AI English Translation, Pages 251-275
Regarding the refusal to allow the sons and daughters of the community to enter intermediate schools on the pretext that they are from
private schools, this is unreasonable because the government's ambition and its basic policy aim to unify education and raise
citizens according to the government curriculum and in its schools. If the government refuses to accept students graduating from
private schools who hold certificates from the Ministry of Education, they will be forced to enter foreign American schools
or the Alliance and Shamash schools, which do not apply the government curriculum <del>completely</del> in its entirety. Perhaps if they despair of
entering government intermediate schools despite possessing the Education certificate, the schools will be forced to modify
their curriculum to be compatible with the curriculum of the Americans or the Alliance and others. This plan is not something one would imagine
the important government would undertake, unless the government intends through it to push the community schools to
modify their curriculum to match the curriculum of unofficial schools that accept them in their secondary classes. Accordingly,
I hope to ⟦present⟧ what I have mentioned to you in this letter to His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon and Monsieur Eta so that the Rabbi may consult
without delay His Excellency the Prime Minister. I am certain that if the President is informed of the reality of the situation, he will give
the necessary orders to modify this plan, because this issue, in every way, cannot be ignored
as a matter of (Principle). A formal letter can be submitted in this regard along with the oral consultation
or after it.
Written in Baghdad on October 9, 1938.
5157
13 October 938
For filing
His Excellency the distinguished notable Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel, respected
After greetings and respect,
A paragraph from your letter regarding the rejection of the community's sons
and daughters from entering official intermediate and secondary schools and your proposal to address
the situation was conveyed to the distinguished Mr. Yaqub Shalhoub.
I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that I had met with His Excellency the Prime Minister on
September 28, 938, regarding this issue before your proposal arrived. I also subsequently wrote
our letter to His Excellency the Minister of Education on the subject on October 6, 938. While we
were awaiting His Excellency's response and the measures he would take in this regard, your proposal reached me.
I proceeded to hold a meeting yesterday, 12/10/938, attended by Messrs. Gurji Ibrahim,
Haim Hakham Isaac, Khedouri Murad Shukur, and Moise Absha. After lengthy deliberations
in this regard, the attendees found that postponing the approach to the government regarding the (principle) at the
present time is more beneficial for the interest. It is necessary at present to focus all our attention on the acceptance
of the largest possible number of male and female students in official schools, provided that the Schools Committee
meets after a month to discuss your proposal in detail and in light of the results that will emerge from
this issue, i.e., after the final acceptance or non-acceptance of students is completed.
As for the current situation, it was agreed that I would meet His Excellency the Minister of Education
personally to discuss with him the matter of the rejected students.
Please accept my sincere wishes for the health of your noble father, with my highest respect
to Your Excellency.
Sincerely,
Sassoon
Head of the Community
Regarding the fourth: Yes, it is the duty of all Muslims in all regions to boycott the Jews and those who protect
and help them, whether they are those who pretend to be Muslims or those who openly declare disbelief from other nations. And whoever
buys from the Jews, sells to them, promotes their industries, wears their products, eats from their produce,
or deals with them in any commercial or other transaction, has fought God and His Messenger and incurred the wrath of God and His Messenger.
He has betrayed the truth and stabbed the heart of the Arabs and Islam, and has even left the religion of Islam according to the Almighty's saying:
"And whoever among you takes them as allies, then he is indeed one of them. Indeed, God does not guide the wrongdoing people."
O zealous youth, work, strive, and exert effort in supporting your brothers, and do not despair of the spirit
of God; indeed, no one despairs of the spirit of God except the disbelieving people. May God protect and care for you.
Muhammad al-Husayn Al
Kashif
al-Ghita
From the Great School
Kashif School
al-Ghita
Response to the referendum of the National Youth in Beirut, Lebanon
26 Rabi' al-Thani, year 1357
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Private Office
Please refer to the full number
Number 2297
Date 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 357
30 January 39
Subject:
To the Honorable Head of the Jewish Community
With reference to your letter No. 5257 dated January 25, 1939.
We confirm our letter No. 12852 dated 9 / 10 July 938 and regret that we are unable
to grant your request for the reasons mentioned in our letter to which we refer you.
Minister of Education
Presidency of the Jewish Community
7682
5 / 2 / 39
5187
11 November 938
His Excellency the Minister of Education, the Respected
We request to be granted the necessary license to open a fourth secondary evening class at the Shamash School
in which the secondary education curriculum prescribed by the esteemed Ministry of Education will be taught;
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Personnel Affairs Department
Please refer to the full number:
Number: 20701
Date: 25 Ramadan 1357
18 November 938
Subject: ⟦line⟧
69
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 5187 dated 11/11/38
His Excellency the Minister has approved the opening of a fourth secondary evening class
in Shamash School <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> .
⟦signature⟧
Director General of Education
A copy to:-
Directorate of Baghdad Education District
For information
On behalf of/
5579
27
23 July 1939
⟦illegible⟧
His Excellency the Minister of Education, the Respected
We request to be granted permission to open a fifth secondary evening class in the ⟦Shamash⟧ school in the
coming academic year, so that the students who passed from the fourth evening class may transfer to it. There will be taught
in this class, as in the fourth class, the official curriculum prescribed for secondary classes.
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Personnel Department
Please refer to the full number
Number 12582
Date Jumada al-Akhirah 1358
July 1939
8/2
Subject:
To -
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Your letter No. 5579 dated 27 / 7 / 1939
His Excellency the Minister has approved granting you a license to open a fifth secondary grade in the Shamash School
on the condition that it be a day class, not an evening class as stated in your letter referred to above. We request
taking the necessary measures in this regard and informing us.
⟦illegible⟧
Protector of Al-Futuwa
Director General of Education
A copy to -
Directorate of Teaching and General Education
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Incoming Number 7461
Date 2 / 8 / 1939
4 August 939
Directorate of General Education
Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 13583 dated 2 July 939
We believe that some misunderstanding has occurred regarding our request to open a fifth secondary evening class
at the Shamash School.
The class intended to be opened is merely a continuation of the fourth evening class which
His Excellency the Minister previously authorized to open according to your letter No. 21370 dated 19 November
938. It is natural that the students who completed the study of the aforementioned fourth evening class
must continue their studies in the fifth evening class.
Therefore, we hope to reconsider the matter and grant us permission to open a fifth secondary evening class,
not a daytime one;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Personnel Affairs Department
Please refer to the full number:
Number: 14514
Date: Rajab / 1358
19 August / 1939
Subject: ⟦line⟧
To -
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Your letter No. 5596 dated 4 / 8 / 1939
His Excellency the Minister has previously ordered that the class be daytime and not
evening, and we have previously answered you with this example, and therefore there is no room to change
the decision notified to you. We inform you of this.
⟦signature⟧
Protector of Youth
Director General of Education
2484
20 / 8 / 1939
M. J.
17 / 8
⟦illegible⟧
278
22 August 939
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Education
With reference to the correspondence ending with the letter of the Directorate of General Education No. 14504 dated
19 August 939
We request the favor of reconsidering your Excellency's decision in light of the following details:
Shamash School opened a fourth secondary evening class to accommodate students who were unable in
the past year to enter secondary schools, based on the assistance granted
by your letter No. 12370 dated 19 November 938. Now that the mentioned students have completed
their studies in the fourth grade, opening a fifth grade for them has become a natural matter to enable them to complete
secondary education. If the principle adopted by your esteemed ministry is not to encourage
evening education, then we are prepared not to reopen the fourth grade, and thus evening education
will end for us at the end of the next school year. With respect to your Excellency;
⟦flourish⟧
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
Ministry of Education of Iraq
Private Office
Date: Rajab 1358
Corresponding to: 27 August 1939
Number: 4961
To His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, Respected
Reference to your letter No. 5638 dated 22 August 1939
We approve the opening of the fifth evening class in the Shamash School, provided that a
fourth class is not opened this year, and thus evening teaching will end at the end of the
next year.
Minister of Education
A copy of it to -
General Directorate of Education
General Directorate of Teaching and Education
General Inspectorate of Education
For filing
8/31
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 2511
Date 29 / 8 / 1939
A. Q.
Statement
In order to dispel the doubts and suspicions that have stuck in the minds regarding the Israelites in
Iraq concerning the Zionist movement, and to reveal the clear truth, I have seen it as
a duty to make the following statement on behalf of the Israelite community in Iraq:
The Israelite community in Iraq has absolutely no connection
to the Zionist movement and has no involvement with its institutions, activities, or organizations
at all, and does not provide assistance to this movement in any way, neither in Palestine
nor outside of Palestine. Rather, the Israelites in Iraq are Iraqis who are deeply
connected to the Iraqi homeland and are full participants with their Iraqi brothers in prosperity
and adversity, feeling what they feel, sharing their pains, and sharing their emotions.
For this reason, I have issued this statement to clarify the truth: 10/6/1946
Head of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
507
23 August 1938
Via the Mutasarrifate
Secret
His Excellency the Honorable Prime Minister
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Interior
After greetings and respect
I enclose herewith a copy of the protest that was telegraphed today in the
English language 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
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
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 they 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
Sherlawi. Khedhouri Murad Shaker. Dr. Daoud Moallem Nassim. Daoud Moallem Saleh.
Sassoon Murad Sassoon. Lawyer Selim Isaac. Dr. Selim Kohi. Saleh
Shlomo. Dr. Gurji Rabie. Meir Menachem Salb. Menashi Ibrahim Gurji. Dr.
Noor Allah. Nunu Mukammal. Haron Heskel Suha. Yamin Murad. Yehuda Zalouf.
Dr. Joseph Rosenfeld. Ibrahim Hayim Rabbi Isaac. Ibrahim Adas. Reuben
Heskel Somikh. Zion Shlomo Aboudi. Yaqub Yusuf Atiq. Ezra Meir Menashe.
Liahu Hayim Tawfiq. Eliyahu Saleh Jouri. Moshe Swayer. Khedhouri Twayq
True copy 23 / 8 / 938
The Secretary
Minister of Colonies - London
Secretary League of Nation - Geneva
The Jews of Iraq protest against the Zionist policy
and support their brothers the Arabs of Palestine. We
implore you to do them justice and restore peace
and tranquility to the Arab states.
Rabbi Sassoon Kadoory. Rabbi Benjamin Moshi
Rabbi Salman Hoogi. I. Elkabir. Eliaho Any. Ezekiel
Murad. K. M. Levy. K. Shukur. Dr D. Nessim. D. M. Saleh
S. M. Sassoon. Salim Isaac. Dr S. Koobi. S. Shelomo.
Dr G. Rabby. M. Mahlab. M. Gourgi. Dr Nourallah. N. Muk-
amal. H. Smoha. Yamen Murad. Yehooda Zeloof.
Dr J. Rosenfield. Ebrahim Hayim Isaac. E. Ades. R. Somech
S. Abboodi. Jacob Any. E. Mettanah. E. H. Tawfik.
E. Jury. M. Soffer. K. Tweg.
Telegraphic address: NATIONS GENEVE
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
IN THE REPLY PLEASE RECALL:
PLEASE QUOTE REF. NO. IN REPLY:
NO.
NO. 6A/6450/668.
Geneva, October 5th, 1938.
Sirs,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt
of your telegram, dated August 23rd, 1938, addressed to
the Secretary-General, concerning Palestine.
In conformity with the rules of procedure
with regard to petitions concerning mandated territories
this communication will be submitted to the Chairman
of the Permanent Mandates Commission.
I have the honour to be,
Sirs,
Your obedient Servant,
E. de Haller
Director
of the Mandates Section.
Rabbi Sassoun Kadoori,
Rabbi Benjamin Moshi,
Rabbi Salman Hoogi
and other signatories,
BAGHDAD (Iraq).
For filing
Rabbi Sassoun Kadoori
Rabbi Benjamin Moshi
Rabbi Salman Hoogi
and the rest of the signatories Baghdad (Iraq)
Sirs:
I have the honor to inform you of my receipt of your telegram dated August 23, 1938
addressed to the Secretary-General regarding Palestine.
And that according to the applicable regulations regarding petitions related
to the mandated territories, this communication will be submitted to the Chairman
of the Permanent Mandates Commission
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
Director of the Mandates Section
Geneva, October 5, 1938
5 February 936
His Excellency the Minister of Education, the Respected
⟦illegible⟧
After greetings and respect
In pursuit of the noble national goals aimed at by the Futuwwa system
No. 50 of the year 935, we hope that Your Excellency will order the participation of the students of our two schools, Shamash and Eliezer
Sassoon (both of which are considered intermediate schools for ⟦illegible⟧ the National Defense Law) in military
training, just like their brothers, the students of the official schools. With respect to Your Excellency.
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
10/2
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Private Office
Number: 9/23 / 2564
Date: 19 Dhu al-Qi'dah 54
12 February 1936
Subject:
To His Excellency the Head of the Jewish Community
Baghdad.
⟦line⟧
In response to your letter No. 3600 dated 5 February 1936
Since the classes that correspond to the third intermediate classes in the schools
mentioned do not consist of students who meet the conditions stated in the General Education Law,
therefore we cannot fulfill your request in this regard. When the mentioned schools
filter their students according to the instructions issued to them, the necessary measures will be taken
to involve them in the implementation of the Futuwwa system.
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Education
Headquarters of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Private Number 2787
Date 13 / 2 / 36
To be registered
For filing
AA
2881
4 August 936
His Excellency the Minister of Education, the Respected
Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 2569/9/23 dated 19 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1354 and 12
February 1936
I hope that you will take the necessary measures to involve the students of the intermediate classes from the schools of
Albert Sassoon and Shamash in the implementation of the Futuwwa system, given that the mentioned classes will consist
in the next academic year of students who meet the conditions stated in the Law of
Public Education;
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
M 51
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Correspondence Department
Please refer to the full number:
Number: 11686
Date: 24 Jumada al-Ula 1355
11 August 1936
Subject: Military Training
His Eminence, the Head of the Jewish Community, Respected
Baghdad
Due to the inability to obtain sufficient weapons and instructors to teach
the students, we regret that we cannot agree to fulfill your request at the present time.
⟦signature⟧
Director General of Education
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Private Number 8117
Date 12 / 8 / 36
A. A.
4024
20 / 11 / 36
His Excellency the Minister of Education, the Respected
After greetings and respect
In pursuit of the noble national goals aimed at by the Futuwwa Regulation No. 50
for the year 935, we hope that Your Excellency will order the participation of the students of our two schools, Shamash and Albert
Sassoon (both of which are considered intermediate schools for the purpose of the National Defense Law)
in military training, just like their brothers, the students of official schools. With respect to Your Excellency.
Alwan
Head of the Community
For filing
⟦illegible⟧
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Directorate of Primary Education
Please refer to the full number
Number <del>18466</del>
Date 16 / 9 / 1355
1 / 12 / 1936
6
Archives
Subject: Military training for the schools of
Shamash and Albert Sassoon
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
With reference to your letter No. 4033 dated 20 / 11 / 1936.
We have appreciated the national spirit manifested in your desire to involve the students of the Albert Sassoon
and Shamash schools in military training, and despite our sincere desire to grant the request, we regret that we are unable to
do so now, and we will look into the matter when a sufficient number of trainers is available.
⟦illegible⟧
Minister of Education
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Special Number 2079
Date 6 / 12 / 936
M. A.
4206
8 March 937
4869/⟦illegible⟧
V
His Excellency the Respected Prime Minister
Greetings and respect
Last year, we requested the Honorable Ministry of Education to involve 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 on 20 November 936, and the Ministry's response to it was that it
would look into the matter when a sufficient number of trainers became 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.
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
Iraq
Ministry of Education
Physical Education Directorate Division
Please refer to the full number
Number 4869 / 3 / 25
Date 12 Muharram 1356
25 March 37
8
Subject: Military Training
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 4306 dated 3/8/37 addressed to His Excellency the Prime
Minister.
Since the clothing and other necessary equipment are not available to the students at
the present time, and since procuring them requires a considerable amount of time, and in view of the passing of more than half
of the academic year, it is not possible in this case to involve the students of the two schools mentioned in
your above-referenced letter in military training in the current year. However, we have taken the necessary
measures to involve them starting from the beginning of the next academic year. His Excellency the Minister of Defense has agreed
to allocate the necessary instructors from officers and non-commissioned officers for their training.
⟦signature⟧
Director General of Education
A copy to:-
Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
(Reference to letter No. 347 dated 3/16/37)
Directorate of Physical Education and Military Training
For filing
A. Q.