AI en Translation, Pages 301-325
Page 301
(2)
⟦illegible⟧
Dear Suleiman
His family has a case in the Sharia
Court and she is demanding an amount due
from him. I request that you have her write a paper with
copies of the documents in her possession in the name of
the Head of the Community and present it to us for discussion
and to express an opinion.
Youssef
10/7
For filing
Suleiman
Note
I have had the petitioner write a paper
in the name of the Head of the Community and attached copies of the documents
referred to above and it was submitted to His Excellency on 8/10/950
And blessed 8/10/950
Page 302
Rashid Club - Baghdad
Rashid Club - Baghdad
PHONE NO. 3544
Telephone: 3544
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Outgoing No. T / 950 / 900
Date 4 / 1 / 1950
Baghdad on 1 / 1 / ⟦1950⟧
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community
Greetings,
We would like to inform you that the club's administrative board
has decided to hold a general meeting for the general assembly of this club
to discuss matters related to the club, and since there is no
suitable place to hold such a meeting, we request
to inform us if it is possible to hold it at the community headquarters on 22 / 1 / 1950
or a date we agree upon with you. With our sincere thanks,
Yours truly,
Honorary Secretary
⟦Homsi⟧
Note: - If a quorum is not reached
on 22 / 1 / 1950, we would like
to hold it on 29 / 1 / 1950
⟦Signature⟧
Page 304
Submitted on 1/15/950
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
✓
(5)
T/ ⟦22⟧ / 950
1/⟦5⟧/1950
Department Copy
Honorable Honorary Secretary of the Al-Rashid Club
Greetings
With reference to your letter dated 1/1/1950.
We have no objection to holding the General Assembly meeting of your club at the
Community headquarters on Sunday 1/22/1950, and in the event of a lack of quorum
⟦...⟧ 1/29/1950.
Please accept our respects,
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
For filing
Miscellaneous
⟦de⟧
⟦Tea⟧
Page 306
(7)
Lawyer Philip Raphael
Legal fees 10 Dinars, half in advance and half later
In the name of five people ⟦third⟧
Excluding the grocery of Eliyahu Yusuf Cohen against ⟦House of⟧ Nassim
Power of attorney 900 Fils
Page 307
(8)
Secretary
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Baghdad ⟦...⟧
In Baghdad
⟦Mr. President⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
1. ⟦...⟧ Mr. ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
2. Reviewed ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
For filing
Two copies
⟦...⟧
7/8
Page 308
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
No. T/950/909
Date 4/1/950
(9)
⟦2/1/1950⟧
His Excellency the Respected President of the Jewish Community
After greetings,
I would like to present to your Excellency that my aforementioned son Ibrahim was born in
1931 and was called for military service at the beginning of the current year. Upon examination by the military committee
⟦administrative⟧, instead of being accepted into the Mosul school among his family and relatives, a decision was issued by the Yarmouk Command
of Mosul to transfer him to the city of Kirkuk without providing him with any status of service or any supplies or clothing
pertaining to his military service in this season.
When we inquired about him and the other Jewish soldiers who joined him in the aforementioned Yarmouk,
we learned that he, along with all the Jews, is working as laborers transporting gravel, mud, bricks, and other matters
that exhaust their strength continuously, knowing that most of them are in their own clothes. Furthermore, pork
meat is offered to them to eat from the regiment's canteen, and when they refuse to eat it, they remain hungry until the time
they buy all the food they have from the canteen.
Therefore, we request mediation with the competent authorities (1) to distribute the mentioned soldiers in the cities
where they usually reside (2) to stop employing Jews in humiliation and mud and to place them in their positions
equally with their peers from other communities (3) to stop forcing them to consume pork meat
which is religiously forbidden.
Please accept my highest thanks and respect.
⟦...⟧
Ibrahim ⟦...⟧
From the residents of Mosul
Referred to the President
To support the aforementioned in the matter
3/1/950
Page 309
(10)
Honorable Vice President
In these past days, we have faced the housing problem
on Ghazi Street, claiming that her convicted son, Yusuf
Haskeel Zabdi, has joined the military service, and as we realize
and complain that most other Jews are suspicious of the Jews
and the many who are in this harsh country and others of dignity
regarding housing, as their method is known that the food that
is eaten does not exceed a single item and differs from bread
or black samoon, and as for the cooking that is done for them
it is permissible on the occasion which includes the times in which
they eat as is their custom
And this is generally done for the sake of maintaining their safety
and their obligations so that they do not go out in the middle company for a generation
For this reason, other Jews may be accommodated in housing
considering [their status] during military service
⟦illegible⟧
For discussion with the Presidency
2/20
Page 310
(11)
His Excellency the Acting President of the Jewish Community, Respected
After greetings,
I would like to state that while I was walking on Tuesday evening, 19 / 2 / 952
at six-fifteen, on Abu Nuwas Street near the house of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Yassin
(Harb Al-Basha), I was surprised by a group of young men numbering thirty people, and I was
with my brother and one of my friends named Fuad Haroun Saleh, an employee at the Ottoman Bank, and they took
my brother and threw him to the ground and began beating him without mercy or pity, and they also attacked me and beat me
severely and threw me to the ground and hit me, then they attacked my friend with punches and kicks, and fortunately
we were able to get away from them and escape. When I contacted the Al-Alwiyah police station by telephone,
the station officer informed me that this area belongs to the Rakhita police, and when I requested the Rakhita police,
the telephone was busy, and therefore I found that the time to catch them had passed, and so I refrained
from reporting it.
Therefore, I have submitted this petition of mine, narrating this story to Your Excellency so that you may take what you see
appropriate regarding the matter, noting that this - as it appears to me - is a gang whose goal is to harm
Jews. Please accept my highest respect.
Fuad Haroun Saleh
The aforementioned friend
⟦signature⟧
Dated
20 / 2 / 952
⟦illegible signature⟧
Page 312
Baghdad on 12 / 2 / 950
(12)
Presidency of the Israelite Community
File Number 950/269/b
Date of Receipt 12 / 2 / 950
His Excellency the Respected President of the Israelite Community
After greetings
I would like to present to your Excellency that the assaults in all Jewish quarters have increased
recently to a degree that the mind cannot imagine. It happened that one of the elderly sheikhs was walking
in Abu al-Saif Street, and one of the armed men hit him with a metal knuckle-duster on his head, and he fell unconscious.
Also, a group of young men began wandering the streets, lying in wait for passing Jews and beating them.
A number of soldiers attacked one of the houses opposite Souq Hanoun in Abu al-Saif, and they warned them
from the house of Al-Akh, and finally I heard the voices of ⟦the girls⟧ calling for relief, so I went out to the roof from the Torah Gate
opposite this house and saved them after they had fallen unconscious.
There are boys going around the houses claiming to be employees whose mission is to register those who wish to leave
Iraq, and this is a lie intended for fabrication for the purpose of assault.
Therefore, I have come to present these matters to your Excellency's attention so that you may take the necessary measures regarding them, knowing that
there are many assault cases occurring from time to time, some individual and some collective.
Please accept the highest respect
Sabih Munshi Hakim
Sabih Munshi Hakim
Abu al-Saad
Elias Shaoul
Eliyahu Shaoul Saleh
Abu Sheil
Page 313
⟦May God Almighty preserve him⟧
(14)
Yassin Murad Abu al-Khair claims that his son has a shop in the Obeid neighborhood
where he sells cigarettes, wood, kerosene, and soap. Three
soldiers have made it a habit to come to the shop at least twice a week and take
a bar of soap, a dirham, and a pack of cigarettes for each of them, and they were giving them
reluctantly. He wants help in putting an end to that.
⟦signature⟧
12/2
Page 314
(15)
A person named Sahyun, owner of a shop for buying and selling fabrics in Al-Bulid, appeared
along with Ishaq ⟦Khalil⟧, owner of a house in the Torah neighborhood, and they claimed that
a person in royal dress appeared and claimed to be an officer and tried to burn the shop
of the first person with the help of soldiers who assisted him in this matter, but the servant prevented them
claiming that the shop belonged to Muslims; however, they went to the house of the second person
who had sold his portion to a Christian, and they burned the ceiling.
Furthermore, they went to the house adjacent to it and burned
a ⟦mattress⟧ belonging to it. The police were informed and arrived and arrested
this alleged officer along with the soldiers, and they are now detained.
The assaults have increased recently, and they request an end to them.
⟦signature⟧
2/14
Page 315
(16)
Kirkuk Situation
A group of Kirkuk residents arrived claiming they have become subject to insults, beatings,
and individual and social assaults. A group of people attacked a goldsmith and his son,
⟦and killed him⟧ and beat him severely until he fell unconscious, and they believe there is an
instigating group.
They will arrive at 12 o'clock to meet the President today, please
Presented to the Council
⟦signature⟧
⟦2/14⟧
Page 316
(17)
His Excellency the Acting President of the Jewish Community, the Respected
Baghdad.
Sir: I submit to your Excellency this letter of mine, informing and representing the group of the Jewish community
in Ramadi, as the residents of the aforementioned city have begun to increase pressure and individual assaults,
and we have reached a state where it is impossible for our women to appear in the streets, nor for our children. Now that the
pressure has increased, it has become impossible for men to appear in public cafes or in their shops. An example of this is the following
incident that occurred in our city yesterday, which is that the person named Karim Ismail al-Khalil
came to the person named Khoushi Abboush and asked him for goods on credit, and debts there
cannot be claimed. So the Jew refused to give him, and he set upon him with insults and beating, and was assisted
in that by some passersby and those present. Of course, he filed a complaint and obtained a medical report for treatment for a period of seven
days, but there is no witness to that, and the judge is fabricating to clear the defendant's side due to the lack of witnesses.
Since there is no one to help us, take our hand, protect us, and honor us except your Excellency, and what you are characterized
by in terms of virtuous morals, enthusiasm, and growth, it encouraged me to inform you so that you may look into our situation and do what
you see fit to limit these abnormal conditions and lift the injustice from us. May God grant your Excellency success, Sir.
14/2/1950
Sincerely,
Naeem Saqeel Sadoum
From the residents of Ramadi
Page 317
(7)
A group of Kirkuk residents arrived (they refused to give their names) and reported the following:-
1- There is a person named As'ad bin Hajj Arif from the Priadi neighborhood in Kirkuk, and with him a group of evildoers
They attacked on Saturday in the Jewish quarter and assaulted a Jewish person named Munir Shalom Babai
And his brother Ibrahim, and they beat them with hands and sticks and confronted them by hand, and a large crowd of Muslims gathered
And assaulted them and their mother, so he fell unconscious and was taken to the hospital, and none of them were arrested
And they formed a case against them, claiming that he was the one who committed the assault.
2- A group of Jews met with the Governor of Kirkuk Province <del>on 2/12/50</del> and explained these assaults to him. The
Governor contacted the Police Director and asked him for protection, and indeed the Police Director carried out the protection task. However,
On the evening of the mentioned day, a dyer was walking in the street with his son, and a group of
Muslims attacked them and beat him severely until he was taken to the hospital. It was not confirmed whether anyone was arrested or not.
3- Assaults of this type are very frequent, and instead of the assaulted Jew filing a lawsuit, the Muslim
assailant, for whom dozens of Muslims rally, are the ones who testify falsely against him and fabricate the case
against him, and thus the victim is harmed a second time in the courts.
They believe that there are preachers, Mulla Reda the original observer and the head of the Muslim court in Kirkuk,
and Hajj Arif and his son As'ad, who are the leaders of the Priadi neighborhood, are the ones inciting the assaults.
And that this As'ad had wounded the daughter of a Jew and was detained by the investigating judge and later released
from custody. And that all of these people are supported by a person named Abdul Razzaq, an army officer who is the head of
Intelligence in Kirkuk, who closes most tribal lawsuits through mediation.
There is propaganda in Kirkuk saying that these people will incite the tribes there to attack the Jews
after three days.
⟦signature⟧
2/14
Page 318
Baghdad 2/12/950
(19)
His Excellency the Acting Head of the Community, the Respected
After greetings and respect
I wish to present to your Excellency that I am a resident of Baghdad, I was in Kirkuk and returned
this Thursday morning. The people of Kirkuk came to me and pleaded with me to personally present
to your Excellency to inform you of the hardships and transgressions they are suffering.
1- The people of Kirkuk are forbidden from leaving Kirkuk to ⟦outside⟧ the ⟦district⟧ in an absolute and official manner.
2- The transgressions are many, and an attack occurred on a group of Jews on Saturday at
four o'clock. One of the Jews was struck with a (pickaxe) on his head and he is bedridden in the hospital,
in addition to the presence of 6 other Jewish persons wounded, beaten, and detained
by the police, while all the Muslims were released and none of them were detained.
The Jews confronted the police and the Governor, and they told them that these are wicked people and nothing
can be done against them.
This situation cannot be described, and the Jews there are definitely in a state of despair.
Please take the necessary measures for the purpose of saving them from this torment, and to you much thanks and respect.
⟦signature⟧
Harun Allahu
Khedhouri Faroushi Mashourjam
House of Harun Jabbouri
Page 319
(20)
⟦illegible⟧
Salim Khaddouri, a resident of the (Al-Dashti) neighborhood, came reporting that
Muslims near his house were verbally saying among themselves that a
large demonstration will be held next Saturday in Baghdad and that they
will kill the Jews (and other things showing their intentions)
⟦illegible⟧
2/16
⟦illegible⟧
Page 320
Subscription Committee of the Jewish Community
for the benefit of Palestinian refugees and the wounded of
the brave Iraqi Army
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
After greetings and respect,
This committee has obtained permission from the esteemed Ministry of Interior to conduct a subscription for the amount of fifty
thousand dinars to be collected from the members of the Jewish community in Baghdad to aid our refugee brothers from the Arabs
of Palestine and the wounded of the brave Iraqi Army. We have no doubt that you will take the initiative to contribute to
this noble humanitarian and national project imposed on every Iraqi citizen. We hope that you will kindly
donate the amount of dinars for this purpose, and God does not waste the reward of those who do good.
With respect.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
Chairman of the Committee
Page 321
Baghdad District Police Directorate
Administration
Number 6872
Date 1950/2/16
(22)
To
Assistant Police Chief of Al-Sa'adoon
Subject - Assault
The persons whose identities are listed below attended this directorate claiming that
approximately thirty people assaulted them on Abu Nuwas Street.
We are sending them to you - Fuad Haroun Saleh, residing in South Al-Saifi, House 29. Anwar
Tawfiq and his brother Munshi Tawfiq, residing in Bustan Kubba, House No. 42/1/1
to conduct the necessary investigations and inform us of the result.
Director of Baghdad District Police
⟦illegible⟧
Page 322
The Lay Council
of the Israelite Community * Baghdad
(2)
The Honorable Mr. Nissim Hayya, Respected
After greetings,
The bearer claims that her husband has abandoned her for seven years,
and she has two daughters and a son with no one to support them after
her husband's brothers have now abandoned her. She is requesting assistance for the purpose
of paying their school fees to the Kuttab schools.
Please look into her case and assist her if possible, and with
thanks.
1/8/1950
The Secretary
Page 323
Baghdad on 9/2/950
(24)
His Excellency the Acting Head of the Community, Respected
Presidency of the Israelite Community:
Number: 922/T/950
Date: 9/2/950
After greetings and respect
I wish to present to your Excellency that my husband, named Abdullah Ezra Saleh
had abandoned me seven years ago to an unknown destination and left behind two daughters
and a son who have no one to support them at present, especially since my husband's brothers were
previously supporting these children and paying their school fees. However, they have left us now
and do not agree to support them or even pay the fees for them.
The director of the mentioned schools has expelled them for non-payment of fees. Shall these children remain
without a school while I have no helper or provider? I hope to seek mercy from your Excellency
to kindly provide possible assistance to enroll them in schools for free, noting that
their names and the schools they are entitled to are listed below:
Saleh Abdullah | Al-Rashidiya School (Beit Ra'bool) | Dinar remaining from fees 0/750
Amal Abdullah | Al-Rashidiya School (Beit Ra'bool) | Remaining from fees 2/000
Dina Abdullah | Al-Rashidiya School (Beit Ra'bool) | Remaining from fees 2/000
| | 4/750
Please accept my highest respect
Toba daughter of Ezra
District - Baghdad
⟦illegible circular stamp⟧
(5)
Record Number
Date ⟦...⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Disbursement of number ⟦...⟧
From book ⟦...⟧
Number ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
From ⟦...⟧
In the form of ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦signature⟧
Page 324
Rashid Club - Baghdad
Rashid Club - Baghdad
PHONE NO. 3544
Telephone: 3544
Presidency of the Jewish Community
⟦illegible⟧
Number ⟦illegible⟧
(25)
Baghdad on 16 / 2 / 50
To the Honorable Secretary of the Jewish Community
After greetings and respect,
Please approve the holding of a general meeting for the
General Assembly of our club at your esteemed headquarters on 28 / 2 / 50
at four-thirty in the evening, and many thanks to us,
And stay well
Honorary Secretary
⟦illegible⟧
Page 325
(26)
Submitted M J 950/2/26
T/ 950/8294
20 / 2 / 1950
⟦Department Copy⟧
The Honorable Honorary Secretary of Al-Rashid Club
Greetings,
With reference to your letter dated 16 / 2 / 950.
We have no objection to holding the General Assembly meeting of your club at the
headquarters of the Community Presidency at four-thirty in the afternoon on Tuesday,
28 / 2 / 1950.
Please accept our respects;
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A / 2 / 19