Description
These are archival documents from the Baghdadi Jewish Community. They include correspondence from the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad to Jewish community presidents in Sulaymaniyah, Irbil, Mosul, Basrah, Kirkuk, Fallujah, regarding condolences, regulations, hospitals, permits, religious dietary laws, smallpox, distributions to the poor, employment and unemployment, financial settlements, legal settlements, charitable donations and requests for documentation. There is also correspondence with various government and community organizations including the Office of Information – Mosul; National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iraq; The British Bank of Iran; Office of the Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of Great Britain; Chevrolet; Iraqi Red Crescent Society; The Society for Improving the Conditions of the Blind in Iraq; French Ambassador in Iraq; The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China; The Great Synagogue of Baghdad; and the President of the Catholic Diaspora. The item also includes the newspapers: الزمان (Al-Zamān), Issue #4764 from May 1, 1953; and الحوادث (Al-Ḥawādth), Issue #3096 from 1953.
AI en Translation, Pages 126-150
Page 128
(1)
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 100
Date: 3/2/1950
Presidency of the Jewish Community
No. 950/959/Z
Date 3/5/950
Subject:-
To:
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, Respected
Respected Members of the Lay Council
Greetings
It has been the custom of the Jewish community in Basra to distribute money and other items to the poor of the community
on the occasion of the blessed Passover holiday. We used to collect these amounts from the wealthy who generously gave
them. We place before Your Excellency and your honors the following:-
1- The number of poor and needy whom we must help has increased due to the closing
of the doors of livelihood in their faces.
2- The presidency of the community has borne a heavy burden as a result of the presence of some members of your community in our city
which required us to help them and facilitate their affairs.
Therefore, we ask you to assist our community with an amount that helps us achieve this humanitarian
project which must be fulfilled on the occasion of the blessed Passover holiday.
With much appreciation and respect to Your Excellency and your honors.
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Community
For filing
The Basra Community
⟦illegible bleed-through text⟧
⟦illegible stamp⟧
1950
⟦illegible bleed-through text⟧
Page 129
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
(2)
Number: T / 1311 / 950
Subject:
Date: 7 / 3 / 1950
The Honorable Mr. ⟦Director of Propaganda Affairs⟧ respected
⟦Basra⟧
Greetings and respect
Furthermore, I would be most grateful if you would kindly honor the Presidency of the Community
at twelve o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, 8 / 3 / 950, for a discussion
with you regarding some matters related to the community.
I would have liked to visit you personally to spare you this trouble, but the many
occupations of the community have prevented that.
Hoping that you will accept this invitation of mine, please accept the highest respect;
Sincerely
(Heskel Shemhoub)
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A / 7 / 3
Page 130
(2)
Amounts Received
Fils | Dinar | Receipt No. | Donor Name
| | 81252 | Isaac Daniel Eliyahu
| | 81254 | Yaqub Al-Iraqi Brothers Company
| 100 | 81255 | Ibrahim Aini
| 50 | 81256 | Nassim Shaul Khadhuri
| 50 | 81257 | Salim Khadhuri and Shaul Khadhuri
| 50 | 81258 | Salim Shamash
| 25 | 81261 | Menashi Kila
| 50 | 81262 | Menashi Shammo
| 100 | 81263 | Ezra Meir Basson
| 25 | 81264 | Eliyahu Zubaida
| 75 | 81265 | Eliyahu Khadhuri and Nassim Khadhuri
| 50 | 81266 | Salman Sami
| 50 | 81267 | Ibn Shamash ⟦Rescue⟧
| 50 | 81268 | Shalom Nassif
| 25 | 81269 | Munir Souri
| 25 | 81270 | Eliyahu Shakkouri
| 50 | 81271 | Ezra Yusuf Abu Daoud
| 25 | 81272 | Yaqub Sadaka
| 15 | 81274 | Karjiya Aslan
| 5 | 81275 | Abdullah Khalil
| 7 | 81276 | Murad Sabri
| 7 | 81277 | Abdullah Nissan
| 7 | 81278 | Naim Shammo
| 50 | 81279 | Munir Shamaa
| 85 | 81280 | ⟦Heirs of Rabbi⟧ Daoud Suleiman and Shaul Shakroun
1201 One thousand two hundred and one dinars
| | | Amounts not yet received
| 200 | 81251 | Khadhuri and Ezra Ibrahim Lory Company
| | 81253 | Victor Hay
| 50 | 81259 | Shaul Zubaida
| | 81260 | Eliyahu Yaqub
| 25 | 81273 | Karjiya Sultana
Page 132
(2)
Amounts Received
Fils | Dinar | Receipt No. | Donor Name
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11252 | Salman Daniel Huy
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11254 | Yaqub Al-Turaihi Brothers Company
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11255 | Ibrahim Aini
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11256 | Nassim Sina and Khedhouri Dubai
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11257 | Yaqub Khedhouri and Sassoon Khedhouri
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11258 | Sassoon Shamil
⟦line⟧ | 250 | 11261 | Munshi Kahla
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11262 | Munshi Shamash
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11263 | Ezra Yeremiak
⟦line⟧ | 250 | 11264 | Eliyahu Nazih
⟦line⟧ | 750 | 11265 | Eliyahu Sahyoun and Nassim Khalawi
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11266 | Salman Saji
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11267 | Sassoon Brothers Company
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11268 | Shalom Safi
⟦line⟧ | 250 | 11269 | Hezekiah Souri
⟦line⟧ | 250 | 11270 | Eliyahu Zelka
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11271 | Ezra Munshi Abu Daoud
⟦line⟧ | 250 | 11272 | Yaqub Sadaqa
⟦line⟧ | 150 | 11274 | Cohen Aslan
⟦line⟧ | 50 | 11275 | Samana Hillel
⟦line⟧ | 1000 | 11276 | Murad Houri
⟦line⟧ | 2 | 11277 | Abdullah Munshi
⟦line⟧ | 2 | 11278 | Nassim Shua
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11279 | Mikhail Odeh
⟦line⟧ | 150 | 11280 | Khedhouri Daoud Yalbul and Shaul Salloum on his account?
⟦line⟧ | 12010 | One thousand two hundred and one dinars |
| | | Amounts not yet received
⟦line⟧ | 2000 | 11251 | Khedhouri and Ezra bin Lawi Company
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11252 | Victor Jameh
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11253 | Noah Zubaida
⟦line⟧ | 500 | 11254 | Eliyahu Bekhor
⟦line⟧ | 250 | 11273 | Karmi Sultana
From this chapter according to the instructions of
His Excellency the President, this amount was spent
It will be distributed in Basra
Under the supervision of Mr. Daoud Houri
5/12/53
Have the amounts been deposited
all in the bank?
Khedhouri Daoud Yalbul and Shaul Salloum on his account?
⟦illegible⟧ 5/12
Honorable Vice President
Page 135
Number 51
(6)
Incoming Internal Telegram
Fee
Telegram Number 920
Time of registration
TELEGRAPHS
22 MAR 50
BAGHDAD
Office Stamp:
Arrived at hour: 9
Minute: 45
From: Basra
Received by: ⟦signature⟧ 12
Word count: 22
Administrative instructions:
Date: 22
Issuing office: Basra
To
Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Your letter 950/1229 dated 2/19 we calculated
the distribution of your salaries at the teacher's house
against your overdue salaries and not for the distributors ⟦illegible⟧
Page 136
Number 6
Incoming Internal Telegram
BAGHDAD
TELS
22 MAR 50
⟦illegible⟧
Number:
Telegram Type:
Registration Time:
Arrived at Hour:
Minute:
From: ⟦illegible⟧
Received by:
Word Count:
Administrative Instructions:
Date:
Issuing Department:
To
Daoud Houri .
Page 138
T / 1229 / 950
19 / 3 / 1950
The Honorable Mr. Daoud Jouri, Respected
After greetings and respect,
I enclose herewith a transfer to your order in the amount of 1201/- (one thousand two hundred
and one dinar) for the amounts I received from some benefactors in Baghdad as aid
to the poor members of the community in Basra on the occasion of Easter.
I ask you to kindly supervise personally how this amount is spent,
and you may seek the assistance of a committee consisting of Messrs. Abdullah Basli'il, Karji
Salman, Salman Ezra Isaac, Mushir Rubin, Hesqel Ezra, and Shamoun Atarji
or others whom you trust.
Hoping that I have not troubled you with this assignment, please
accept my highest respect.
Sincerely,
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
⟦illegible signature⟧
3/19
3/19/4
⟦illegible⟧
Page 139
T/ ⟦1227⟧ / 950
1950/3/28
Ezra Meir Hakkak Company Limited
Baghdad
After greetings and respect
I have received with great thanks your donation of one hundred dinars for the purpose of helping
the poor of the Jewish community in Basra on the occasion of Passover, and I can only
express to your establishment my abundant thanks and appreciation for your generosity, wishing you
continued success and prosperity.
Please accept my highest respects,
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Head of the Community
and President of the Lay Council
⟦Copy of this letter⟧
⟦Based on the request of Mr. ...⟧
⟦...⟧
Attachments
Receipt from the Jewish Lay Council
in Basra for the aforementioned donation
A / 3/28
Page 140
Hilla, March 17, 1950
The Honorable President of the Jewish Community - Baghdad.
Greetings and respect.
On the occasion of the approaching Passover holiday, I request your Excellency to order
the provision of some of the Jewish prisoners in Kut prison, numbering
(53) fifty-three prisoners, with the necessary food items that we are required
to take during the aforementioned holiday, and with highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
Saleh Shaul Elias
On behalf of the people of Fallujah
Page 141
Copy to Fallujah
T / ⟦1228⟧ / 950
28 / 3 / 1950
The Honorable Teacher Shaul Al-Yallo, Respectfully
Fallujah
After greetings,
With reference to your letter dated March 17, 1950, regarding the Jewish
prisoners in Kut,
We have requested Mr. Ishaq Shirazi, a resident of Kut, to spend
20 Dinars (twenty Dinars) for the purpose of providing the special Passover bread for the prisoners
according to the requirements of the Jewish religion.
With this, remain in peace;
Note:
This letter was written based on
the request of Mr. Salman Shahrabani
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A / 3/26
Page 142
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Amarah
Date 17 / 2 / 1950
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Number ⟦127/1/1⟧
Date ⟦27/2/950⟧
His Excellency the Acting President of the Jewish Community, Respected
After greetings and respect
It is not hidden from your Excellency that the Jewish community in Amarah used to cover the necessary expenses
it required during the past years on one hand, and collect revenues from various sources without
needing any assistance from outside the Amarah Liwa. These sources can be limited to the following:-
1- Revenues from the rents of the community's endowment properties in Amarah.
2- Gabelle fees.
3- Ketubot fees.
4- Revenues from the synagogues, which do not exceed two.
5- School fees for students from the children of the wealthy.
6- Donations from benefactors on the occasion of holidays.
In the past, these revenues were sufficient - even exceeding - the required expenditures
year after year, and thus no deficit or shortage occurred in the annual budget.
As for the present time, and especially in the last three years, most of these
revenues have begun to deteriorate and shrink little by little, and they now cover only less than half of the
necessary required expenses, in view of the reasons detailed below.
1- Community Endowments - The community used to own (8) houses as endowments intended for rent, and their annual
revenues were approximately / 150 Dinars, but the current harsh conditions that created many
poor people, widows, and the needy forced us to allocate them for their residence for free, and thus one of the
sources that used to provide the community with a portion of the revenues has vanished. Moreover, the community in this
case has become forced to pay property tax on them, and thus its expenses increased.
2- Gabelle fees - Due to the high price of meat, a large portion of the poor members of the community were deprived of
consuming it, and therefore the community presidency was forced to cancel these fees temporarily to relieve
the burden on this class.
3- Ketubot fees - Marriage in Amarah has decreased or almost vanished due to the difficult circumstances,
and accordingly, the fees have vanished completely, and if any marriage occurs - as has actually happened - it
is free of charge without any fee.
4- Synagogue revenues - These revenues still remain until now despite their small amount, which can
be estimated at / 150 Dinars annually in the Sifrim and others.
There is no doubt about it
⟦illegible⟧
Page 143
(What preceded it)
5- School student fees - The vast majority of students are poor and need books and clothes
provided to them for free by the community from time to time. As for the income from students, it is little, and it is no secret
that it comes from the children of the rich only, noting that the total number of students in the only Israelite school in Amarah
is about (400) students, only fifty of whom pay fees, and 350 students are poor and do not pay any
amount, and this school is a primary school containing (8) classes.
6- Donations from benefactors - These donations have begun to decrease due to the migration of most of the wealthy people outside the province
and only a small number of them remain, who can be counted on fingers.
Furthermore, the population of the province does not exceed four thousand people, 500 of whom live outside the center
so the total population of the province center itself is 3500 people, most of whom are poor and needy, and there is no doubt that
the required expenses are very high and are summarized as follows:-
1- Salaries of school teachers.
2- Salaries of the Shochatim.
3- Salaries of the Shamashim.
4- Expenses for shrouding, preparing, and burying the poor deceased.
5- Medical treatment and purchasing medicine for the sick and sending the critical cases among them to Meir Elias Hospital in Baghdad.
6- What the poor need on the occasion of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr for the distribution of rice, wheat, and other things to them.
You see from this that this community faces many problems in managing the affairs of the poor class in
the present situation, and therefore it found itself compelled to submit this petition to Your Excellency, pleading
for a helping hand of financial assistance to enable it to continue this with all diligence and activity.
Our hope is firm that this plea of ours will receive from Your Excellency all sympathy and encouragement.
Please, Your Excellency, accept our highest respect and thanks on behalf of the community.
⟦signature⟧
One of the members of the community
Dr. Yaqub Ishaq Nassim
⟦signature⟧
Vice President of the Israelite Community
in Amarah
Khedhouri Moshi Shamash
To be placed with the portfolio
4/7
Page 144
(What preceded it)
5- School student fees - The vast majority of students are poor and need books and clothes
provided to them for free by the community from time to time. As for the income from students, it is little and it is not hidden
except from the children of the rich only, knowing that the total number of students of the only Israeli school in Amarah
is estimated at (400) students, only fifty of whom pay fees, and 350 students are poor and do not pay any
amount, and this school is a primary school containing (8) classes.
6- Donations from benefactors - These donations have begun to decrease due to the migration of most of the wealthy people outside the province
and only a small number of them remain, who can be counted on fingers.
Furthermore, the population of the province does not exceed four thousand people, 500 of whom live outside the center
so the total population of the province center itself is 3500 people, most of whom are poor and needy, and there is no doubt that
the required expenses are very high and are summarized as follows:-
1- Salaries of school teachers.
2- Salaries of the Shohatim.
3- Salaries of the Shamashim.
4- Expenses for shrouding, preparing, and burying the poor deceased.
5- Treatment and purchase of medicines for the sick and sending those in critical condition to Meir Elias Hospital in Baghdad.
6- What the poor need on the occasion of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr for the distribution of rice, wheat, and other things to them.
You see from this that this community faces many problems in managing the affairs of the poor class in
the present situation, and therefore it found itself compelled to submit this petition to Your Excellency, pleading
for financial assistance to enable it to continue this with all diligence and activity.
Our hope is firm that this plea of ours will meet with all sympathy and encouragement from Your Excellency.
Please, Your Excellency, accept our highest respect and thanks on behalf of the community.
One of the members of the community
Dr. Yaqub Ishaq Nassim
Vice President of the Israeli Community
in Amarah
Khedhouri Moshi Shamash
1/2
Page 145
Presidency
The Israelite Community - Basra
Number: 122
Date: 23 / 3 / 1950
His Excellency the President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, the Respected
Greetings
Both the secretary of our community and the member of the Lay Council, Mr. Meir Rubin, have explained to Your Excellency and some of the
honorable members of the Lay Council the financial situation of our community. One of the schools has ceased operations
as a result of the community's inability to pay the salaries of its teachers, because we have not collected the second installment of school fees
from the students. We thank you very much for the efforts you have made in collecting a significant amount to help address
this situation. However, this amount was transferred to a committee that insisted on distributing it at a rate of one-third to pay the salaries of the male
and female teachers and two-thirds to be distributed to the poor and needy. But the financial situation has become very critical, forcing the teachers of
another school to stop working due to non-payment of their salaries, and thus the male and female students are wandering in the streets.
We request from Your Excellency and your honors the following:-
1 - To save us from this situation by allocating an amount from your community's fund to be paid as aid to our community's fund so that we can
manage the situation, as the secretary and the member of the Lay Council previously petitioned you on this matter when they were in Baghdad.
2 - To instruct the committee appointed by Your Excellency, which is to distribute the amount of the transfer sent by you, to allocate ⟦half⟧
of this amount to the schools and half to the poor and needy, as they want to give only one-third to the school teachers.
We have come to you hoping for an urgent consideration of these two points to save this situation.
To Your Excellency and your honors, with further appreciation and respect.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
Unfortunately, this request cannot be considered.
Therefore, it is to be filed.
⟦signature⟧
29/3
⟦stamp⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 146
(15)
T ⟦1748⟧
50 /
1950 / /
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
After greetings
The Lay Council has considered your letter numbered 133 and dated
23 / 3 / 1950 regarding the request for financial aid for your community fund, and I regret to inform you
that the Lay Council was unable to fulfill the request due to the lack of
possibility in the Community Presidency to spend such grants.
Please accept the highest respect
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
A / 3/31
Page 147
2/28/1950 \ 2050
To the Honorable Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Respected
Baghdad
After greetings and appreciation,
We hope you will kindly review the following and order what is necessary regarding it. The Rima Khedouri Private School for Girls
is one of the schools belonging to the Jewish community in Baghdad and was established since 1924 with money donated by
the great benefactor, the late Sir Elly Khedouri, for the purpose of teaching and educating the poor girls of the community. The
school has continued to perform its duty within the limits of the capabilities available to it, aided by the annual grant that was
granted by the government in past years and by the assistance provided by the Community Council. However, the lack of financial
resources for the school on one hand and the deficit in the community's budget on the other hand have led to the deterioration of the school's financial condition
to the point that it has become unable to carry out its educational duties in the fullest manner. The current school building is
a very old building and in need of extensive repairs and renovations that the school's budget cannot afford to undertake.
In addition to that, the school is in need of modern educational supplies and equipment that cannot be provided at the present time.
We submit this request to you, hoping for the kindness of including this school in your generous care and granting it a financial grant
to help it continue performing its educational and pedagogical mission. The number of female students in this school
currently reaches about 400 students, most of whom are from poor families who cannot afford to pay tuition fees.
We are fully confident that your esteemed ministry, which spares no effort in order to raise the cultural and educational level
in the country, will look upon this request of ours with an eye of sympathy and consideration. The Rima Khedouri School was and still is
performing great services to society through graduating generations of educated girls who contribute to building
society. We attach herewith a statement of the necessary expenses and needs of the school for the purpose of reviewing them.
In conclusion, we reiterate our thanks and appreciation for your sincere efforts in the service of science and education in our dear homeland.
Please accept the highest respect and appreciation.
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
⟦signature⟧
100
4
1/10051
Constantinople on January 17, 1951
Remittance Entry
According to your letter numbered 771 and dated ⟦addressed to⟧ the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Regarding the amounts and expenses incurred by the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad for the year 1951
We inform you that we have recorded the account mentioned below in the account of the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
For the year 1951, and they totaled one hundred and twelve Turkish Liras in the remittance entry
On behalf of the Remittance Department ⟦...⟧ Remittance, Post, and Telegraph
Our acceptance of such amounts
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
1/16/2
Page 150
(18)
A person named Yusuf Hanouka from the people of Baghdad came claiming
that he has relatives in the village of ⟦Kili⟧ Zankal in the Sheikhan district
in the Mosul province who were assaulted by the deputy
named Abdullah Agha Ibrahim, and he also assaulted all
the families living there, numbering 17 families,
including a grocer, ⟦builders⟧, a plowman, and a taghar
of chickpeas, and 2500 Dinars, and he placed ⟦surveillance⟧ on the rest
and stipulated that they do not ⟦sell⟧ anything to others and demands from every
one.
They went to the head of the Musawi sect in the province of
Mosul and the commissioner ⟦Khair⟧, the sub-district director, and he took a statement
from the ⟦Jewish⟧ Mukhtar and Abi Qasim, but he did nothing and they remained in Mosul
and did not return for fear of threats and the media.
They are requesting assistance.
⟦signature⟧
13 / 4 / 953