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.
⟦illegible⟧ 4/15/950 S Kirkuk descended Balad } Tuz Khurmatu } Fallujah ⟦illegible symbol⟧ Mandali Note Based on the President's instructions, I have conducted assistance to the General Director of the Interior in this regard by telephone, a good appointment, on the date of 2/25/950 ⟦illegible signature⟧ 2/27
Zakho on 12 / 4 / 1950 His Eminence, the respected Head of the Israelite Community In Baghdad After offering plenty of greetings and respect. I would like to inquire from Your Eminence regarding how to transport the members of the Israelite community present in Zakho and how the registration process will be, the method of travel, and the designated route for their transport, as we are far from Baghdad and know nothing about this matter, noting that in the Zakho district there are approximately one thousand five hundred people waiting for your guidance and instructions regarding this, while mentioning that most members of this community are poor and own nothing but their residential homes, for which there is no willing buyer in these difficult times. Therefore, we hope that Your Eminence will provide us with your instructions regarding this subject, and we ask you to convey our greetings to the respected Senator Ezra Menachem, and we also hope that you will present this matter to His Excellency for a response if possible. Please accept our greetings and respect to Your Eminence, and may you remain well. Representative of the Israelite Community In Zakho ⟦illegible signature⟧
950 / 6 / 17 His Excellency, the respected President of the Israelite Community Presented to your Excellencies: Our brother David came to your service with our son Saboun and a group with them, and they will inform your Excellencies of our current situation, and thus we request of them from your presence, and this is without commanding your Excellency, and this is a great reward from God, and we have no one to turn to except your position to fulfill our duty, and by that we shall always be praying before the Lord of the Worlds, Mighty and Sublime, for your Excellency's success, and may you remain in glory and honor. Head of the Community of Afra District Nissim Elia David Nissim Elia David Afra Iraq
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Mandali, ⟦5/5/53⟧ His Eminence, the Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, the Respected Confirming our previous telegrams sent to your Eminence, in addition to the repeated telephone calls made by us explaining to you the poor conditions suffered by the members of our community in the Mandali district, and that this situation has been worsening day by day as the owners of commercial interests have taken up a new profession, which is unemployment in cafes all day long <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> instead of the markets, as the government is preventing everyone coming to Mandali under the pretext of escaping and after that, it prevented everyone leaving or coming from and to Mandali, whether they were its residents or from outside. Under these bad circumstances, every person has become bewildered about his livelihood, neither selling nor buying. This prevention is unofficial, and thus you must find us a way out of this severe predicament. Furthermore, we do not know from where we receive injustice; sometimes from the government and other times from the locals. Each individual among us can no longer move away from the area of his house for fear of being assaulted, whether secretly or publicly. The Jewish community in Mandali has become a stain of shame and is vanishing from existence if you do not remedy our situation. All this while we are patient, waiting for the measures you will take towards us; however, with all regret, all our communications and attempts were ink on paper, with no response or answer to ⟦regard⟧ your actions towards us. An incident occurred which we describe to you in the following text: On last Wednesday night, corresponding to 4/28/53, three Jews from Baghdad were arrested in the outskirts of Mandali after midnight in a (taxi) car. In the morning, we learned about them and contacted them, where we were able to send them bedding for sleep and Kosher food three times daily. On Friday night, corresponding to 5/1/53, at eleven o'clock at night after midnight, one of the policemen, a sergeant, went to the detention center where he was able to take one of them out of detention, who was the youngest of them, not exceeding twenty years of age, under the pretext that the station officer wanted to interrogate him. The detainee went with him, submitting to his orders. However, the aforementioned policeman took him to the stable belonging to the mounted police, where he sodomised him (committed an act with him). Whenever this poor soul tried to resist by pleading with him, it did not avail, so he returned him to the detention center after an hour and a half had passed since his departure. ⟦illegible⟧
In the morning, the Torah servant went to the center to give them breakfast one of them was lying on the ground crying. The servant approached him inquiring about the reason for his crying, so the Jew stood up and explained to him what happened to him last night by the police officers. The servant rushed and explained to us what he witnessed, so I went and saw with my own eyes the heinous act. After that, I went with a broad report to the investigating judge, explaining to him the matter as it occurred. Upon investigation and medical examination, it was found that the Jew had been sodomized and the investigation was conducted by the judge, where the charge was assigned to the perpetrators without justification. After that, the Jew was immediately sent to the Baqubah Brigade to undergo an examination by the Health Presidency of Diyala Brigade. When we learned that mediation from influential people and notables began to pour in on the investigating judge and the Brigade Governor to prevent the proof of the charge against the perpetrators, we collected a sum of money that is not insignificant and we appointed a lawyer from our community for him to defend him in court, and the Jew is a resident of our community's neighborhood in the house numbered 148/64 and his name is Isaac Gabriel. The owner of the house is named Hakima Umm Sabri and he is a lodger in her house. We hope to contact them and inform them of what happened, perhaps they will be able to send him some aid through us. We inform you that the aforementioned was transferred from Baqubah to Baghdad to the Royal Hospital to confirm the examination on him. We hope to contact the competent authorities at the mentioned hospital and observe the case with all interest. Also, the lawyer appointed by us is Mr. Khalaf al-Naqib, but he does not have a law degree for the major courts. We hope that you direct a capable lawyer to us to take over the lawsuit. If the sanctity of your community cannot bear the expenses and fees of the lawyer in such a matter, we are ready to pay all the necessary amount. We hope for your attention with us. The Petitioner Rabbi Saleh Hayy ⟦illegible signature⟧ Note The Jew was taken to the Forensic Medicine Hospital and not to the Royal Hospital, and we are waiting for the lawyer.
From Baqubah To the respected mother Rifqa Habib My inquiry about your health and I hope it is good and ⟦as⟧ it should be A judge from Mosul has sentenced us to three months and we are now in the Baqubah Central Prison and I have a second case and the sentence for the escape has been issued And the second case remains, therefore I hope for your arrival to my side as soon as possible Bring ten dinars with you, you come with brother Makishour and my greetings To the house of Sha' with the house of Ruth with the mother Dayfa, greetings to the little one And I am now very sick, and may you remain well Your son Hezekiah Hakkak Note We sent you a telegram on the date 20 / 7 / 958
Summons of a person From the Grand Criminal Court To both Saleh Mir Basri and Eliyahu Saqeel of the residents of Baghdad Your presence is required at the Al-Uquba Mounted Police Station to be questioned regarding the charge brought against you according to Article 157 of the B.P.C. and that is on the morning of 25 / 4 / 950 Judicial Investigator 22 / 4 / 950 Saleh Mir Basri Eliyahu Saqeel
Naji Number: 257 Telegram Type: Time of registration: 17:25 Incoming connection number: 257 Baghdad 20 APR 50 BAGHDAD Arrived at hour: 17:25 Minute: From: Baqubah Received by: Kasbah Word count: 22 Date: 20 Issuing office: Baqubah To: Baghdad Tatran House 22 Rifqa Hayyim I was sentenced to three months in Baqubah prison Visit me quickly I want ten dinars To hire a lawyer for another lawsuit against me Haqir
To His Excellency the President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Presented to your Excellency: The girl Marcelle daughter of Shalom Levi has claimed before us - that her fiancé, the conscripted soldier Naji Abdullah Safi Tara in the Kirkuk Brigade, Work Company, and his residence is in ⟦Bijar⟧ And we were informed that he intends to travel alone against the mentioned girl, and we request your assistance in providing his name to the travel departments in Baghdad and the specific corners of the Kirkuk Brigade, and we request from His Excellency the Community to assist this orphaned girl who has no provider. Note: From the date of 24 Rabi' in the year 1950, a letter was previously presented to you regarding the alimony issues belonging to Simha daughter of Yusuf and her children, and you did not give her (five dinars) and we obtained a right and transferred her notification from the Fallujah Execution Office to the Mosul Execution Office and her companion Saleh Muhammad Saleh Shaul married before the Fallujah Court because he was unable to release his wife And also we pray to God and to your respected Excellency that you prevent the registration of the newborn whose father is Shaul Yaqub and his son Saleh Shaul Yaqub when he took his wife while she was in his hands named Simha daughter of Yusuf and her three children, and may you remain. And there is also in Fallujah the young man Hayawi Shahn and he wants to travel alone and we request an investigation be conducted on him to prevent him from registering, and his name is Hayawi Yusuf ⟦Ayal⟧ and his mother-in-law is Mahla daughter of Salim, and to you much thanks and respect. And we ask God to grant you success in all your deeds. Agent of the Labay ⟦Yatim Kabeh⟧ Hezekiah Saleh Marcelle Rabbi of Fallujah ⟦illegible⟧ 1- The case of Marcelle Shalom and her fiancé Naji Abdullah Safi 2- Preventing the registration of Shaul Yaqub and Saleh Yaqub 3- Stopping the travel of Hayawi Yusuf Shahn.
T/126/50 22/4/1950 Honorable Mr. Khedhouri Salman, Teacher of the Jewish Community in Fallujah After greetings, With reference to your letter ⟦undated⟧ regarding: A - The case of Marcelle Shalom and her fiancé Naji Abdullah Hastil B - Shaul Yaqub and Saleh Yaqub C - Hayawi Yusuf Shmeil We wish to inform you that a person cannot be prevented unless a decision is issued by the competent religious court to stay their travel. Please accept our respects; ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council File Communities in Iraq A/25/4
1160 (41) BAGHDAD TELS 05 MAR 9 13 P.M. Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Telegram Type: ⟦illegible⟧ Time of Registration: 9:45 Arrived at: Hour 10 Minute 28 From: Egypt Received by: ⟦illegible⟧ Word Count: 9 Administrative Instructions: Date: 6 Issuing Office: Egypt To Mr. Haqqi Shanshub Baghdad Please confirm quickly Sakhabat
9 8/26/800 ⟦illegible⟧ 75/11/521 ⟦illegible⟧ that ⟦illegible⟧ Issa Qassis ⟦illegible⟧ in ⟦illegible⟧ 12 ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ number ⟦illegible⟧ : ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ this ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ and hearing ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦line⟧ Signature ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 10614 ⟦illegible⟧
His Eminence, Head of the Israelite Community Mosul I request that you instruct the secondary electors to elect Mr. Hanna Khayyat. Heskel Shemtob Head of the Community ⟦illegible handwriting⟧ Copy to - Mr. Hanna Khayyat Heskel Dawood Shemtob Acting Head of the Israelite Community ⟦illegible handwriting⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Hilla on June 18, 1950 To the Honorable Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad After greetings In response to your order dated 6/15/1950 and numbered 1428/50 regarding providing possible assistance to the members of the Jewish community in Hilla, we are always doing so, and Teacher Musa, who is in charge of the affairs of the Jewish community, can inform you and provide you with what is necessary. May you remain in good health and wellness. Member of the Jewish Community in Hilla Saleh Houri ⟦signature⟧ For filing
Image To - Erbil Salih Yusuf Nuri We and our children are threatened by danger in the villages of Harmak, Swiri, Jiwa. Save us Sick
⟦Department Copy⟧ T / 8280 / 50 8 / 5 / 1950 ⟦illegible stamp⟧ His Eminence, the President of the Jewish Community, Respected Mosul After greetings We attach herewith the original telegram received by Mr. Saleh Yusuf Nouri, President of the Jewish Community in Erbil, from a person named Nahum in Shaqlawa. We kindly ask you to investigate its content and mediate with His Excellency the Director of Mosul Police regarding it, if you deem that appropriate. ⟦illegible signature⟧ In closing, please accept our respects; ⟦signature⟧ Acting President of the Community President of the Lay Council A / 8 / 5
Number: 142 Arrived: ⟦illegible⟧ Addressed to: Head of the Community Date Stamp: Fils: 29 Dinar: Value of affixed stamps (if a package): ⟦illegible⟧ Entry (letters) bundle or (package) as the case requires: Insured items: Insured for an amount of Dinar (in figures): ⟦illegible⟧ In words: Insurance fee: Weight in words: Receiving officer: ⟦illegible⟧ 3 MAY 50 ⟦illegible⟧ Correct receipt
T/50/1414 6/6/1950 ⟦illegible⟧ 24 To - Mr. Ephraim Rahmin Kashi, Respectfully Amara After greetings Based on our trust in you and given the vacancy of the community presidency in Amara at the present time, we hope that you will supervise the community's properties in Amara, including the assets of the synagogue and the school, and at the same time, we request an inventory of said properties and to provide us with a list of them. Please accept our highest thanks and respect; Acting President of the Community President of the Lay Council ⟦illegible stamp⟧ 4/5/6
Number: 171 Date: 4 / 2 / 1951 Presidency of the Jewish Community Basra Subject: - President and members of the Religious Court in Basra To: The Honorable Ministry of Justice Reference to our letter No. 94 dated 10 / 1 / 1951 The President and members of the Personal Religious Court by the Jewish General Council in Basra, who are: - President: Rabbi Saqal Hezki Original Member: Eliyahu Simon Haron Reserve Members: Yahya Daoud and Nouri Agababa. Have requested the revocation of their Iraqi citizenship, therefore we request Your Excellency to inform us of what should be done. Please accept our highest respect ⟦illegible signature⟧ President of the Jewish Community In Basra A copy of it to: - Presidency of the Basra Court of Appeal for information Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad for information Presidency of the Mosaic Sharia Cassation Council in Baghdad For information Presidency of the Jewish Community Outgoing Number T / 1224 / 51 Date 4 / 2 / 1951 ⟦illegible⟧ At
Presidency of the Jewish Community Basra Number: 52/1224 Date: 2/28/1952 48 Subject: - Statement To: His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, the Respected Further to our telegram dated 2/27/52, we attach herewith a copy of the statement of the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Basra regarding the assault that occurred on the President of the Community, for your kind information and to take the necessary measures regarding it. Please accept the highest respect President Presidency of the Jewish Community in Basra ⟦Jacob⟧ Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Incoming Number T / 52/1224 Date 3/4/1952 Note: - This statement was published in the newspaper Al-Akhbar in its issue published on Saturday, 3/2/1952 Sayyid Zaki 3/4 ⟦red mark⟧
Statement Further to what was published by some local newspapers regarding the incident of the assault on the life of the head of the Jewish community in Baghdad And in order to show the facts, we state the following:- (1) On the evening of last Thursday 5/22/52, some Jews, incited by certain individuals, went to the head of the community at his official headquarters and assaulted him by beating, and had it not been for the intervention of some Muslims and Jews something undesirable would have happened to him. (2) The reason for this attack is due to the dispute that has long been debated between the Baghdad Liquidation Committee and the community leadership on the subject, and that this committee wants to seize the reins of coordination in a major night according to its whims And it was proven from the investigations that the attackers have a relationship with the committee and this attack was a firmly planned plot. (3) The community leadership at the beginning exerted its utmost efforts with the government authorities to impose a ⟦system⟧ of stability in proportion to justice, and this is proven by what was written and the telegrams of the community leadership to the competent authorities, as well as from the interviews of the head of the community with responsible government figures. (4) The goal of this biased group in attacking the head of the community is to seize the reins of coordination and direct it according to their goals and whims. (5) As for what was published regarding the Directorate of Charitable Houses of Finance, we clarify that the process took place based on the orders of the Board of Accounts and the General Council, which agreed on the necessity of a management body for endowments and wills under the chairmanship of rabbis and trustworthy persons, and those whose houses and endowment numbers were inspected, so that there would be for every endowment, the supporting receipt documents held by the Accounting Council as recorded in the issued registers And all that these biased people claim is to cover up the heinous crime they committed, and justice will take the truth and they will receive the deserved punishment. Sincerely Head of the Jewish Community Acting
Presidency of the Jewish Community Basra Number :: Date :: 27 / 8 / 1950 Subject: - The twenty-first session, held on Wednesday evening Corresponding to 19 / 5 / 1950 To: - The following has been decided: - 1- School holiday salaries It was decided to pay salaries to teachers until 5 / August / 1950 only, as was done in Baghdad, and to terminate their contracts permanently after this date. 2- Selling all the community's pure properties It was decided to sell all the community's pure properties for the following reasons (located in Maqam Ali, Ashar, and Basra): - a- The deficit in the community's budget resulting from the deterioration of rents due to the general economic hardship, as the rent of Khan Sheer Twayq reached (204) dinars after it was (480) dinars annually, and after a long wait we rented the guesthouse of the Sheer Twayq endowment in Ashar for (140) dinars annually after it was (260) dinars, and the cafe rent decreased from (420) dinars to (208) dinars annually. b- Decrease in the ⟦slaughtering⟧ fees due to the travel of some community members and the inability of others to buy meat due to the suffocating economic hardship. c- The amount remaining owed by Moshe Meir Dallal, amounting to (2000) dinars with fees and expenses, which there is no hope of collecting due to the escape of the mentioned person. d- Amounts paid by the community after the issuance of judgments; (1100) dinars were paid to Munshi Muallim after the Court of First Instance issued its judgment against the community to pay by its decision No. 120 / 950, disregarding the legal recording decision, and considered the Presidency of the Community responsible for fulfilling the debt without the need to wait for the budget's ratification by the General Council. The community may face paying (600) dinars to Saleh Musa if the lawsuit currently in the Court of Appeal No. 59 S / 949 does not succeed, which was upheld by the Court of Cassation considering the head of the community responsible for payment. e- Teachers' debts amounting to (2000) dinars, with the Rafidain Bank debt amounting to (1500) dinars, and the interest-free loan of Haskel Ezra Eliyahu amounting to (900) dinars; adding these to Munshi Muallim along with other miscellaneous debts, the total will be more than (5000) dinars that must be paid immediately. In order for the community to have a reserve amount to meet emergencies for the needy, poor, and sick, the mentioned reasons leave no solution to end the problem, and there is no assistance from the wealthy of the community. The Council's report finds it most beneficial and appropriate to solve this crisis by selling the pure properties belonging to the aforementioned community. Accordingly, the Council decided to authorize the Head of the Community to carry out the ceremonies, sign all contracts for that, report to the Land Registry Department and the Notary Public, receive the down payment and sale prices, carry out all necessary legal and procedural points, discharge the community's liability, and settle the incurred and future debts. Appointment of an Accountant The Head of the Community was authorized to appoint an accountant on the occasion of the travel of Mr. Naji Ishaq, the current accountant, at a suitable salary. Based on the conclusion of the matters, the session was closed and the signatures of the members were taken. Abouda Qawawa | Meir Dweck | Abdul Nabi Salman | Yusuf Saqil | Ezra Eliyahu Signature | Signature | Signature | Signature | Signature | Signature Member | Member | Member | Member | Member | Member Head of the Jewish Community in Basra ⟦illegible stamp text in Hebrew and Arabic⟧ Spoken in the news of the Basra community
Presidency of the Jewish Community Basra Telephone No.: 05/395 BASRAH (IRAQ) Telephone No. 05-395 No :: Date :: 20 / 11 / 1950 No :: Date :: His Excellency the Respected President of the Jewish Community in Basra We, the undersigned, the majority of the members of the Jewish General Council in Basra, have agreed and decided as follows "for the benefit of the public interest" - 1- We support and ratify the decision of the Jewish Lay Council in Basra dated 19 / 5 / 1950, twenty-first session, to sell all the community's pure properties in order to pay off the debts owed by the community to employees and others, and the remainder shall be spent on the poor, the needy, and the sick. 2- Since there are Jews who have renounced their citizenship and are in dire need of travel and clothing, and they are among the needy, the faster they are sent away, the better it is for the community to rid itself of their presence in their condition, which will worsen day by day. Accordingly, please carry out the necessary transactions to implement the aforementioned decision of the Lay Council to sell all the remaining pure properties of the community in order to spend them on those mentioned above. Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Isaac Abdullah Bezalel | Isaac Ezra Shamash | Rabbi Heskel Hoki Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Ezra Nassim Doctor | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Heskel Ezra Eliyahu | Yaqub Ezra Daoud Yousef Murad Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Abdul Nabi Yaqub Sawa | Daoud Ibrahim Wahid | Sassoon Murad Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Yaqub Zion Jehim | Mazhar Robin | Salim Eliya Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Aboudi Khadrawi | Daoud Salman Rasouli | Haron Ezra Saron Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ | Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Munshi Ezra Khamara | Eliyahu Yaqub Hayoub Signature of Member ⟦line⟧ Ezra Khamara For the Secretary to paste the copy in the minutes register of the General Council on a page thereof and take the necessary action as recorded below. Based on the request of the members of the General Council signed above, and I also add my voice to them in my capacity as a member with them and their president, and I support this request. Since this request is in accordance with Article (11) of the Community Law and every Jew is required to implement it, and the quorum is complete according to Article Fourteen of the Bylaws <del>⟦illegible⟧</del>, we have therefore decided to ratify this request according to the authority legally vested in us and to proceed immediately with the sale and carry out what is necessary for its implementation 20 / 11 / 1950 Presidency of the Jewish Community in Basra PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY - BASRAH ⟦hebrew text⟧ President of the Jewish Community in Basra Copy
Presidency of the Jewish Community Basra Date: 4 / ⟦1⟧ / 1951 51 Subject: Inquiry To: The Honorable Ministry of Justice Greetings Please be so kind as to enlighten us on the following legal points: 1- Article 7 of the Jewish Community Law No. 77 of 1931 stipulated the duties of the Lay Council; does it have the right to supervise the processes of renunciation and deportation, which are not included within those duties specified in Article 7? Or is the Head of the Community the one responsible for supervising them in his capacity as the official representative of the community before the official ⟦government⟧ departments based on paragraph (a) of Article 5 of the Jewish Community Law No. 77 of 1931. 2- Is it permissible for someone who has submitted an application to renounce his Iraqi nationality to be a member of the Lay Council, while the Council of Ministers' decision to approve this renunciation has not yet been issued, as one of them might be elected as Vice President. ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Jewish Community in Basra ⟦illegible⟧