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 401-425
Page 403
Number /
Date 5 / 5 / 1955
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Special Number ⟦...⟧
Date ⟦...⟧
His Excellency the Respected Head of the Community
Subject: Painting the walls of the Community
In view of the painter's claim that painting the door of the Rabbi's room and its windows from the outside are not included
within the lump sum for the room, as well as the door and window of the cook's room ⟦...⟧ the kitchen (the secretary)
in the community, I have therefore inspected them and the result was as follows
Notes | Dinar | Fils |
Not executed | 3 | 527 | 1- Alabaster painting
Amount increased 2/822 | 20 | 912 | 2- Oil painting
Not executed ⟦...⟧ | 18 | 486 | 3- Shampoo painting
| 42 | 926 | Total
The Engineer
We have previously paid the painter
an amount of 40/104 according to ⟦...⟧
And according to the current new account it amounts to 44/926
The resulting difference amounts to 2/922 Dinars
As you see fit in two installments
5/29 ⟦...⟧
Payment of the amount
⟦...⟧
Page 404
Final measurement for paint coating (Revised)
Material | Details | Quantity | Price | Amount
Accountant's room | 2 x (2.80 + 4.80) x 2.80 = | 42.150 | |
Secretary's room | 2 x (2.45 + 4.80) x 2.80 = ⟦illegible⟧ | 40.600 | |
Hall | 45.70 x 0.25 = | 11.425 | |
Supervisor's room | 6.55 x 0.25 = | 1.637 | |
Entrance | 15.85 x 2 x 0.35 = | 11.100 | |
Stairs | 4.85 x 1.40 x 2 = | 13.600 | |
Coffee room | 1.58 x 0.75 = | 1.185 | |
Stairwell | 9.40 x 0.80 = | 7.524 | |
| 4.40 x 0.65 = | 2.860 | |
| 6.20 x 0.72 = | 4.460 | |
Guard's room | 2.75 x 2.25 = | 6.250 | |
Steps | 1.85 x 0.20 x 29 qty with entrance steps | 6.650 | |
Doors | 6.65 x 2.00 x 1.5 = | 19.950 | |
| 1.25 x 2.85 x 3 qty | 10.700 | |
| 1.00 x 2.85 x 8 qty | 22.800 | |
| 1.70 x 3.00 x 2.00 = | 10.200 | |
Windows | 1.80 x 1.20 x 2 qty | 4.320 | |
| 1.80 x 0.75 x 1/2 | 2.412 | |
| 1.80 x 2.50 | 4.500 | |
Air machine | 0.75 x 1.70 = | 1.275 | |
| 0.65 x 0.50 = | 0.325 | |
| 2.20 x 0.45 = | 1.000 | |
| 4.04 x 0.65 = | 2.520 | |
| Total | 149.375 | 140 | 20.912
Note: Due to new information I received
from the painter, the measurement was redone and I obtained
the result in this list
The Engineer
Page 405
Measurement of painting walls, ceilings, doors and windows
Community Building
Notes | Amount (Dinar Fils) | Number (Dinar Fils) | Quantity | Details | Location
| 3 527 | 20 10 | 176.85 | | 1 Gypsum plastering
| | | 8.40 | 2.80 × 3.00 = | Accountant's room
| | | 26.60 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.80 + 2.20) = |
| | | 15.60 | 4.45 × 3.50 = | Secretary's room
| | | 37.75 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.85 + 3.00) = |
| | | 6.50 | 1.75 × 3.75 = | Property supervisor
| | | 22.20 | 2 × 2.40 × (2.75 + 1.75) = |
| | | 43.20 | 9.80 × 4.45 = | The Hall
| | | 80.50 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.45 + 9.70) = |
| | | 2.72 | 1.20 × 2.10 = | In front of the property supervisor's room
| | | 0.78 | 0.30 × 2.60 = |
| | | 2.40 | 4.22 × 1.25 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ = | Under the stairs
| | | 16.40 | 2.72 × 6.00 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ = | Stair landings from below
| | | 15.00 | 2.00 × 7.50 = | Skylight
| | | 2.27 | 5.45 × 2 × 0.20 = | Beam above the typist's room
| | | 21.40 | 8.20 × 2.60 = | Entrance ceiling
| | | 176.85 | |
| | | | | Oil paint
| | | 41.00 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.80 + 3.00) | Accountant's room
| | | 58.40 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.45 + 7.50) | Secretary's room
| | | 21.60 | 2 × 2.40 × (2.75 + 1.75) | Property supervisor
| | | 96.64 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.45 + 9.70) | The Hall
| | | 18.84 | 2 × 2.40 × 1.20 | In front of the property supervisor's room
| | | 10.62 | 2 × 2.40 × 5.65 | Entrance corridor
| | | 19.20 | 4.80 × 4.00 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ |
| | | 2.56 | 7.50 × 0.34 | Picture location
| | | 1.65 | 1.65 × 1.00 |
| | | 8.25 | 9.80 × 0.85 | Stair railing
| | | 4.76 | 1.15 × 2.00 × 2 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ | Steps
| | | 12 | | Wood of the wooden rooms
| | | 21.80 | 6.70 × 2 × 1.62 |
| | | 7.14 | 2.10 × 3.40 |
| | | 312.44 | |
4.00
9.00
1
Page 406
Notes | Amount | Number | Quantity | Details | Type
| | | | 1.10 x 2.46 x 2 units = 15.60 | Deducted from the continuous
Way of the accountant's room door
and the secretary and the property supervisor
| | | | 1.10 x 2.26 x 2 units = 14.92 | One side of the Rabbi's room and the warehouse
and the toilets
| | | | 1.10 x 2.00 x 2 units = 4.40 | Window - two sides
| | | | 1.60 x 0.70 = 2.24 | One side
| | | | 0.60 x 2.00 x 2 units = 2.40 | Trays two sides
| | | | 1.80 x 1.20 x 2 units = 4.86 | Window two sides
| | | | 1.10 x 0.65 x 2 units = 1.43 | Fan one side
| | | | 1.80 x 1.00 x 2 units = 3.60 | Window one side
| | | | 2.00 x 2.40 x 2 units = 19.20 | Hall exit and stairs entrance
| | | | 51.81 |
| | | | 512.95
51.81
461.14 | Excluded from the previous
Deducted from it
| 18 486 | 40 461.14 | | | Net oil painting
Page 407
Number 21
Date 3 / 5 / 1955
Honorable Head of the Community
Subject: Painting the walls of the community building with gypsum, distemper,
and oil paint
I have measured the painting of the walls of the aforementioned building and obtained the
following results from the calculations attached to this letter:
Dinar | Fils
3 | 527 | 1- Painting with gypsum
18 | 081 | 2- Painting with oil paint
18 | 486 | 3- Painting with distemper
40 | 104 | Total
The Engineer
⟦illegible⟧
Page 408
Location | Details | Quantity | Price | Amount | Remarks
Oil Paint | From previous | 127.844 | 140 | 17.898 | Painting the door
Doors | 1.10 x 2.20 x 2 units = 4.84 | 7.800 | | | ⟦illegible⟧
| 1.65 x 2.26 = 3.800 | 3.800 | | | Half window
| 1.10 x 2.26 x 2 units = 5.000 | 5.000 | | | Brick paint
| 1.80 x 2.36 x 2 units = 8.600 | 8.600 | | | 2.70
| 0.45 x 2.00 = 0.90 | 0.900 | | | 2.4
Windows | 0.80 x 2.00 two sides = 3.20 | 3.200 | | | 6.4
| 0.60 x 2.000 one side = 1.20 | 1.200 | | |
| 0.60 x 2.00 x 2 units two sides = 4.80 | 4.800 | | |
| 1.10 x 1.20 x 2 units two sides = 5.28 | 5.280 | | |
| 1.10 x 0.65 x 2 units one side = 1.43 | 1.430 | | |
| 1.10 x 1.20 x 2 units side = 2.64 | 2.640 | | |
| | 13.494 | | |
| Deduct in paint 2.40 x 2 units two sides = 9.60 | 1.440 | | |
| | 12.054 | | |
Continuous | | | | |
Accountant's Room | (2.80 + 2.90) x 2 x 2.20 = 40.00 | 40.000 | | |
Secretary | (4.45 + 2.50) x 2 x 2.20 = 57.00 | 57.000 | | |
Safe Deposit Box | (1.75 + 2.75) x 2 x 2.20 = 26.60 | 26.600 | | |
Hall | (9.70 + 5.45) x 2 x 2.20 = 94.00 | 94.000 | | |
In front of Supervisor's room | 1.20 x 2.20 x 2 = 5.25 | 5.250 | | |
Corridor | 5.00 x (5.00 x 2 + 1.80) = 59.00 | 59.500 | | |
Coffee Room | 7.50 x 1.50 = 11.25 | 11.250 | | |
| 5.00 x 2.5 = 6.25 | 6.250 | | |
| 4.20 x 2 x 0.80 = 6.90 | 6.900 | | |
| 7.25 x 2 = 5.00 | 5.000 | | |
| | 512.95 | | |
Page 412
Special | Qusay Hakim | Kadhim Jawad
48 | Square meter of Shashiya | Goat | Price of square meter of Shashiya
20 | Al-Burki | " | 50 | " | " | Al-Burki
140 | Fat | " | 150 | " | " | "
It appears from this that the approved price is what Qusay Hakim submitted
The President's committee tasked him to proceed with Qusay Hakim's prices
Upon you, Kadhim Al-Jawad
Shashiya | 240
Al-Burki | 20
Fat | 140
Page 413
Shaker Ali
18
Abdul Amir Shehab
16
250 X 500
Page 414
The Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 5452
Number :: M / 551
Date :: 14 / 3 / 1955
Subject Summary ::
148
To the respected lawyer Mr. Ibrahim Khazam
Greetings,
Please do not continue following up on the lawsuits entrusted to you against the tenants of the endowments
of the Shamash School.
Please accept our regards.
⟦signature⟧
Chairman of the Administrative Committee
⟦illegible⟧
Page 415
The Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 5452
Number: 556
Date: 28 / 3 / 1955
Subject Summary:
The Honorable Mr. Sassoon Bashi, Respected
After greetings,
Based on the ratification taking place between us in the Administrative Committee session held on 21 / 3 / 1955 regarding
contributing to the payment of a portion of the expenses of the Frank Iny and Shamash schools from the revenues of the Nouriel endowments.
We inform you that the amount of the deficit to be paid for the academic year 1954 - 1955 amounts to
11535/- Dinars, eleven thousand five hundred and thirty-five Dinars, based on the estimated budget submitted
by the school administration for this academic year as listed below.
Expenses | Revenues
Dinar Fils | Dinar Fils
11604 / ... Salaries | 4450 / ... From school fees
2301 / ... Lecture fees | 300 / ... From extracurricular activity fees
1720 / ... Miscellaneous | 1100 / ... From student transportation fees
1760 / ... Student and teacher transportation fees | 5850 / ...
| 11535 / ... The deficit to be paid
17385 / ... Total | 17385 / ... Total
Since the community's resources are not sufficient to cover all of this deficit, please take whatever arrangements you see fit
to cover a portion of the expenses from the revenues of the Nouriel endowments, in order to ensure the regular conduct of school affairs.
Please accept our highest respect,
President of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
A copy to:
Director of the Frank Iny and Shamash Schools
Page 416
Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 5452
Number: 591
Date: 28 / 3 / 1955
Subject Summary:
The Honorable Mr. ⟦Sassoon Bashi⟧, Respected
After greetings
Based on the discussion held between us in the Administrative Committee meeting held on 21 / 3 / 1955 regarding
contributing to the payment of a portion of the expenses of the Frank Iny and Shamash schools from the revenues of the Nuriel Endowments.
We inform you that the amount of the deficit to be paid for the academic year 1954 - 1955 amounts to
11535 / 000 Dinars, eleven thousand five hundred and thirty-five Dinars, based on the estimated budget submitted
by the school administration for this academic year as recorded below.
Revenues | Expenses
Fils Dinar | Fils Dinar
From school fees 4450 / 000 | Salaries 11604 / 000
From extracurricular activity fees 300 / 000 | Lecture fees 2301 / 000
From student transportation fees 1100 / 000 | Miscellaneous 1720 / 000
5850 / 000 | Student and teacher transportation fees 1760 / 000
Deficit to be paid 11535 / 000 | Total 17385 / 000
Total 17385 / 000 |
Since the community's resources are not sufficient to cover all of this deficit, please take whatever arrangements you deem appropriate
to cover a portion of the expenses from the revenues of the Nuriel Endowments, in order to ensure the regular operation of the school's affairs.
Please accept our highest respect
President of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Copy to: -
Director of Frank Iny and Shamash School
⟦signature/stamp⟧
Page 417
Administrative Committee of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 5452
Number: <del>55/⟦illegible⟧</del>
Date: <del>6/⟦illegible⟧/1955</del>
Subject Summary:
Gentlemen
Mr. Yusuf Khadouri Al-Mu'allim
" Naji Khadouri Sahyoun
" Shaul Yaqub Sahyoun
The Administrative Committee decided in its session held on 6/6/55 to form a committee of your honors
alongside the Property Officer of the Community Presidency to inventory and appraise the furniture belonging to the
Meir Elias Hospital and stored in the Rina Menachem warehouse.
Please accept our highest respect
The President
Copy to:-
The Accountant -- for information
The Property Officer -- for information
Page 420
TELEPHONE:
3531
5452
President of the Jewish Community
BAGHDAD
No.:
BAGHDAD: 8th, February 1954
To,
Messrs, A.M.Sasson, R.M.Sasson & J.M.Sasson.
21 Old Court House Street,
CALCUTTA.
Dear Sirs,
I have the honour to acknowledge with thanks
receipt of your letters dated 23-6-1953, and as desired,
the four receipts duly stamped by me are returned
herewith.
The sums of £.125-13-0 & £.149-8-5 were duly
received by the community at the time, and I much regret
that my acknowlegment thereof was not conveyed to you
earlier than now.
Yours faithfully,
HAKHAM S.KHEDOURY.
President
Of Jewish Community in
Baghdad.
⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad ⟦55/5/28⟧
His Excellency the Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community, Respected
After greetings:
On 55/5/27, the Property Officer,
Sassoon Ovadia, and the Secretary went to the Rifka Menahem
Daniel Dispensary and we opened the basement door which was locked and we did not know
what was inside it. We found the basement filled with iron
and wooden bedsteads, many pieces of furniture, wood,
and many other things. These items belong to the Meir Elias
Hospital. Then we bought a lock and locked it for the time being
until a decision is made regarding them by your respected committee,
whether you wish to sell them or keep them in their place.
If you agree to sell them, a committee should be formed to inventory the furniture
and then sell it and inform you.
Property Officer
⟦signature⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 421
TELEPHONE:
3531
5452
President of the Jewish Community
BAGHDAD
No.:
BAGHDAD: 3rd, February 1954
To,
Messrs, A.M.Sasson, R.M.Sasson & J.M.Sasson.
21 Old Court House Street,
CALCUTTA.
Dear Sirs,
I have the honour to acknowledge with thanks
receipts of your two letters dated 23-6-1953 and ⟦as desired,⟧ return
<del>herewith the</del> four receipts duly stamped by me as desired.
⟦are returned herewith -⟧
The sum of £. 125-13, & £. 149-8-5 was duly received
by the community, ⟦at the time and I much regret that my⟧ and regrett for the delay of their acknow-
ledgments till now. ⟦acknowledgment thereof was⟧
⟦not conveyed to you earlier than now.⟧
Yours faithfully.
Hakham S.Khedoury
President of the
Community Lay Council.
Jewish Community in Baghdad
The file
Organizing our previous presentation
Because the amount came within
Vice President
⟦signature⟧
Page 423
MEMORANDUM.
A. M. Sassoon, R. M. Sassoon & J. M. Sassoon,
ESTATE M. A. SASSOON (Decd.) 21, OLD COURT HOUSE STREET,
23rd June
Calcutta, ⟦line⟧ 1953.
Tele { phone : CITY 1429
gram : "MOISE"
Registered
The Treasurer,
Hebrat Myessiedai Beth Herefouah,
C/O Meir Elias Hospital,
Jewish Lay Council,
Bagdad, Iraq.
Dear Sir,
I have sent you through the
Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China a
Demand Draft for £ 125. 13. 0 equivalent of
Rs. 1438.3.9 and Rs. 240/- being the amounts
due to the Institution from J. A. Solomon
Trust and the legacy from Mrs. R. Belilios
Trust No. 2 for the year ending 31st
December 1952.
Kindly return me the enclosed
receipts duly stamped and signed by you and
endorsed by either the Beth-Din or the Chief
Rabbi of Bagdad at your earliest convenience.
Yours faithfully,
A. M. Sassoon, R. M. Sassoon & J. M. Sassoon,
By their attorney,
⟦illegible⟧
Enclo:-
Page 424
BY AIR MAIL
PAR AVION
By Air Mail
Registered
(Important letters)
R D 69
CALCUTTA, G. P. O.
⟦illegible postmark⟧
3½ AS INDIA
The Treasurer,
Hebrat-⟦myessiedai⟧ Beth-⟦Hospital⟧
c/o Meir Elias Hospital
Jewish Lay Council
Bagdad
Iraq.
M. A. SASSOON & SONS, LD.
P. O. BOX No. 145 CALCUTTA.
D 69
20/6
Page 425
MEMORANDUM.
A. M. Sassoon, R. M. Sassoon & J. M. Sassoon,
ESTATE M. A. SASSOON (Decd.) 21, OLD COURT HOUSE STREET,
phone : CITY 1429 23rd June
Tele { Calcutta, ⟦line⟧ 195 3.
gram : "MOISE"
Registered
The Treasurer,
Talmud Torah,
C/O Rabbi David Rabbi Jacob Rabbi Joseph
Hayim,
B a g d a d.
⟦Committee⟧
⟦Schools⟧
Dear Sir,
I have sent you through the
Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China
a Demand Draft for £149. 8. 5 equivalent
of Rs. 1438. 3. 9 and Rs. 557. 7. 11
representing 5% of the income due to the
Institution from J. A. Solomon Trust and
25% of income of Trust No. 1 as per Deed
of Trust of 8th May 1911 of the late Mrs.
Rebecca Belilios for the year ending 31st
December 1952.
Kindly return me the enclosed
receipts duly stamped and signed by you and
endorsed by either the Beth-Din or the
Chief Rabbi of Bagdad at your earliest
convenience.
Yours faithfully,
A.M. Sassoon, R.M. Sassoon & J.M. Sassoon,
By their attorney,
⟦illegible⟧
Enclo: