AI en Translation, Pages 526-550
Page 526
447
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
No. S T / 50 / 8774
Date 21 / 12 / 50
Number /: 922 / 1
Date /: 18 / 12 / 1950
To -
Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
Subject / - Traveling by train from Baghdad to Basra
We confirm our letter No. 870 dated 6 / 12 / 1950
hoping to contact the competent authorities to put an end to these restrictions in view of what the
traveler suffers from difficulties in his travel from Baghdad to Basra.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
Page 527
228
Department Copy
⟦illegible⟧
Traveling by train from Baghdad to Basra
T / 50/1664
12/24/1950
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Basra
After greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 922 dated 12/18/1950.
We have not received your letter No. 870 dated 12/3/1950 regarding this subject.
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
For filing / Dismissal
⟦illegible⟧
12 / 24
Ibrahim / 21
Page 528
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Amarah
229
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Special No. T / 777 / 50
Date 26 / 12 / 50
Subject ::
Number ::
Date :: 22 / 12 / 1950
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Greetings and respect
Dear sir, I have received several letters, telegrams, and telephone calls from the merchants of Amarah who are currently in your area
asking me to sell the carpets that are in the synagogue in order to spend the proceeds on the travel of the poor of Amarah who are
currently in your area. As for the carpets available and offered for sale, they are very old and most of them are torn, and their value does not exceed
approximately /150/ Dinars, and they cannot be sold in our area since the environment does not support that. Therefore, I will send them to
your side so that you can see their condition and sell them in your area. The people who requested the sale of the carpets did so so that they would not spend
anything from their own pockets on the poor who are still in your area and delayed from traveling under the pretext that they do not have
travel fees. Most of these people are relatives of the individuals who requested the sale of the carpets and the sending of their proceeds
to them so they can pay the travel fees for the delayed poor, meaning covering for their relatives without paying anything of their own.
They want to place the blame for the deficiency on the Amarah community for their shortcoming, despite the fact that the community has no money,
even though there is a demand for nearly forty Dinars, and this is with the increase in travel and lack of revenue.
Their request to sell the carpets is contrary to the current situation of the community and the state of the remaining degraded families here, i.e.,
in Amarah, consisting of approximately fifteen very poor families living in community properties who have nothing to eat,
as well as the travel fees to your side. Likewise, the vast majority of those remaining are barely managing their affairs,
and we cannot obtain anything from them, and it is unknown what time hides during the period they remain with us until their travel.
The synagogue's revenues, given the current situation, are very low, such that they do not cover the synagogue's electricity bills. The people
remaining in Amarah insisted on not sending the carpets or selling them for fear of the travel of the last batch. Therefore, in view
of the situation we have, the insistence of the people in your area, and the opposition of the people in our area, I was forced to send them
to you so you can examine them and sell them as you see fit and act under your supervision, as the Jews remaining in our area, their travel
will be delayed by about a month or more approximately. Therefore, the matter is submitted to your presence for your approval. Peace.
For filing
Activity
⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Amarah
Page 529
Appeal
From the Azouri Dalim Association
Munshi Saleh School Branch
While our association thanks you for your kindness and mercy toward the refugees of the Munshi Saleh School by providing
generous donations in cash and in kind ⟦which⟧ we wish to inform you that measles has spread among the children of the shelter, a matter
which has placed heavy burdens on our shoulders to preserve their lives, as the shelter management was forced to allocate a special wing in
the shelter building to isolate the children infected with measles and care for them under the supervision of the Meir Elias Hospital management. The shelter management
is in dire need of the charitable among you to donate what your hands can offer in terms of beds (charpoy), mattresses, pillows
(cushions), blankets ⟦and linen⟧, and used clothing, in exchange for a special receipt from the Azouri Dalim Association to be received from the director of
the shelter.
Our hope is firm that you will give this appeal of ours the attention and care it deserves.
⟦line⟧
Seen
12/21
For filing
Received
Ibrahim / 21
Page 530
Baghdad on
To the Honorable Chairman of the Renunciation and Deportation Committee
Greetings:
Since we have renounced our citizenship with the full knowledge that the authorities and the Spiritual Council departments will deport us
to the port from Baghdad Capital Airport, we have personally ordered some of us to sell what they own of movable and immovable property
and we have conducted the liquidation and prepared for travel at the first request. However, our situation worsened as a significant amount of time
has passed since then. We have fallen into our current state and the means for travel have not been prepared for us. Since we are close to the ruin of the
greatest part of us, as they are unable to provide travel fees, and if the situation continues—meaning if we are delayed in traveling—then the remaining
part of us will become unable to pay travel fees. We have become poor and threatened with eviction from our
sold premises, while no one expects to hold onto them after renunciation. Furthermore, we have become pursued by others due to
our condition. We, the residents of the Al-Jawriyat district and the district side, and the closest of what remains of our meager money which forced us to settle safely
in the district, and the official forced us to give an end to what we suffer. We beg you to find the means that ensure our deportation
as quickly as possible before the matter worsens and all the public living in that area become poor and unable
to pay travel fees, and this entire community becomes a burden on the community. We hope that our request will be considered
with kindness by accelerating our deportation to avoid damages and expenses. Respectfully yours.
A copy to
The Honorable President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
To take the necessary action regarding us as we presented above.
12/19/50
For filing
Formerly
Ibrahim Eliyahu. Yusuf Abid. Saleh Daoud. Rahmin Khedhouri. Daoud Daoud. Yaqub Abadi
Shlomo Abid. Aded Daniel. Ibrahim Levi. Ishaq Murad. Rahmin Daniel. Shimon Zion
Eliyahu Saleh. Shalom Saqal. Khedhouri Yaqub. Harun Khedhouri. Salim Eliyahu. Shantob Saleh
Ishaq Yunis. Zion Abid. Nahum Elias. Saleh Harun. Faraj Eliyahu. Munir Zion
Yusuf Murad. Zion Eliyahu. Faraj Abid. Daniel Khedhouri. Ishaq Ibrahim
Naim Abid. Saleh Mikhail. Bashir Baruch. Munir Baruch. Daniel Saleh
⟦signatures and thumbprints interspersed with names in B05⟧
Page 531
T / 501
12 / 1950 /
Presidency of the Committee for Revocation of Citizenship and Deportation
After greetings
We have received several complaints from relatives of travelers regarding the loss of some luggage
returned from the civil airport after inspection to the Masouda Shemtob Synagogue, as we have also received
complaints regarding the refusal of the Masouda Shemtob Synagogue employees to refund the excess weight fees
for the luggage returned after inspection.
We enclose herewith a copy of two reports in this regard received from members of the community in Baghdad.
Please kindly provide your comments regarding them, and remain in peace;
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
⟦signature⟧
⟦signature⟧
12/4
For filing
Revocation
Ibrahim /
Page 532
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: T/ 501
Subject:
Date: 12 / 1950
Presidency of the Committee for Denaturalization and Deportation
After greetings
We have received several complaints from relatives of travelers regarding the loss of some luggage
returned from the civil airport after inspection to the Mas'uda Shemtob Synagogue, and we also received
complaints regarding the refusal of the Mas'uda Shemtob Synagogue employees to refund the excess weight fees
pertaining to the luggage returned after inspection.
We attach herewith a copy of two reports in this regard received from members of the community in Baghdad
Please kindly provide your views on the matter, and remain in our regards;
Acting President of the Community
President of the Lay Council
Ibrahim /
Page 534
Copy of the letter we received from the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad 9 / 7 / 950
Residence
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
The Honorable Mr. Saleh Yusuf Lorie,
President of the Jewish Community
Erbil
After greetings and respect,
Hano Shamoun, from the people of Diana belonging
to the Rawanduz district, and Korkis Moussa, from the people of Shirwan belonging
to the Rawanduz district, have approached us complaining about the harassment they are facing and wishing
to leave their city to renounce their citizenship. Since it is difficult for us
to have them come down at the present time to renounce their citizenship in Baghdad because
the regulations currently followed require every person to renounce their citizenship in
their region ⟦line⟧ I have seen that it is appropriate to look into their matter given what is
known to us of your kindness and concern.
Therefore, I hope you will study their case and try to pave the way
to renounce their citizenship in Rawanduz or Erbil in a manner that ensures the guarantee of
their freedom and comfort. Awaiting your reply, and please accept my highest respect.
Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Page 535
To the Honorable President of the Israelite Community
Greetings and respect,
I have come with this letter of mine to clarify to your Excellency the circumstances that have permeated the lives of these miserable refugees.
And as I mention to your Eminence the difficulties and troubles we encountered in the process of moving them from their villages and remote dwellings
and seeking refuge for them among us. In the beginning of last summer, they were housed in homes, their rents were paid
on their behalf, they were fed daily, and we stood by them in every matter, small or large, for nearly five months.
And informing your Eminence that the members of our community are not those who are capable of supporting this number of souls,
as the largest part of our members are completely unable to support themselves, especially with the onset of the winter season.
It is worth noting that a portion of the children of these refugees are soldiers, and the recruitment offices bring them in
and imprison them, and we, in turn, do the impossible for the sake of their salvation. Truly, the condition of these people is difficult and heart-wrenching,
and they can be likened to the state of that beggar who has been exhausted by hunger and long waiting. Fate has played
with the lives of this group of people, overwhelming them as they have no choice and no way out.
In view of these compelling circumstances, we find ourselves unable to solve their complex problems, and we have worked beyond our capacity
for them, and we are now in need among them, not knowing which path should be taken. If the way to save them
from this critical predicament were in our hands, the matter would have been easy and simple. But what is to be done?
I want your Eminence to know that the economic condition of our members is low, and we cannot stand in the face of
the branching [consequences] as I mentioned previously. If it were in our power to keep them for a longer period, we would have done so with pleasure,
but circumstances force and compel us to turn to you and seek your noble sympathy to save
these poor people from the clutches of hunger and the scourge of want, and to solve this humanitarian dilemma.
This is all I wanted to lay out before you, so that you may have full knowledge of the state of affairs and what
time has brought upon the lives of this group of people. I pray to God Almighty to guide them and help you with this
problem, and that you may be the reason for the rescue and salvation of the lives of this innocent human group
and granting them a new life instead of certain death and a dire fate.
By this action of yours, you will have performed the greatest and holiest humanitarian work, and by this, you will have honored your
lofty faces with the best of abilities.
In conclusion to what we have previously mentioned, I wish you and the members of your community every success and prosperity in your charitable works. Peace.
Sincerely yours,
Head of the Jewish Community of Babylon
⟦signature⟧
Page 536
250
T / 1592 / 50
6 / 11 / 1950
Department Copy
The Honorable Mr. Saleh Yusuf Nuri, Respectfully
Head of the Jewish Community
Erbil
After greetings and respect
I hope you are well. I have received your letter dated
1/11/1950 and have taken note of all its contents. While I thank you for your efforts and the trouble
you have undertaken for the sake of the refugees residing from the villages neighboring Erbil,
I hope you will be reassured that I am making every possible effort to expedite their departure
as much as possible.
Please accept my highest respect,
Sincerely,
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
⟦Evening⟧
11/6
11/6/1
Page 537
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 87
Date: 3 / 12 / 1950
251
Department Copy
Subject: Travel by train from Baghdad
To: Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
The Railway Police began, as of 28 / 11 / 1950, detaining all Jewish travelers
at the West Baghdad station and placing them in a separate carriage under heavy guard until they reach
the Basra station, at which point the Basra residents are released through the Community Presidency (this is after an arrangement
with the responsible authorities in the province) and those who are not from Basra are referred to the investigating judge who decides
what he deems appropriate regarding them.
Since the detention begins when the travelers are in Baghdad, and since these measures were taken
primarily by the government authorities in Baghdad, we hope that you will do what is in your power to address
this situation.
With respect to your Excellency.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Jewish Community in Basra
Presidency of the Jewish Community: Baghdad
Number: T / 1178 / 50
Date: 26 / 12 / 50
For filing
⟦signature⟧
Page 538
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 870
Date: 3 / 12 / 1950
Subject: Travel by train from Baghdad
To:
Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
The Railway Police began, as of 11/28/1950, detaining all Jewish travelers
at the West Baghdad station and placing them in a separate carriage under heavy guard until they reach
the Basra station, at which point the Basra residents are released through the knowledge of the Community Presidency (this is after an arrangement
with the responsible authorities in the Governorate) and those who are not from Basra are referred to the investigating judge who decides
what he deems appropriate regarding them.
Since the detention begins when the travelers are in Baghdad, and since these measures were taken
primarily by the government authorities in Baghdad, we hope that you will do what is in your power to address
this situation.
With respect to your Excellency.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Page 539
Presented 15/12/50
588
252
10-12-950 Erbil
To the Honorable President of the Israelite Community
After greetings and respect,
I was honored by your letter dated 6-11-950 and remained waiting for your kindness
to take some action for the sake of the Jewish refugees in Erbil, and until this date
you have not favored us by opening any path, of whatever kind, for these unfortunate people,
and you have turned your gaze away from them and left them, and burdened the weak Erbil group
for a period of eight months with paying their housing rents, clothes for their children,
their livelihood, etc.... Is this justice, that the weak who is
incapable of his own will should manage the incapable? How can your conscience accept that,
Mr. President? Erbil alone is not responsible for managing them because they are
the poor from outside the borders of Iran and Turkey who gathered in Erbil. Based on your letter
which reached us on 9-7-950 and which is attached to this letter, we have done what
was required for them, and we hope from your compassion that you will sympathize with them and with us
and solve their problem as soon as possible.
Please accept the expression of highest respect.
Saleh Yusuf Burka
⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Israelite Community:
Ref No. S.T./: 1212 / 50
Date: 11 / 12 / 50
For review
Page 540
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number / 950
Date / 26 / 12 / 1950
Urgent
1 -
Iraq Tour Company - Baghdad
Director General of Police - Baghdad
Director of Travel and Nationality Police - Baghdad
Director of Port Police - Basra
We contacted your company headquarters four times but we did not reach you period We contacted your agent in Basra and received no answer We have
ready passports sufficient for four planes period The health condition of the owners of these passports is very bad
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del> Save us by sending a plane tomorrow period Inform us of its arrival time by telegram
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
The Jewish Community in Basra
*
PRESIDENT OF THE ⟦illegible⟧
True copy of the original
⟦signature⟧
Secretary of the Community
Page 541
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number / 951
Date / 27 / 12 / 1950
Extremely Urgent
His Excellency the Mutasarrif of Basra Province, Respected
We contacted the headquarters of the Iraq Tour company in Baghdad four times but we did not reach them. We contacted its agent in Basra and did not get
an answer. We have ready passports sufficient for four planes. The health condition of the owners of these passports
is very bad. Save us by sending a plane.
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
Presidency of the ⟦Community⟧
PRESIDENT OF THE ⟦COMMUNITY⟧
A copy of it to:-
To His Excellency the Police Director of Basra Province - for your kind information
To His Excellency the Port Police Director - " " "
True copy
⟦signature⟧
Secretary of the Community
Page 542
2
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number / 953
Date / 27 / 12 / 1950
His Excellency the Director General of Police, Respected.
Greetings.
We would like to place before your Excellency the following:-
1- Four months have passed since the renunciation forms for the Jews of Basra (which come after
number 2089) were sent, and until now these forms have not been submitted to the esteemed Council of Ministers for approval, while
we see that the renunciation forms for the Jews of Baghdad, which were issued after the Basra forms, have
been submitted to the esteemed Council of Ministers and (3000) of them have been approved. We do not know the reason that led
to the delay in submitting the forms for the Jews of Basra, who have become in a deplorable state, with no shelter and no livelihood,
and their health condition has deteriorated to a dangerous degree, and the Presidency of the Community has found temporary places for them
to reside in. Therefore, we hope your Excellency will issue your high orders to the competent authorities to submit these forms
for approval.
2- The Port Police Directorate has prepared for us passports sufficient for four planes, in addition to being on its way
to completing passports sufficient for four other planes, but the Iraqtour Company, which took upon itself the transport of
Jews whose citizenship was revoked to Cyprus, does not send us the necessary planes to transport them despite our deposit
with it of the amount of (1500) Dinars as an advance payment on account of the plane fees. All the telephone
and telegraphic communications we conducted with the company have been of no use in inducing it to send the planes, knowing that
one or two planes fly daily from Baghdad. <del>We have</del> Therefore, we have come to your Excellency - in the name of these individuals
who await your kindness - hoping for the issuance of your high orders to this company to induce it to send <del>the planes</del>
the necessary planes to transport these individuals whose passports are ready.
Please accept, your Excellency, the highest respect.
President of the Jewish Community
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Basra
⟦PRESIDENCY OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY...⟧
A copy of it to:-
His Excellency the Governor of Basra Province -- for favor of support
His Excellency the Director of Port Police -- "
His Excellency the Director of Police of Basra Province -- "
True copy
⟦illegible signature⟧
⟦illegible rectangular stamp⟧
Page 543
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number / 966
Date / 31 / 12 / 1950
3
Urgent
To - His Excellency the Minister of Interior - Baghdad
Director General of Police - Baghdad
Director of Travel and Nationality Police - Baghdad
Iraq Tour Company - Baghdad
Confirming our telegram dated 26 / 12 / 1950
The health condition of the full passport holders has become very bad, they have no livelihood, save them by sending planes.
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
⟦illegible stamp⟧
True copy of the original
⟦illegible signature⟧
Secretary of the Community
Page 544
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
⟦illegible⟧
Number /: 968
Date /: 31 / 12 / 1950
To -
His Excellency the Governor of Basra Province, Respected.
Greetings "
We transmit below to your Excellency a copy of the telegram sent to each of His Excellency the Minister of Interior ", His Excellency the Director General of Police ",
His Excellency the Director of Travel and Nationality Police, and the Iraqtour Company in Baghdad, requesting your kindness in supporting its content
given the seriousness of the situation of the full passport holders.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our highest respect.
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
⟦illegible⟧
Copy to " -
His Excellency the Director of Basra Province Police - for favor of support
His Excellency the Director of Port Police - " " "
⟦line⟧
Copy of the Telegram
His Excellency the Minister of Interior - Baghdad
Director General of Police - Baghdad
Director of Travel and Nationality Police - Baghdad
Iraqtour Company - Baghdad
Confirming our telegram dated 26 / 12 / 1950.
The health condition of the full passport holders has become very bad, they have no livelihood, save them by sending planes.
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
True copy of the original
⟦illegible⟧
Secretary of the Community
Page 545
Basra Province Police Directorate
Number / 36823 /
Date / 31 / 12 / 1950
Director General of Police
Subject / - Transfer of Jews from Basra
Reference to the letter of the Presidency of the Israelite Community in Basra No. 953 dated 27 / 12 / 1950
addressed to your office "We confirm what was stated therein, as the discontent regarding the failure to send planes to Basra to transport
the Jews of Basra, whose travel permit processing has been completed, has reached its peak, as they are now without shelter in view of
having sold everything they own months ago in preparation for their departure. We submit to your office that we see it as absolutely necessary to send
no less than two planes per week to transport them."
Director of Basra Province Police
A copy to: -
Governor of Basra Province - Reference to the letter of the Presidency of the Community mentioned above - for your kind information.
Presidency of the Israelite Community in Basra - Reference to its letter mentioned above - for information.
True copy
⟦signature⟧
⟦stamp: Basra Province Police Directorate⟧
2
Page 546
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 824
Date: 31 / 12 / 1950
Subject: Traveling by train from Baghdad to Basra
To: Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
Greetings,
Reference to your letter numbered T / 1664 / 50 and dated 24 / 12 / 1950.
We enclose herewith a copy of our letter numbered 870 and dated 3 / 12 / 1950, noting
that the situation mentioned therein is still ongoing.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Jewish Community
in Basra
Page 548
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
No. ⟦...⟧ T / 51 / 1189
Date 1 / 1 / 51
His Eminence, the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, the Respected
Presented to your Excellency:
We, the undersigned, are a group of Jews from the Erbil Governorate whose citizenship has been revoked. We requested
revocation and deportation to Baghdad, and the Erbil Governorate Police Directorate sent us fifteen
days ago. We have remained here in the synagogues without funds and without bedding, we and our children
and our families, and without anyone asking about us. We do not know who is responsible for these actions
and to whom we should turn?
The rich have saved themselves and left Iraq, leaving us bewildered, not knowing
the path we should take. Is this conscience and sentiment? And is this
what we were waiting for, to die of hunger with our children in Jewish synagogues in a city
inhabited by one hundred thousand Jews?
Your Eminence, we do not know the authority to which we should turn, and we have no representative.
Our representative has left Iraq and left us in the most miserable condition, like a soldier who flees the battlefield.
We have arrived without funds and without even bread for our families, and if our situation continues longer than this,
we will spend more days like this. Therefore, we have come with this petition of ours, that you order the acceleration of our travel first,
and that you provide our families with bread, bread. And if this petition does not find a listening ear,
we will hold you accountable before God and the people, as you are the shepherd of this people and the father of the poor and the weak.
For filing
⟦signature⟧
Daniel Ibrahim | Yaqub Saqil | Shalom Ibrahim | Malia Shlomo | Shimon Benjamin
Benjamin Hazqeel | Shaya Manshi | Natan Manshi | Hazqeel Shamail
Manshi Yaqub | Omran Abdullah | Nassim Ezra
Zakaya Nahum | Ezra Abbo | Manatan Yusuf | Saleh Ezra | Murad Yona
Yaqub Hani | Benjamin | Malaka Abdullah | Zabia Natan | Yona Daoud
Khalouf Benjamin | Hazqeel Ezra | Natan Rahim | Khedouri Shamail
Slomo Daniel | Manshi Abboud | Salmat Yusuf | Aziz Daoud
Sion Nir | Khatoun Yona | Warda Khosh | Manshi Saleh
Sara Yaqub | Kia Hur Nahum | Saliha Nissan
Rahim Khoshi | Natan Shamash | Salim Sion
50 Fils