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⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Shimon Yusuf Dallal Mandali The slaughter of Mahlam Zakho is not permissible according to Sharia. Ibrahim Douri has been approved for the position of Shochet, teacher, and Hazan. And the signing of your contract for twenty dinars per month. Answer. Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad On behalf of
Not mentioned 18/732 Religious Order School for Girls in Baghdad Founded in 1908 AD - 1326 AH On this day ⟦...⟧ of the month of January in the year 1943 AD The student ⟦...⟧ in the sixth primary grade has been examined According to the curriculum prescribed for official primary schools (1942-1943) AD She has passed the final exam and obtained the grades listed below Accordingly, she was granted this certificate in confirmation of her success and graduation from the school This is what was necessary to state, written on the date above Signature School Principal Baghdad on January 17, 1943
Note :- If there are several families in the house, use one of these forms for each family, and the forms for the single house should be sequential Number of killed, wounded, or captives and their identity: The minimum requirement for the head of the family to return to his work: ⟦Undertaking⟧ of the remaining head of the family ⟦missing⟧ ⟦...⟧:
Khedhouri Bulbul Shlomo Saleh has agreed to the position of Shohet with you for twenty dinars per month until his training is completed. Answer. Nasiriyah: ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri From
9/⟦2⟧/1947 The Honorable Shimon Yusuf Dallal, Respectfully Head of the Jewish Community Mandali After greetings, The Jewish Spiritual Council in Baghdad has been requested to mediate with you regarding the following case:- The aforementioned Council has learned that you did not have a (Shohet), so you contacted His Eminence Rabbi Suleiman Barzani, Head of the Jewish Community in Mosul, for the purpose of sending a Shohet to you, so His Eminence contacted the Zakho community, and indeed ⟦we see⟧ that one of the Shohetim from the Zakho community is with you. It is no secret to you that the Shohetim in Zakho do not know the Minwa (⟦Kadur⟧) and they slaughter in the ⟦Nafsha⟧ method. Since Mandali is affiliated with Baghdad and follows our method in the Minwa (⟦Kadur⟧), this act is not permissible according to religious law. Therefore, the Spiritual Council requested to note this with the hope of not repeating this act in the future, and kindly preventing the Shohet sent to you via His Eminence Rabbi Suleiman Barzani from continuing his work, noting that we have written to His Eminence Rabbi Suleiman regarding this matter. The Spiritual Council has nominated Mr. Ibrahim Nouri to be a Shohet for you, given his eligibility to perform this duty. He will simultaneously perform the duties of Hazan, Shohet, and teacher for a monthly salary of (- / 20) twenty Dinars. Awaiting your reply, please accept our respects. Sincerely, ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community For filing Community affairs in the provinces M 53
The minimum requirement for the head of the family to return to his work Number of killed, wounded, or captives and their identity Note :- If there are several families in the house, one of these forms is used for each family, and the forms for one house shall be sequential Grant from His Majesty the Great King or assessment
Number 12/732 His Excellency the Honorable Magistrate of Baghdad The appointment of Mr. ⟦illegible⟧ Al-Qadiri and his assistants Greetings and respect The project named ⟦illegible⟧, which is for widows, the poor, and orphans, is a full property ⟦line⟧ Division of Estates ⟦line⟧ And since the minor and the (insane) person are under the guardianship of their guardians and trustees as full property Based on this principle and the customs followed in the tribal Bani Kinana tribe, and since ⟦illegible⟧ being at the expiration of its legal guardianship due to the minors not reaching the age of majority And whereas ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) has reached eighteen years of age and has become rational in his actions as we explained in the previous report, and since the project, according to the article mentioned above, has informed us to spend for him his heirs from the funds and properties as absolute ownership according to the decision issued in ⟦illegible⟧ ( ⟦illegible⟧ ) Since this project mentioned above has passed to his heirs in the article mentioned above, and since the mentioned project concerning minors and orphans is absolute ownership from his private property, it is not permissible for the heirs and minors to share in other things from his funds This project mentioned above has become absolute property for his heirs according to the article mentioned above And whereas the distribution and allocation of profits to his heirs will be carried out according to the Sharia inheritance division and the decision issued by your esteemed court Dated in number ( 106 / ⟦illegible⟧ ) Hijri The expert ⟦illegible⟧ Al-Qadiri Al-Hasani With appreciation ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Al-Qadiri ⟦illegible⟧
Number 735 Receipt: ⟦line⟧ Attributed to: Shimon Youssef Date stamp: Fils: Dinar: Value of stamps affixed (if postal): ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 3 SEP 47 ⟦illegible⟧ For registered items Insured for an amount of Dinar (in figures) ⟦line⟧ In words ⟦line⟧ Insurance fee ⟦line⟧ Weight in words ⟦line⟧ I received a letter, a bundle, or ⟦illegible⟧ as the case requires Receiving officer
⟦illegible⟧ 74 Receipt: Registered Letter Addressed to: Suleiman Mirzani Place: Baghdad Value of stamps affixed (if it is a package): BAGHDAD Baghdad ⟦illegible⟧ Insured Items Insured for an amount of Dinars (in figures) ⟦line⟧ In words ⟦line⟧ Insurance fee ⟦line⟧ Weight in words ⟦line⟧ Registered as "Letter", bundle or package as the case may be Receiving Officer ⟦signature⟧
214 2/9/947 The Honorable Mr. Moshe Gabbai, Respectfully Head of the Jewish Community Zakho After greetings, The Jewish Spiritual Council in Baghdad has been requested to mediate with you regarding the following matter. The aforementioned Council has learned that the Mandali community did not have a (Shohet), and the said community contacted His Eminence Rabbi Solomon Barzani, Head of the Jewish Community in Mosul, for the purpose of sending them a Shohet. His Eminence wrote to you requesting a (Shohet) from you, and indeed one of the Shohetim from the people of Zakho was employed in Mandali. It is no secret to you that the Shohetim in your region do not know the Minwa ( ⟦Minwa⟧ ), and they slaughter according to the Nefiha method. Since Mandali is affiliated with Baghdad and follows our method in the Minwa ( ⟦Minwa⟧ ), this action is not permissible according to religious law. Therefore, the Spiritual Council requested that this be noted by you, with the hope that this action will not be repeated in the future, and to kindly prevent the Shohet sent by you to Mandali from continuing his work, noting that we have written to His Eminence Rabbi Solomon regarding this matter. Please accept our respects. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community For filing Community Affairs Personal
12/735 To the President and members of the Management Committee of the Synagogue Tawfiq Hayyim in the Al-Murabba'a district Baghdad Greetings and respect We send you our best regards and hope you are in perfect health and complete happiness. • Kind regards, (Subject) We would like to thank you for your letter dated 4 Rabi' al-Thani 1372 AH regarding synagogue improvements, and specifically regarding the placement of new carpets in the main prayer hall And because we are very interested in the matters of carpet maintenance in all temples, and in your synagogue in our opinion it is necessary that they be cleaned with soft soap water (grated) and this process ( ⟦...⟧ ) is usually done on Sunday and in an area not exceeding one square meter. Weekly and especially in this season, and given the intense heat in front of our synagogue, it has been decided to spend an amount of seven dirhams for the purpose of purchasing soap material ( ⟦...⟧ ) and bringing it to the synagogue And this amount has been approved for the expenditure of the mentioned sum and providing us with all official expenditure receipts in our name because without them we cannot record them in our accounts and during the periodic inspection by the inspector • As we thank you for the beauty and merit of this work, for our part we are confident in your diligence in • completing this duty placed upon your shoulders. Please accept our highest respect Abdul Hussein Head of the Community Copy to The Financial Accountant For follow-up
Number 75 Arrived ⟦line⟧: Sila Addressed to ⟦line⟧: Hoshi Kabasha BAGHDAD AS-SAMAWA 3 SEP 47 Stamp of completion without Baghdad (As-Samawa) Fils ⟦line⟧ Dinar ⟦line⟧ Value of attached parcels (if it was a bundle) Insured items Insured for an amount of Dinar (in figures) ⟦line⟧ In letters ⟦line⟧ Insurance fee ⟦line⟧ Weight in letters ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ in it a letter, a tie or a bundle as the case requires Receiving officer
Baghdad on September 20, 1947 To the Honorable President of the Mosaic Community After kissing your hands and asking about your well-being We inform you that after it was known to you that we were going on a pilgrimage ⟦illegible⟧ that with the ⟦illegible⟧ of those who paid a dinar or a dinar and a half was And those who have family or children, you ordered them to travel with them while sending the names We ask you to help us in this work, which is all for those whose families are upon them In a good position ⟦illegible⟧ as is known from you and your masters as it was before In the time of the past time there was ⟦illegible⟧ of those who were with us there was ⟦illegible⟧ In your ledgers and we may help in this desire, so we ask that you give a prompt answer with The bearer and we thank you and may you continue in goodness and remain in God's protection, Amen M. M. Hakim In ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Daoud The Accountant 4 / 9 The Mosaic Community
For filing Mr. Major
Telegram via Internal and External: Telegram 11: Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration: Time of registration: 1815 Telegram type: ⟦illegible⟧ Number: Received at: 18 minutes From: Babylon Received by: ⟦illegible⟧ Sent at: To: Serial number: Dispatched by: Issuing office: Baghdad Date: 2 Notes: Words: 10 To: Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Baghdad Khaled letter please Tawfiq Babylon TELS. O. BAGHDAD 2 SEP 49 Baghdad
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Head of the Israelite Community in Baghdad ⟦signature⟧ <del>Copy</del> <del>⟦...⟧</del> Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri The deceased was crowned on Friday night Cornerstone Khedouri Babul
Telegram via Internal and External Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration Telegraph 11 Telegram Type: Kh Time of Registration: ⟦9/2⟧ Received at: 9:20 ⟦PM⟧ From: ⟦M⟧usayaf Received by: Sent at: Minute: To: Serial Number: Dispatched by: Issuing Office: Musayaf Date: Remarks: Words: Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri President of the Israelite Community Baghdad Musayaf / Kirkuk The fortieth for the late Karimi and according to the doctors' report will be on Saturday September 6th, so based on the wish of the widow we hope for your attendance if you are free on Saturday Post and Telegraph 3 SEP.47 TELS. BAGHDAD Office Stamp Please inform the community 61
The minimum requirement for the head of the family to return to his work Number of killed, wounded, or captives and their identity Note :- If there are several families in the house, one of these forms is used for each family and the forms for the single house shall be sequential
Telegraph 11 Internal and External Intermediate Telegram Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration BAGHDAD TELS. 3 SEP 47 Telegram Type: Time of Registration: Number: Department: Sent at hour: Minute: To: Serial Number: Sent by: Received at hour: Minute: From: Received by: Words | Remarks | Date | Issuing Office | (22) | | To It reached you entirely with the signature of children whose ages do not exceed ten years ⟦ten⟧ and my signature in the report is on ⟦amount⟧ and not on the copy and the ⟦salary⟧ of a ⟦teacher⟧ is settled at eighteen dinars and a half and the chickens are permitted for him | Karmi Aziz
Chief Rabbi in Baghdad Chief Rabbi of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it Salman Hugi Aboudi CHIEF RABBI BAGHDAD Number: ⟦884⟧ Date: September 18, 1952 My honorable Mr. Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, may God protect him President of the Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad We present to your honor - a member of the committee from the community of the Jews of Sulaymaniyah and its surroundings, and it is requested of your excellence that you would be so kind as you promised me to help him with all his needs and the needs of his community. And also the Shohet Eliyahu Cohen, who along with his aforementioned friend arrived with a letter from the Shohets from the aforementioned community in Baghdad. And behold, as we present to your honor or hear from him, mercy will not be lacking from you and in you especially the President. And for this I have come with a request on this day at this hour in Baghdad, and in you is mercy for the poor the Jews of the community of Sulaymaniyah, for they are refugees and also refugees and poor, and many are from the refugees of the Jewish community, and I have now a receipt from Bank Leumi at the time of our arrival in Jerusalem in the name of the community of Baghdad. And in our request we shall remain in Baghdad and we will always pray in the Great Synagogue in Baghdad to lengthen their days. With great respect Hugi Aboudi Hakham of the Community In Baghdad Chief Rabbinate in Baghdad Number ⟦...⟧ Date 22 / 9 / 1952
11/9/947 His Eminence Rabbi Heskel Hoki Abboudi, the respected Chief Rabbi of Basra Sincere greetings Furthermore, the bearer of this letter of mine, Jahla Heskel Hankil, has a case in your area which she will explain to your Eminence, and since this case of hers requires compassion and assistance, I would be most grateful if you would exert your efforts regarding resolving her case as required by humanity and justice. Please accept the respect of The Sincere ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community For filing Community affairs on 10 ⟦illegible⟧
Chief Rabbi in Baghdad The Chief Rabbi of the Holy Community Baghdad, may God protect it Sassoon Khedhouri CHIEF RABBI BAGHDAD Number: 1894 Date: 24 / March 947 My honored Mr. Hakham Sassoon Faraj, the Ritual Slaughterer Peace of God be upon you, may God protect you and save you, so be His will. On ⟦12.4⟧ we hired a celebrant, you spoke and said in Baghdad there will be a society And there will be a portion for Mr. Ezra, Mr. Rahamim, and Tayyib Elkanah, his punishment and Baghdad And the Hesed VeTzedakah society, Mr. Rahamim and Abraham Mr. Shemaya. Please find in your letter Mr. Ezra Mr. Rahamim Mr. Ezra Please Mr. Ezra in the society of the pot of your life Mr. Matana In your good name Be strong and blessed Peace of God be upon you, Mr. Rahamim And Rahamim Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Private Number 225 Date 9 / 4 / 947
Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Karmi Aziz Shaul Mandali We wrote to His Excellency the District Governor to withdraw the hand of Eliyahu Murad and Ibrahim Dori Al-Qarah Joot the candidate from our side will head to Mandali on Wednesday the 5th next Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri
B"H <del>2</del> Eve of Tuesday, 3 Kislev 5713 To the high, precious, honorable, and exalted excellence, desired of mercies ⟦...⟧ from the neck of life Our relative with honor, H' Eliyahu Yehezkel Sasson Tov etc. For ⟦...⟧ peace and your welfare all the best, your honor ⟦...⟧ and all of you and your welfare Their memory forever, your servant ⟦...⟧ and they gave before our eyes and faces B"L blessing Blessing you shall merit from the general, it will be clear to you ⟦...⟧ H' Sasson Kadoorie So many these blessings in joy you shall merit for us grace ⟦...⟧ Our soul and in Your fear desire of righteousness You shall merit him ⟦...⟧ and merciful Joseph For the sake of the intellect of H' Sasson Kadoorie and from him you shall be blessed from heaven with joy and gladness Understanding like them etc. in joy you shall be wrapped that not ⟦...⟧ and your welfare All members of the committees, peace, honor of life and all the days and their blessing you shall extend You shall merit from our Creator and He shall increase miracles ⟦...⟧ upon us ⟦...⟧ In charity shall be the labor of your servant ⟦...⟧ they heard ⟦...⟧ And so in our burning in the evening ⟦...⟧ you shall merit to be wrapped ⟦...⟧ You shall merit from the Creator, blessed be He, in the building ⟦...⟧ May he live ⟦...⟧ from our Creator, desired of grace, you shall merit from heaven As today blessings you shall merit ⟦...⟧ and in Your fear as the will ⟦...⟧ And we shall merit that you merit honorable grace, merit from heaven, grace ⟦...⟧ To all H' Sasson Kadoorie from our Creator ⟦...⟧ Rosh Hashanah and Kippur ⟦...⟧ and time like upon us life ⟦...⟧ As I precisely your blessing etc. ⟦...⟧ gave from grace as today your blessing You shall merit grace from <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> and your welfare, generous grace, partner's radiance, graceful And save our children for the sake of the good and all heard and always you shall merit graceful Zadok And we shall merit the building of grace and merit, blessing you shall merit ⟦...⟧ Upon His name so much from our Creator you shall merit life, grace, peace ⟦...⟧ In the building of Your righteousness for you shall merit grace like them and you shall merit for us You shall merit ⟦...⟧ you shall merit in honor in joy life, reward of Elul, honor of life In all you shall merit and in Your fear desire you shall merit in the building of Your righteousness and in Your fear desire You shall merit grace and merit your servant you shall merit ⟦...⟧ And they shall merit ⟦...⟧ you shall merit you shall merit grace you shall merit grace your servant life you shall merit And not peace blessing you shall increase from grace and good to your servant life, reward of my soul And we shall merit life ⟦...⟧ you shall merit grace and merit graceful and time in joy life your servant and not They heard and these shall give grace, He did good etc. the desire of our God and eternal life For the sake of the excellence life these righteous and time ⟦...⟧ in joy you shall merit And we shall merit these ⟦...⟧ peace grace your servant and every generous and upright person on the day of life And they shall merit ⟦...⟧ grace grace grace grace grace peace ⟦...⟧ Understanding and blessing ⟦...⟧ you shall merit ⟦...⟧ from grace and your welfare your servant And your welfare reward and merit etc. blessing of our God grace and honorable and Creator of the world
To the presence of the brilliant and respected Rabbi Shimon Madiha On behalf of the Israelite community in Mandali Honorable Rabbi, we, all the members of the Israelite community residing in Mandali <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> certainly We sent to your attention Kohi Ibrahim al-Saleh, we gave him a paper signed by us And we are satisfied with eating the slaughtered meat, but when the head of the Israelite community in Baghdad, Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, sent to you, the reasons were as follows: 1- We have a person, Kohi Aziz, who was our butcher, and the entire town was in his hand, and he was selling meat at a high and doubled price, and the weak were unable to eat meat. Also, he alone opposes the matter because we allocated a quarter of the meat for the expenses of the community. 2- On the other hand, the non-kosher meat (Taref) is not sold at any price at all because all the people of the town are urbanites and there are no Christians among us. Our master the Rabbi, we are all satisfied with eating the slaughtered meat, and for this reason we send you the answer to your letter signed by us. May you remain in goodness. Nassou' Shua | Raji Menashe | Aziz Kohi | Shimon Shua | Naji Saqil ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Ezra Hazqeel | Nissim Yaqub | Naji Hay | Azouri Mosh | Murad Hanqar ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Naji al-Bahir | Yusuf Moshi | Shimon Yusuf | Rahmin Yusuf ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Ishaq al-Bahir | Kohi Dawud | Yusuf Ibrahim | Moshi Elias ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Obaid Rahmin | Dini Murad | Azouri Ibrahim | Dawud Ibrahim ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Harun Rahman | Abed Ibrahim | Ezra Yusuf | Yaqub Gabbay ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ | ⟦signature⟧ Dawud al-Bahir | Ezra Yusuf | Yaqub Saleh