Correspondence regarding Jews being Harassed by Iraqi Government; Studying Abroad in London; Requests for Finical Assistance; Income Tax Reports
View interactive document pageThis item includes documents detailing internal administrative matters of the Baghdadi Jewish community such as employment actions, resignations, letters of recommendation, property management, and decisions of the organization. There are also requests for financial assistance and other personal matters, letters from members of the Baghdadi Jewish community to the Jewish Lay Council about increasingly harsh treatment by the government, and reports of individuals being arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned. Other documents include correspondence to the British government to organize a Passover Seder for Jewish soldiers, scholarships to study in British schools, Baghdadi Jews abrogating their citizenship and emigrating abroad, the collection of donations for Palestinian refugees and wounded soldiers, lists of members of the Baghdadi Jewish community in detention facilities, and financial documents such as income tax reports and receipts.
Date: 10/2/951 149 His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, Respected Baghdad We inform you that Moshe Nissim Moshe has ceased attending the slaughterhouse as of 10/2/1951 due to his travel outside the country, With great respect, Daoud Ezra Jaafar Head of the Slaughterhouse Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad: Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: ⟦illegible⟧ File Number:
23 2/27/951 To His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, the Respected After greetings I would like to present to your Excellency ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ resignation certificate from the service of the community ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ thanking you with the utmost respect Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad: Number: H / 671 / 51 Date: 2/27/951 File Number: The Respected Administration Proceed with writing ⟦...⟧ March 1 ⟦...⟧ ⟦signature⟧
Baghdad on 9 / 2 / 1951 87 12 His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, Respected After greetings I request the acceptance of my resignation from my position ⟦...⟧ in the administration of the community and the payment of my salary until 9 / 2 / 1951 afternoon, with my utmost thanks and respect ⟦illegible⟧ Shafiq Shaul Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad: Number: 51 / 669 / D Date: 12 / 2 / 1951 File Number: 1- The letter is to be registered 2- His resignation is accepted from 9 / 2 / 1951 and the council's approval is to be obtained regarding the amount of five dinars ordered by His Excellency the President. ⟦illegible⟧ 9 / 2 / 1951 The Accountant By order of His Excellency the President, five dinars are to be paid to him as a bonus for his total services ⟦for the period⟧ amounting to nine days ⟦illegible⟧ 9 / 2 / 1951 A bonus of five dinars was paid to him by order of His Excellency the President ⟦illegible⟧ 9 / 2 / 1951
Baghdad on 27 / 2 / 951 His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, respected I am Mr. Ezra Murad Khay, one of the assistants who receive a pension from the fund of the Israelite community, and since I will be heading outside of Iraq, I hope that this is known to you so that you may take the necessary measures, and for your care, much thanks And may you remain for literature Ezra Murad Khay Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad: Number: M / 648 / 51 Date: 27 / 2 / 1951 File Number: To the Accountant to state the pension salary ⟦signature⟧ 2 / 3 / 951 The pension salary assigned to him is three dinars only, please present it to the Lay Council at its next meeting The Accountant 27 / 2 / 951 To be presented to the Lay Council ⟦signature⟧ Vice President 27 / 2 / 951 There is no need to present it again to the Lay Council as a letter has been issued to cut his financial salary to cancel this salary starting from 1 / 3 / 1951 ⟦signature⟧ 2 / 3 / 951 On 8 ⟦scribble⟧
Baghdad on 12 / 2 / 1951 His Excellency, the President of the Honorable Lay Council Baghdad After greetings and respect In view of my upcoming travel abroad, I request your kindness to approve my resignation from the position as of 24 / 2 / 1951 afternoon, and to order the payment of my remaining salary from 1 / 2 / 1951 until 24 / 2 / 1951. I cannot but take this opportunity to extend to your Excellency and to all members of your honorable council my abundant thanks and gratitude for the paternal kindness you have shown me and the care and appreciation you have surrounded me with throughout my service to the community, praying to the Almighty Creator to guide you to what is good and blessed and to grant you success in public service. He is the Hearer of prayers. Naji Eliyahu Heskel Clerk of the Waqf Press Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad Number ⟦15/272⟧ Date 14 / 2 / 1951 File Number Accountant Statement of whether the aforementioned person owes anything to the Council 12 / 2 / 51 Dear Secretary He does not owe any amount; rather, he is due a salary from 1 / 2 / 1951 until he received the salary for tomorrow's date There is no objection to giving the salary for the period from 1 / 2 / 1951 until 24 / 2 / 1951 as stated in the resignation petition and the approval based on his resignation and farewell. 14 / 2 / 1951 His resignation is accepted. ⟦signature⟧ 14 / 2 / 1951 <del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
Baghdad 1/9/1951 Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad: Number: 5/612/51 Date: 1/14/51 File Number: To: His Excellency the Respected President of the Lay Council I submit to your Excellency I have been elected as a permanent member of the Spiritual Council in Baghdad, and until now I have not received the salary allocated for this membership due to the previous member remaining in Baghdad and the disbursement of this salary to him. Since the aforementioned member, Rabbi Daoud Shaul, is on the verge of traveling outside Iraq, I have come to remind your Excellency to grant me this salary upon his departure, knowing that I am the father of daughters and young sons and am responsible for supporting them and I have no other source of income. Until now, I have been living on the salary I used to receive from the Karzi Torah Society, which is threatened with being cut off by your esteemed council due to the departure of the majority of the needy beneficiaries of this society. We hope, in my case and in light of God's will, for your mercy in allocating the salary designated for the spiritual member, which will become vacant upon the departure of the aforementioned Rabbi Daoud Shaul. For this, your Excellency has my great thanks and prayers, sir. The Petitioner Isaac Eliyahu Shlomo No change has occurred in his situation 1/14
Baghdad 12 / 2 / 1951 Administration of the ⟦Community⟧ in Baghdad Number 127 / 51 Date 12 / 2 / 51 File Number X 11 His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, Respected I am Shalloul Habib, the guard of the Jewish Cemetery for a period exceeding fifty years, In view of your dispensing with my services, I request approval to pay my ⟦salary⟧ until 7 February 1951, and I also request approval to grant me a bonus for what I am entitled to for eight days To your Excellency, much thanks and respect Shalloul Habib Cemetery Guard The Lay Council ⟦illegible⟧ I have finished my work above with the period he is entitled to for the month of February which is seven days. If I give him only eight days as a bonus, so please disburse a salary for a period of fifteen days and it is delegated to the custody of the President of the Lay Council 12 / 2 / 1951 Disbursed on the date of 12 / 2 / 951 ⟦illegible⟧ The Accountant ⟦Paid⟧
2/7/1951 SA 12 His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, the Respected Presented to your servant My brother Ezra the cook at the slaughterhouse had resigned from his position on 2/11/51 And I, Ilya Ezra, had taken over his duties from that date until today, and based on my loyalty to him, he is Ibrahim, so I beg of your Excellency to pay the salary until the end of month 1 / 1951 because the Council took the guarantee for which he did not receive his salary for 11 days, and with highest respect ⟦illegible⟧ The Accountant ⟦illegible⟧ Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad: Number: 6642 / 57 Date: 8 / 2 / 1951 File Number: Ibrahim Ezra ⟦fingerprint⟧ Presented to the Council From Mr. Ibrahim Ezra for 4/744 Dinars 2/8/1951 ⟦signature⟧ 2/8/1951
51 / 2042 30 / 7 / 1951 Department Copy Mr. Munshi Shamshon ⟦Al-Hasani⟧ Member of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Greetings, With reference to your letter dated 26 / 7 / 1951. The Lay Council considered your aforementioned letter of resignation at its meeting held on 26 / 7 / 1951; While it appreciates the reasons that led you to submit it, it has rejected it. You are kindly requested to wait on the matter until His Excellency the Chief Rabbi of Iraq returns, as your resignation, while His Excellency is outside Iraq, would result in the dissolution of the Lay Council, which is currently managing the affairs of the Community Presidency, consequently leading to the suspension of all activities of the Community Presidency and the Lay Council. Please accept our highest respects. On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community Vice President of the Lay Council Copy to: The Lay Council - with reference to its decision taken at the meeting held on 26 / 7 / 1951
722 51/⟦illegible⟧/⟦illegible⟧ Your appointment as a clerk To The respected Mr. Bermos After greetings The Lay Council decided in its session held on 8/1/1951 to appoint you as a clerk for the presidency of this community with a monthly salary of 13/750 Dinars (thirteen Dinars and 750) 8 Dinars nominal salary and five and 750 Dinars cost of living allowance starting from the date you joined the job, which is 7/10/1951. Please accept the highest respect. ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council A copy of it to:- Personal records The accountant of the community presidency for information and necessary action 72
The Lay Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number: 722 / ⟦17⟧ Date: 1951/8/⟦2⟧ Subject Summary: Your appointment as a clerk To The Respected Mr. Meir Moussa Greetings, The Lay Council decided in its session held on 1951/8/1 to appoint you as a clerk for the presidency of this community with a monthly salary of 13.750 Dinars (thirteen dinars and three quarters) 8 Dinars nominal salary and five and a quarter dinars cost of living allowance starting from the date you joined the position, which is 1951/7/10. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council Copy to:- Personal File Accountant of the Community Presidency for information and necessary action
707 ⟦illegible⟧ 24 16 Correction Mr. Mirwais Mir (graduate of the College of Engineering for the year 951) is appointed as a clerk in the administration of this sect as of 7/10/951, provided that the Spiritual Council determines the amount of his salary at its next meeting. ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President A copy of it to: The Accountant to act accordingly Personal File Mr. Mirwais Mir for information
The Lay Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number :: 707 / ⟦61⟧ Date :: 20 / 7 / 1951 Subject Summary :: Administrative Order Mr. Meir Moussa Meir (graduate of the College of Engineering for the year 951) is appointed as a clerk in the administration of this community as of 10/7/951, provided that the Lay Council determines the amount of his salary at its next meeting. ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President A copy to: - The Accountant to act accordingly Personal File Mr. Meir Moussa Meir for information
728 / 51 5 / 8 / 1951 To Accountant of the Community Presidency Greetings, The Lay Council, in its session held on 1 / 8 / 1951, decided to approve: 1 - Approval of the lease agreement for the ground warehouse belonging to the Jewish Community building No. 52 AJ / 113 concluded between the Vice President of the Jewish Lay Council in addition to the fund of the two communities and Al-Haj Ali Karam Hikmat at an annual rent of six hundred and ninety Dinars starting from 22 May 1951 until 21 May 1952. 2 - Approval of the lease contract for the shop No. 54 AJ / 113 located in Qanbar Ali neighborhood from the properties of the Jewish Community concluded between the Vice President of the Lay Council in addition to his position and Messrs. Muhammad Kazim and Muhammad Bara at an annual rent of one hundred and five Dinars starting from 19 May 1951 until 18 May 1952. 3 - Approval of the lease agreement for Khan Al-Shorja with the shops attached to it No. 158 / 158 concluded between the President of the Lay Council in addition to his position and Mr. Ismail Mahdi Al-Bazzaz at an annual rent of five hundred Dinars from 10 May 1951 until 9 May 1952. 4 - Approval of the lease agreement for the soap factory belonging to the community concluded between the President of the Lay Council in addition to his position and Mr. Abbas Muhammad at an annual rent of fifty Dinars from 1 April 1951 until 31 March 1952. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council Rights ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
G. B. / 51 / ⟦...⟧ 12/6/1951 Sales To the Gentlemen:- The respected Naeem Ibrahim Zubaida. Saleh Faraj Haym Al-Dallal. The respected Abboudi Subhi Al-Muallim. After greetings, The Physical Council decided in its session held on 6/6/1951 to form a committee from your honors for the purpose of selling the furniture and surplus items belonging to the churches and schools of the community. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Vice President Copy to ⟦...⟧
7551 / J 10/9/951 ⟦mark⟧ Iraqi Loan Bonds To Mr. Naeem Ibrahim Zubaida, respected. After greetings, The Lay Council decided in its session held on 6/9/951 to authorize you to sell the Iraqi loan bonds for the year 1944 belonging to the presidency of this community and deposited with the Ottoman Bank. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council It must be signed by His Excellency the President. ⟦signature⟧ 9/9/951 Copy to ⟦illegible⟧
C / P / 51 19/9/951 Department Copy Decision With reference to the request of Mr. Kouji Hazqeel, the lawyer, for his fees for the lawsuits in which the presidency of this community had previously appointed him; and in view of the speed of the aforementioned's travel and his inability to wait for the decision of the Lay Council regarding them; we have therefore decided to give him an amount of only twenty-five dinars as detailed below, provided that it is presented to the Lay Council for approval in the first session. Fils | Dinar ⟦line⟧ | 15 | The second fee for the cemetery encroachment lawsuit. ⟦line⟧ | 10 | The first fee for the lawsuit to remove and appoint the trustee of Al-Kifl and Shamash School. ⟦line⟧ | 25 | Only twenty-five dinars and nothing else. Naeem Ibrahim Zubaida Vice President of the Lay Council Hazqeel Daoud Shatoub President of the Lay Council A copy to: The Accountant - to act accordingly. Mr. Kouji Hazqeel, the lawyer - for information. Disbursement ⟦illegible⟧
C / ⟦347⟧ / 51 28 / 10 / 951 22 / 10 Department Copy To "--" The Honorable Accountant of the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad. After greetings, The Lay Council approved in its session held on Friday morning, 26 / 10 / 51 Please act accordingly and withdraw it. Fils | Dinar 500 | 27 | For half of the contract stamps for the midwife for the year 50 / 951 and the attached promissory notes. 700 | 5 | Value of stencil paper with ink to the East African Company purchased since 4 / 9 / 950. 750 | 18 | Property tax for the Al-Ahliyya for our use in preserving the Sifreim and the Nizwani. 950 | 51 | ⟦line⟧ Only fifty-one dinars and nine hundred and fifty fils and nothing else. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Vice President ⟦signature⟧ Vice President
The Lay Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number: ⟦14⟧ / 772 / 51 Date: 4/11/1951 Subject Summary: Holding a meeting for the Lay Council. 42 Honorable Members: 1 - Salim Ibrahim Zubaida. 2 - Saleh Levy Hayyim. 3 - Zion Silan Al-Muallim. 4 - Sassoon Bashi. 5 - Menashe Shamshon. Greetings, It has been decided to hold a meeting of the Lay Council on the evening of Sunday, 4/11/1951, at five o'clock to discuss matters related to the Directorate of Endowments for Ayan and Baghdad. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ The President End
G / No / 51 / ⟦...⟧ 951 / 11 / ⟦...⟧ P To " - " Respectable Accountant of the Presidency of the Community After greetings The Lay Council decided in its session held on 26 / 10 / 951 the following :- 1 - Considering the (15) dinars advances delivered to Mr. Yaqub Shohet as an aid for him to complete the printing of Al-Ubur provided that he sells it for his own account at a price of (50) fils per copy. 2 - Al-Khabiya stamps. That the Presidency of the Community bears the amount of (27/500) dinars suspended as a debt on the Al-Khabiya contractor Mr. Waheeb Al-Faraj for the value of half of the stamps affixed to the Al-Khabiya contract and the attached promissory notes for this year on 1 / 4 / 951. - Approval of the disbursement of the amount of (5/700) dinars for the value of stationery supplied to the Presidency of the Community since 4 / 7 / 950 according to the list submitted by the African & Eastern (Near East) Limited Company on 16 / 8 / 1951. Please act according to these decisions. Please accept our highest respect. Vice President Copy to ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531
5402
Number: T / 51
Date: 30 / 12 / 1951
Subject:
Respected Mr. Saleh Cohen
After greetings
We have reviewed your report dated 24 / 11 / 1951 regarding the auditing of the accounts of the Lay Council for the fiscal
year 1950/51 ending on March 31, 1951.
The Presidency of this community, while thanking you for the honorary efforts exerted by you in auditing
the accounts of the Lay Council over many years, felt it a duty on the occasion of your travel outside Iraq
to immortalize these efforts. It has decided to present a check for the amount of 100.000 Dinars - which you will find attached - for you to acquire something that will be
a memorial expressing those thankful efforts that you have previously exerted in the service of this community.
We ask you to accept it with our utmost thanks.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦illegible signature⟧
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
In view of Mr. Saleh Cohen's travel at the time dated
2 / 1 / 1952, this letter was not sent to him
noting that Mr. Naim Ibrahim Zubaida, Vice
President of the Lay Council, informed him before his travel of the Community Presidency's order
to hand over to him the amount mentioned in the letter
above, and he informed him that he had received it.
⟦illegible signature⟧
To be kept in the Lay Council
account auditing file
⟦illegible signature⟧
Secretary
7 / 1 / 1952
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531
5452
Number: T / 51 / ⟦51⟧
Date: 30 / 12 / 1951
⟦Blue Copy⟧
Subject:
To the respected Mr. Saleh Cohen
After greetings
We have reviewed your report dated 24 / 11 / 1951 regarding the audit of the accounts of the Lay Council for the
fiscal year 50 / 1951 ending on March 31, 1951.
The Presidency of this community, while thanking you for the honorary efforts exerted by you in auditing
the accounts of the Lay Council for many years, has felt it a duty on the occasion of your travel outside Iraq
to immortalize these efforts. It has decided to present a check for the amount of 100/000 Dinars - which you will find attached - so that you may buy something to be
a commemorative expression of those thankful efforts that you have previously exerted in the service of this community.
We ask you to accept it with our utmost thanks.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
Department Copy T / 1660 / 50 12/19/1950 27 Administrative Order Friday, December 22, 1950, is considered an official holiday in the Presidency of the Community on the occasion of the Prophet's Birthday. ⟦illegible⟧ 12/19 ⟦illegible⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Spiritual Council Note: It has been the custom to issue such an order in previous years ⟦illegible⟧ For filing / Personnel Ibrahim 19/
51/729 8/5/1951 <del>42</del> 28 To the Gentlemen: 1- Mr. Sassoon Bashi, Respected 2- Mr. Azouri Shua, Attorney, Respected Greetings, I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Lay Council taken at its meeting held on 8/1/1951 to appoint you as two members of the Hevra Kadisha Society to complete its quorum. Please accept our highest respects. ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council A copy to - Hevra Kadisha Society - for your kind information.
51/1989 951/6/20 ⟦illegible⟧ Department 28 To the Directorate of Public Health Baghdad Greetings, We certify that the person named Naji Yaqoub Muniri has worked as an assistant to the person performing the circumcision process for five years, and he also holds the special certificate issued by the religious authorities in this community which qualifies him to perform this task. On behalf of the Head of the Community Vice President of the Lay Council The News ⟦...⟧