AI English Translation, Pages 26-50
Chief Rabbi
of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
The Chief Rabbi
of The Jewish Community,
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Telephone 200 Central
Telephone : 200 Central.
Number: 4/500
No.:
Date: 28 May 929
Date:
Subject
To the Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
After greetings, based on the instructions of His Excellency the Prime Minister, we present to you
enclosed a true copy of the letter received by us from His Excellency's secretary dated 28 May
929, number 1247, which stated the non-recognition of the decision taken by the
Spiritual Council regarding my dismissal from the Acting Chief Rabbinate and the petitions and reports submitted regarding this
matter, due to their non-compliance with the Hahamkhana regulations. We hope you will take note of it;
With respect to you,
Acting Chief Rabbi
A copy of it to each of the honorable members of the Lay and Spiritual Councils
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Number ⟦illegible⟧ / 5 / 28
Date 20 / 5 / 929
File Number
Archive
To Khaski
⟦illegible⟧
The Hakham Bashi
of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
Number: 425 / J
Date: 10 April 929
Telephone Number: 200 Central
Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
Subject: Appointment of ⟦Isaac⟧ Meir Hakham Salem as an usher and registrar of numbers
The person named Isaac Meir Hakham Salem was appointed as an usher in the Spiritual Court and a registrar of numbers on 20 January 929
And since the honorable Council has not yet considered the matter of his salary, it is requested hereby to decide
a salary of sixty rupees for the aforementioned, and he has been continuing in his position since the date specified above /
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Hakham Bashi
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 929/5/10
Date: 10 April 929
File Number: 2
To the Lay Council
9/4/10
The Hakham Bashi
⟦illegible⟧
The Chief Rabbi Hakham Bashi
of The Jewish Community, The Israelite Community: Baghdad
Baghdad
Telephone : 200 Central. Telephone 200 Central
Number: 510 / Kh
No.:
Date: 5 June / 1929
Date:
Subject: Notifying the director of the Alliance regarding the preparation of the synagogue
Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
Since His Eminence the Acting Hakham Bashi has decided to deliver a religious sermon in the synagogue
of the Alliance at nine-thirty Arabic time on next Saturday (8 / 6 / 1929)
His Eminence requests that you inform the director of the aforementioned school to prepare the place at the
appointed time, and to you thanks in advance
⟦Al-Asas⟧
Secretary of the Hakham Bashi
To the Director of Supplies
Write to the director of the Alliance regarding a private location
5 / 6 / 29
⟦Kaji⟧
The Hakham Bashi
A. R
808 / p 7 / 92
5 June 1929
Preparation of the Almans Synagogue
To the Honorable Director of the Almans Schools
I have been instructed by the Vice President of the Lay Council to request that you prepare the Almans Synagogue
next Saturday at nine-thirty Arabic time, as His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi
intends to deliver a religious sermon at the aforementioned time.
⟦signature⟧
Director of Correspondence
The Chief Rabbi
ALLIANCE ISRAELITE UNIVERSELLE
A. D. SASSOON COLLEGE
Direction ⟦line⟧
No.:
Baghdad, the: June 6, 1927
Israelite Consistory
Baghdad
Mr. President
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of yesterday asking me to place at your disposal the Synagogue of your school, next Saturday afternoon for a lecture to be given by the Chief Rabbi.
I received at the same time an invitation card to this lecture, for which I thank you.
I place at your disposal, since you ask me, our Synagogue which happens to be free that day. But I would like to ask you, for the future, not to send invitations before knowing if the premises are not already booked for school meetings or others. This easy precaution would help us avoid regrettable misunderstandings.
On the other hand, regarding next Saturday's lecture, I am not unaware of the division that exists within the Community, or more exactly among our Hahamim. I therefore hope that the lecture you are organizing will not cause any disorder of the kind - very regrettable - that took place on previous Saturdays in other Synagogues in the neighborhood, disorders that took place following certain speeches.
⟦illegible stamp⟧
222 / JS / 29
18 June 1929
Refund of 52 Rupees Insurance Deposit
To
Director of the Electrical Equipment Department
On December 3, 928, an insurance deposit of
fifty-two rupees was placed with you on the relief account by the Hakham Bashi Department of Baghdad for its house numbered 56
And since the Hakham Bashi Department has moved from the mentioned house some time ago, please return
the mentioned insurance deposit to the current Hakham Bashi Department
Thanking you in advance,
⟦illegible⟧
138
The Hakham Bashi
⟦signature⟧
Vice President of the Lay Council
You understand well, Mr. President, this concern, which I have
always had, to keep our premises outside of the struggles
and opinions of parties.
I am sure therefore that the speech this Saturday
will not give rise to any demonstration on the part of anyone
at all, and that you have taken your measures to maintain or-
der and security.
Please accept, Mr. President, the assurance
of my best regards.
⟦illegible⟧
Administration of the Physical Council - Baghdad:
Number: 929 / W / 86
Date: 20 June 948
File Number:
Presented to the Council
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Receipt
⟦line⟧
52 /
The mentioned amount from it ⟦...⟧ 926 placed as a deposit in the
Electricity Department ⟦line⟧ 829 ⟦...⟧
Accountant
⟦signature⟧
Director of Equipment
for the Council ⟦...⟧
29 / 2 / 11
THE OTTOMAN JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF TRAMWAYS LIGHTING AND POWER
ELECTRICAL OF BAGHDAD.
REGISTERED OFFICES:
SALISBURY SQUARE HOUSE.
FLEET STREET.
LONDON. E. C.. 4
TELEPHONE: CENTRAL 138.
ABAKHANAH
Baghdad, June, 19th 1929.
OUR REFERENCE 1995/9.18
To:-
The Vice President,
Jewish Lay Council,
Baghdad.
Dear Sir,
In reference to your letter No.221/GS/29 of
18th instant we beg to inform you that the deposit of
Rs.52/- said to have been paid to us on 13th November.
1924 (not 3rd December 1928) towards electricity in house
No.56/138 was refunded on 28th February 1928, as follows,
to Mr. Ezra R. Dangoor the late Chief Rabi of Baghdad
against receipt.
Deposit. | | Rs.52- 0
Less bill No.1995/9/27 | Rs.12-15 |
" " 1995/10/27 | 2- 4 | 15- 3
| | Rs.36-13
Administration of the Lay Council -- Baghdad
Number 802/2/929
Date 22/6/29
File Number ⟦line⟧
To the Council
22/6/29
Yours Faithfully,
⟦signature⟧
Accountant.
RM/AS.19.
Baghdad 19 June 1929
1300 D / 1985
To
The Vice President of the Lay Council of the Israelites in Baghdad
My Dear Sir
With reference to your letter No. 221 / June / 929 dated the 18th of the current month
We beg to inform you that the deposit of (52) Rupees was received by us
It was paid to us on 12 November 1924 (and not on 2 December 924)
For the electricity of the house numbered 56 and it was returned on 28 February 928
128
To Mr. Ezra R. Dangoor, agent of the <del>Hakham Bashi</del> in Baghdad against
The receipt
The deposit of Rupees was returned
The deficit according to the list No. 27/9/1925 | 12 / 15 | 52 / 15
" " " 27/10/1925 | 4 / 2 | 15 2
" " " 27 | 17
Sincerely
(Signature)
Accountant
⟦illegible stamp⟧
221 / JS / 929
20 August 1929
The Diwaniyah of the house numbered 56 - 138
⟦illegible⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Ezra Dangoor, the respected
It appeared in the account of the endowments that an amount of fifty-two rupees (52) was placed by
you on November 13, 924, with the Electricity Supply Administration as lighting insurance
for the house numbered 56 - 138, previously used for the administration of the Israelite community.
We requested this amount from the aforementioned administration in our letter No. 221 / JS / 1929
dated June 18, 929, and it became clear from the response of the Supply Department that Your Eminence
received the amount on February 28, 928, in your capacity as an agent for the Hakham Bashi.
Our council, in its session held on August 18, 929, decided to inquire from
Your Eminence about the fate of this amount.
On ⟦20 / 8⟧
⟦signature⟧
Vice President of the Lay Council
The Hakham Bashi
N. M.
Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
This department vacated the old house in early February 929, and it appears that the
Electricity Department submitted its request on 4/15/929, and when it found no one living in this house, it deducted
the amount from the deposit held by it for the aforementioned house.
The owner of the house, Sassoon Menashi Shlomo Wadid, has presented a receipt from the Electricity Department
for the mentioned amount -
Acting Hakham Bashi
Transferred 4528 G
8 / 7 / 929
Administration of the Lay Council ⟦line⟧ Baghdad:
Number: 20 / Ans / 929
Date: 8 / 7 / 929
File Number:
Accountant
⟦illegible⟧
The mentioned amount is to be paid ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
To be kept in the file of the Acting Hakham Bashi
Baghdad on December 23, 929
1
To -
The Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
Subject: Drawing attention to the three amounts suspended in the suspense account
Greetings and respect
Drawing your attention to the amounts that are still suspended in the suspense account, which are as follows:
| Rupee | Anna
The deposit placed in the Electricity Department for the Hakhamkhana office on 12/26/3 | " | 52
The difference resulting from the recovery of the seized amount in the Execution Department on 4/20/28 | 2 | 24
The remainder of the rent for Khan al-Shorja owed by Khawaja Yusuf Nissan Shakarji | " | 443
With my knowledge of all the transactions that took place on these amounts and are still taking place, I have come to draw your attention to
settling them
This is for your command, sir
⟦signature⟧
The Accountant
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Number 504/9/929
Date 12/24/929
File Number
To the Accountant
1/15
930
To be filed
1/20
930
With the deposit case
⟦illegible faded stamp⟧
Baghdad 1 July 948
To the Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
The Electricity Department has deducted from the deposit held with them the amount of
thirty-one rupees and fifteen annas ⟦31/15⟧ for the electrical units
used by the Treasury Department from 1/2/28 to 2/14/28 according to the notice submitted
to me on 4/15/28
Therefore, I request that you pay me the aforementioned amount, with respect
For Accounting
Salwa Yusuf
⟦signature⟧
Referred to His Eminence the Chief Rabbi for permission
Administrative Body
2/7/48 K.J.
Transfer Number 542 / J.N. / 48
4/7/948
Lay Council Administration - Baghdad:
Number: 948/D/115
Date: 1 / 7 / 948
File Number:
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad:
Number: 4 / 9
Date: 4 July 948
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI: BAGHDAD
Baghdad - March 25, 1930
To the Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
Subject: Lease agreement for the community administration
On March 7, 1930, the sum of two thousand three hundred and ten rupees (2310) was paid to His Eminence the Acting Hakham Bashi based on
the Council's decision, as the lease payment for the community administration
for a full year, two months, and eighteen days starting from February 12, 690 Hebrew to
the end of April 691.
However, the accounting department has not yet received the aforementioned lease agreement contract.
I hope to bring this to your attention ⟦line⟧ ;
Accountant ⟦line⟧
N. M.
Administration of the Lay Council -- Baghdad:
Number: 481
Date: 3 / 25 / 930
File Number:
Director of Correspondence
To request the Honorable to send the agreement and deposit it with the accountant
3 / 25
⟦Subhi⟧
The Hakham Bashi
The Chief Rabbi
of The Jewish Community,
Baghdad
Telephone : 200 Central.
Hakham Bashi
The Israelite Community: Baghdad
Telephone 200 Central
No.: 1286
Date: September 8, 1930
Subject
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council
Greetings and respect
Furthermore, it has come to my attention that the honorable Lay Council has decided to reduce the salary
allocated to the presidency of the Spiritual Council and set it at two hundred and forty rupees.
I do not know what the real motive was that led your honorable council to take this
decision, alongside many decisions to increase the salaries of most members of the Spiritual Council
and other rabbis. This is besides the fact that I still hold the position of Acting
Hakham Bashi, which has incurred heavy expenses for me, such as renting a house
befitting it and furnishing it, among other things that are not hidden from your sight. Therefore, I hope
your honorable council will reconsider its decision in this regard.
I am returning herewith the amount of (240), this month's salary, until your council decides what it deems
appropriate in this matter.
If you see a necessity for my attendance at the session, please inform me of that.
Respectfully yours;
⟦Hakham Bashi⟧
⟦Hevra Kadisha⟧
Baghdad
BAGHDAD
Acting Hakham Bashi
N. M.
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 541
Date: September 8, 1930
File Number:
672
9 September 1930
His Excellency the Acting Hakham Bashi, the Respected
Reference to your letter No. 1286 dated 1 September 1930
I regret to inform Your Excellency that our council, in its session held on 8 September 1930
Decided that it is unable to reconsider the matter of your salary due to budget constraints
Enclosed you will find the amount of two hundred and forty rupees, your salary for the month of August 1930. Please acknowledge
receipt of it;
⟦signature⟧
President of the Lay Council
⟦Daoud Samah⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
The Chief Rabbi
of The Jewish Community,
Baghdad
Chief Rabbi
of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
Telephone : 200 Central.:
Telephone 200 Central:
No.: 1202
Number ::
Date: 10 September 1930
Date ::
Subject: Salary of the Presidency of the Spiritual Council
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council
With reference to your letter No. 672 dated 9 September 1930
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Article (20) of the Rabbinate Regulations restricts the right
to allocate the salary of the President of the Spiritual Council to the General Council alone, and you undoubtedly remember
that the Honorable General Council had allocated the salary for the Presidency of the Spiritual Council (amounting to 300 -
Rupees) according to a protocol signed by its members. It appears from this to your honorable council that implementing a reduction
in my salary is also the right of the General Council. Furthermore, please note that I cannot dispense with
one-fifth of my salary, especially since my expenses have doubled from what they were before; the house I used to live in
in the Bani Said neighborhood, with a rent of three hundred and fifty rupees, I replaced under the influence of some members
of the community with another whose annual rent is one thousand and one hundred rupees. This is besides the fact that other expenses have risen
at this rate, a matter which your council should have taken into consideration. Moreover, I have presided over the Spiritual
Council before this for a period of a year and a half without requesting compensation for this position!
I was surprised that the honorable council used the financial crisis as an excuse for its inability to reconsider
its decision, while it has decided to increase the salaries of the rest of the rabbis with supplements totaling more than
eight hundred rupees per month, and this is what I alluded to in my previous letter.
I hope that your council will kindly restore my salary to what it was, and you will find enclosed the amount of
two hundred and forty rupees, which I am returning again to your council. Respectfully yours,
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Chief Rabbi
in Baghdad
Acting Chief Rabbi
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 558
Date: 10/9/930
File Number:
N. M.
Our letter is repeated with another stating that the Council does not possess administrative authority
The Kindergarten Committee
The Chief Rabbi
of The Jewish Community,
Baghdad
Telephone : 200 Central.
Hakham Bashi
of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Telephone 200 Central
No: 1251
Date: 1/22/1931
Subject
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council
Greetings and respect,
In response to your letter No. 893 dated 1/5/1931
The reduction of my salary came in a manner that is not consistent with justice and fairness, as for a period of
four months your esteemed council had reduced only my salary, even though it made increases
and additions to the salaries of others. The reductions decided in the aforementioned council were,
as far as I know, to reduce previously large salaries, and these naturally do not include me.
In view of my position, the office I hold, and the requirements I am tasked with, the
reduction of my salary is not something your esteemed council would approve. In view of the above, I ask the council
to reconsider the matter and issue a decision to increase my salary.
With highest respect to your Excellency,
Hakham Bashi of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
⟦Hakham Bashi of the Jewish Community in Baghdad⟧
⟦May God protect it⟧
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 866
Date: 1 / 22 / 1931
File Number:
N. M.
To be considered when preparing the next budget
4/28/1931
The Hakham Bashi
Daoud Rubin
The Chief Rabbinate
Baghdad
The Chief Rabbi
of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
THE CHIEF RABBI
OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY,
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Number: 1558
No.:
Date: 13 / 10 / 1931
Date:
Subject:
The Honorable Lay Council
Reference to your letter No. 1341 dated 18 / 9 / 1931
The reduction rates indicated in your letter should not include my salary for the following reasons:
1) It is no secret that my salary was specifically allocated by the General Council
which alone has the right to determine it according to the authority granted to it under Article 20
of the Rabbinical Regulations in force until this date, and there is no doubt that when it set
the amount of 300 rupees, it well estimated the importance and status of the position I occupy.
2) Even if it were assumed impossible that your honorable council has the authority to order a reduction in my salary, based
on what was understood from your letter that my salary will become (199/8) rupees, which I should receive in my capacity
as President of the Spiritual Council and Acting Chief Rabbi, while these two positions require
a salary higher than this amount in view of their status and their requirement for spending and expenditure, and this
is not consistent with truth and justice.
3) By occupying these positions, I have entered into many needs
that require spending to ensure the prestige and honor of the two mentioned positions, and as I was unable to manage
living matters and other urgent needs with the current salary, the inclusion of the reduction to my salary
will make the management of my living in severe distress, and this is something that your conscience undoubtedly does not accept.
Based on the above reasons, I request a reconsideration of my salary case and to inform me of the result.
May you remain in respect;
Acting Chief Rabbi
⟦illegible⟧
Administration of the Lay Council Baghdad
Number 1116
Date 14 / 10 / 31
Number ⟦illegible⟧
1506
10/26/1931
His Excellency the Acting Chief Rabbi, the Respected
Reference to your letter No. 1558 dated 10/13/1931
Our council, based on its appreciation of the necessity of assisting Your Excellency, has decided that
your salary shall be subject to the prescribed reduction after considering both reductions that were applied
to it last year, i.e., considering it as two hundred and sixty rupees, which is the maximum
our council was able to offer Your Excellency in terms of assistance, especially since the reduction
notified to you in circular No. 1341 dated 9/18/1931 was general and included
all salaries and allowances of all community employees.
⟦illegible⟧
The President
⟦illegible signature⟧
The Chief Rabbinate
Baghdad
THE CHIEF RABBI
OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY,
Baghdad
The Chief Rabbi
of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
No: 1572
Date: 12 / 11 / 1931
Subject:
The Honorable Lay Council
With reference to your letter No. 1516 dated 26 / 10 / 1931
I had explained in my previous letter the necessary reasons that compelled me to
draw the attention of your honorable council to reconsider the matter of my salary and the severe distress
overwhelming me in managing my living expenses. Unfortunately, the reply letter I
received did not alleviate this distress, and this reason prompts me to appeal to
your honorable council again, reminding you of the provision of Article 20 of the Rabbinical Regulations
which authorizes the General Council alone to decide on the issue of my salary and the necessity of calling it to deliberate
on this matter. This is on one hand, and on the other hand, since I hold the acting position of the Chief
Rabbinate for which I deserve a fair wage, and it was previously that I received for it
a salary at a rate of 425 rupees per month for the period that your honorable council approved for disbursement
for my work in it in addition to my original position. Furthermore, I am entitled to a fair wage for the acting
Chief Rabbinate and I have not received any amount for it, and the needs are still expanding
and the severe distress resulting from its rejection is continuous. Therefore, expediting the resolution of this case
is a necessity. For this, I hope you will pay attention to my numerous appeals in this regard and resolve
the case in a manner that suits the interest of my position according to Article 13 of the Rabbinical Regulations which
requires the allocation of a sufficient salary for the Chief Rabbi. For if I do not obtain a
satisfactory result from all these rightful appeals, I will be forced to appeal to the higher authorities
and to legal methods in order to reach my legitimate rights. I have firm hope that
your honorable council will take into consideration the merit of my request and not give room for pursuing
another path, and I am waiting for the decision of your honorable council as quickly as possible so that I may be clear about my affairs.
With much thanks and respect;
Acting Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi Abraham ⟦illegible⟧
The Chief Rabbi ⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Date 12 / 11 / 931
File Number 1125
The Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Editing Department
General Number 1 / 1 / 19
Special Number
Telegraphic Address: Justice
Date: 5 / January 1922
Please refer to
The General Number
Subject Summary: Petition of the Acting Chief Rabbi.
To -
The President of the Lay Council of the Jewish
Community - Baghdad
The Acting Chief Rabbi has submitted a petition to this Ministry stating
that while his salary during the year 1920 was 425/- Rupees, it was reduced during
the recent period to 169/8 Rupees. Since Articles 13 and 14 of
the Rabbinate Regulations stipulated the fulfillment of the needs of the aforementioned, we request that
the Council considers increasing his salary to an amount consistent with his official and personal status
and informing us of the result.
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Justice
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Number ⟦...⟧
Date 20 / 1 / 1922
File Number ⟦...⟧
A T A
1608
10/1/932
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice
Reference to your Excellency's letter dated January 5, 932, No. 7/1/191
The Acting Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Abraham Aslan, was appointed by the obeyed Royal Decree on March 6,
930, to perform the duties of Acting Chief Rabbi until the end of the communal elections. Since the communal
councils were dissolved pursuant to the aforementioned Decree, the said Acting Chief took over the affairs of the community and collected
for himself a salary of (435) rupees, while he used to receive for the membership he held in the Spiritual
Council a salary not exceeding 160 rupees. Upon the completion of the communal elections, he was elected President of the Spiritual
Council, and at that time he had collected (1700) rupees as salaries for four months in exchange for the temporary position he
occupied. When His Eminence presented to the Lay Council the amounts he spent during his tenure as Acting Chief
for approval, a long debate ensued regarding the salary he collected for himself, and the Lay Council
preferred to approve what he spent out of respect for his person and allocated him a monthly salary of (240) rupees
for the position of President of the Spiritual Council, which he accepted.
After that, the aforementioned Rabbi withdrew from the presidency of the Spiritual Council of his own accord, preferring
to perform the duties of the Acting Chief Rabbinate, and he remained in the position of Acting Chief while the first Royal Decree had
stipulated that his duties be limited to supervising the elections only. He continued to receive the salary recently set for him
(240 rupees) without objecting to that until he requested from the previous council an addition of (20 rupees) to
his salary, and the previous council granted his request. Then (after a period of time), the said council, for reasons it deemed
necessary, took a decision to reduce the salary of the aforementioned Rabbi along with other employees to 220 rupees.
It is not hidden from your Excellency that our council took over the administration of the community while the economic crisis was strangling
its treasury, and we found no way to combat the mentioned crisis except by reducing the salaries of all clergy and employees of
the community administration, including teachers, clerks, and others. The reduction decision included the salary of the Acting Chief Rabbi
of course, but on the basis of 260 rupees, not on the salary he was receiving when the general reduction decision
was issued. Thus, his salary after the reduction became (199/8 rupees), and by this, our council has provided His Eminence the maximum
assistance it can provide in this regard.
We agree with your Excellency on the necessity of securing His Eminence's needs, but we would like to draw your Excellency's attention to
⟦illegible⟧
The original salary of the aforementioned Rabbi was basically (45 Rupees) per month only, before his election
as a member of the Spiritual Court for the first time, i.e., four years ago. There is no one among the spiritual leaders who receives
a salary higher than his at the present time, and this reduction has included the salaries of all Rabbis in a ⟦line⟧
general way (as we explained previously). Since we believe the current salary is sufficient for his eminence, and as the community fund
is not enough to meet the needs of its institutions, our council apologizes to your Excellency for its inability to treat his eminence
in an exceptional manner. With your Excellency's utmost respect.
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Lay Council