Arranging Travel for Operation Ezra & Nehemiah; Issues Pertaining to Jews Abrogating Citizenship
View interactive document pageThese are archival documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. This item contains documents and correspondences pertaining to Baghdadi Jews abrogating their Iraqi citizenship in order to travel abroad. Included is an offer from a travel company about arranging transportation for the airlift of Iraqi Jews from Iraq to Israel (Operation Ezra and Nehemiah), complaints to the Iraqi government concerning police interference with Jews traveling, announcements to the Baghdadi Jewish community about opportunities to learn more about the citizenship laws and to forfeit citizenship, and correspondence between the government and the Jewish community concerning citizens who desire to forfeit their citizenship but have complicated circumstances. The item also contains letters in Judeo-Arabic, many which include community members' names.
⟦Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad⟧ (191) Name of the applicant | Note Raju Daniel Michael S. | From the people of Kirkuk, stating that he will travel by | renouncing citizenship (will leave around ⟦11/12⟧) | and he has a mentally ill brother in Dar al-Shifa | at the Royal Hospital - Jassim Michael - | he is 40 years old, married and his wife | is divorced - Karjiya Rahmani Rifa' in | Abu Saifin neighborhood and he has two sons from her ⟦signature⟧ 8/11
Incoming Internal Telegram 222 Urgent Telegram Type: Urgent Time of Registration: 3:10 Date: 21 / 4 Arrived at Hour: Minute: From: Diwaniyah Received by: ⟦illegible⟧ Word Count: 20 Administrative Instructions: Urgent Date: 21 Issuing Department: Diwaniyah To Baghdad, Head of the Jewish Community 128 people are moving by express train for tonight, please prepare what is necessary Agent of the Jewish Community Diwaniyah ⟦illegible⟧
As the situation worsened on Thursday and Friday regarding this matter concerning the case of Hayyim Saqr and Doctor Sheena, as Doctor Abdul Rahman and the rest of the doctors plotted a conspiracy against them, claiming that Hayyim did such and such. On Thursday, a group of Muslims rose up and began shouting in the market that the religion of Islam has become soiled, and they headed to the Mutasarrif demanding the execution of Hayyim and all the Jews. Fear began to flutter over all the Jews, and the Sheikhs intervened in the case as I heard, and the situation remains tense. Therefore, I hope to inform all those in authority of this, and if possible the head of the community, due to the negligence shown by the Police Department. This, and give my greetings to our brother Salman Sawab; I think he did not handle everything in a serious and wise manner. Stay well, Your brother, Yaqub Abdullah (1951) Sulaymaniyah 12 / 8 / 950 Dear respected brother Mir Ibrahim Raphael, After greetings and respect. My brother, you may have asked what happened in Sulaymaniyah upon the arrival of the cars of the Jews of Halabja. As they were roaming the streets without the police department responding to them. And they send a car with them for their protection, and when one of the cars was delayed and reached the shop of Haj Mulla Sharif, where the adults and children were throwing stones, watermelon rinds, and insults at them, while the police stood laughing at what was happening. After the drivers returned from Kirkuk, we asked them about what happened on the road, and one of them said, no, not just one of them, in Chamchamal and in Kirkuk they showered them with dirty water. My dear brother, you may have asked and you know the case in its correct form. This is what happened to the Jews of Halabja, but as for what will come to the Jews of Sulaymaniyah
⟦illegible⟧ 21 Number: (1948) Telegram Type: 4 Time of registration: 10/10 Arrived at: From: Erbil Word count: 14/15 Date: 28 Issuing Office: Erbil To: Reply 10 Head of the Community BAGHDAD TELS. 30 MAY 50 The Israeli in Baghdad The police informed us of the departure of the first batch to Baghdad, let us know your opinion / Saleh The Answer The bag is extra ⟦illegible⟧
Incoming Internal Telegram Dropped Telegram Number 42 8/25 Registration Time Arrived at 8:40 minutes From Diwaniya 4 Received by H Word count 18 Administrative instructions Date 1 Issuing department Diwaniya To the Head of the Jewish Community of Baghdad Our representative will meet you today to explain the necessity of travel for the persons whose citizenship has been revoked via the Baghdad route Head of the Diwaniya Community (895) 42 ⟦Pa. 33⟧ Baghdad ⟦...⟧ AUG 50 BAGHDAD
To His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, the respected Through the Committee of the Menashi Saleh Shelter, the respected Presented to your Excellency: We, the group of refugees living in the Menashi Saleh shelter, have been here for a long time and now we are very distressed because our children are sleeping in the courtyard without bedding, and the children are catching cold, and at night the women cry over their children from the abundance of ⟦clouds/distress⟧, and until now we had some money that we were spending and buying food and other necessary things, and now our money has run out. We beg your Excellency to have mercy on us by revoking our citizenship at the earliest possible time, and if we do not have the ⟦revocation papers⟧, the children will perish and we cannot bear to watch the torment any longer. The matter is yours, with thanks. 7/21/1950 On behalf of the refugees Musa ⟦Akair⟧ ⟦signature⟧ Referred to the committee to provide assistance ⟦signature⟧ 7/22/50
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number:
Subject:
Date: 1950/10/11
Income Tax Directorate and General Banks
Greetings,
We would like to inform you that Mr. Ezra Isaac Shabbathai was not
an employee of the Community Presidency ⟦himself⟧, but rather, due to his knowledge of
printing matters as a former printing worker, we brought him
to operate the Roneo machine for us for the purpose of printing lists of names
of persons who requested the renunciation of Iraqi citizenship for the purposes of
the Travel and Nationality Department, and based on his request ⟦we wrote this for him⟧
Please accept our respects
For the file
Renunciation
⟦signature⟧
Secretary
282 I informed Mr. Saleh Binwa They do not have a place in Al-Khout 12/6 Incoming telegram received 12 JUN 50 Baghdad Telegram type: Time of registration: 17:45 Arrived at hour: 18 Minute: 15 From: Al-Diwaniyah Received by: ⟦illegible⟧ Word count: 18 Administrative instructions: Date: 12 Issuing office: Al-Diwaniyah To: Baghdad Presidency of the Mosaic Community
<del>Mr.</del> President Mr. Ibrahim has consulted me previously at the start of using the Rachel Shahmoon school as a shelter for the displaced from the brigades for the purpose of receiving the necessary amounts for maintenance and cleaning. He has now submitted a list in the amount of 71/906 <del>81/800</del> Dinars for the expenses mentioned. Please state your opinion? This is with the knowledge that I am authorized to pay the amounts that are very necessary, such as cleaning the toilets ⟦h. f.⟧ and the like, even if on the account of the ⟦Committee⟧ of the Presidency of the Community in the event that the committee of the Fanni Saleh school shelter refuses to cover these expenses. 1/8 The list was reported to the committee of the Fanni Saleh school shelter ⟦Signature⟧ 1/26
Rachel Shahmoon School Baghdad Aqad Bahr No. 26 / 114 Telephone Number: 5214 Established in 1909 Number Date ⟦illegible⟧ 25 Nasiriyah 275 Mosul 10 <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> Erbil 21 Shahraban 6 Baghdad 3 Diwaniyah 2 Amarah 585 Urgent Honorable Vice President Mr. Ibrahim Yona, Director of the Rachel Shahmoon School, attended and requested based on the direction of the Secretary of the Schools Committee on the necessity of taking the necessary measures to evacuate the Rachel Shahmoon School of the displaced persons from the provinces, numbering (585) in anticipation of demolition cases or others to reopen the school. Note that the school needs four days for cleaning and to carry out the necessary repairs his places ⟦illegible⟧ 20 / 10 / 50 ⟦illegible signature⟧ 20/10 For filing Drop Drops Committee Shahmoon Appointment 21 / 10 To transport them But please ask about Is it possible to find another place Please research that 21/10
196 ⟦Department Copy⟧ Department Copy T / 100 / 50 8 / 8 / 1950 His Excellency the Director of Baghdad District Police, Respected After greetings We request the order to allocate a member of the police force to maintain security and order in the shelter of the Munshi Saleh School located in the Torah neighborhood, which contains approximately eight hundred poor people from the residents of Baghdad and from the northern districts. We emphasize to your Excellency that due to the recurrence of incidents of rioting and disruption of order, we see it as very necessary that you order the allocation of a member of the police force as quickly as possible to guard the aforementioned shelter permanently to maintain security and order. Please accept our highest respect; ⟦the⟧ ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council A / 7 / 8
197 ⟦illegible⟧ Department Copy T / 8 / 15 / 55 8 / 8 / 950 His Excellency the Director of Travel and Nationality Police, Respectfully Baghdad After greetings I request that your Excellency kindly instruct the Directorate of Diwaniyah Police to deport the first batch of Diwaniyah Jews whose Iraqi citizenship has been revoked to Baghdad on the morning of Sunday, August 13, 1950. Please accept the assurances of my highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ 8/8 ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council
Department Copy Department Copy T / 1508 / 50 9 / 8 / 1950 His Excellency the Director of Travel and Nationality Police, Respectfully Baghdad After greetings, I request your Excellency to kindly instruct the Directorate of Sulaymaniyah Police to deport the remainder of the first batch of Halabja Jews whose Iraqi nationality has been revoked to Baghdad on Friday morning, corresponding to 11 / August / 1950, so that they arrive in Baghdad on Saturday morning, corresponding to 12 / August / 1950. Please accept the highest respect; ⟦illegible⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council W / 10 / 2
158 T / 1512 / 50 14/8/1950 Copy for ⟦Personnel⟧ Directorate of Travel and Nationality Police Greetings, With reference to your letter numbered C / 18297/77038 and dated 13 / 8 / 1950. It has been shown to us, after verification from just witnesses, that the person named (Mordechai Yaqub) whose photo is attached below is the same person named (Murad Naeem Yaqub). Please accept our respects; ⟦Signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community Head of the Secular Council ⟦Signature⟧ 8/14 8/13/1
Directorate General of Police Travel and Nationality Division Baghdad Number / J 77038 / 18297 Date 29 / 10 / 1369 AH 13 / 8 / 1950 AD Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Subject - Verification of Name Please confirm to us whether the person named (Murad Khay Yaqub) whose photograph is attached below and stamped with the seal of this department is the same person named (Murad Naeem Yaqub) after verifying by checking your records - and inform us urgently. Director of Travel and Nationality Police H / H / 1 ⟦illegible stamp⟧ ⟦Photograph of a man⟧
General Police Directorate Travel and Nationality Division Baghdad Number / J 77038 / 18297 Date 29 / 10 / 1369 AH 13 / 8 / 1950 AD Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Subject - Verification of Name We request that you confirm to us whether the person named (Murad Khay Yaqub) whose photograph is attached below and stamped with the stamp of this department is the same person named (Murad Naeem Yaqub) after verifying by checking your records - and informing us urgently. Director of Travel and Nationality Police ⟦A⟧ H. H. / 1 ⟦Faint circular stamp⟧ ⟦Photograph of a man⟧
We the undersigned have renounced our Iraqi citizenship 270 Najda son of Isaac Najda and his wife Samira daughter of Simon Abdul Aziz son of Isaac Najda and his daughter Rachel and his daughter Salahia On the date 12 / 8 / 1950 Simon Najda Samira Simon ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
199 Department Copy T/1500/50 8/7/1950 Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province We have decided to appoint Mr. Yusuf Daoud Al-Katib of the Albert Daoud Sassoon School as Acting Director of the Shamash School in place of Mr. Elias Gabbay temporarily until the end of the summer vacation for this year. You will find below a sample of his signature for your kind reliance upon it. ⟦signature⟧ Sample of the signature of Mr. Yusuf Daoud ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council Note This letter was issued based on the request of the Schools Committee. 8/6/1 ⟦signature⟧ 8/2 ⟦illegible⟧
200 Jewish Schools Committee BAGHDAD Jewish Schools Committee in Baghdad Presidency of the Jewish Community T / 1020 / 50 20 / 7 / 50 Number: Z / 112 / 282 Date: 20 / 7 / 1950 Honorable Presidency of the Jewish Community After greetings Please kindly inform the Directorate of Education of the Baghdad Province that in view of the resignation of Mr. Meir Hayya, the acting principal of Shamash School, we have assigned the acting principalship of the aforementioned school to Mr. Elias Gabbay, the principal of the National Intermediate School for Boys, in addition to his current duties. The headquarters of both administrations will be temporarily located in the Shamash School building. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ The President
⟦Note⟧ T / 455 / 50 11 / 7 / 1950 Directorate of Education of Baghdad Province We wish to inform you that in view of the resignation of Mr. Mir Hayya, acting principal of Shamash School, we have assigned the acting principalship of the aforementioned school to Mr. ⟦Alice⟧ Kabbay, principal of the Private Intermediate School for Boys, in addition to his current duties. The headquarters of both administrations will be temporarily located in the Shamash School building. Please accept our highest respects ⟦line⟧ ⟦signature⟧ 7/9 ⟦signature⟧ Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council 7/9/9