim, the case of the alimony imposed on him for his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi by the Religious Court was examined, and it was found:- That the Religious Court, in its judgment issued on August 12, 1935, under number 209 / 1318, imposed an alimony on the petitioner for his wife Khatoun in the amount of five dinars and eight hundred fils per month. In its second judgment, issued one month after the date of the first judgment, numbered 216 / 1325 and dated September 13, 1935, it increased the alimony and raised it to (8.750) eight dinars and seven hundred and fifty fils, justifying this based on the petitioner marrying another woman. This judgment was upheld on appeal. Upon careful consideration of the above, we find it necessary to point out that increasing alimony can only be based on legitimate reasons such as rising prices or the improvement of the man's financial status. As for increasing it as a punishment for one who marries a second wife, as occurred in the petitioner's case <del>⟦illegible⟧</del>, we do not see it as possible or legitimate. Since alimony assessment rulings are matters that can be reviewed from time to time for legitimate reasons, we see no objection to re-examining the assessment. If the petitioner's capability is verified, the assessment shall be adjusted and his hardship removed. Acting Minister of Justice ⟦illegible⟧ 2852 31 / 3 / 36
2296 3 April 936 His Eminence, the President of the Honorable Israeli Religious Court We enclose herewith a copy of the Ministry of Justice letter No. A / 36 / 119 dated 31 March 936 regarding the case of Nouri Ephraim and his wife Khatoun Sasson Shalabi to respond to its content; Lui On behalf of The President of the Community 10 M ⟦illegible⟧
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Editorial Department: ⟦line⟧ General Number: 4/119/26 Special Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 27 Rabi' al-Awwal 1355 16 June 1936 Subject Summary: The case of Nouri Ephraim and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi. To - Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad We confirm our letter No. A/119/26 dated March 31, 1936, and we request a prompt response regarding what the Spiritual Court has decided after reviewing its contents, and an explanation of the reasons that led to the delay in sending the expected reply. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Minister of Justice Confirmed to the Court Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Registry Number 2928 Date 22 / 6
Administration of the Israelite Community Baghdad Department :: Presidency of the Community Number :: 3791 Date :: 16 June 936 To the President of the Israelite Religious Court We request a prompt reply to the letter of this department Number: 3696 Dated: 3 April 936 Subject: The case of Nouri Ephraim and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi With respect Signature: For ⟦illegible⟧ Position: President of the Community ⟦illegible stamp⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy City Baghdad, may God protect it The Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: 647 Year: 5696 Date: 27 Tishrei 5697 We, the undersigned, testify that it was ⟦with us⟧ On Thursday, 27 Tishrei 5697, here in Baghdad When we were sitting And there came before us ⟦the Sage⟧ ⟦the Honorable⟧ O. Nissim Ts. K. And it was remembered when we were ⟦on the day⟧ 6 Elul past ⟦in the house of⟧ ⟦the Sage⟧ ⟦the Honorable⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ And it was when ⟦we went⟧ ⟦to his house⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦to sell⟧ ⟦to him⟧ ⟦the house⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦and we found⟧ there ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ ⟦the aforementioned⟧ Ezra ⟦Salman⟧ Hezekiah ⟦Meir⟧ Presidency of the Israeli Community Special Number 2957 Date 14 / 7 / 93
2842 13 July 936 Ministry of Justice Reference to your letter No. A/116/36 dated 31 March 936 The Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad informed us of your above-mentioned letter and replied to us as follows: The intention of increasing the alimony for a husband who married another woman besides his wife was not punishment, but rather the intention was to pressure him and compel him to divorce the second wife whom he married without a legitimate reason, and this is a ruling stipulated by Israeli law and followed by the court in its many rulings since ancient times. On behalf of The Head of the Community
2724 25 May 936 His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council in Baghdad, the Respected We are enclosing a copy of the Ministry of Justice's letter No. 9/24/1 dated 12 April 936 to respond to its content; ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community His Order
Number . Date 22/2/21 From the Justice of the Peace of Baghdad To the Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad We request that you inform us whether you have a register of the names of those born and their birth dates or the dates of their circumcisions for the Mosaic community, provided that the answer is received before the day 21 May 21 The Judge To be registered Presidency of the Jewish Community: Baghdad: Incoming Number: 2870 Date: 21/2/22
4718 30 April 936 His Eminence the President of the Honorable Jewish Religious Court The Magistrate of Baghdad requested in his letter No. 5916 dated 22 / 4 / 936 to be informed whether we have a register of the names of those born and their dates of birth or the dates of their circumcisions provided that we send him the answer before 31 May 936. Since this Presidency does not possess a register of this kind, we request you to inform us whether you have such a register? ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community 10 M