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.
BY AIR MAIL PAR AVION BY AIR MAIL Registered (Important letters) The Presidency The Treasurer, Talmud Torah. C/o Rabbi David Rabbi Jacob Rabbi Joseph Hayim, Baghdad Iraq. POSTAGE VICTORY TOWER CHITTORGARH 1 Re INDIA D 70 26/6 R D 70 CALCUTTA, G. P. O. P. O. BOX No. 145 CALCUTTA.
C. 83. ALL COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BANK, NOT TO INDIVIDUALS. ⟦The⟧ Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China. (INCORPORATED IN ENGLAND BY ROYAL CHARTER, 1853.) (LIABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS LIMITED.) with which is affiliated The Allahabad Bank Ltd. CABLES: "CONSTANCE" CALCUTTA. TELEPHONE: BANK 6904/7. IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE NO.: H.290. POST BOX: 40. CALCUTTA, 1.: 23rd June 19 53. To The Treasurer, Talmud, Torah, C/o Rabbi David Rabbi Jacob Rabbi Joseph Hayim, Bagdad. Dear Sir, At the request of the undermentioned we enclose our demand draft on Bagdad for Eng.£.149-8-5 Kindly acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, ⟦signature⟧ Accountant. A.M. Sassoon, R.M. Sassoon & J.M. Sassoon, 21, Old Court House Street, Calcutta.
The Charter Bank, Calcutta, 1. No. H.290. MAIL CALCUTTA 24 VI 53 C.B.I.A.C & C-1059 INDIA POSTAGE ANNAS 010 - The Treasurer, Talmud, Torah, C/o Rabbi David Rabbi Jacob Rabbi Joseph Hayim, Baghdad. BY AIR MAIL PAR AVION BY AIR MAIL
C. 83. ALL COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BANK, NOT TO INDIVIDUALS. The Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China. (INCORPORATED IN ENGLAND BY ROYAL CHARTER, 1853.) (LIABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS LIMITED.) with which is affiliated The Allahabad Bank Ltd. CABLES "CONSTANCE" CALCUTTA.: TELEPHONE BANK 6904/7.: IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE NO.: H.41. POST BOX 40.: CALCUTTA, 1.: 15th June 1953. To The Treasurer, Hebrat Myessiedai Beth Herefouah, Bagdad, C/o Meir Elias Hospital, Jewish Lay Council, Bagdad, Iraq. Dear Sir, At the request of the undermentioned we enclose our demand draft on Bagdad for Eng.£.125-13-0 a/c Bikur Holim. Kindly acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, ⟦signature⟧ Accountant. R.M. Sassoon & J.M. Sassoon, Street, THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA AUSTRALIA & CHINA CALCUTTA ⟦illegible⟧
The ⟦Chartered⟧ Bank, Calcutta, 1. No. H. 41. CALCUTTA 16 VI 53 C.B.I.A.C. C-1059 INDIA POSTAGE ANNAS 010 - The Treasurer, Hebrat Myessiedai Beth Herefouah, C/o Meir Elias Hospital, Jewish Lay Council, Bagdad, Iraq. BY AIR MAIL PAR AVION BY AIR MAIL ⟦Number⟧ AIR MAIL
Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number :: 55/⟦...⟧ Date :: 6/6/1955 Subject Summary: Payment of the amount of ⟦158⟧/250 Dinars To the respected Mr. Munir Doctor After greetings We confirm our letter numbered M/55/260 and dated 26/4/1955 ; regarding the payment of the amount outstanding on your account, so please respond to this letter of ours before the date of 13/6/55 and pay the mentioned amount. The President
To the Honorable Mr. President of ⟦...⟧ Respectfully We confirm our letter numbered ⟦...⟧ And dated 1/22/1955 regarding ⟦...⟧ about the payment of ⟦...⟧ Please provide ⟦...⟧ And respond to this letter of ours before the date of 2/12/1955 and thank you The President
The Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number: ⟦illegible⟧ / 5.5 Date: 26 / 4 / 1955 Subject Summary :: Respected Mr. Munir Dakkour After greetings We have noticed from the records of this administration the existence of an amount of 158/250 dinars outstanding in your account; therefore, as we wish to settle it, we hope you will take the initiative to pay it as soon as possible, and remain with respect Chairman of the Administrative Committee The Director Write to him urgently ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 158 1/2
TELEPHONE 3531 54⟦...⟧ President of the Jewish Community BAGHDAD No. 3498 BAGHDAD 20th February, 195 5 Rabbi Dr. ⟦S.⟧ Gaon 2 Ashworth Road, LONDON. W.9. Dear Sir, We are informed by Mr. M. Dangoor of your city that you agree to despatch to you 120 "Saifair Torah", some of which are covered with Silver. We have made the calculations of expenses for their delivery to London, and we estimate that it will come to £.1/10/- per each Saifair, making a total of about £.180/-/-. If the above meet with your approval, please send us a cheque through a bank payable here for the amount of £.100/-/- to cover packing, etc. The remaining value will be payable by your goodselves. May I take this opportunity to express to you my best respects and deepest regards. I remain, Yours sincerely, ⟦on behalf of⟧ Hakham S. Khadoory, President of the Jewish Community, BAGHDAD.
TELEPHONE 3531 5452 President of the Jewish Community BAGHDAD No.: 3498 BAGHDAD: 20⟦th⟧, February 195 5 Rabbi Dr. S. Gaon 2 Ashworth Road, LONDON. W.9. Dear Sir, We are informed by Mr. Dangoor of your city ⟦th⟧at you agree to despatch to you 120 "Saifair Torah" some of which are covered with silver. We have made the calculations of expenses for their delivery to London, and we estimate that it will come to £.1-10-0 per each Saifair, making a total of about £.180-0-0. If the above meet with your approval, please send us a cheque through a bank payable here for the amount of £.100-0-0 to cover packing, etc. The remaining value will be payable by your goodselves. May I take this opportunity to express to you my best respects and deepest regards. I remain. Yours sincerely, HAKHAM S. KHEDOURY PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BAGHDAD, IRAQ.
TELEPHONE 3531 5452 President of the Jewish Community BAGHDAD No.: 3498 BAGHDAD: 20th, February 1955 Rabbi Dr.S.Gaon 2 Ashworth Road, LONDON, W.9. Dear Sir, We are informed by Mr.Dangoor of your city that you agree to despatch to you 120 "Saifair Torah" some of which are covered with silver. We have made the calculations of expenses for their delivery to London,and we estimate that it will come to £.1-10-0 per each Saifair,making a total of about £.180-0-0. If the above meet with your approval,please send us a cheque through a bank payable here for the amount of £.100-0-0 to cover packing,etc. The remaining value will be payable by your goodselves. May I take this opportunity to express to you my best respects and deepest regards. I remain. Yours sincerely, HAKHAM S.KHEDOURY PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BAGHDAD,IRAQ.
Presidency of the Israelite Community Special Number Date New York City, New York Nov. 2nd, 1954 The Curator The Great Synagogue Baghdad, Iraq Dear Sir: I m intrested in the subject of ancient carved doors of wood, ad have included in my reseach mosque doors through the ges 600 A.D. through 1200 A.D. The examples we are fortunate to hve in our museums are classified as Mosque D oors. Very little is known concerning them, ad I m intrested not only inthe variety of woods, but in as mayy examples of the ancient art as it is possible to include in the research. Should your Synagogue hve preserved an ax- ample of this ancient art, I should be so hapy to learn of it, and to include the information with my subject matter- if I m granted permission. Very Sincerely Yours, ⟦Evelyn V. Lowdermilk Ball⟧ (Mrs.) Evelyn V. Lowdermilk Ball 438 W. II6th St., Apt. 5I Keep it with ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ the community ⟦...⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T / 55 / ⟦100⟧
Subject: ⟦Provincial Land Registry⟧
Date: 20 / 7 / 1955
His Excellency the Director of the Land Registry of Baghdad Province, Respected
After greetings
Please provide us with a copy of the registration for the plot with sequence 1/13, Al-Bushibl quarter.
This is for your Excellency's command
On behalf of
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
To the Honorable Director of Land Registry (Tabu) of Baghdad Province Greetings, Please provide us with a copy of the registration record for the plot with sequence number 12/10, Al-Bushibl neighborhood. This is for your order. D. Ham
Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: 55/⟦...⟧
Subject:
Date: 20 / 7 / 1955
His Excellency the Director of Land Registry of Baghdad Province, Respected
After greetings
Please provide us with a copy of the registration for the plot with sequence 1/13, Al-Bushibl neighborhood.
This is for your Excellency's order
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
Acting President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
His Excellency the Director of the Land Registry of Baghdad District, respected After greetings Please take the necessary measures for the organization of 1/12 Al-Bashir neighborhood. This is with much gratitude to you. Ibn Hatem
Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: <del>8/9/55</del> 55/501
Subject: ⟦line⟧
Date: 29/7/1955
157
Respected Mr. Gurji Shaul Aghababa
After greetings
With reference to your letter dated 18/7/1955;
After consultation with the Administrative Committee, we inform you that it is not possible to pay you an allowance
due to the deficit in our budget.
Please accept our highest respect
Trustee
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Community
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number T/: 551
Subject: ⟦line⟧
Date: 1955/7/29
Respected Mr. Gurji Shaul Aghababa
After greetings
With reference to your letter dated 1955/7/18,
This Presidency is unable to pay you an allowance due to the deficit in its budget.
Please accept our highest respect
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Community
After discussion with the Administrative Committee in your place
It is not possible to pay <del>any</del> allowances
to you due to the deficit in our budget
Please accept our highest respect
The Rabbi
Dear Mr. ⟦Kohai⟧ Shaul ⟦Ani Baba⟧ Greetings, With reference to your letter dated 8/10/53 There is nothing to prevent the sending of an allowance payment to you, in view of the deficit occurring in your budget this [year] Please accept our highest respect. ⟦Chief Rabbi⟧ ⟦Dear Mr. Kohai Shaul Ani Baba⟧ ⟦Greetings,⟧ ⟦There is nothing to prevent the sending of an allowance payment⟧ ⟦to you, in view of the deficit occurring in your budget⟧ ⟦this [year], and please accept our highest respect.⟧ ⟦Chief Rabbi⟧
Basra on 18 / 7 / 55 His Eminence the Virtuous Father Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, the Respected After kissing your blessed hands I present to your high position the issue of ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦...⟧ in Basra, which I have been and still am serving for a period of nearly four years for very symbolic wages that are now non-existent, and I had previously agreed with the head of the Israelite community in Basra on a monthly salary of 4.000 Dinars (four Dinars), and what prevented the continuation of ⟦illegible⟧ from this monthly amount and its cessation is the freezing of the funds of the Israelite community in Basra, but I remained continuing to perform this work without interruption until now, but recently some matters have occurred which made me stop continuing this work, and they are: 1- That the old slaughterhouse in Basra, which was near us, has been closed and replaced by a modern slaughterhouse located midway to Al-Maqal in a desolate and barren nature for desert dwellers, which requires going to it by a private car that charges a fare of no less than 750 fils per day. 2- That the current butcher is a person with a family of 12 souls performing his duties, and his financial situation is extreme poverty that warrants charity with effort to help him, and he is unable to bear these expenses, especially since the non-kosher part of it is not paid for, and we often ⟦throw it⟧ in the trash. 3- That the slaughter times on our route are in the middle of the night - then nightly without interruption, and the meat is no less than two heads and no more than four ⟦the matter⟧ as in the case of holidays. Despite the required nightly expenses, I do not think your conscience would accept that I perform this exhausting work for free; therefore, I hope that you allocate a monthly salary that I receive from you so that I may perform this task. I am awaiting your kindness to decide on the salary appointment as quickly as possible, and my waiting will be until the end of this month; otherwise, I will be forced to leave slaughtering permanently and I will be innocent and not responsible before God and the people for everything that will happen regarding my cessation of slaughtering, which will encourage most people to buy regular meat (i.e., non-kosher) under the pretext of the absence of meat, and by that, we will cut the last hope in maintaining this sensitive point, as it is the key to every gap in our law, and by its loss, all commandments are lost. So I ask you not to be the cause of the breaking of this thread and to establish a monthly salary that I receive so that matters may take their course. I wish to be worthy of your good opinion, and the matter is yours, my master. Your obedient servant Teacher Nomi Shaul Aghababa Formerly of the British General Supply Stores, Basra Telephone number 7657 ⟦illegible⟧ A copy of it to: 1- To the Presidency of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community in Baghdad 2- The Presidency of the Israelite Community in Basra
15 / 8 / 1953 To the Honorable Mr. Chairman of the Awqaf Committee, respected Through the Presidency of the Mosaic Community Greetings and respect, and thereafter, I have reviewed the letter numbered ⟦111⟧ and dated ⟦11⟧ August 1953 addressed to you by the Presidency of the Mosaic Community regarding the leasing of our house located in the neighborhood of Taht al-Takiya No. ⟦10/10⟧ by the aforementioned community to be used as a school or for a charitable purpose for the community and nothing else. Accordingly, I would like to state to you that I agree to lease the aforementioned house to the aforementioned community at the annual rent determined by the esteemed Awqaf Committee, provided it is not less than the amount of one hundred and twenty Dinars annually, considering that the aforementioned house contains numerous rooms and modern sanitary facilities and that large sums have been spent on it for its renovation and to put it in a very good condition suitable for a school or a charitable institution for the community. I also agree that the lease contract shall be for a period of five years starting from the date the aforementioned house is occupied by the aforementioned community, provided that the annual rent is paid in advance at the beginning of each lease year. I would also like to state to you that I am ready to carry out any additional renovations or modifications requested by the community in the aforementioned house to suit the purpose for which it will be used, provided that the cost of these renovations and the method of their payment are agreed upon at the time. I hope your esteemed committee will expedite the necessary decision in this regard so that we can begin preparing the aforementioned house and hand it over to the community as soon as possible. In conclusion, please accept my highest respect and appreciation. Written on 15 August 1953 Sincerely, On behalf of the heirs of the late Salim Ishaq Baban Signature ⟦Ibrahim Salim Baban⟧ A copy to: The esteemed Presidency of the Mosaic Community For your kind information, with appreciation. Sincerely, ⟦Ibrahim Salim Baban⟧
Presidency of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T/55/2597
Date: 20/9/1955
Subject
His Eminence, the Head of the Syrian Catholic Community, Respected
After greetings
With reference to your letter dated 13/9/1955 and based on our records, it appeared that Latifa
known by the name Flora daughter of Salman Haskel Gabbay is married to the person called Yusuf known
by the name (Savani) son of Moshi Saleh Shukri, and their marriage was contracted in Baghdad on 12/9/1937
and she is still under the marriage of her husband.
As for what was mentioned in your above-referenced letter regarding her mother's name, her maternal grandfather's name, and the place of residence
of her husband, this Presidency does not have any information.
⟦About⟧ this, please accept our highest respect
On behalf of
Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Acting Head of the Community
His Excellency <del>President</del> Deputy Head of the Syriac Catholic Community, Respected After greetings, With reference to your letter dated 12 / 9 / 955 and ⟦...⟧ Our records show that (Latifa, known as Flora, daughter of Salman Musfi Kabbay) is married to the person named Yusuf, known as (Savani) son of Hawsh Salih Sharji, and their marriage was contracted in Baghdad on 2 / 9 / 1927, and she is still under the marriage of her husband. As for what was mentioned in your above-referenced letter regarding her mother's name and her maternal grandfather's name and her husband's place of residence, the Presidency has no <del>information</del> <del>about these</del> any information. This, and please accept the highest respect. Any Rabbi
From Baghdad on 12 - 9 - 1955 His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, Respected After performing the duty of peace and respect: I request your Excellency to clarify to me in an official letter the following: 1) Is Flora, daughter of Salman Gabbay, married or is she divorced now? 2) What is the name of her mother and her mother's father? 3) And if the aforementioned Flora is married, where does her husband live now? I hope your Excellency will send the answer to me at the earliest opportunity to send it to the High Presidency in Beirut because it ordered me to send that to it. Thanks to your Excellency in advance. Deputy of the Syriac Catholic Community in Baghdad ⟦illegible signature⟧ (Khoury Boutros Saba) Presidency of the Archbishopric of the Syriac Catholic Community Baghdad, Basra and its dependencies Contract Register Your Excellency's review 9/15 She married Yusuf, mentioned by the name (Isaac) in the army of Saleh ⟦sweets (was called sweets)⟧ And the marriage contract took place on the date 5698 Hebrew And her mother's name is Latifa, known as Flora daughter of Salman Haqir Gabbay and his bride The place of residence of her husband ⟦...⟧ information 19/9/55