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.
Correspondence A / 6 / 29 / 37 / Sha'ban 1356 / October 1937 Head of the Jewish Spiritual Council In Baghdad Reference to your letter numbered 4554 and dated 3 / 10 / 1937 We request the return of the original petition submitted by the petitioner Elias Heskel, which was attached to our letter numbered A / 30 / 37 dated 16 / 9 / 937 as quickly as possible. ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the Minister of Justice A. S.
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice I have submitted a telegram to your office in which I explained my situation and presented a final appeal for justice, law, and procedure, as an alimony lawsuit was filed against me in the Israelite Court in Baghdad, formed under the presidency of ⟦Salman Hawki⟧, and I was notified of the day of the hearing. Since I was traveling in the outskirts of Amarah, I was unable to attend at the appointed time. A period of time passed, and suddenly the Execution Department notified me of the necessity to execute a judgment presented by the plaintiff ⟦for the collection⟧ and based on a false notification. Since I was not notified of the judgment in absentia and did not ⟦sign⟧ a notification receipt, it must be that the notification receipt attached to the judgment was forged and my signature was imitated on it. Since these actions contradict the procedures and violate the law, I beg for an investigation into the case and to deter such persons who have been given authority and are abusing it in this manner. I am awaiting your justice, and I thank you. Copy to the Head of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Copy to the Baghdad Execution Presidency to suspend the proceedings until the outcome. Please search the records of the Court of Appeal. ⟦signature⟧ To be attached to the file. Was the aforementioned not notified through the official authority? ⟦signature⟧ 21 / 2 / 27 Copy to the court
(Image) His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice I had submitted to Your Excellency a petition in which I explained a situation that occurred in a manner contrary to justice, law, and procedure, as an alimony lawsuit was filed against me in the Jewish Court in Baghdad, formed under the presidency of Salman Hoki. I was notified of the hearing date, and since I was a teacher in the Mosul Education Department, I was unable to attend at the appointed time. After some time passed, the Execution Department notified me of the necessity to execute a judgment presented by the plaintiff, along with a notification receipt attributed to me. Since I was not notified of the default judgment and did not sign a notification receipt, the notification receipt attached to the judgment must be forged, and my signature on it must have been imitated. Since these actions contradict the procedures and violate the law, I request an investigation into the case and the deterrence of such persons who have been given authority and are abusing it in this manner. I am obedient to your command and waiting. Rubin Yahya, teacher at the school of Al-Shirqat in Mosul Copy to the Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Copy to the Baghdad Execution Presidency to suspend the proceedings pending the outcome True copy 8 / 11 / 937 ⟦illegible⟧
8 November 937 4218 His Eminence, the President of the Honorable Israeli Religious Court We attach herewith a copy of the petition submitted to us by Reuven Yahya, the teacher at the Shufat school, for your opinion regarding it; On behalf of The Chief Rabbinate ⟦illegible stamp⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it The Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: 569 Year: 91 Date: 7 ⟦...⟧ 1947 M... ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Hugi ⟦...⟧ No need to send the answer because the purpose was not transferred by the Ministry of Justice for filing Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad Special Number 2189 Date 22/11/947
The Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number: Correspondence Department: General Number: J 42 / 159 Special Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya: Date: 27 / Rajab 1356 2 / October 937 Subject Summary: Marriage contract of Victor Darwish Presidency of the Jewish Community We request that you provide us with a certified copy of the marriage contract of Miss Rachel Salim Elia the Lebanese to Victor Darwish, which took place on May 18, 936 ⟦illegible⟧ On behalf of the Minister of Justice A copy to:- Ministry of Foreign Affairs - with reference to its letter numbered 18 / 138 / 10710 dated 28 / 9 / 937 Presidency of the Jewish Community 2168 4 / 10 / 1937 A. S. ⟦illegible text in blue ink - likely carbon copy or ghosting from another page⟧
Marriage contract of Victor Darwish 4559 6 October 937 His Eminence, the President of the Honorable Israeli Religious Court We transmit to you below a copy of the Ministry of Justice letter No. J 43 / 159 dated 3 October 937 regarding the marriage contract of Victor Darwish for the necessary action; On behalf of the Head of the Community Ministry of Justice ⟦line⟧ Summary of the subject - Marriage certificate of Victor Darwish Date - 3 October 937 Number - J 43 / 159 Presidency of the Israeli Community Baghdad We request that you provide us with a certified copy of the marriage contract of Miss Rachel Selim Elia, the Lebanese, to Victor Darwish, which took place on 18 May 936." On behalf of the Minister of Justice A copy of it to - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - with reference to its letter numbered 18 / 138 / 10710 and dated 28 / 9 / 937 True copy ⟦illegible⟧
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Correspondence Department: ⟦line⟧ General Number: J / 44 / 159 Private Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 2 Sha'ban / 1356 21 October / 1937 Subject Summary: Marriage contract of Victor Darwish To Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad We confirm our letter numbered J / 43 / 159 and dated 3 October 1937 and we request a response to it at the earliest possible opportunity. ⟦signature⟧ For the Minister of Justice Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad Office Number 818 Date 21 / 10 / 1937 ⟦illegible faded text in background⟧
Administration of the Israelite Community Baghdad Department :: Presidency of the Community Number :: 4208 Date :: 3 November 937 To: His Eminence the President of the respected Israelite Religious Court We request a prompt reply to the letter of this department Number :: 4559 Dated :: 6 October 937 Subject :: Marriage contract of Victor Darwish With respect ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the President of the Community
Tomorrow likewise ⟦...⟧ from the day ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Today ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Witnesses ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Corresponding to 17 May 9⟦...⟧ ⟦signature⟧ ⟦illegible stamp⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy City Baghdad, may God protect it The Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD No.: Year: 569 Date: 11 Adar 1927 From Mr. ⟦...⟧ Hakham Ezra Kadoori ⟦...⟧ Shohet ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ 1927 ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number ⟦...⟧ 2195 Date 17 / 11 / 927
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Section: Correspondence General Number: J 43 / 159 Private Number: Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 22 / Ramadan 1356 28 / November 1937 Subject Summary: Marriage contract of Victor D. Ruwaish. Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad We confirm our letter numbered 159/43 and dated 3 / 10 / 1937 and request a response to it as quickly as possible. ⟦Abdul Razzaq Zaki⟧ For the Minister of Justice A copy of it to -- Ministry of Foreign Affairs - with reference to its letter numbered 12714 and dated 22 / 11 / 1937. Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Private Number ⟦line⟧ Date ⟦line⟧ 272
CERTIFICATE 948 29 November 937 Based on the certificate of the marriage contracts register for the Israelite community in Baghdad We hereby confirm that the named Victor son of Ezra son of Abboudi Darwish has married the named Rachel daughter of Salim son of Ezra son of Elia on the date of 25 Iyar 696 (H) corresponding to the seventeenth day of the month of May for the year nineteen hundred and thirty-six (AD); ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community ⟦illegible stamp⟧
4645 23 November 937 ⟦handwritten mark⟧ 2 Ministry of Justice With reference to your letter No. J 43 / 159 dated 3 October 937 We enclose herewith the marriage contract certificate of Victor son of Ezra son of Abboudi Darwish to Miss Rachel daughter of Salim son of Ezra son of Elia 4 On behalf of Head of the Community ⟦faded purple rectangular stamp⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy Congregation Baghdad, may God protect it The Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD Year: 5698 No.: 627 Date: 17 Kislev ⟦5698⟧ We have found in this judgment register 4 which we established in it on 6 Tammuz 5700 in register number 6 page 200 And we have attended in register 5 which we established in it on the day 1 Adar 2 5708 page 155 without the judgment in that previously that on the date 17 Kislev 5698 the ruling was issued 6 Tammuz 5700 according to 6 date 6 register 5 page 155 Ezra Sassoon Hezekiah Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number 2197 Date 18 / 11 / 57
4624 File No. 627 22 November 937 Magistrate Court Baghdad Based on the request of the Israeli Sharia Court of Cassation in Baghdad, we hereby request the sending of the lawsuit file formed between Nouri Ephraim Bechor and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi for review and then its return to you. Lu ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community
22 November 937 Peace Court - Baghdad Based on the request of the Israeli Sharia Court of Cassation in Baghdad, we hereby request sending the case file formed between Nouri Ephraim Bechor and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi for review and then returning it to you; Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ True copy ⟦the Secretary⟧ 16 December 937
8781 The Iraqi Government From the Baghdad Peace Court To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad File 37/4972 12/16/1937 With reference to your letter No. 4634 dated November 22, 1937. We are sending you herewith file No. 627 concerning Nouri Ephraim Bechor and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shabi. The Judge ⟦illegible⟧ Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Number 2919 Date 12 / 21 / 1937 Returned
4323 21 December 937 His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court, the Respected Reference to your letter numbered 627 dated 13 Kislev 698 We send to you, along with this letter of ours, the file numbered 627 concerning the lawsuit of Nouri Ephraim Bechor and his wife Khatoun Sassoon Shalabi ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community
Letters 28 / 8 / 4 17 Dhu al-Qi'dah / 1356 19 January / 1938 To :- Presidency of the Spiritual Court Baghdad We send to you herewith the original petition of the applicant Ezra Moallem Ibrahim for your review and to take the necessary action, then return it with your opinion regarding it. ⟦Abdul Razzaq al-Azri⟧ On behalf of the Minister of Justice S M 18
The Court of Justice in the Holy City of Baghdad, may God protect it The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT BAGHDAD ⟦line⟧ Year: 5698 No.: 270 Date: 6 Adar 5698 Presence of the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, may God preserve him Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Regarding Mr. Nahum The pleasant youth son of Aaron, Mr. Abdallah Ali Abdallah and his wife Almas daughter of Ben Rahamim Ben Qatun 97, time has passed, 6 years, they have an official government debt ⟦illegible⟧ Name on his name. From that and at this time he wants to erase the point of his name 6 in his name Explanation 6 written in the old letter 6 years. Likewise the letter 6 on them He wants from you 6 that you give him 6 a deed likewise a deed. And after that 6 from the rights 6 written On them 15 from 98 time has passed. They filled 6 from the letter 6 right 6 grace in their hand likewise Nahum Sassoon Abdallah and his wife Nahum Sassoon Hazzan Abda Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Special Number 770 Date 9/2/8
Legal Documentation 28 / 8 / 4 ⟦illegible⟧ / 1356 / ⟦illegible⟧ 4029 9 February 938 17 Petition of Sabra Muslim Ibrahim Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Ministry of Justice Reference to your letter No. P / 8 / 38 dated 19 January 938 addressed to the Spiritual Court in Baghdad The aforementioned court has informed us that it had issued a ruling dated 26 July (A) for the plaintiff Marcelle Youssef Rabie against her husband Ezra Muslim Ibrahim to pay alimony monthly in the amount of six dinars, in the presence of his attorney, lawyer Selim Saltoon, and after that the aforementioned plaintiff Marcelle appealed the aforementioned ruling in the Israelite Sharia Court of Cassation in Baghdad, and the aforementioned court decided to increase the alimony amount to ten dinars per month. The religious court notified the defendant of the necessity of attending on the day of 15 February 938 (A) for the hearing, but he did not attend. Therefore, after reconsidering the case anew, the religious court issued a default judgment confirming the alimony amount and increasing it to ten dinars per month; On behalf of The Head of the Community 27
Iraqi Government Ministry of Justice Please refer to the general number Department: Legal Codification General Number: 4 / 8 / 28 Telegraphic Address: Adliya Date: 28 Dhu al-Hijjah / 1356 1 March / 1938 Subject Summary: <del>Petition of Ezra Moallem Ibrahim</del> To - Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad In response to your letter No. 4769 dated 17 / 2 / 1938. We request the return of the original petition referred to so that we may express an opinion regarding the subject. ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the Minister of Justice Presidency of the Israelite Community: Private Number: 2289 Date: 2 / 3 / 1938 S. M. 27
Legal Codification 28 / 8 / 6 28 Dhu al-Hijjah / 1356 1 March / 1938 Administration Petition of Ezra Moallem Ibrahim To :- Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad In response to your letter No. 4769 dated 17 / 2 / 1938. We request the return of the original petition referred to so that we may express an opinion regarding the subject. ⟦illegible⟧ On behalf of the Minister of Justice M N M 27
2 March 938 Ministry of Justice With reference to your letter No. A/8/38 dated 1 March 938 We return to you herewith the original petition of Ezra Moallem referred to in your letter; On behalf of Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧