AI en Translation, Pages 76-100
Page 76
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Telephone Number 05-395
Number: - ⟦15⟧
Date: - 19 February / 1948
His Excellency the Respected President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Greetings and respect
Our religious court in Basra has commenced its work as of 15 / 2 / 948 in accordance with
the recent order of the venerable Ministry of Justice, and we have learned that the salaries of the president and the members of the court are equal
whereas in reality it is preferable that the president's salary be higher than the salaries of the rest of the members. Therefore, we wish
to be guided as to whether any efforts have been made by your Eminence with the venerable Ministry of Justice to amend
that.
At the same time, we hope you will kindly inform us of the measures taken according to
your honorable opinion regarding the salaries of the presidents and members of your religious courts and whether the Lay Council continues
to pay the salaries of the rabbis who were appointed to the religious court as before, or has it cut them off completely, or has it started
supplementing the salaries of some of them which became less than the salaries they used to receive from the Council's fund
under the new law.
Please accept our highest regards, sir.
⟦Abdul Nabi⟧
Acting President of the Jewish Community in Basra
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Incoming
Number 421
Date 22 / 2 / 948
Page 77
3 / / 1948
⟦Department Copy⟧
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, Respected
Basra
⟦illegible⟧
After greetings and respect,
With reference to your three letters dated February 17, 19, and 20, 1948, numbered
505 and 516.
1 - The issue of burying the deceased from smallpox
We did not need to make any representations in the past regarding cases similar to the case you mentioned in
this letter of yours, and we have submitted a letter to the Directorate of Public Health regarding the burial of the deceased from smallpox as per
your request, and we will provide you with the answer upon its arrival.
2 - Allocations for the President and members of the Religious Court
The Lay Council is currently paying the difference between the allocations received by the President and members of
the Religious Court and the Court of Cassation from the esteemed Ministry of Justice and the amount of the original salary they used to receive
from the community fund. As for the issue of representation to make the President's salary higher than the member's salary, it is still under study.
3 - Provision of wheat for Passover
To date, we have not obtained the wheat usually provided annually for the consumption of community members during
the days of Passover, and we will inform you if we are able to obtain wheat this year.
Please accept my warmest greetings with my heartfelt wishes for the welfare of your community;
President of the Community
A.
Page 80
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number:
Subject:
Date: /3/1948.
His Excellency the Director of General Health, the Respected
Baghdad
After greetings
It has come to our attention that the health authorities in Basra have prevented the community from
burying the deceased Jews who died of smallpox in the private cemetery
for Jews.
We hope to be informed if there are health restrictions on burying the dead
who died as a result of smallpox, and we thank your Excellency in advance with much respect;
President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Page 81
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Telephone Number 395 - 05 (General)
448 - 02 (Private)
Number :-: 948
Date :-: 10/1/48
To the presence of the dear brother, the respected Professor Mr. Salim M. Abada
After offering the utmost respect and more heartfelt longings, I hope you are in good health
I received, my dear, a letter from the mail, I read it well
And I agree to the endeavor in application of it, and this endeavor is from the core of
your encouragements intended for progress and happiness . . . what I have made of its quotation
to my dear, diligent in everything I can apply from you and sending a sample
of the lights of His Eminence the Great Rabbi that shine upon you and upon the members of
the community to serve the homeland and spread friendship and affection among its members across different
classes. And I see nothing but what has gained your assistance and your precious lecture
in this field, for what you were fashioned with of truthfulness and sincerity. So allow me
my dear to offer my appropriate greetings from the core of ⟦that which⟧ I hope for its continuity
I was honored by a letter from His Eminence the Rabbi ⟦Leader⟧
Now I will deposit it with the Rabbinical Council to announce His Eminence's orientations
⟦and your concern⟧
I thank you for the observation that you were kind enough to state regarding His Eminence's address
and we will see the necessary assessments for that . . . I ask you to offer the apology
required on our behalf
And please accept more respect. From your sincere brother
Abdul Nabi
For filing
Via the President
To be contacted upon review
948
10/1/48
Page 82
3/17/1948
His Excellency Mr. Abdul Nabi Munir Moallem, the Respected
Head of the Israelite Community
Basra
My Dear Sir
I thank you for your kind letter dated March 11, 1948, and I hope that you
and the members of the honorable community are in good health and prosperity. Furthermore, a decision has been issued by the Court of Cassation of Iraq
which includes the ratification of the decision of the Court of First Instance, from which it is understood that the law - the abolition of the law
of monitoring real estate leasing on endowments - applies to non-Muslim endowments. In view of my belief
in the possibility of your adherence to this decision when renewing lease contracts for the community's endowments, I have seen
it appropriate to provide Your Excellency with a copy of it for your information.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest respect;
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Secretary of the Community
Number
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 83
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Telephone Number 395 - 05
Number :-: 52
Date :-: 16 March / 1948
His Eminence Mr. Sassoon Khadhuri, the Honorable
After offering the utmost glorification and great respect
Would you be so kind, sir, as to allow a statement of what resulted from your eminence's efforts regarding the wheat
usually supplied to the members of the community during the days of the feast; as stated in the third paragraph of your letter
numbered 596 and dated 2 / 3 / 948.
I hope you accept the highest respect and further glorification from the sincere
⟦Abdul Nabi Munir Muslim⟧
Abdul Nabi Munir Muslim
Page 84
Department Copy
225
1 / 4 / 1948
His Excellency Mr. Abdul Nabi Meir Moallem, Respectfully
President of the Jewish Community
Basra
After greetings and respect
With reference to your letter No. 53 dated March 16, 1948.
After strenuous efforts, we have recently been able to obtain thirty
tons of wheat for consumption by the members of the community on the occasion of Passover.
Please accept our respects;
Sincerely
President of the Community
To be filed
The Community Now
A / 1
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 85
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Telephone Number 395 - 05
Number :-: 96
Date :-: 15 April / 1948
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Incoming Number 428
Date 20 / 4 / 1948
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the Respected
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
My Distinguished Master
I was honored by your kind order numbered 625 and dated 1 / 4 / 948 announcing the success
in obtaining 30 tons of wheat for consumption there during the upcoming Passover holiday. There is no doubt that your high endeavors
guarantee the facilitation of such successes and others consecutively.
And in order to state the charitable assistance that His Excellency Mr. Fakhri al-Tabaqchali,
Governor of Basra Province, was kind enough to provide; I submit that His Excellency assisted the community for the consumption of its members during Passover
(calculated against what the Jewish bakers are entitled to during the holiday days from mixed flour) with six tons
of pure refined wheat and the same amount of barley, and the poor of the community, who received the largest portion of it, began
expressing their gratitude and praise for this noble assistance.
And since Your Eminence is concerned with the welfare of the community, I have ventured to present this, wishing for the continuation of your
sublime guidance and the acceptance of great esteem and sincere respect.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
For filing
The Community in Iraq
Page 86
To the presence of the Honorable Professor, President of the Israelite Community, the respected
After offering the necessary respect, it is not hidden from your presence
that the wall belonging to the Jews for the cemetery ⟦exists⟧ we informed you
of it, and since you had promised us to— you assigned ⟦Hayyim⟧ Ghazwa
and others among those who are undertaking its construction, although I see
it necessary that you order someone from your side to
undertake it, and as a matter of urgency because we fear that
⟦the Jews⟧ will undertake it themselves except for the empty
promises, therefore I hope for one of two cases: that ⟦you respond to us⟧
in the affirmative or the negative, so we have come to wait, I hope for your favor
My respects
25 / 2 / 48
Sincerely
Hajji Muhammad Ali Haidar Fahi
Neighborhood 2 ⟦illegible⟧
Page 87
Baghdad on 15 / 4 / 1948
Department Copy
622
21/3/1948
The Honorable Mr. Hayyim Ezra Agam, Respected
Baqubah
After greetings,
I hope you and the members of the community are in good health and prosperity. Furthermore, I request you to kindly
inform me urgently regarding what has been done about the fencing of the Jewish cemetery in Baqubah,
which you promised us to complete during your visit to the Presidency of the Community in Baghdad, as
your neighbor, Hajj Muhammad Ali al-Hajj Fad'am, is still following up with us claiming that he is being harmed
due to the Jewish cemetery remaining unfenced. We suggest contacting him personally
as quickly as possible and settling the matter with him.
On this occasion, we request you to inform us what has been done regarding obtaining a copy of
the Tabu deed belonging to the cemetery, which you promised the secretary to obtain.
Awaiting your reply, please accept my respects,
Sincerely,
President of the Community
⟦President⟧
⟦Community⟧
Page 88
⟦M S 2⟧ 2/5/48
Department Copy
651
26/4/1948
The Honorable Mr. Hayyim Ezra Agam
Baqubah
Greetings,
Further to our letter dated 31/3/1948.
Your neighbor, Hajj Muhammad Ali al-Hajj Qadim, is still contacting us claiming that
the matter of fencing the Jewish cemetery adjacent to his property has not yet been completed. We kindly request
the prompt resolution of this matter and for you to consult with us on this regard at the earliest opportunity when you come
to Baghdad.
Furthermore, we have received with thanks a certified copy of the settlement decision related
to the Jewish cemetery in Baqubah, and we have deposited it with the Jewish Property Committee
in Baghdad to be kept in their records and entered into the relevant register.
Awaiting your reply, please accept our respects;
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
For filing
The Community in Iraq
16
Page 89
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date 1948/2/22
His Eminence the Most Magnificent Prime Minister
His Excellency the Most Magnificent Minister of Interior
His Excellency the Respected Minister of Justice
His Sovereignty the Respected Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
His Excellency the Respected District Governor of Khanaqin
The Petition
We, the undersigned, present to your Eminence the following:-
Salman Ibrahim Haroun was the head of the Jewish community in Khanaqin and passed away fifteen
days ago, and we are now without a head to handle our transactions and represent us before the high authorities.
Therefore, since the person named Ibrahim Hay Rahmim, residing in the Abdullah Bek neighborhood in Khanaqin,
is an upright and chaste man, and he is among the nobles of the Mosaic community in Khanaqin, as he possesses good qualities
and high morals, we have found no one closer than this person to represent us, act on our behalf, and head our community.
Therefore, we have submitted this petition, requesting that the necessary measures be taken in this regard to make the aforementioned
person the head of our community in Khanaqin.
May God make your deeds blessed and successful.
For filing
The community in Khanaqin
By
Presidency of the Community
1948/3/2
The Petitioner
Yaqub Munshi / Ahmed Karandi / Munshi Yaqub Yusuf / Yeshaya Sahyoun
Ishaq Musa Yaqub / ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧
Munshi Yusuf / Haroun Ramadan / Nassim Yana
Yusuf Hajil / Eliya Harjiu / Yaqub Ibrahim
Ezra Hay / Salim Hay / Latif Swara
Munshi Hay / Sion Munshi / Ibrahim Benjamin
Salman Azouri / ⟦illegible⟧ / Nassim Daniel
Iraq
40 Fils
⟦signatures and thumbprints throughout the lower section⟧
Page 90
Daoud Baba
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Nassouri Youssef
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Daoud Shamoun
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Rahmin Hezekiel
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Salim Hayim
⟦illegible signature⟧
Mullah Haidar Murad
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ibrahim Nassim
Ibrahim Nassim | Youssef Ezra
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Shmuel Rahim
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Moshi Hay Ezra
⟦illegible signature⟧
Ibrahim Yaqub Hay
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Haroun Elia
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ezra Youssef
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Hayim Hay
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yaqub Nassim
Yaqub Nassim
Anwar Hay
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Moshi Yaqub
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Naim Yaqub Hay
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ahmed Baron
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yaqub Zion
⟦illegible signature⟧
Ibrahim Menashi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Hashem Daoud
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Faraj Al-Hindi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Zion Aboudi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ahmed Zion Yaqa
⟦illegible signature⟧
Michael Baron
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Naji Baron
Naji Baron | Murad Haroun
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Naji Murad
Naji Murad | Ibrahim Cohen
⟦illegible signature⟧
Rahmin Jouri
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Aboud Levi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Youssef Khedhouri
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ezra Zion
Ezra | Menashi Yaqub
⟦illegible signature⟧
Salim Menashi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yaqub Baruch
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Elia Al-Gharib
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Daoud Menasha Hay
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Hay Hezekiel
⟦illegible signature⟧
Zion Menashi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ezra Zion Hezekiel
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yaqub Shabay
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Ahmed Rahmin
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yehuda Habibullah
⟦illegible signature⟧
Saleh Ezra
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Aboud Zion
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Daoud Zion Cohen
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Haroun Saleh
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Anwar Haroun
⟦illegible signature⟧
Karim Daoud
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Haroun Ibrahim
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Elia Hezekiel
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yaqub Kabshil
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Murad Helmy
⟦illegible signature⟧
Ahmed Shlomo
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Salem Menashi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Zion Hoshi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Menashi Yaqub
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Albert Ezra
⟦illegible signature⟧
Page 91
Naim Moshe Hay Sion Baba Adwar Moshe Hay Moshe
Shel Salman <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Karim Shel Ezra Rahmin Moshe Youssef Naji Haroun
Aboud Sion ⟦illegible⟧ Musli Lulu Al-Hadm ⟦illegible⟧
Naim Shamil Youssef Azouri Eliyahu Sion Haroun Shaul Daniel Ahmed
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Naim Hay Yaqub Mordechai Sion Eliya Yaqub Sion Shaul Khadouri
Naim Ba'i ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Shaul
Salem Yad Eliyahu Daoud Nassim Youssef Fuad Khadouri Youssef Sanam
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Shaul Benjamin Youssef Hadar Eliya Nassim Eliya Jazi Khadouri
Ibrahim Sami ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Naim Hanini Aboud Hanini Naim Ibrahim Shaul Noel Salim Yaqub Taher
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Sion Haroun Karim Moshe Naim Ezra Hay
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Page 92
The Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Please refer to the general number
Division: Legal Codification Bureau
General Number: ⟦...⟧
Telegraphic Address: Adliya
Date: April 10, 1948
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Number 417
Date 4/22/1948
Subject: Election of a community head for the Jewish denomination in Khanaqin
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Mr. Moshe Hay and his companions have submitted a petition to this Ministry requesting the appointment of a community head for them instead of Salman Ibrahim Haroun, who passed away. Since such requests must be carried out according to the legal procedures based on the Jewish Community Law and the regulations issued thereunder, please guide the aforementioned individuals to follow the legal methods used in the said appointment.
Minister of Justice
Abdi Effendi
Prior records ⟦...⟧
Mr. President
I suggest referring a copy of this letter of ours to Mr. Moshe Hay and his companions and guiding them regarding the subject. Your orders please ⟦...⟧
S. M.
Page 93
Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Bureau of Legal Codification
General Number - K / 43
Date: April 15, 1948
Subject - Election of a head of community for the Jewish denomination in Khanaqin
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Mr. Moshe Hay and his colleagues have submitted a petition to this Ministry requesting the appointment of a head
of community for them instead of Salman Ibrahim Harun, who has passed away. Since such a request must be carried out
according to the legal procedures based on the Jewish Community Law and the regulation issued thereunder, please guide
the aforementioned individuals to follow the legal methods used in the said appointment.
Minister of Justice
On behalf of /
Page 94
Presented 5/8/48
Department Copy
Election of a Head of Community for the Jewish Nation in
Khanaqin
4/24/1948
The Honorable Mr. Moshe Jay Mordechai, Respectfully
Khanaqin
After greetings,
Reference is made to the petition of the people of Khanaqin from the members of the Jewish community
addressed to His Excellency the Minister of Justice, a copy of which was sent to us on 2/16/1948
regarding the appointment of a head for the Jewish community in Khanaqin.
Please attend in person or send a representative to the Presidency of the Jewish
Community in Baghdad to discuss this matter with you in light of what was stated in the letter of
the esteemed Ministry of Justice No. K/43 dated 4/15/1948, a copy of which is
attached herewith. Sincerely.
Head of the Community
Copy to:-
The esteemed Ministry of Justice - with reference to its letter No. K/43
dated 4/15/1948.
⟦illegible⟧
4/1
Page 95
Number 229
Incoming Internal Telegram
⟦coat of arms⟧
Number:
Telegram Type:
Time of registration: 8
Arrived at hour: 14
Minute:
From: ⟦illegible⟧
Received by: ⟦signature⟧
Word count: 27
Administrative instructions:
Date: 25
Issuing department: Mosul
To Baghdad, Head of the Israelite Community Sassoon Khadhuri
We inform your Eminence of the presence of three Jews in Mosul prison and that
the head of the Jewish community in Mosul did not send provisions for them
on the occasion of the holiday Baruch Luna
BAGHDAD
25 APR 53
⟦illegible⟧
For filing
For the community and colors
Baghdad Head of the Israelite Community
Mosul
We inform your Eminence of the presence of three
Jews in Mosul prison and that the head of
the Jewish community in Mosul did not send provisions
on the occasion of the holiday Baruch Luna
Page 96
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Telephone Number 395 - 05
Number: - 425
Date: - 20 May / 1948
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Outgoing Number 451
Date 24 / 5 / 948
His Excellency the Respected President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
After greetings
1 - We have received a copy of the letter from the Honorable Ministry of Education numbered 14131 and dated
15 / 5 / 948 regarding the loaning of the services of Mr. Yona Yusuf, the teacher at the Basra Intermediate School
for Boys, to the Presidency of the Jewish Community. It appears that the copy of this letter should
be addressed to your Excellency as we have not conducted any transactions in this regard. Therefore, we are returning it
enclosed with the original envelope addressed to Basra.
2 - The teachers of our schools have requested to be granted 50% on their high cost of living allowances, similar
to the government education schools. Upon deliberation on this matter, it was decided to seek guidance from your
sound opinions regarding the decisions taken by the Community Schools Committee in Baghdad in this regard,
provided that your kind response is issued a few days before the start of the new month.
3 - With the financial distress prevailing over the community fund, we find it necessary
to seek your kind sound opinion regarding the new decisions taken - as heard -
towards the salaries of the President and members of the Mosaic Religious Court regarding the difference in allowances between
the salaries that the previous Religious Court used to receive from the community fund.
In conclusion, we ask for forgiveness for the extreme necessity requiring enlightenment
by your sound guidance, and please, sir, accept our utmost respect.
⟦Abd al-Nabi ⟦...⟧⟧
President of the Community
Page 97
p/14
1948/5/26
⟦illegible⟧ Department
His Excellency the President of the Israelite Community, Respected
Basra
After greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 125 dated 20/5/1948.
1 - We have received with thanks a copy of the Ministry of Education's letter No. 14131 dated 15/5/1948
attached to your aforementioned letter.
2 - No request was made by the teachers of our schools to grant them a 50% increase in the cost of living allowance
similar to the Ministry of Education schools; however, the Lay Council had previously, on the occasion of the intensifying living hardship - and before
the esteemed government announced its decision to increase the cost of living allowance for its employees by 50% - approved
giving a grant to all community employees equivalent to half of the nominal salary for each of them, provided that the grant
for a single employee does not exceed ten dinars as a maximum and five dinars as a minimum.
3 - The Lay Council has decided to grant each of the presidents of the Court of Cassation and the Religious Court
ten dinars, and to grant each of the members of the Court of Cassation and the Religious Court six dinars, in addition to the difference
between their salaries that they were ⟦actually⟧ receiving in the past from the community fund and the allowances paid to them by
the venerable Ministry of Justice.
We hope that our answers above are sufficient for the purpose, and please accept our respect;
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Community
To be filed
The Community in Iraq
14
Page 98
Administration of the Israelite Community
in Nasiriyah
Committee of the Israelite Community
in Nasiriyah
Date 7 / 10 / 953
To the Honorable Hakham Bashi and Head of the Community Baghdad
Baghdad
Peace and Blessing
We inform you herewith that on the day of Purim in the year 5713, the late Eliyahu son of
Isaac Abraham fell from the roof and died, and this was at twelve o'clock at night while he was drinking with
his friends on Purim and their joy was as it was, and at this time we heard a cry from his house and we rose
and found him lying dead, and we turned to the government and they came and saw the whole matter and afterwards they gave
permission to bury him, and for this we request from your honor that you send an order to the Hakham here that he should write
his name in the book of the dead, and this is because there was no Hakham here at that time, and this is
our request, and peace be upon you and upon all Israel Amen, and may it be the will that you merit many years
Your faithful servant
David Levi
For filing
The Community Iraq
Page 100
Mosul 11/12/1948
My dear sir, the Chief Rabbi, His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the highly respected,
President of the Jewish Community. Baghdad
After offering the duty of respect to your high position and your noble person, I state that since my arrival in Mosul
until today, I am still deliberating with the figures concerned regarding the slaughtering
which is on our side, but so far I have not reached any result. In view of the approaching end of
the term of the General Council of the Jewish Community, the current council, and the start of electing
a new council in accordance with Article Two of the Jewish Community Regulation No. 26 of 1931
on 12/2/1948, we will then address the issue with all our effort
with the assistance of His Eminence Rabbi Solomon and the respected Rabbinate and the supervision of
the community, and perhaps the Almighty Creator will help us and we will be able to address this subject
in compliance with your wish. In conclusion, I wish for Your Excellency and the rest of
the Rabbinate and those close to you health and happiness.
Sincerely,
The First Clerk of the Religious Court
of the Mosaic Community in Mosul
1948
12 / 11