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.
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone No. 3531 President 5452 Secretary Number: 2278 Date: 22 / 6 / 1954 Subject: ⟦line⟧ To whom it may concern . ⟦line⟧ Based on the document kept by this Presidency, we certify that Dr. Samha daughter of Sassoon Sheina, known as Dr. Samha daughter of Sassoon Sheina, and based on the request, she was provided with this certificate Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Acting President of the Jewish Community E. Dham ⟦illegible⟧
To whom it may concern ⟦Based⟧ on the record kept at this presidency, we certify that Dr. Samira Souf is known as Dr. Samia without a heart murmur, and she was provided with this certificate to Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Head of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Telephone Number 5452 Number: M / 541 Date: 21 / 6 / 1954 Subject Summary: Loan of a mobile bed The Honorable Mr. Israel Hay, Respected After greetings With reference to your letter dated 8 / 6 / 54, the Administrative Committee approved in its session held on 14 / 6 / 1954 to loan you from Meir Elias Hospital the mobile bed. Please inform us of its arrival — Please accept our highest respect — ⟦illegible⟧ Chairman of the Administrative Committee ⟦illegible⟧ 141 Community Affairs
To the honorable Mr. Arthur Kay, After greetings, With reference to your letter dated ⟦...⟧ 8/2/53 The Administrative Committee approved in its session held on 14/2/53 to grant you the aforementioned bed at the hospital of Mar Elias ⟦...⟧ the aforementioned bed. Please inform us of the receipt of this, and please accept the highest respect. Chairman of the Administrative Committee ⟦...⟧
On May 28, 1954. Presidency of the Jewish Community, Baghdad. Greetings and respect, I have been informed that the respected administrative body has abandoned the idea of reopening the community hospital for financial reasons and that the intention is to sell and liquidate the remaining piled-up furniture and equipment from the previous hospitals. Among those furnishings are special iron beds (numbering four, I believe) with movable, folding mattresses, and regarding this, I am applying to the respected body requesting to purchase these beds at their current market price, not for the purpose of profit or trade, but to prepare and set them up for free loan for the sake of God to those in dire need of such beds among the patients in Baghdad. If the community ever decides one day to reopen the hospital and needs these beds, I pledge to return them for a price not exceeding what will be decided as the purchase value. This is what I wanted to present to your respected body, hoping it meets with your approval. Please accept my further respect and thanks to your Excellency. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ Israel Nassim Hay Secretary To be presented to the esteemed body at the first meeting On 1/6/54 ⟦illegible⟧ In administration ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ Assigned ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Mutasarrifate of Baghdad Province Local Administration To - Personal Property Department Number / 4001 Date 8/1 The Baghdad Province Police Directorate informed us in its letter numbered ⟦illegible⟧ 22 and dated 28/7/954 that ⟦illegible⟧ the secretary of the Jewish community that the Jew Sion Haskel Khazfeh has ⟦illegible⟧ some of the furniture present in the Torah rooms in the Lands Camp, so please order the inventory of his estate and provide us with the legal delivery and inform us. Abdul Fahd Al-Jabbar Namsi Mutasarrif of Baghdad Province Chairman of the Local Provincial Council ⟦illegible⟧ 259/⟦illegible⟧ A copy of it to: - Baghdad Province Police Directorate - its letter referred to above Baghdad Province Land Registry Directorate - please inform us of the properties belonging to the aforementioned and provide us with copies of the records and maps. Baghdad Province Property Commission - for the same purpose District Headquarters of Baghdad Center - please instruct the Mukhtar of that neighborhood to provide us with the legal delivery. Secretariat of the Jewish Community. Treasury Commission of the Local Administration Hamid / 7/30 ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 51/779/T
Subject:
Date: 1951/3/22
To
Mr. Moshe Ephraim Cohen, Respected
Amara
⟦line⟧
After greetings
Based on our reliance on you and in view of the vacancy of the community presidency in Amara at the present time
we have assigned you to supervise the affairs of the community and its properties in Amara, including the synagogue
and the school. We request that you provide us with a list containing the properties belonging to this community, mentioning
their monthly or annual revenues.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
5/24/1954 Your Eminence the Rabbi I submit to your Eminence the requested information regarding what was stated in the letter of Mr. Moshe Ephraim Cohen dated 3/25/1954 in which he claims an amount of seventy Dinars for the expenses he incurred in exchange for his management of the properties, endowments, and synagogue of Amarah throughout the duration of his employment. The previous Lay Council appointed Mr. Moshe Ephraim Cohen on 3/26/1951 to manage the community's properties in Amarah and oversee its affairs following the resignation of its acting manager, Mr. Ephraim Rahmin Kashi, on 3/24/51 due to the revocation of his Iraqi citizenship. Mr. Moshe Ephraim Cohen performed the tasks entrusted to him throughout this period, and during it he spent approximately seventy Dinars with the knowledge and testimony of Mr. Yusuf Bahari. This is what had to be presented, and with respect to your Eminence. ⟦handwritten signature⟧ Secretary of the Community The President The committee decided that a letter should be written to him requesting a statement of the number of properties that were in his possession and what the amount of revenues he obtained during the mentioned times was, and that he should submit a list of the expenditures he spent supported by other documents ⟦illegible signature⟧ 5/25
Presidency of the Israelite Community: In Amarah Number /: ⟦line⟧ Date /: / / Subject /: Honorable ⟦President⟧ of the ⟦...⟧ Community After greetings ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ by the government ⟦...⟧ in it a reading ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ trust ⟦...⟧ in a ⟦...⟧ manner with it ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ the President's book ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ on your neck ⟦...⟧ which flew ⟦...⟧ number ⟦...⟧ President ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Mutasarrifate of Kut Liwa Local Administration Accounts Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ / ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 479 To Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Subject / Ledgers and papers belonging to the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal The Personal Status Court in Kut, during the inventory of the estate of the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal, found a group of ledgers and papers totaling 17 ledgers, which were written in the Hebrew language. In order to identify the debts belonging to the deceased and audit his accounts, we are sending you the mentioned ledgers accompanied by this letter of ours. Their pages have been numbered and the seal of this department has been placed on them. Therefore, please conduct an examination of the mentioned books, translate them, and return them to us accompanied by your remarks. Attachments A - 1 - Book No. 1 and its number of pages is 181 2 - " " 2 " " 189 3 - " " 3 " " 176 4 - " " 4 " " 171 5 - " " 5 " " 183 6 - " " 6 " " 199 7 - " " 7 " " 48 8 - " " 8 " " 187 9 - " " 9 " " 28 10 - " " 10 " " 100 11 - " " 11 " " 228 12 - " " 12 " " 195 13 - " " 13 " " 148 14 - " " 14 " " 189 15 - " " 15 " " 73 16 - " " 16 " " 123 17 - " " 17 " " 56 B - A group of papers numbered up to 32 C - Another group of papers ⟦illegible⟧ Ibrahim ⟦illegible⟧ On behalf of the Mutasarrif of Kut Liwa Chairman of the General Liwa Council For Registration and Administration ⟦signature⟧ 7 / 12
Governorate of Kut District Local Administration Accounts Number 8000 Date 29 / 10 / 1954 ⟦illegible⟧ To: - Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Subject - Ledgers and papers belonging to the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal The Personal Status Court in Kut, during the inventory of the estate of the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal, found a collection of ledgers and papers totaling 17 ledgers, which were written in the Hebrew language. In order to identify the debts belonging to the deceased and audit his accounts, we are sending you the aforementioned ledgers accompanied by this letter of ours. Their pages have been numbered and marked - with the stamp of this department. Therefore, please conduct an examination of the mentioned books, translate them, and return them to us - accompanied by your remarks. Attachments A - 1 - Book No. 1 and its number of pages is 181 - 2 - " " 2 " " 189 - 3 - " " 3 " " 176 - 4 - " " 4 " " 171 - 5 - " " 5 " " 183 - 6 - " " 6 " " 199 - 7 - " " 7 " " 48 - 8 - " " 8 " " 187 - 9 - " " 9 " " 28 - 10 - " " 10 " " 100 - 11 - " " 11 " " 228 - 12 - " " 12 " " 195 - 13 - " " 13 " " 148 - 14 - " " 14 " " 189 - 15 - " " 15 " " 73 - 16 - " " 16 " " 123 - 17 - " " 17 " " 56 B - A collection of papers numbered up to 32 C - Another collection of papers ⟦illegible signature⟧ Governor of Kut District Chairman of the General District Council
Mutasarrifate of Kut Liwa Local Administration Personnel Section Number: ⟦illegible⟧ / 770 Date: 22 / 8 / 1954 To: - Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad Subject - Estate of the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashad Mashal Your letter number T / 3443 / 54 dated 5 / 11 / 54 The register mentioned in the petition of the applicant Masouda Nassim from ⟦the⟧... was not among the registers found by the Personal Status Court in Kut Liwa during the inventory of the estate of the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal, and it has no evidence to support support her claim. File ⟦illegible⟧ 11 / 26 Hussein Kubba Mutasarrif of Kut Liwa Chairman of the General Liwa Council Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Special Number 2589 Date 26 / 11 / 1954
Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Telephone Number | 3531 President | 5452 Secretary Number: T / 2242 / 54 Subject: Date: 5 / 11 / 1954 His Excellency the Governor of Kut Province, Respected After greetings Reference to your letter numbered 828 and dated 29 / 6 / 54 We submit to your position the original petition of the wife of the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal, please look into her request. Please accept our highest respect On behalf of Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri Acting President of the Community 146
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community After greetings, The Governorate of Kut District has previously sent the commercial ledgers belonging to my deceased husband, Rahmin Moshi Mashal, to the Presidency of the Community for auditing. These ledgers were presented to me, and it appeared that the ledger called the 'Claims Ledger', which is the primary ledger belonging to my late husband Rahmin Moshi Mashal, is not present among these ledgers. I request your Excellency to mediate regarding this matter with His Excellency the Governor of Kut District. This matter is for your Eminence to decide. The Petitioner Wife of the deceased Rahmin Moshi Mashal Masouda daughter of Nassim Salman
Number / Date 5 / 5 / 1955 Presidency of the Israelite Community Special Number ⟦...⟧ Date ⟦...⟧ His Excellency the Respected Head of the Community Subject: Painting the walls of the Community In view of the painter's claim that painting the door of the Rabbi's room and its windows from the outside are not included within the lump sum for the room, as well as the door and window of the cook's room ⟦...⟧ the kitchen (the secretary) in the community, I have therefore inspected them and the result was as follows Notes | Dinar | Fils | Not executed | 3 | 527 | 1- Alabaster painting Amount increased 2/822 | 20 | 912 | 2- Oil painting Not executed ⟦...⟧ | 18 | 486 | 3- Shampoo painting | 42 | 926 | Total The Engineer We have previously paid the painter an amount of 40/104 according to ⟦...⟧ And according to the current new account it amounts to 44/926 The resulting difference amounts to 2/922 Dinars As you see fit in two installments 5/29 ⟦...⟧ Payment of the amount ⟦...⟧
Final measurement for paint coating (Revised) Material | Details | Quantity | Price | Amount Accountant's room | 2 x (2.80 + 4.80) x 2.80 = | 42.150 | | Secretary's room | 2 x (2.45 + 4.80) x 2.80 = ⟦illegible⟧ | 40.600 | | Hall | 45.70 x 0.25 = | 11.425 | | Supervisor's room | 6.55 x 0.25 = | 1.637 | | Entrance | 15.85 x 2 x 0.35 = | 11.100 | | Stairs | 4.85 x 1.40 x 2 = | 13.600 | | Coffee room | 1.58 x 0.75 = | 1.185 | | Stairwell | 9.40 x 0.80 = | 7.524 | | | 4.40 x 0.65 = | 2.860 | | | 6.20 x 0.72 = | 4.460 | | Guard's room | 2.75 x 2.25 = | 6.250 | | Steps | 1.85 x 0.20 x 29 qty with entrance steps | 6.650 | | Doors | 6.65 x 2.00 x 1.5 = | 19.950 | | | 1.25 x 2.85 x 3 qty | 10.700 | | | 1.00 x 2.85 x 8 qty | 22.800 | | | 1.70 x 3.00 x 2.00 = | 10.200 | | Windows | 1.80 x 1.20 x 2 qty | 4.320 | | | 1.80 x 0.75 x 1/2 | 2.412 | | | 1.80 x 2.50 | 4.500 | | Air machine | 0.75 x 1.70 = | 1.275 | | | 0.65 x 0.50 = | 0.325 | | | 2.20 x 0.45 = | 1.000 | | | 4.04 x 0.65 = | 2.520 | | | Total | 149.375 | 140 | 20.912 Note: Due to new information I received from the painter, the measurement was redone and I obtained the result in this list The Engineer
Measurement of painting walls, ceilings, doors and windows Community Building Notes | Amount (Dinar Fils) | Number (Dinar Fils) | Quantity | Details | Location | 3 527 | 20 10 | 176.85 | | 1 Gypsum plastering | | | 8.40 | 2.80 × 3.00 = | Accountant's room | | | 26.60 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.80 + 2.20) = | | | | 15.60 | 4.45 × 3.50 = | Secretary's room | | | 37.75 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.85 + 3.00) = | | | | 6.50 | 1.75 × 3.75 = | Property supervisor | | | 22.20 | 2 × 2.40 × (2.75 + 1.75) = | | | | 43.20 | 9.80 × 4.45 = | The Hall | | | 80.50 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.45 + 9.70) = | | | | 2.72 | 1.20 × 2.10 = | In front of the property supervisor's room | | | 0.78 | 0.30 × 2.60 = | | | | 2.40 | 4.22 × 1.25 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ = | Under the stairs | | | 16.40 | 2.72 × 6.00 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ = | Stair landings from below | | | 15.00 | 2.00 × 7.50 = | Skylight | | | 2.27 | 5.45 × 2 × 0.20 = | Beam above the typist's room | | | 21.40 | 8.20 × 2.60 = | Entrance ceiling | | | 176.85 | | | | | | | Oil paint | | | 41.00 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.80 + 3.00) | Accountant's room | | | 58.40 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.45 + 7.50) | Secretary's room | | | 21.60 | 2 × 2.40 × (2.75 + 1.75) | Property supervisor | | | 96.64 | 2 × 2.40 × (4.45 + 9.70) | The Hall | | | 18.84 | 2 × 2.40 × 1.20 | In front of the property supervisor's room | | | 10.62 | 2 × 2.40 × 5.65 | Entrance corridor | | | 19.20 | 4.80 × 4.00 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ | | | | 2.56 | 7.50 × 0.34 | Picture location | | | 1.65 | 1.65 × 1.00 | | | | 8.25 | 9.80 × 0.85 | Stair railing | | | 4.76 | 1.15 × 2.00 × 2 × 1/2 ⟦illegible⟧ | Steps | | | 12 | | Wood of the wooden rooms | | | 21.80 | 6.70 × 2 × 1.62 | | | | 7.14 | 2.10 × 3.40 | | | | 312.44 | | 4.00 9.00 1
Notes | Amount | Number | Quantity | Details | Type | | | | 1.10 x 2.46 x 2 units = 15.60 | Deducted from the continuous Way of the accountant's room door and the secretary and the property supervisor | | | | 1.10 x 2.26 x 2 units = 14.92 | One side of the Rabbi's room and the warehouse and the toilets | | | | 1.10 x 2.00 x 2 units = 4.40 | Window - two sides | | | | 1.60 x 0.70 = 2.24 | One side | | | | 0.60 x 2.00 x 2 units = 2.40 | Trays two sides | | | | 1.80 x 1.20 x 2 units = 4.86 | Window two sides | | | | 1.10 x 0.65 x 2 units = 1.43 | Fan one side | | | | 1.80 x 1.00 x 2 units = 3.60 | Window one side | | | | 2.00 x 2.40 x 2 units = 19.20 | Hall exit and stairs entrance | | | | 51.81 | | | | | 512.95 51.81 461.14 | Excluded from the previous Deducted from it | 18 486 | 40 461.14 | | | Net oil painting
Number 21 Date 3 / 5 / 1955 Respected Head of the Community Subject: Painting the walls of the community building with gypsum, distemper, and oil paint ⟦line⟧ I have measured the painting of the walls of the aforementioned building and obtained the following results from the calculations attached to this letter: Fils | Dinar 527 | 3 | 1- Painting with gypsum 081 | 18 | 2- Painting with oil paint 486 | 18 | 3- Painting with distemper 104 | 40 Total The Engineer ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Location | Details | Quantity | Price | Amount | Remarks Oil Paint | From previous | 127.844 | 140 | 17.898 | Painting the door Doors | 1.10 x 2.20 x 2 units = 4.84 | 7.800 | | | ⟦illegible⟧ | 1.65 x 2.26 = 3.800 | 3.800 | | | Half window | 1.10 x 2.26 x 2 units = 5.000 | 5.000 | | | Brick paint | 1.80 x 2.36 x 2 units = 8.600 | 8.600 | | | 2.70 | 0.45 x 2.00 = 0.90 | 0.900 | | | 2.4 Windows | 0.80 x 2.00 two sides = 3.20 | 3.200 | | | 6.4 | 0.60 x 2.000 one side = 1.20 | 1.200 | | | | 0.60 x 2.00 x 2 units two sides = 4.80 | 4.800 | | | | 1.10 x 1.20 x 2 units two sides = 5.28 | 5.280 | | | | 1.10 x 0.65 x 2 units one side = 1.43 | 1.430 | | | | 1.10 x 1.20 x 2 units side = 2.64 | 2.640 | | | | | 13.494 | | | | Deduct in paint 2.40 x 2 units two sides = 9.60 | 1.440 | | | | | 12.054 | | | Continuous | | | | | Accountant's Room | (2.80 + 2.90) x 2 x 2.20 = 40.00 | 40.000 | | | Secretary | (4.45 + 2.50) x 2 x 2.20 = 57.00 | 57.000 | | | Safe Deposit Box | (1.75 + 2.75) x 2 x 2.20 = 26.60 | 26.600 | | | Hall | (9.70 + 5.45) x 2 x 2.20 = 94.00 | 94.000 | | | In front of Supervisor's room | 1.20 x 2.20 x 2 = 5.25 | 5.250 | | | Corridor | 5.00 x (5.00 x 2 + 1.80) = 59.00 | 59.500 | | | Coffee Room | 7.50 x 1.50 = 11.25 | 11.250 | | | | 5.00 x 2.5 = 6.25 | 6.250 | | | | 4.20 x 2 x 0.80 = 6.90 | 6.900 | | | | 7.25 x 2 = 5.00 | 5.000 | | | | | 512.95 | | |