Official Letters to Jewish Organizations and Government Office, President of the Jewish Community
View interactive document pageThese 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.
No 829009 Baghdad ⟦...⟧ 19⟦...⟧ OTTOMAN BANK BAGHDAD Pay by this cheque to the order of Mrs. Khazna Daoud or Bearer Pay by this cheque or Bearer Iraqi Dinars only twelve Dinars only Iraq Dinars I.D. 12/- IRAQ EIGHT FILS Cancelled By cancellation Iraqi Dinar ⟦...⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Date: ⟦illegible⟧ For filing ⟦G. B.⟧
for Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lari Company Limited Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk Telephone Numbers Office 3109 Manager 3516 Parts and Factory Department 5300 Telegraphic: Nakasi - Baghdad Codes: Bentley's Baghdad on November 7, 1952 No. 14 / 52 / 2046 To the Honorable Presidency of Hebra Qadisha Through the Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Greetings, We would like to inform you that there is an amount of 25/651 Dinars still outstanding against you in our accounts for a long time, for the value of parts and repair fees for your vehicle No. 10488. We would be pleased if you would kindly settle this amount to us at the earliest possible opportunity so that we can settle our accounts. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Manager ① To the Community Accountant To show the amount of 25/651 Dinars owed by Hebra Qadisha and return the correspondence, thank you. ⟦signature⟧ 11/12/52 ② To Hebra Qadisha to take the necessary action ⟦signature⟧ 11/12/52 ③ To the Accountant To record the amount ⟦signature⟧ 11/12/52 ④ To the Treasury The amount has been paid to the Lari Company according to their receipt No. 2290 dated December 17, 1952 ⟦signature⟧ Accountant 12/17/1952
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531
5452
Number: T / 4795 / 52
Date: 5 / 11 / 1952
Subject:
To
Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. - Baghdad
Greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 1395/52/14 dated 29 / 10 / 1952;
Please note the following:-
1 - It appeared from your letter referred to above - as shown after auditing - that the car in question is number (( 10488 ))
Baghdad and belongs to the Preparation and Burial Society (Hevra Kadisha), which as you know is an independent society from the presidency of this community
affiliated with the Ministry of Interior according to the Law of Associations.
Accordingly, it has been confirmed that the delay in communications, whether written or telephonic, arose from an error by your company for not mentioning the car number in
all lists and letters sent by it or clarifying it in the ongoing telephone communications. Had your company mentioned the car number in its letters
or lists or clarified it in telephone communications, it would have been clear from the beginning that the car belongs to the Preparation and Burial Society, and the
matter would not have been prolonged, as you know that the car, as movable property, must be identified, and identifying the car is done
by mentioning its registered number in the Transport Department.
2 - It is not possible to inform you of the name of your employee whom the accountant of the Community Presidency contacted by telephone, given that the names of your employees are not mentioned next to
your company's telephone numbers listed in the telephone directory. With the confirmation that the mentioned accountant contacted one of your company's employees
by telephone on the dates (20 / 4 / 951, 29 / 4 / 952, and 18 / 5 / 952) as established by his notations at the bottom of the letters
and lists with his signature, and the mentioned accountant did not obtain from your company's employee more than the information contained in the lists.
3 - We very much regret the tone in which your letter referred to above was drafted, and given that the car (10488) Baghdad, which was
repaired and equipped with spare parts, belongs to the Preparation and Burial Society (Hevra Kadisha), the matter has become outside the
jurisdiction of this Presidency.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
⟦illegible⟧
T / 2795 / 52 5 / 11 / 1952 To Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. - Baghdad Greetings, With reference to your letter No. 1395/52/14 dated 29 / 10 / 1952; Please note the following:- 1- It appeared from your letter referred to above - as shown after auditing - that the car in question is number (( 10488 )) Baghdad and belongs to the Supply and Burial Society (Hevra Kadisha), which is, as you know, a society independent of the presidency of this community affiliated with the Ministry of Interior in accordance with the Law of Associations. Accordingly, it has been confirmed that the prolongation in communications, whether written or telephonic, arose from an error by your company for not mentioning the car number in all lists and letters sent by it or clarifying it in the ongoing telephone communications; had your company mentioned the car number in its letters or lists or clarified it in telephone communications, it would have been clear from the beginning that the car belongs to the Supply and Burial Society; and the matter would not have been prolonged, as you know that the car, as movable property, must be identified; and identifying the car is done by mentioning its registered number in the Transport Department. 2- It is not possible to inform you of the name of your employee whom the accountant of the Community Presidency contacted by telephone, given that the names of your employees are not mentioned next to your company's telephone numbers listed in the telephone directory. With the confirmation that the aforementioned accountant contacted one of your company's employees by telephone on the dates (20 / 4 / 1951, 29 / 4 / 1952, and 18 / 5 / 1952) as established by his notations at the bottom of the letters and lists with his signature; and the aforementioned accountant did not obtain from your company's employee more than the information contained in the lists. 3- We very much regret the tone in which your letter referred to above was drafted; and given that the car (10488) Baghdad, which was repaired and supplied with spare parts, belongs to the Supply and Burial Society (Hevra Kadisha), the matter has become outside the jurisdiction of this Presidency. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council ⟦illegible⟧
Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Khedhouri and Aziz Amir Lawi Company Limited Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk Telephone Numbers Office 3109 Manager 3516 Parts and Factory Department 5300 Telegraphic: Taxi: Baghdad Codes: Bentley's Presidency of the Jewish Community Incoming Number 2026 Date 29 / 7 / 1952 Number 1395 / 52 / 14 Baghdad on 24 / 7 / 52 Presidency of the Jewish Community "Baghdad" Greetings, Your letter number T / 2644 dated 27 / 7 / 952 We send you herewith a true copy of each of our two invoices according to which you were supplied with spare parts for cars, as well as for the repair of the car belonging to you, numbered 10488 Baghdad, requesting you to kindly pay the amount claimed according to our above invoices, as soon as possible so that we can settle our annual accounts. As for the first paragraph of your aforementioned letter, we deeply regret everything stated in it, as this company has never previously claimed any amount from one of its clients unless it was supported by documents and records that do not accept doubt. We also request you to inform us of the name of the employee whom your accountant contacted by telephone regarding the matter many times and did not obtain any sufficient information from him in this regard. We believe it would have been more appropriate for your communications in this regard to be in writing in response to our letters and not alleged telephone communications as we believe. Please accept our highest respect. Khedhouri and Aziz Amir Lawi Company Limited The Clerk J / ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 121
Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. Invoice No. SS / 3367 Baghdad on 8 / 7 / 1950 To the Presidency of the Israelite Community - Baghdad CHEVROLET Fils | Dinar | Price (Fils / Dinar) | Your car No. 10488 Baghdad | Quantity 000 | 2 | | Clutch repair | 600 | 1 | | Clutch plate | 400 | 1 | | Clutch ball bearing | 000 | 5 | | | 300 | 0 | | 10 percent discount for parts | 700 | 4 | | | Only four dinars and seven hundred fils Signed on the repair invoice on your behalf Ibrahim Matloub
Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Co. Ltd. Invoice No. SS / 3388 CHEVROLET Baghdad on 13 / 8 / 950 To the Presidency of the Israelite Community - Baghdad Fils | Dinar | Price (Dinar | Fils) | Quantity Your car No. 10488 Baghdad 750 | 00 | Value of six spark plugs 075 | 00 | Less 10 percent discount on parts 675 | 00 | Only six hundred and seventy-five fils Signed on the repair list by you Ibrahim Matloub
Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. ⟦illegible⟧ CHEVROLET Invoice No.: SS / 3167 Baghdad on: 26 / 6 / 1950 To: Presidency of the Israelite Community - Baghdad Fils | Dinar | Price Fils | Price Dinar | Your Car No. 10488 Baghdad | Qty | | 500 | 00 | Replacing carburetor with replacing Delco points and engine coil | | | 750 | 3 | Value of complete carburetor | | | 340 | 00 | Value of Delco points | | | 000 | 1 | Value of engine coil | | | 100 | 00 | Value of valve cover gasket | | | 065 | 00 | Value of half a quarter of oil | | | 755 / 5 | | Total | ( Only five dinars and seven hundred and fifty-five fils ) ( Distributor Shawkat Shamoun )
Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawi Co. Ltd. ⟦illegible⟧ Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Invoice No. SS / 3149 Baghdad on 20 / 6 / 1950 To the Presidency of the Israelite Community - Baghdad Fils | Dinar | Fils (Price) | Dinar (Price) | Description | Quantity | | | | Your car No. 10488 Baghdad | | | 600 | 00 | Repairing brake cylinder | | | 660 | 00 | Value of brake cylinder washer set | | | 280 | 00 | Value of a small can of brake oil | 540 | 1 | | | Total | | | | | ( Only one dinar and five hundred and forty fils ) | ( Signed ⟦Shua Shua⟧ )
T / 694 / 52 27 / 7 / 1952 Presidency of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 122 To - Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lawee Company Limited Baghdad After greetings, With reference to your letter No. 1293/52/14 dated 20 / 7 / 1952, please note the following: - 1- It is not true what you imagined regarding the lack of interest of the Presidency of this community in your lists and various letters; the accountant has contacted your company by telephone several times to inquire about the nature of the amount claimed by you, which is 25/651 Dinars, and about other details; Upon investigating the matter, this Presidency did not find anything indicating the existence of a claim against it for your company in the amount of 25/651 Dinars. 2- We understand from the lists sent to us by your company, and among the details of the amount claimed, that the aforementioned amount is for the prices of spare parts for a car and for its repair fees, knowing that this Presidency had one car used by the former President which was deposited with your company on 15 / 12 / 1949, and sold on 28 / 2 / 1950, and this Presidency has not had any car after that date until this day. From this, it is clear that there was no car with this community during the date of purchasing the materials mentioned in your lists (June and July 1950). Therefore, please inform us how the purchase of those materials from your company occurred, while stating the name of the person who visited you to purchase and receive them and the number and type of the car for which those materials were used! Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council ⟦initials⟧
The Accountant Regarding the date of the car sale <del>The late High President</del> ⟦illegible⟧ The Clerk Department of Endowments The car was sold and its amount was deposited into the Ottoman Bank On Tuesday, February 28, 1950, in the amount of 572/500 Dinars ⟦signature⟧ The Accountant 7/15
For Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Company Limited Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk ⟦⟦illegible⟧⟧ Telephone Numbers: Office 3109 Telegraphic: Ataxi: Baghdad Manager 516 Codes: Bentley's Parts and Factory Department 5300 Date ⟦7/21 / 1952⟧ 1886 Baghdad on July 20, 1952 No. 14 / 52 / 1293 Respectable Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad 122 After greetings We have previously submitted to you many times invoices requesting you to settle the amount of 25/651 Dinars which has remained outstanding against you in our accounts for a long time, however you have not paid any attention to our numerous invoices and letters in this regard, and you have not even replied to a single one, a matter which we find strange coming from you. Therefore, we kindly ask you to settle the aforementioned amount as soon as possible so that we can close our annual accounts. Please accept our highest respect. For Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Company Limited ⟦signature⟧ ⟦illegible stamp⟧ AI
For Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Company Limited Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk Telephone Numbers: Office 3109 Manager 3516 Parts and Factory Department 5300 Telegraphic: Taxi: Baghdad Codes: Bentley's No. 14/52/947 Baghdad, June 10, 1952 Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Greetings, We have previously informed you several times that there is an amount of 25/651 Dinars still outstanding against you in our accounts for a long time, and we would be very pleased if you would kindly pay the mentioned amount as soon as possible so that we can settle our annual accounts. Please accept our highest respect. For Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Company Limited ⟦signature⟧ E Please attach this to the file Accountant For registration and response 14 / 6 / 52
CHEVROLET Khedhouri and Ezra M. Lawee Company Limited K. & E. M. LAWEE LTD. Baghdad Iraqi Post 30 FILS IRAQ POSTAGE 30 Fils 1 FILS IRAQ POSTAGE 1 Fils 2 FILS IRAQ POSTAGE 2 Fils Registered Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad R No. 7 ⟦Baghdad⟧
⟦illegible⟧ Mr. ⟦...⟧ We have contacted the mentioned company and we learned that ⟦...⟧ that the details of the amount ⟦...⟧ in the attached list with ⟦...⟧ and dated 14 / 2 / 1953 which was received on the book ⟦...⟧ also from previous correspondence ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 1953/5/⟦...⟧
For Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Fakhoury and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk Telephone Numbers: Office 3109 Manager 3516 Parts and Factory Department 5300 Telegraphic: Taxi: Baghdad Codes: Bentley's Number: 468 / 52 / 14 Baghdad on: 26 / 3 / 1953 Presidency of the Jewish Community "Baghdad" After greetings We present to you herewith our invoice numbered J / 52 / ⟦229⟧ for the amount of (25 / 651) Dinars which is still outstanding against you in our accounts for some time, and as we are about to settle our annual accounts for the current fiscal year, we would be very pleased if you would kindly settle the mentioned amount before the arrival of the coming month of April. Please accept our highest respect. For Fakhoury and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. ⟦signature⟧ J / T Accountant For telephone inquiries at the number And the suspension of payment ⟦signature⟧ 29 / 4 / 53 (1) Accountant For payment please ⟦signature⟧ 30 / 3 / 53 (2) Guarantee Committee Accountant ⟦signature⟧ 21 / 4 (3) Presidency For discussion regarding the invoice mentioned with the same amount dated 22 / 11 / 951 ⟦signature⟧ 2 / 4 / 953 124
20/170 Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Co., Ltd. CHEVROLET Invoice No. C /: 52 / 833 Baghdad on: March 26, 1952 To: Presidency of the Israelite Community Baghdad: Number | Description | Price Dinar | Price Fils | Dinar | Fils | As per current account presented to you in our invoice numbered C / 51 / 769 and dated 11/22/951 | | | 25 | 651 | (Amount of twenty-five dinars and 651 fils) | | | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ Any ⟦signature⟧
70 Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Company Ltd. CHEVROLET Invoice No.: C / 769/51 Baghdad on: November 22, 1951 To the Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Quantity | Details | Price (Dinar) | Price (Fils) | Dinar | Fils | As per current account presented to you in our invoice numbered | | | 25 | 651 | C / 597/51 dated 8/23/1951 | | | | ⟦line⟧ | (Amount of twenty-five dinars and 651 fils) | | | | ⟦signature⟧ E.Y. ⟦illegible stamp⟧
20 / 170 Khedhouri and Ezra Meer Lawee Company Limited Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk Telephone Numbers: Office 3109 Manager 3516 Tools and Factory Department 5300 For Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Telegraphic: TAMSI: Baghdad Codes: Bentley's No. 51 / 1244 951/4/20 Baghdad on April 17 / 1951 Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad 725 After greetings On the occasion of my appointment as a trustee for this company in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 12 of 1951, it has become my duty to do everything necessary to collect and restrict its funds. Since the company has previously submitted its lists to you regarding the outstanding claims against you amounting to 25/651 Dinars, I hope you will kindly settle them as quickly as possible. Please accept the highest respect The Trustee (Lawyer Abdul Aziz Al-Salwi) ⟦signature⟧ Accounting To state the details of the tickets 51/4/21
for Economical Transportation CHEVROLET Khedhouri and Ezra Meir Lawee Co. Ltd. Branches: Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk Telephone Numbers: Office: 3109 Manager: 3516 Parts and Factory Department: 5300 Telegraphic: Taxi: Baghdad Codes: Bentley's Number: 205 Baghdad on: February 14, 1951 Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad After greetings We list below our outstanding invoices on our account with you, requesting your kindness in settling them to us - Amount | Our Invoice Numbered | Dated Fils Dinars | | 450 9 | E/56/68 | 1950/6/25 446 1 | C/917/50 | 1950/7/2 000 9 | S/21/102 | 1950/6/29 755 5 | C/935/50 | 1950/7/11 651 25 | | Please accept our highest respect Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Private Number T 1237 / 51 Date 18 / 2 / 1951 M Accountant ⟦illegible⟧ 2/18
Based on the invitation sent by the letter of the Presidency of the Jewish Community, we attended the headquarters of the Community Presidency. Upon inquiring about the purpose for which we were called to meet, it became clear to us that there are three endowments: the first was endowed by Menahem and Sassoon, the sons of Saleh Daniel; the second was endowed by Ezra Menahem and his sister; and the third was likewise endowed by Ezra Menahem Daniel, along with some properties for charitable branches. In those endowment deeds, what is requested to be clarified in the first endowment is that after the death of one of the trustees without offspring, the Lay Council participates in the trusteeship with the remaining trustee. What is requested to be clarified in the second endowment deed is whether it is permissible for the trustee to send missions outside Iraq as long as the endower stipulated the establishment of scientific institutes and as long as there is no need for scientific institutes. What is requested to be clarified in the third endowment is that since the endower stipulated using a portion of the endowed properties to establish a school where professions, crafts, and trades are taught, as well as the manufacturing of clothes for the poor and sending students outside Iraq to specialize in one of the industries, and after the school was established and is carrying out its affairs of teaching professions and others, may the trustee send students outside Iraq to specialize in professions? After studying the three endowments and reviewing their contents and conditions, we present our opinion as follows: Answer to the first question - It is not permissible to involve the Lay Council in the trusteeship based on the death of one of the trustees without offspring as long as it was stipulated in the endowment to transfer the trusteeship to the Lay Council exclusively after the death of the trustees without offspring. Answer to the second question - Since it was stipulated in the endowment that it is not permissible to spend any amount whatsoever from the endowment's revenue for purposes other than the school in one of the articles and the second of the endowment verified by testimony before the completion of the construction and establishment of the institutes, the trustee may not defy the endower's condition and send students outside Iraq. Answer to the third question - Since the trustee explained that the industrial school has been established and is teaching professions and crafts, and due to the non-fulfillment of what the endower stipulated regarding budget matters, the trustee may send missions outside Iraq to specialize in professions and crafts. This was written on 2/28/1953, Lawyer Abbas al-Azzawi, Lawyer ⟦signature⟧ Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad Number 1032 Date 2/29/53