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Member of the ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Taher ⟦...⟧ / ⟦...⟧ / ⟦...⟧ Member of the ⟦...⟧ Council ⟦...⟧ Member of the ⟦...⟧ Council ⟦...⟧
IJA 3697
Correspondence regarding Jews being Harassed by Iraqi Government; Studying Abroad in London; Requests for Finical Assistance; Income Tax Reports
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This 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.
AI English Translation, Pages 1-25
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The Chief Rabbinate Baghdad The Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community Baghdad The Chief Rabbi of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Baghdad,: 18 April 1928 Baghdad: No.: To the respected Anwar Effendi Shaul. After greetings. You have previously caused disturbances in the current elections, despite the fact that you are merely teachers in the community and have participated in them for a long time, according to your disposition and plan, and you caused the abandonment of your duties which is something you are not authorized to do, as you know well that anyone employed in the affairs of the community has no right to engage in political matters. Therefore, we have dispensed with your services as of this date. Regards. Acting Chief Rabbi A copy of it to the Ministry of Interior for information. And a copy of it to the President of the Lay Council. ⟦illegible⟧
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B"H The Chief Rabbinate Baghdad The Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community Baghdad The Chief Rabbi of the Israelite Community in Baghdad No.: Baghdad,: 19 April 1938 To the Honorable School Director After greetings Some teachers have previously caused disturbances in the current elections, and it has been found that they left their duties and urged students to engage in those elections. Since such an act is contrary to the principles followed in schools and the necessity of preventing these individuals from engaging in political matters, they must be warned to refrain from such actions and to take the necessary disciplinary measures. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ Acting Chief Rabbi Copy to: The Honorable Ministry of Education President of the Lay Council The Israelite Alliance School in Baghdad "Rachel Shahmoon" To the National School " Al-Karam School " "Midrash Talmud Torah" "Rima Noorael"
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Date: April 11, 1928 Number: 457 Subject: Regarding the publications of the Acting Chief Rabbi His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Effendi Respected President of the Spiritual Court After greetings, You have recently issued publications signed with the signature "Acting Chief Rabbi," including a letter to Mr. Anwar Effendi Shaul, Director of Correspondence for the Lay Council, and another to the school principals, and both letters revolve around the axis of the communal elections. We are not here in a position to discuss what was stated in these publications of yours regarding the issuance of orders that cannot be issued except by the Lay Council; rather, we want to be clear as to whether the High Authority has approved your appointment as Acting Chief Rabbi, as our council has not received any notification of this kind. Please inform us with the utmost speed regarding this matter so that we may respond within the scope of the Rabbinate regulations to the two letters item by item. Respectfully, President of the Lay Council ⟦signature⟧ For information: A copy to His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Interior And another to "Education" Sh. D.
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The Israeli Lay Council Administration of Deportation Baghdad: April 20, 1928 Number His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Effendi Respected President of the Spiritual Court Subject: Regarding the alleged disturbances of Anwar Shaul After greetings, in response to your letter dated April 18 current: First: I have preferred to address you in your capacity as President of the Spiritual Court, not as acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, as the latter capacity, as far as I know, you have not legally acquired to this day. Second: I am very surprised by your statement that I have previously caused disturbances in the current elections for a long time. Whom did I blame other than myself? What dagger did I draw and what pistol did I brandish in the election arena? Rather, what pressure did I exert on the freedom of the Mosaic voters, alone or by myself, for you to attribute to me the crime of disturbance, or do you attribute it to that speech which I delivered in the Great Synagogue two weeks ago before three thousand people of the community, among them the representative of the authority and the police? That was a speech in which I clarified the rights of voters and the development of electoral life and other historical and social matters which the audience met with loud applause and for which you thanked me in the sight and hearing of the people - I do not think that my plea in the election arena in the city of Sham to respect order and to vote in peace and tranquility is considered by you as a disturbance, while the member of the inspection committee and everyone who attended the election thanked my efforts in that. Third: I have never failed to perform the duties of my office, and I did not throw myself into the thick of the election except at your request of me. The Excellency the President of the esteemed Lay Council bears witness to this, and in addition to what I have explained, you did not warn me to cease electoral activities, which are among the duties of everyone in whose veins flows the blood of Iraqi gallantry. Fourth: There is no internal regulation that dictates the non-interference of community employees in political affairs, let alone that the issue under discussion is nothing but pure electoral rights and duties to enlighten the minds of the public in service of the national interest. Fifth: It is very strange for you to say that you have dispensed with my services, even though I do not find myself in your service, but rather I am affiliated directly with the administration of the esteemed Lay Council. Sixth: If it is true that Your Eminence has mediated in the capacity of the Chief Rabbinate of Baghdad to issue such an order, then I draw your attention to Article Eight of the Rabbinate Regulations, which states that if the Hakham Bashi is informed that one of the community's employees has mismanaged his office - although the measures here are of the utmost nobility and honor - then his testimony is to refer the complaint regarding that employee to the head of the department to which he belongs to investigate his fate. Accordingly, and based on what has been mentioned, everything you have attributed to me was not associated with truth nor sound in correctness. Respectfully yours, For information: A copy to His Excellency the respected Minister of Interior And a copy to His Excellency the President of the esteemed Lay Council
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Administration of the ⟦Lay⟧ Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Date: April 26, 11928⟧ Number: 466 Subject: No official authority for the Acting Hakham Bashi unless the High Authority ratifies his appointment. His Eminence Hakham Sassoon Khedhouri Effendi Respected President of the Israelite Spiritual Court After greetings, further to our letter dated April 20, 1928, numbered 457 I deeply regret your failure to provide the requested response with the necessary speed, and I draw your Eminence's attention to the fact that the actions you have performed based on the title of Chief Rabbi were not within the legal authority authorized to you under Article 15 of the Rabbinate Regulations, and thus, in reality, they have become futile and have no effect. granted to you And given that your election to the acting position of the Rabbinate was not accompanied by High Ratification in accordance with the wording of the aforementioned Article 15, it does not allow you any room to seize the mentioned title from the status of the election approved by the Mixed Council. Accordingly, you do not acquire this authority unless the High Order (Buyuruldi Aali) is issued, i.e., the order of His Excellency the Prime Minister. It is no wonder if the actions you previously performed under the signature of the Acting Hakham Bashi are considered a clear violation of the spirit of the law by Latin rule, as it is not possible for you to combine in your person at the same time two contradictory legal titles: the first being the Presidency of the Spiritual Court and the second being the Chief Rabbinate. It is worth mentioning here that the responsibility that may arise from the two aforementioned missions, its consequences fall upon you by rule of law. Sincerely; President of the Lay Council ⟦signature⟧ A copy of it to His Excellency the Honored Minister of Justice " " " " Interior. Reference to his awareness of the progress of the case " " " " Education. " " " " " " Sh. D
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Baghdad, April 26, 1928. To the Honorable Acting Hakham Bashi of Baghdad. Greetings. We have received your letter No. 514 dated April 19, 1928, and we have indeed presented it to our school teachers for their review, although we have not previously been accustomed to receiving instructions regarding our school affairs from the office of the Hakhamkhana. We know that our sole authority is the Lay Council, as stated in Article (43) of the Hakhamkhana Regulations. Our school teachers have protested against this letter— First—Because disturbances in parliamentary elections are crimes punishable by law, and since careful investigations have not proven that any of our school teachers engaged in any disturbance against any party, we see no place for mentioning this word in your letter. Second—If we assume that some teachers participated in the elections, this is an explicit right granted to them by all laws, in addition to being a duty for them as the elite of the nation's enlightened—and no one has the right to prevent them from performing this sacred national duty. Third—Urging students by teachers to perform any work other than school work is administratively prohibited; therefore, we are certain that nothing of the sort occurred. We were very surprised by your recommendation to us regarding discipline, because order and regularity are proceeding in the best possible manner in our schools, and no act contrary to the educational spirit or school discipline has occurred. Based on the above, and to preserve the reputation of our schools and the dignity of their teachers, we add our voice to their protest. Please accept our highest respect! ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Director of Alliance Schools | Director of Rachel Shahmoon School | Director of the National School ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Director of the Midrash School | Director of Al-Karam School For information— Copy to = His Excellency the Minister of Education. " " = His Excellency the President of the Lay Council.
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RAHEL SHAHMOON SCHOOL Rahel Shahmoon School ⟦line⟧ Baghdad 192 192 Baghdad ⟦illegible⟧ Number: 40 His Excellency the Honorable President of the Relative Council After greetings and respect I present to your Excellency a copy of the protest received from the teachers of our school regarding the circular received from the Haham Bashi Agency numbered 514 and dated April 19, 1928. Respectfully yours, ⟦signature⟧ Director of Rahel Shahmoon School The Haham Bashi
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To the Honorable Director of Rachel Shahmoon School After greetings: We have received the notification from the Hakham Bashi Agency, therefore we present the following: First. There is no law that mandates depriving private school teachers of their civil rights, namely elections. Second. The teachers did not approach any of the students regarding anything about the elections, neither inside the school nor outside it. Third. We strongly protest the report containing the accusation of rioting ⟦attributed⟧ to some teachers, which we consider as attributing a crime to them, which tarnishes their reputation and harms the reputation of our beloved school. On April 26, 1948 Signed by all teachers This copy is identical to its original Rachel Shahmoon School Baghdad RACHEL SHAHMOON SCHOOL BAGHDAD JEWISH LAY COUNCIL Director of Rachel Shahmoon School
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number: Date: June 1928 Subject: Regarding the issuance of a Royal Decree appointing an Acting Chief Rabbi His Excellency the Honorable Prime Minister Greetings and respect, On February 6, 1928, the Spiritual and Lay Councils met and decided to elect Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Effendi as Acting Chief to manage the affairs of the Mosaic community temporarily until a person is elected to the Chief Rabbinate permanently in accordance with Article 2 of the Rabbinate Regulations. Since Rabbi Sassoon's acting appointment has not yet been coupled with High Ratification within the meaning of (Article 15) of the aforementioned regulations, I wished to present to Your Excellency, before considering the matter of ratification, a fundamental point whose oversight leads to confusion, which is that Rabbi Ezra Dangoor, whose appointment as Acting Chief of the Rabbinate was joined by the issued Royal Decree, ⟦was⟧ there had occurred at the time an anomaly in the issuance of the Royal Decree for his appointment as Acting Chief of the said Rabbinate. The provisions of Article 15 of the Rabbinate Regulations are explicit and require no hesitation regarding the form of ratifying the election of the Acting Chief of the Rabbinate temporarily, that ratification which is completed - as we understand from the last paragraph of this article - by the Prime Minister issuing (the High Buyuruldi), meaning the Prime Minister's will in appointing the aforementioned Acting Chief. As for the procedures for electing His Eminence the Chief Rabbi permanently and the manner of issuing the Royal Decree for his appointment and his taking of the oath, all of this is stipulated in Articles 2, 3, and 4 of the aforementioned Rabbinate Regulations. Therefore, it has become necessary to differentiate between the appointment of an Acting Chief (which is completed, as we have shown, by the order of His Excellency the Prime Minister only) and the appointment of the Chief Rabbi permanently (the matter which requires the issuance of a Royal Decree in accordance with what was stated in the three aforementioned articles). Accordingly, and to prevent any oversight that might occur in coupling the appointment of the Acting Chief with a Royal Decree, as happened in the appointment of the previous Acting Chief, Rabbi Ezra Dangoor, contrary to what was stated in the aforementioned articles, and to prevent any unnecessary burden in this regard contrary to what the law requires, I have submitted this petition of mine, drawing your High Office's attention to the fundamental points presented therein. With highest esteem and respect to Your Excellency, President of the Lay Council A copy thereof to His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice Rabbis ⟦illegible⟧
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Editing Ed ⟦19/1/7⟧ June 6, 1928 To " His Excellency Sassoon Effendi Khedhouri, Acting Chief Rabbi in Baghdad Afterwards, I send to you herewith a certified copy of the Royal Decree No. 90 dated May 28, 1928, and 91 of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah 1346, stating your appointment as Acting Chief Rabbi. Please inform me of its arrival to you. Respectfully yours; ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the Minister of Justice A copy of it To the Presidency of the Lay Council in Baghdad With a certified copy of the Royal Decree for information ⟦illegible circular stamp⟧ The Lights ⟦...⟧ Filed ⟦28/6/8⟧ The Chief Rabbi
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Number ⟦...⟧ Our Royal Decree has been issued Based on what was presented by the Prime Minister To appoint Sassoon Effendi Khedhouri as Acting Chief Rabbi. The Prime Minister shall execute this decree. Written in Baghdad on the twenty-eighth day of the month of May In the year 1928 and the ninth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah 1346. ⟦Faisal⟧ Abdul Muhsin al-Saadoun Prime Minister. True copy 6/6/1928. Kingdom of Iraq The Diwan Ministry of Interior M. F.
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number: 501 Date: 18 July 928 His Eminence the Acting Hakham Bashi of Baghdad, Respected Subject: Regarding the assistance of Naeema Shalom Cohen After greetings: With reference to your letter No. 44/H dated 17 July 1928, there is no possibility to assist Naeema daughter of Shalom Cohen, as the community fund is unable to provide such assistance. If it is necessary to assist the aforementioned, your Eminence may collect a special donation, otherwise not. Therefore, we return herewith the petition regarding the mentioned request, drawing your attention not to forward such petitions in vain. Sincerely; President of the Lay Council ⟦signature⟧
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The Hakham Bashi of the Jewish Community: Baghdad Number: 9/209 Date: January 17, 929 Telephone Number: 200 Central His Excellency the Respected President of the Lay Council Subject: Request for approval of our withdrawals amounting to fifty-seven ⟦line⟧ thousand two hundred and forty-eight rupees and twelve annas Based on the authority vested in me under Article 7 of the Hakhamkhana Regulations, I refer to your respected council the detailed schedules of what had to be withdrawn by us during the vacancy of your council, requesting their approval as soon as possible and the return of the case files referred to this department. With utmost respect, ⟦seal with Hebrew and Arabic text⟧ Acting Hakham Bashi To be returned to the Vice President of the Community for auditing with the two members Ibrahim Hayyim Salim Nassim and Shlomo Cohen based on the council's decision taken on 1/20/929 ⟦signature⟧
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Total amount withdrawn by the Hakham Bashi in Dirhams during the vacancy of the Council Fixed Salaries Total salaries for October and November 948 (Administrative Order No. 1) 22252 Salaries for December 948 (Administrative Order No. 7) 16448 48800 Additions decided in principle and requiring Council approval Housing allowances for vacant residences (70 Rupees monthly) starting from July 1, 948 to the end of December 948 (Administrative Order No. 1 and 7) 420 Additions for Shalom Qassab from September 1, 948 (see attached papers and Administrative Order No. B 102) 120 Miscellaneous Withdrawals Tax for Khan Al-Ta'awun from October to the end of February 949 (Administrative Order No. 51) 185 Tax for Khan Al-Tawjih 125 Rent for the National School for one year starting from the first of October.. (Administrative Order No. 2) 2200 Funeral affairs expenses (Order No. 2) 86 Funeral affairs expenses (Order No. 4) 26 Administrative expenses for the Ottoman Cemetery (Order No. 9) 160 Cheese ranks salary for five months starting from February 7, 949 (Order No. 21) 75 2857 Administrative and incidental expenses Telephone fee for an internal extension for six months starting from 15/1/949 (Administrative Order No. 16) 355 Plate No. (1) (Administrative Order No. 51) 150 Plate No. (2) (Administrative Order No. 6) 200 Plate No. (3) (Administrative Order No. 12) 100 Plate No. (7) (Administrative Order No. 20) 100 46/6 spent from it according to Plate No. (4) and the rest in the department's safe (Administrative Order No. 22) 120 Stationery and repair of Arabic and English typewriters, see attached lists 545 Electricity from 7/7/948 to 2/2/949 498 Bicycle for the department's bailiffs (Administrative Order No. 17) 60 Uniforms for the department's bailiffs (Ameen No. 15 and 17) 90 Value of stamps for 2 pocket notebooks 128 Renovation of Khan Al-Ta'awun, see list 7/7/949 submitted by Sahyun Ajam (Administrative Order No. 24) 997 1390 Advances Advances for Stephen Bar Elias upon her request (in the administrative number) 3000 Advances for Rabbi Bushua Moshe upon his requests - see the case (Order No. 6) 300 Advances for Rabbi Moshe Mordechai (Administrative Order No. 8) 100 Advances for Rabbi Yaqub Wasfi 100 Advances for Yusuf Qadi Luay on his salary (Administrative Order No. 29) 160 3660 Only fifty-seven thousand two hundred and forty-eight Rupees and twelve Annas 57248 To the Secretary Referred to the Deputy Council for auditing, then to the Local Council 22-10-949 ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President ⟦illegible stamp text in blue ink⟧
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number: 29/MB/929 Date: 30 January / 929 Telephone Number: 200 Central His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, the Respected Subject: Approval of your withdrawals during the Council's vacancy Reference to your letter No. 309/H dated 17 / 1 / 929 After careful examination of the detailed list attached to your aforementioned letter and reviewing the text of Article 7 of the Rabbinate Regulations, the Council decided in its session held ⟦the...⟧ on 29 / 1 / 929 to approve your withdrawals during the Council's vacancy from - 7 / 12 / 1928 to 17 / 1 / 929 amounting to fifty-seven thousand two hundred and forty-eight rupees and twelve annas 57248/12. This is with the hope that your Eminence will be in the future more economical in spending in such cases, ⟦signature⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council Files returned to the Chief Rabbinate Administration 2 / 2 / 929 ⟦signature⟧
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The Hakham Bashi of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Number: 208 / H / 929 Date: January 17, 29 Telephone Number: 200 Central His Excellency the President of the Honorable Lay Council Subject: Replacing the Community House It has indeed been proven that the house used as the headquarters for the offices of the Hakham Bashi and the Lay Council does not meet the necessary conditions to fulfill this purpose. Therefore, I found it necessary to request the honorable Council to approve replacing it with another as soon as possible due to the following reasons: - 1) Its dampness, especially in the Council room. 2) Its narrowness and the small size of its rooms. 3) The lack of a suitable place for administrative arrangements during the summer. These are the negative reasons; as for the positive reasons, the most important is that the arrangements and expansions intended to be carried out in this session require a more organized and spacious administration. I see no harm in leaving this house at present for another, as we are able to lease it to those who seek it. With highest respect to your Excellencies, Acting Hakham Bashi To the Secretary Record this proposal in the agenda of the next session. 17-1-29 ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number: 15 / JS / 929 Date: 21 January 29 Telephone Number: 200 Central His Eminence the Acting Hakham Bashi of Baghdad, the Respected Subject: Acceptance of the proposal to replace the Community House Reference to your Eminence's letter No. 308 / H dated 17 / 1 / 929 Our council approved in its session held on 20 / 1 / 929 to adopt your proposal to replace the Israelite Community House, provided that the rent of the new house does not exceed one thousand eight hundred rupees annually (1800) Therefore, your Eminence may search for a house that meets the requirements to be a headquarters for the community administration and lease the current house to those interested as soon as possible. ⟦illegible⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council
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The Hakham Bashi of the Israelite Community: Baghdad - Telephone Number: 200 Central Number: 212 / H Date: 21 January 29 His Excellency the President of the Respected Lay Council Subject: Allocation of (1900) Rupees for the rent of a new house ⟦line⟧ With reference to your letter No. 5 / JS / 929 dated today We have been able to find a house very suitable for the requirements, which is the house of Shaul Hakham Heskel No. 16 / 118 However, we were not able to rent it for less than one thousand nine hundred rupees annually Therefore, we request the respected Council's approval of that; ⟦stamp⟧ Acting Hakham Bashi To the Secretary Place this correspondence on the agenda of the next Council meeting 22 / 1 / 29 ⟦signature⟧
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number: 21/J/29 Date: 28 January 929 Telephone Number: 200 Central His Excellency the Acting Hakham Bashi, Respected Subject: Approval of an increase of one hundred rupees to the allocations of the new house ⟦line⟧ With reference to your letter numbered 314/J dated 21/22 January 929 requesting an increase of one hundred rupees to the allocations of the new house, and based on the fact that your Excellency has previously leased the house, the Council decided in its session held on 27/1/929 to approve this increase. Vice President of the Lay Council ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
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Presidency of the Property Assessment Committee Northern Baghdad Date: 13 / 4 / 1929 Number: 40 To - Director of the Jewish Rabbinical Council During the general assessments conducted by this committee, it appeared that the house numbered 16 / 118 located in the Qanbar Ali neighborhood is under the occupation of your administration. Please inform us of its annual rental value; Chairman of the Property Assessment Committee Northern Baghdad 15 / 4 / 929 Date: 14 April 929 File Number: 1 Director of Editing Our files ⟦that⟧ mentioned to give us the answer so that we may respond to it 15 / 4 / 929 ⟦illegible⟧ This is the house that we are using as the administration for the community at the present time 16 / 4 / 929 ⟦illegible⟧
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121 Number 28/128 S on 29/4 16 April 929 Annual rent for house number 16/118 To Chairman of the North Baghdad Property Assessment Committee Reference to your letter ⟦numbered 40⟧ dated 13 / 4 / 929 The annual rent for the house numbered 16 / 118 which our administration currently occupies is one thousand nine hundred rupees (1900) per year ⟦...⟧ The Spiritual Council ⟦signature⟧ Vice President of the Spiritual Council
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The Hakham Bashi: For the Jewish Community in Baghdad: Number :: 472 / J Date :: 26 February 929 Telephone Number: 200 Central: The Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council Greetings and respect <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> and I do not think I am bothering your presence nor burdening your honorable council with this letter of mine which current circumstances drive me to write, and circumstances have mandatory rulings that must have their effect The previous council entrusted me with the duties of the Acting Hakham Bashi on February 6, 928, then crises unfortunately occurred in the administration of the community since that date, so the consideration of the issue of my salary, which was and still is less than the salary of my predecessor Hakham Ezra Dangoor, did not improve And here the period in which I occupied the Acting Hakham Bashi position will be, until the ratification of the new budget at the end of March, fourteen months. So why this injustice, and have the means of living and the demands of social life dropped in price, or what? This important job that was placed on my shoulders made expenses take - naturally - another form, whether in terms of housing or other expenses Therefore, I saw no choice but to demand with my own tongue after I saw that your honorable council's many preoccupations do not allow it to remember such an issue, that you look into the matter of the injustice that has befallen me And I have firm hope that the honorable council will see it as its duty to fulfill one of three matters: Which are either allocating an addition to the salary starting from the date of appointment, i.e., fourteen months ago as fulfillment of the acting salary, or deciding this addition for the account of the house rent, or as other assistance as happened previously, in the amount of two thousand rupees I request that this demand of mine be presented to the members of the honorable council at the first upcoming session; Acting Hakham Bashi To the Council 27 / 2 / 29
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Administration of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community Baghdad Number: 65 / JS / 929 Date: 4 March 929 His Eminence the Honorable Acting Hakham Bashi Baghdad Telephone Number: 200 Central Subject: Assistance for His Eminence the Acting Hakham Bashi and increasing his salary With reference to your letter No. 372 / J dated 27 / 2 / 929, which explained the financial hardship that has surrounded your Eminence since you took the Acting Hakham Bashi position upon yourself, and based on the Council's confidence in the validity and merit of your request, it decided in its session held on 3 March 929: 1) To grant your Eminence the sum of one thousand rupees as assistance for the increase in private expenses that you incurred after assuming the Acting Hakham Bashi position. 2) To increase your monthly salary by one hundred rupees, making it four hundred and twenty-five rupees, effective from the first of March 929. With respect to your Eminence, ⟦signature⟧ Vice President of the Lay Council ⟦illegible⟧
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Diwan of the Council of Ministers Number 1247 Date: May 28, 929 His Excellency the Acting Chief Rabbi, Respectfully Baghdad After greetings, His Excellency the Prime Minister has reviewed your letter No. 464/J dated April 21, 1929, and the letter from the Acting President of the Spiritual Council, informing you that the said Council has taken a decision to dismiss you from your current position. His Excellency also reviewed several petitions addressed by members of the Spiritual Council and some members of the Jewish community to His Majesty and the Office of the Prime Minister, containing a request for your dismissal from your post due to accusations of acts said to be contrary to the provisions of Israeli Law. His Excellency has instructed me to say that all matters pertaining to the position of Chief Rabbi are subject to the provisions of the Hahamkhana Regulations dated 23 Shawwal 1281, and that any action taken in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of these regulations cannot be recognized, nor will the Government allow it to be considered legal. Article 12 of the Regulations stipulates that the dismissal of the Chief Rabbi is the responsibility of both the Spiritual and Lay Councils; it is decided that if such an accusation occurs, the Lay Council shall refer the matter to the Prime Minister's Office, and when His Excellency the Prime Minister orders it, the two councils shall meet jointly to issue the necessary decision ⟦line⟧ etc. Based on the above, the Spiritual Council should have taken a decision of accusation, not of dismissal, and thereafter requested the Lay Council to mediate by presenting the matter to the Prime Minister's Office according to the proper procedures. Since it appears that the said Council did not follow the provisions of the Regulations in its proceedings, the Government cannot take any action based on the decision it took in this regard or on the petitions submitted by some members of the community. His Excellency the Prime Minister requests that you send a copy of this letter to both the Spiritual and Lay Councils for their information. (Signature) Secretary of the Council of Ministers Copy to:- Ministry of Justice, with reference to its letter No. 7/1/191 dated 5/16/29 for information. True Copy ⟦signature⟧