AI English Translation, Pages 201-225
4205
8 March 937
His Excellency the Respected Prime Minister
After greetings and respect
For a long time, we have been approaching the venerable Ministry of Education regarding the reconsideration
of the matter of financial aid granted to our private schools, but to no
avail.
We have repeatedly demanded our share of this aid according to the law of distributing
financial aid to private schools, but our request was unfortunately not taken into
consideration. On the contrary, the aid for some schools was reduced and cut off from the Shamash School,
the Albert Sassoon School, the Nouriel School (for boys), the Laura Kadoorie School, and the
Novem School (for girls), for no reason other than that these schools care about foreign languages
in addition to their care in implementing the education curricula and presenting a large number of
male and female students every year for the primary and intermediate study examinations.
Thus, this aid diminished little by little until it became, in the
1935/36 academic year, no more than 210 Dinars paid to three schools containing
approximately 1600 students, even though the total of our schools is 11 and they contain
approximately 8500 students. The last promise we received to increase the grants was in this
year, but the result was the opposite, as the grants were reduced once again to become
only 170 Dinars.
The Rachel Shahmoon Israeli Primary School, for example, which has
605 students, now receives only 65 Dinars from the Ministry of Education, even though the scientific education
therein and the examination results were always the subject of admiration in reports ⟦line⟧
( 2 )
inspectors of education, while there is a private primary school containing fewer pupils
than this number, yet it receives a more generous share of assistance from the Ministry of Education.
Therefore, we saw fit to resort to Your Excellency in view of the importance of the subject to us,
for the matter of the Ministry of Education's assistance to our schools concerns us from a material standpoint
due to the financial constraints of the community fund, and concerns us even more from a moral standpoint, as
reducing aid to some of our schools, cutting it off from others, and the failure to fulfill
the promises given to us regarding its reconsideration is nothing but a discouragement of the efforts
exerted by us in assisting the government to spread education in the country, these
efforts which we always hoped would receive from the esteemed Ministry the encouragement
it deserves. 4
on behalf of
The Head of the Community
His Excellency, the Respected Prime Minister
After greetings and respect
For a long time, we have been consulting the venerable Ministry of Education regarding the reconsideration of the matter
of financial aid granted to our private schools, but to no avail.
We have repeatedly demanded our share of this aid according to the law for distributing aid
to private schools, but our request was unfortunately not taken into consideration <del>and on the contrary</del>
the aid for some schools was reduced and cut off from the Shamash School and the Albert Sassoon School,
the Nouriel School (for boys), and from the Laura Kadoorie School and the Nunim School (for girls), for no reason
other than that these schools care about foreign languages in addition to their care in implementing
the education curricula, and a large number of male and female students from them apply every year for the
primary and intermediate study examinations.
Thus, this aid dwindled little by little until it became, in the 1935/
936 academic year, no more than 210 Dinars paid to three schools containing approximately
1,600 students, even though the total number of our schools is 11 and they contain approximately 8,500 students. The
last promise we received to renew the grants was in this year, but the result was the opposite,
as the grants were reduced once again to become only 170 Dinars.
The Rachel Shahmoon Israelite Primary School, for example, ⟦which⟧ has a student population of
605, now receives only 65 Dinars from the Ministry of Education, even though the scientific <del>and literary</del> education
therein and the examination results have always been a subject of admiration in the reports of the education inspectors, while
there is a private primary school containing fewer students than this number, yet it receives a more
generous share of assistance from the Ministry of Education.
Therefore, we saw fit to resort to Your Excellency, given the importance of the subject to us, as the matter
of the Ministry of Education's aid to our schools concerns us from a material standpoint due to the financial constraints of the
community fund, and concerns us even more from a moral standpoint, as the reduction of aid to some of our schools and its cutting off
from others, and the failure to implement the promises given to us regarding its reconsideration,
is nothing but a discouragement of the efforts exerted by us in assisting the government in spreading education in the
country—efforts which we always hoped would receive from the venerable Ministry the encouragement
they deserve!
His Excellency the Respected Prime Minister
Greetings and respect,
Last year, we requested the venerable Ministry of Education to include the students of
our two schools, Shamash and Albert Sassoon, in military training, just like their brothers, the students of
the official schools, but we have not succeeded in achieving our request until now. Our last letter in
this regard was dated November 20, 1936, and the Ministry's response to it was that it
would look into the matter when a sufficient number of trainers were available. Therefore, we have come to petition
Your Excellency to include our private schools in your kindness so that they are not deprived of these
valuable lessons that nurture the sense of patriotism and the qualities of manhood and sacrifice in
the souls of the students;
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
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4558
5 October 937
Secret
His Excellency the Minister of Interior, the Respected
After greetings and respect
I submit to Your Excellency herewith a copy of issue 243 published by the newspaper
Al-Kifah dated 30 September 937, drawing Your Excellency's attention to what was published on page
four of it, as well as to what was published on the second page of Al-Saraha newspaper
issue 10 dated 27 September 937, also attached, which is intended to stir feelings of
discord and hostility among the population, which falls under the provisions of the Decree for the Prevention of Harmful Propaganda.
It is my strong hope that Your Excellency will not leave any room for those with bad intentions to muddy
the waters in such delicate circumstances
With much respect to Your Excellency;
L.W.
Sassoon
Head of the Community
General Headquarters
of the Iraqi Aviation Association
Number: ⟦line⟧
Date: 2 February 1937
To the Head of the Jewish Community
The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri
Enclosed you will find receipt number 1139 for the amount you donated
which is 33/750 Dinars. The Association thanks you for your support and prays to God
to bless you, and hopes that this act of yours will be a good example for our dear citizens
the members of the Jewish community.
General Manager
of the Iraqi Aviation Association
For filing
The official is thanked
⟦illegible⟧
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⟦illegible⟧
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Iraqi Aviation Association
Receipt for amounts received by the Association's fund
Book: 2
Serial Number: 1139
| Dinar | Fils
From annual subscription fees | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" " " monthly | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" price of sacrificial skins | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" proceeds from badges | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" price of greeting cards | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" proceeds from parties | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" donations for the Mountain Aviation project | 33 | 750
" monthly lottery | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" proceeds from Tombola | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
" from proceeds of publications | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
Total | 33 | 750
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Only thirty-three dinars and seven hundred and fifty fils
Received from the honorable President of the Jewish Community, Mr. Sassoon Khadhuri and his deputy Al-Saadi
The amount written above, only thirty-three dinars and seven hundred and fifty fils
Place: Baghdad Date: 21 / 1 / 937
On behalf of the Accountant
⟦signature⟧
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Personnel Affairs Division
Please refer to the full number:
Number: 472
Date: 2 Dhu al-Qi'dah 356
4 January 38
Subject: ⟦line⟧
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
We have learned from the report of the Inspector of Private Schools for the city of Baghdad that the
Lay Council has stopped paying the salaries of the teachers belonging to your community for more than
two months, and since this affects the progress of teaching, we ask you to look upon them with compassion
and pay their suspended salaries and inform us.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Director General of Education
⟦signature⟧
A. Q.
⟦faint circular blue stamp⟧
⟦faint rectangular red stamp⟧
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Section ⟦line⟧
Number: 10578
Date: 28 / 1 / 17
Reminder
To: The Jewish Community
Subject:
Please respond to our letter
Numbered 476 dated 28 / 1 / 5
Regarding the payment of teachers' salaries
Signature on behalf of the Director General of Education
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 2249
Date 28 / 1 / 19
Shamash School
Baghdad
Tel. No. 1028
Shamash School
Baghdad
Telephone Number 1028
No. Number:
Date: 2 February 1938
Subject: Petition of Mr. Walter Rees
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Interior
Sir
With all respect, I submit herewith to Your Excellency the petition of Mr. Walter Rees, B.Sc. from the University of London,
the teacher in our school, whose contents I support with full confidence.
I wish to assure Your Excellency that the aforementioned teacher is completely innocent of the charge leveled against him.
He is a diligent teacher, entirely devoted to his work, and no gesture related to any political idea has ever emanated from him. He is
completely against the Zionist idea, as is also confirmed by his colleagues from the three religions: Muslims, Christians,
and Jews.
The aforementioned person has no friends or acquaintances in Baghdad, and he simply spends his life
dedicated to the study of natural sciences.
I implore Your Excellency to instruct that the necessary investigations be carried out to clear the name of this honorable man
who stands before you on a charge that has no basis in truth.
Please accept, Mr. Minister:
Your obedient servant
Director of Shamash School
Model No. 22 - 2000 - 11 - 935
February 2, 1938
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Interior
Sir, His Excellency the Minister
I hope to offer to Your Excellency my great thanks and gratitude for your kindness in granting me one month
to stay in Iraq. In fact, this kindness of yours deserves from my side all praise and gratitude.
I also beg your pardon for submitting this petition to refute the accusation leveled against me and for which
Your Excellency's decision was issued to deport me outside Iraq. I hope you will allow me to present the following
facts which prove my innocence of this accusation that has been attached to me:
1) Based on what my minister, His Excellency Dr. Grobba, told me, the accusation against me is that I
carried out propaganda for the Zionist movement. Let me assure Your Excellency - Mr. Minister - that I am not
only without any connection or relationship to the Zionist movement, but in all my inclinations I am an opponent of the Zionist idea.
All my family and relatives are known to be against Zionism, and my father often breathed into me
the spirit of resistance to Zionism, and he used to tell me "God is against Zionism."
2) The only subject in which I specialized and which I was entrusted to teach is the subject of (Natural Sciences)
Physics and Chemistry. It is no secret that this subject cannot be connected to anything related to politics.
I am with all my strength devoted to my job, and all my interest is directed towards helping the students succeed in
their school exams and nothing else.
3) I have only been in Baghdad for a short period during which I met very limited people.
During this period, I have absolutely not cared about any political subject, nor have I uttered a single letter of what has any
relation to any political idea of any kind. This fact can be supported by my colleagues, whether they
are Muslims, Christians, or Jews.
I have nothing in this situation - Mr. Minister - but to confirm my firm innocence. And with all
respect, I beg Your Excellency to instruct the conduct of sufficient investigations which will prove to you that my innocence cannot
be a matter of doubt at all.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the highest respect, hoping to remain to Your Excellency
The obedient servant
Walter Reis, B.Sc from
University of London
A copy of it to His Excellency the Honorable Dr. Grobba
Minister Plenipotentiary of the German Republic in Baghdad
Baghdad
28 / 1 / 21
To the Honorable Head of the Jewish Community
Presented to your Excellency
We, the undersigned students of the Al-Sharqiya School, submit to your Excellency our complaint
regarding the matter of our failing twice in an exam for a single subject, as we believe
that our failure is a betrayal and an injustice against our competence and ability. Therefore, we have come
to request your Excellency to raise our complaint to the competent authorities to remove
the injustice that has befallen us following our dismissal from the school. May you remain for your Excellency.
Student Ezra Murad | Aslam Daoud Salman | Anwar Youssef
895 | 652 | 654
Baghdad
21 / 1 / 1921
Dear Tawfiq al-Damlouji
The head of the Jewish community in Baghdad, His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Effendi
Khedhouri, visited me and stated (that three students from the final grade of his community this year
failed twice in one subject). Please examine the matter thoroughly and inform me.
6 / 2 / 938
4804
15 March 938
Secret
His Excellency the Minister of Interior, the Respected
After greetings and respect
I submit to Your Excellency copies of issues 86 and 87 of the Basra newspaper Al-Sijill
and issue 261 of Al-Kifah magazine, drawing Your Excellency's attention to the sections marked
in red
These articles and their like, filled with insults and obscenities, which are intended
to incite against this loyal community, cannot be reconciled with the interest of the dear Iraqi homeland,
which is in great need of unity and solidarity from all communities and classes, nor can they,
on the other hand, be consistent with the press laws in force in this country, which
were enacted to safeguard the unity of the country from the tampering of meddlers.
My hope is firm that Your Excellency - as you promised me - will instruct that the strictest measures be taken
to ensure the cessation of this torrent of attacks leveled against our community without any justification.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest respect;
Sassoon
Head of the Community
March 24, 1938
Secret
His Excellency the Respected Minister of Interior
After greetings and respect
Further to our letter No. 804 dated March 15, 1938, and with reference to my recent
meeting with Your Excellency
I submit herewith a copy of issue No. 262 of Al-Kifah magazine, which was published on
March 22, 1938, pointing to the article (The Jewish Community: Its Spirituality and Mentality)
published on pages 5 and 6 of the aforementioned issue.
The quoting of such articles filled with slanders and lies, which are only
written and published abroad by writers with a known tendency, and publishing them in Iraq
is likely to threaten the existence of the Israelite community in Iraq and cause division and discord
between the Israelites and the rest of their Iraqi brothers who have lived for hundreds of years in peace.
I remain convinced that Your Excellency cannot agree to allow space
for people driven by hands playing from behind the scenes to achieve what harms the interest of the country,
and waiting for you to put a final end to this sad situation.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest respect;
Head of the Community
24 March 938
4827
Secret
⟦line⟧
His Excellency the Respected Minister of Interior
After greetings and respect
Further to our letter No. 4804 dated 15 March 938 and with reference to my recent
meeting with Your Excellency
I enclose herewith a copy of issue No. 262 of Al-Kifah magazine, which was issued on
22 March 938, pointing to the article (The Jewish Community: Its Spirit and Traditions)
published on pages 5 and 6 of the aforementioned issue
The quoting of such articles filled with slanders and lies, which are only
written and published abroad by writers of a known tendency, and publishing them in Iraq
is likely to threaten the existence of the Israelite community in Iraq and cause division and discord
between the Israelites and the rest of their Iraqi brothers who have lived for hundreds of years in peace
I am still convinced that Your Excellency cannot agree to allow room
for people driven by instructions playing from behind the scenes to achieve what harms the interest of the country
and waiting for you to put a final end to this sad situation
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest respect;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
4879
27 April 938
His Excellency the Respected Minister of Interior
After greetings and respect
We attach herewith a copy of Al-Sijill newspaper issue 266/93 dated 25 April
938, drawing your Excellency's attention to the sections marked in red
With your Excellency's abundant respect;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
Number: 398
Telegram Receipt No.: FP 3
Addressed to: Ministry of
Name: Colonies London
Place of delivery:
Dinar:
Fils: 568
Value of stamps affixed to it:
Number of words for which reply is prepaid:
DLT
BAGHDAD
23 AUG 30
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
Receiving Officer
This receipt must be presented when requesting investigations regarding this telegram
Number: 399
Telegram Receipt No.: FP 4
Addressed to: Secretary League
Name: of Nations
Place of delivery: Geneva
Dinar:
Fils: 376
Value of stamps affixed to it:
Number of words for which reply is prepaid:
DLT
BAGHDAD
23 AUG 30
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
Receiving Officer
This receipt must be presented when requesting investigations regarding this telegram
378
863 NL 76
Mr. Ibrahim Salem
Care of Brother Faisal Saad
N for the year 56 on 3/6/76 that we do not have any case against him and this
paper is considered a clearance for him and we have the right to cancel it in 863
Care of Brother Faisal Al-Saad
On behalf of
The Committee of the Righteous
Secret
507
23 August 1938
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency the Honorable Prime Minister
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Interior
After greetings and respect
I attach herewith a copy of the protest that was presented today through the British
Establishment to the Colonial Office in London and the Secretariat of the League of Nations - Geneva regarding
Zionist policy in Palestine in the name of the Jews of Iraq
Please accept my respects
On behalf of
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
T.P. 3
ministry of
Colonial London
5568
Taufik
⟦illegible⟧
Secretary
League of
Nations
Geneva
3920
Taufik
Copy of the Telegram
Minister of Colonies - London
Secretariat of the League of Nations - Geneva
The Jews of Iraq denounce Zionist policy and support their brothers, the Arabs of Palestine,
and appeal to you to do them justice and restore peace and tranquility to the Arab East.
Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri. Rabbi Benjamin Rabbi Moshe. Rabbi Salman Hoki
Aboudi. Ibrahim Al-Kabir. Eliyahu Al-Ani. Lawyer Heskel Murad. Khedhouri
Muthir Lawi. Khedhouri Murad Shaker. Dr. Daoud Moallem Nassim. Daoud Moallem Saleh.
Sassoon Murad Sassoon. Lawyer Selim Isaac. Dr. Selim Kobi. Saleh
Shalmo Hu. Dr. Gurji Rabie. Muthir Menachem Mahlab. Menashi Ibrahim Gurji. Dr.
Noor Allah. Nunu Mukammal. Haron Heskel Smouha. Yamin Murad. Yehuda Zalouf.
Dr. Joseph Rosenfeld. Ibrahim Hayyim Rabbi Isaac. Ibrahim Adas. Reuben
Heskel Somikh. Zion Shlomo Aboudi. Yaqub Yusuf Ani. Ezra Muthir Menashe.
Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq. Eliyahu Saleh Jouri. Moshe Sofer. Khedhouri Tweig
True copy 23 / 8 / 938
⟦illegible⟧
The Secretary
Minister of Colonies London
Secretariat of the League of Nations Geneva
The Jews of Iraq denounce Zionist policy and support their brothers the Arabs of Palestine
And they appeal to you to do them justice and restore peace and tranquility to the Arab East
Baghdad 16 August 938
⟦...⟧ ⟦Jacob Sassoon⟧ ⟦Abraham Ezra⟧ ⟦...⟧
Dr. ⟦...⟧ Khedhouri ⟦...⟧ Ibrahim Yaqub Yusuf Abati
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Setti Ibrahim Cohen ⟦...⟧ Lawyer Heskel Murad Lawyer ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ Daoud Selim Salhi
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Khedhouri Tweig
Minister of Colonies London
Secretariat of the League of Nations Geneva
The Jews of Iraq denounce Zionist policy and support their brothers, the Arabs of Palestine
And they appeal to you to do them justice and restore peace and tranquility to the Arab East
16 / 8 / 1938
⟦illegible Hebrew signatures⟧
⟦illegible Arabic signatures⟧
Yaqub Yusuf Ashi | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧
Rubin Hatti | Nur Allah | Munshi Ibrahim Cohen | ⟦illegible⟧
Dawud Salam Salih | Levi Salih | ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ | Khadhouri | Khadhouri Twayq
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community
After greetings and respect
We present to your Excellency that we, the Jewish students in private schools
graduating from intermediate school, have applied to the Central Secondary School
to enroll in it since September 25, 1948. However, the administration of
the aforementioned school continued to procrastinate regarding our admission, even though it registered all
other students without exception. The last promise we received from the
aforementioned school was to consider our admission after the results of the makeup exams appear.
Nevertheless, the students who pass the makeup exams will be preferred
over us as well. Therefore, we request your Excellency to repeat your inquiries with
the competent authorities to look into our matter, as the continuation of these promises
will end in our deprivation of secondary education for no reason. With respect
to your Excellency
On behalf of Shamash School students | On behalf of Al-Tafayudh School students | On behalf of Alliance School students
Naim Murad Nassim ⟦...⟧ | Yusuf Yaqub Lawi | Salman ⟦...⟧
Yaqub Amin Darbi | Yaqub Shaul Ibrahim | Adel Daoud Moallem
| Salim Ezra Murad |
19
48