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.
2742 17 May 936 To the Justice of the Peace of Baghdad Reference to your letter No. 260 - 5916 dated 4/22/936 We do not have a register of the names of those born from the Jewish community or their birth dates or the dates of their circumcision; Harun Head of the Community 5/17
The Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Personnel Affairs Department: General Number: <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> Subject Summary: Alimony for Louisa Hakham Moshe Ibrahim. Private Number: 1 / 19 / 1 / 10 Telegraphic Address: Justice: Date: 4 / Safar / 1355 25 / April / 1936: The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad We have reviewed the judgment you issued for the plaintiff Louisa Hakham Moshe Ibrahim against the defendant Azouri Manshi Shammas, which includes imposing a monthly alimony on him in the amount of twenty-two and a half Dinars, basing your judgment on his personal capability after investigating him outside the court and conscience. Since what you relied upon was not among the grounds for judgment that are legally dependable, we request that you inform us of the reason that prompted you to impose this exorbitant alimony based on this reason as soon as possible. Acting Minister of Justice ⟦line⟧ A copy to:- The Vice Presidency of Baghdad Execution, with reference to its letter Numbered 9600/628/36 dated 1/4/1936. M. Y. A.
The Pen ⟦line⟧ Alimony for Louisa, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Ibrahim. A / 19 / 1 / 10 11 Rabi' al-Awwal 1355 21 May 1936 To - The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad We confirm the letter of this Ministry numbered A / 19 / 1 / 10 and dated April 25, 1936 And we request a prompt response to it. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Minister of Justice A copy of it to - The Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad ⟦For filing⟧ 2905 2 / 2 M. S.
2774 2 June 936 Ministry of Justice Reference to your letter No. 9 / 1 / 10 dated 25 April 936 to the Religious Court Israeli in Baghdad The Religious Court has requested us to reply to the letter referred to above that the Law Israeli permits the court, when necessary, to base the judgment on what it deems conscientious and after investigation ⟦.⟧ Custodian Head of the Community 51 M
The Chief Rabbi of the city Baghdad, may God protect it Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi CHIEF RABBI BENJAMIN H. MOSHI Baghdad ⟦line⟧ Number: 442 Date: 4 / 9 / 926 Designated for Hakham Sasson Saleh son of Yehezkel Hakham for Yehezkel for Eliyahu for Yitzhak Meir, may his light shine, in Baghdad After for Qamayiz For David son of Nissim son of Ezra the Hakham the Prophet from Baghdad son of Menachem the Blessing for Salim for Yitzhak the ⟦...⟧ year 1926/10/1 The head Yosef Ram for Avraham for Yitzhak, may his light shine, grandson of Sasson Saleh for Hakham Navin Hakham Hezekiah for Ezra ⟦...⟧ and as understood in the notebook Benjamin ⟦signature⟧ Presidency of the Israelite Community Number 4902 Date 26 / 9 / 926
2775 31 May 936 2/2 To the Baghdad Peace Court Reference to your letter No. 6878/11683 dated 13/5/936 to the President of the Spiritual Council The President of the aforementioned Council has requested us to inform your court that there is no fixed fee for the Jewish community, but rather the fee is according to the agreement of the two parties, Sassoon Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 501 M
Presidency of the Grand Court in Baghdad Number - 2685 Date - 26/9/12 To The Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad The appellant - the complainant - Khedhouri Sassoon Bakhash has claimed the existence of papers pertaining to his criminal case filed with the Investigating Judge of the Rusafa District on the charge of forgery regarding the annulment of his engagement to the ⟦the⟧ named Nona daughter of Nissim, kept in your court. Please send them to us for examination when considering the appeal filed. ⟦illegible⟧ The President Copy Presidency of the Jewish Community: in Baghdad: Private Number: 2019 Date: 26/9/17 Y. A
2949 13 September 936 His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad, the Respected We have received from the Presidency of the Grand Court in its letter No. 2685 dated 12 September 936 that ⟦the⟧ complainant Khedhouri Sassoon Bakhash has claimed the existence of papers pertaining to his criminal case filed with the Rusafa Investigation Judge on the charge of forgery regarding the annulment of his engagement to the girl named Nuna daughter of ⟦Nissim⟧ kept in your court, so please send them to us to present them to the President of the Grand Court for him to conduct the audit when considering the pending appeal; ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 10 M
The Court of Justice of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it The Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: ⟦illegible⟧ 5 ⟦illegible⟧ Year: 569 942 suffices for her from the estate of her late husband ⟦illegible⟧ the costs of her maintenance and her dwelling from such for our life and for peace The Court of Justice of the Holy Community here in Baghdad ⟦illegible⟧ the assets of the aforementioned deceased ⟦illegible⟧ from ⟦illegible⟧ the costs of her maintenance and her dwelling ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ her maintenance ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Nissim ⟦illegible⟧ Hugi Aboudi
1924 23 September 936 Presidency of the Grand Court Reference to your letter No. 2685 dated 12 / 9 / 936 The Israeli Religious Court has sent us the two attached letters received from the Rabbinate of Damascus, one dated 3 Nisan 5694 (H) and the second (which has the photograph of the person named Khedhouri Bakhash attached to it) dated 1 Tevet 596 As for their translation, it is with the Rusafa Investigating Judge and can be obtained from him We request the return of the two letters after you have finished reviewing them ; To him ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community A M
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Department: Personnel Matters General Number: H / 119 / 26 Special Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 9 Rajab 1355 24 September 1936: Subject Summary: The case of alimony imposed on Nouri Ephraim Presidency of the Jewish Community With reference to your letter No. 3943 dated 13 July 1936. The Basic Law has granted the Spiritual Councils the right to adjudicate in spousal alimony lawsuits. It is not hidden from you that the term alimony is intended to mean the amounts allocated to be spent on the livelihood of the person for whom it was allocated, and not for any other purpose. However, upon reviewing the decree No. 209 / 1318 dated 12 August 1935 issued by the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad, we see that it issued a judgment against Nouri Ephraim to pay his wife's alimony in the amount of five dinars and eight hundred fils to his wife Khatoun. Then the court itself, upon the review of the wife's attorney and his claim that the husband had married a second wife, decided to increase the alimony and raise it to eight dinars and seven hundred and fifty fils according to decree No. 216 / 1325 dated 13 September 1935. And when questioned, you replied in your above-mentioned letter that the purpose of increasing the alimony on the husband is to harass him and compel him to divorce the second wife. The Religious Court's decision to increase the alimony for this purpose is a matter that is not based on a legal foundation. Therefore, we request the Council and the Religious Courts to observe their duties specified in the Basic Law and not to exceed them to other matters outside their scope. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Minister of Justice A copy to Presidency of the Court of Cassation of Iraq Deputy Presidency of Baghdad Execution K
2874 27 September 936 His Eminence the President of the Honorable Israeli Religious Court We attach herewith a copy of the Ministry of Justice letter No. A/119/36 dated 24 September 936 regarding the case of alimony imposed on Nouri Ephraim ; Sassoon Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ M. A
Ministry of Justice Number A / 119 / 36 Date 24 September 936 (Copy) Subject Summary: The case of alimony imposed on Nouri Ephraim Presidency of the Israelite Community With reference to your letter No. 43 dated 13 July 936 The Basic Law has granted the Spiritual Councils the right to decide in lawsuits of marital alimony. It is not hidden from you that the term alimony refers to the amounts allocated to be spent on the livelihood of the person for whom it was allocated, and not for any other purpose. However, upon reviewing the decree No. 9 / 2 / 1318 dated 12 August 935 issued by the Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad, we see that it issued a judgment against Nouri Ephraim to pay marital alimony amounting to five dinars and eight hundred fils to his wife Khatoun. Then the court itself, upon the review of the wife's attorney and his claim that the husband had married a second wife, decided to increase the alimony and raise it to eight dinars and seven hundred and fifty fils according to decree No. 216 / 1325 dated 13 September 935. When you were questioned, you replied in your above-mentioned letter that the purpose of increasing the alimony on the husband was to pressure him and compel him to divorce the second wife. The Religious Court's decision to increase the alimony for this purpose is a matter that is not based on a legal basis. Therefore, we request the religious councils and courts to observe their duties specified in the Basic Law and not to exceed them to other matters outside their scope; Acting Minister of Justice ⟦illegible stamp⟧ A copy of it to Presidency of the Court of Cassation of Iraq Deputy Presidency of Execution in Baghdad True copy 27 September 936 ⟦signature⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it The Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: Year: 569 Date: 14 Adar 96 Before us, the undersigned, appeared Georgie Ezra and Hakham Avraham Eliyahu, both from here, Baghdad and testified and warned that on the day ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 1927 a male son was born to the couple R. Ezra son of Isaac ⟦illegible⟧ and his wife Mrs. ⟦illegible⟧ daughter of Joseph, and they called his name Avraham and we established according to the law of Moses and Israel ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ And everything is valid and established Ezra Shalom Hugi Ezra 1927 Presidency of the Israeli ⟦illegible⟧ Number ⟦illegible⟧ 2009 Date ⟦illegible⟧
1931 / 4 9 September 936 ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Baghdad Peace Court With reference to your letter No. 4972 dated 18 July 936 We attach with this letter the lawsuit file formed between Khatoun Sassoon Shabi and her husband Nouri Ephraim Bechor numbered 627 and its number of papers is 88, please return it to us after review ; Alwan Head of the Community 10/ M
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Section: Drafting General Number: 1/89/1/7 Special Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 24 Sha'ban 1355 8 November 1936 Subject Summary: His Eminence the Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad I request your presence at the office of this Ministry at ten o'clock on Tuesday corresponding to November 10th to deliberate on judicial matters related to the community's courts. ⟦signature⟧ Minister of Justice For filing S 70
2998 27 October 936 Ministry of Justice Baghdad A charitable association formed by a permit from the Ministry of Interior pursuant to the Law on the Formation of Associations of 1922. Its basic bylaws, approved by the Ministry of Interior, state that its revenues consist of fixed monthly subscriptions paid by each member in exchange for their membership in the association and from various donations bestowed upon it by benefactors from time to time. For the collection of subscription fees from those belonging to the association and for the acceptance of donations offered to the association by charitable people—whether money, food, or clothing—at various times, should the association obtain a special permit for that pursuant to the Public Lotteries and Subscriptions Law No. 42 of 1934, or does it not require such a permit considering that all subscription fees and the acceptance of individual donations offered by persons of their own free will do not fall under the concept of public subscription mentioned in the Public Lotteries and Subscriptions Law aforementioned. I hope you will kindly guide us on this as quickly as possible! Sassoon Head of the Community To him
Administration of the Israelite Community Baghdad Department :: Presidency of the Community Number :: 4045 Date :: 11/29/936 To: Ministry of Justice We request a prompt reply to the letter of this department Number :: 3999 Dated :: 10/29/936 Subject :: Regarding the legality of collecting subscription fees from members of a licensed association With respect, Signature: ⟦illegible⟧ Position: President of the Community
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Legal Drafting Department: General Number: 1/19/1 Special Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya: Date: 25 Sha'ban 1355 9 November 1936 Subject Summary: Prevention of a marriage contract Head of the Jewish Community The Director of Police of Dulaim Province informed us in his letter No. 12259 dated July 7, year 1936, sent to us via the Public Prosecutor, that you sent him a letter dated June 17, 1936, containing your request to stop the marriage of the woman named Kata daughter of Hayyim to Hayyim Ephraim, and your request for the police to take the necessary measures, which led to the police taking a bond from the aforementioned person. In order to understand the nature of this case, please inform us of its nature and the legal basis. On this occasion, we request noting Article Seven of the Basic Law, which defined the authority of the Spiritual Councils therein. Minister of Justice Copy to ⟦line⟧ The Public Prosecutor, referring to his letter No. 2060 dated 11/7/1936 Top Secret Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Special Number 2770 Date 10 / 11 / 1936 S. 8
4027 11/16/1936 His Eminence, the President of the Honorable Israelite Religious Court We attach herewith a copy of the Ministry of Justice letter No. 1 / 19 / 10 dated November 9, 1936, to respond to its content; ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community M. A
Ministry of Justice Number 9/16/10 Date November 6, 936 Subject Summary - Prevention of a marriage contract ⟦line⟧ (Copy) Head of the Israelite Community The Police Director of Dulaim Province informed us in his letter numbered 13259 and dated July 7, year 936, sent to us via the Public Prosecutor, that you sent him our letter dated June 17, 936, containing your request to him to stop the marriage of the woman named Kahla daughter of Hayyim to Hayyim Ephraim, and your request for the police to take the necessary measures, which led <del>the police</del> to have the police take a bond from the aforementioned person. In order to understand the nature of this case, please inform us of its nature and the legal basis. On this occasion, we request you to note Article 79 of the Basic Law, which defined the authority of the Spiritual Councils therein. Minister of Justice A copy of it to - The Public Prosecutor, in reference to his letter numbered 2060 and dated 11 / 7 / 936 True copy of the original 16 / 11 / 936 ⟦signature⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: 28/c Year: 5697 Date: 4 Kislev 697 Today Before us, Mrs. Salun Khalfon, for Shua and M. Mutzafi, I bow, Y. P. Khalfon and with P. Rahamim We have confirmed it and validated it for him // 26 Kislev 5697 here in Baghdad For Duda daughter of Cohen daughter of Hayyim and Hayyat Ephraim, M. for Abdul Cohen And the marriage contract (which is hers) and Sasson gave (which is his) and lived and did not give Sasson the reward of his soul out of joy in a document, document 14 M. per month For Menachem for Shimon 206 so 77 and this is enough The young Salman Hugi Abdi
4023 11/19/936 Ministry of Justice Baghdad Reference to your letter No. 10/19/9 dated 11/9/936 The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad has replied to your letter referred to above that Kata daughter of Hayyim is betrothed to a second person and is religiously forbidden to any other person, and the decision was to prevent her marriage contract from Hayyim Ephraim, which is a forbidden marriage based on the authority vested in it under Article 14 of the Jewish Community Law No. 77 of the year 931 To On behalf of Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧
A - D - 16 Please refer to the file number when replying The Iraqi Government Vice Presidency of Baghdad Execution Hijri Date: ⟦illegible⟧ Gregorian Date: 11/10/46 File Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Outgoing Number: 2747 To the Respected Presidency of the Jewish Community With reference to your letter numbered 2951 and dated September 21, ⟦1946⟧, we do not have the number ⟦illegible⟧ regarding the person mentioned in your letter. Please inform us of the correct number so that we may respond to your letter. With appreciation Vice President of Baghdad Execution Presidency of the Jewish Community Incoming Number 7128 Date 14 / 10 / 946
Iraqi Government Vice Presidency of Baghdad Execution A - D - 16 Please refer to the file number when replying Hijri Date: 14 Sha'ban 1355 Gregorian Date: 29 / 10 / 1936 File Number: 35/7834 Outgoing Number: 22222 To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Reference to your letter numbered 3953 and dated 14 September 936. We send you herewith a copy of the decision issued by this department on 23 March 936 number 35/7834, ratified by the Court of Cassation of Iraq on 4 / 6 / 36 and number 73 / 36 for your information. ⟦signature⟧ Execution Officer ⟦signature⟧ Vice President of Baghdad Execution Attachments 1 | Copy of the execution decision 1 | " " Court of Cassation 2 | Copy from the court