Description
This is archival material from the Baghdadi Jewish Community that contains correspondence between various Jewish community groups and government offices. Topics include: increases in monthly salaries, the allocation of money to various Jewish community offices, religious ceremonies, plans for vacant lots, travel for medical treatment and rest, kosher meat, ledgers with the amount of meat purchased in 1949 (for meat tax), correspondence from the Mayor of Baghdad regarding trash removal, financial summaries, budgets, salary reports, newspaper clipping, employee raises, purchased goods, women’s ritual purity laws, correspondence with individual rabbis, girls’ school, applications for permits, and an index of registered judges' names. There are also correspondence and flyers in Judeo-Arabic; the Judeo-Arabic flyers are from the Tomkhe Torah Society.
AI en Translation, Pages 201-225
Page 201
The Lay Council
of the Israelite Community * Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
I record below the statistics of meat slaughtering from Sunday 11/20/49
until today 12/1/49 for your kind review, noting that the meat slaughtering
rate is 200 Kosher on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and about 200 on
other days.
Day | Date | Kosher | Non-Kosher | Total
Sunday | 11/20/49 | 251 | 120 | 371
Monday | 11/21/49 | 35 | 26 | 61
Tuesday | 11/22/49 | 24 | 19 | 43
Wednesday | 11/23/49 | 19 | 18 | 37
Thursday | 11/24/49 | 14 | 27 | 39
Friday | 11/25/49 | 15 | 20 | 35
Sunday | 11/27/49 | 33 | 17 | 50
Monday | 11/28/49 | 22 | 17 | 39
Tuesday | 11/29/49 | 11 | 10 | 21
Wednesday | 11/30/49 | 12 | 8 | 20
Thursday | 12/1/49 | 30 | 17 | 47
The Inspector
⟦signature⟧
Baghdad on 12/1/49
Page 202
The Lay Council
of the Israelite Community * Baghdad
His Excellency the President
The ⟦daily⟧ statistics in the ⟦booth⟧ of the slaughter ⟦market⟧ for the last two days
Wednesday 23 / 11 / 949
19 ⟦ewe⟧
08 ⟦lamb⟧
27 Total
Thursday 24 / 11 / 949
12 ⟦ewe⟧
27 ⟦lamb⟧
39 Total
Note - The slaughter situation today is estimated to be much worse
than yesterday
/
⟦The Commissioner⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 203
The Lay Council
of the Israelite Community * Baghdad
Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
After greetings and respect
I have seen it as my duty to present to the esteemed Council in a brief manner
the progress of the issue regarding the majority of the community members abstaining from buying meat
especially the poor class, etc.
Sunday 20 / 11 / 949
The total slaughter was 271 ⟦heads⟧ ( ⟦200⟧ sheep and 71 cows )
And the amount consumed of this meat was 50% and the remainder of the quantity
remaining, the butchers were forced to sell it as non-kosher or
keep it in ice.
Monday 21 / 11 / 949
The total slaughter reached 64 heads ( 50 sheep and 14 cows )
It was noted that the abstention movement increased significantly on this day
Also, the appeal of His Eminence the Head of the Community did not have any
effect in this regard, considering that the news (general or fatwas)
according to their claim, especially since some members of the Lay Council had
denied this news at first and increased the movement which succeeded relatively
⟦signature⟧
Page 205
The Lay Council
of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
(2)
In accordance with your dated order issued in the statistical list that was distributed in the
poor class neighborhoods as well.
And since the committee assisting the waste contractor is studying the requests
of those abstaining from meat consumption and meeting their demands, and it is
greatly feared that this movement will develop, and he hopes to meet the Council if
the Council deems it appropriate.
There is no doubt that the esteemed Council is aware of the situation in this
serious manner, but I saw it as my duty to present these personal observations
in writing. Please accept my highest respect.
Sincerely,
Salim ⟦...⟧
Baghdad on 10/22/1929
Page 206
Baghdad 17 / 10 / 1949
50 / 1 / 15
Presidency of the Lay Council ⟦line⟧
Baghdad ⟦line⟧
After greetings
Based on the request of the Secretary, I clarify to your esteemed council that the total water fees spent
in the Jewish slaughterhouse for the year 48 / 49 is 61/702 Dinars. As for the total spent on the
water account during this year, i.e., from 1 / 4 / 1949 until 6 / 8 / 1949, it is the amount of 34/125 Dinars
(for four months). On this basis, it is expected that the total of these expenditures during this year will reach one hundred
Dinars. Based on the difficulties I encountered during previous years in collecting the amounts spent
in excess of the deposits collected from the Gabila contractors when the tender is awarded, amounting to sixty Dinars,
I ask your esteemed council to consider the possibility of increasing the deposits in the future and raising them to one hundred Dinars.
Please accept my respects;
⟦signature⟧
Accountant
Note
⟦Accountant⟧
I see the necessity when submitting the tender
for butchers for the year 50/50 - Accountant
⟦signature⟧
A/1
Page 208
854/4/950
10/4/1950
⟦illegible⟧ Department
Head of the Slaughterhouse
Greetings,
With reference to the slaughterhouse expense list for the month of February 1950.
The Council has noted that the aforementioned list included an amount of
20/- Dinars (Twenty) for fuel expenses (firewood) not supported by the
necessary receipts; therefore, we request that you ensure fuel (firewood) expenses are supported by the necessary receipts
from time to time, and to abandon the method previously followed of paying a lump sum at the end
of the year to one of the supervisors for these expenses. Best regards.
Vice President
Copy to -
The Accountant
7/4/A
Page 210
Capital Secretariat
Personnel
Presidency of the Jewish Community
No. S T 5 / 55 / 5
No. W 5 / 8 / 5
Shawwal 1369 Date
9 August 1950
9471 / 4
- Accounts -
9 August 950
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Subject - Waste removal fees
With reference to your letter No. 987 dated 25 / 5 / 949
Please proceed with paying an amount of (40/-) Dinars for the waste
removal fees belonging to the community No. (7) attached to the Jewish slaughterhouse located on
Sheikh Omar Street for the period from 1 / 4 / 950 until 30 / 11 / 950. Please send
the aforementioned amount to this department as soon as possible.
Mayor of the Capital
Copy to -
Director of Accounts - Revenues - for follow-up
Director of Cleaning - for information
A copy of it - ⟦to the brothers⟧
Emphasize the ⟦work⟧ site
⟦Mohammed⟧
After two days
8/14
Abd / 8 / 5
2
Page 211
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
T / 1077 / 5
14 / 9 / 50
Dhu al-Qi'dah ⟦1⟧369
September 950
Date
Secretariat of the Capital
Administration
9471/4
(( Accounts ))
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Subject / Confirmation of Letter
We confirm our letter No. 9471/4 dated 9 / 8 / 950
We request the initiative to pay the amount of -/45 Dinars, for
waste transport fees belonging to the community No. ( 7 ) attached to the Jewish slaughterhouse
located on Sheikh Omar Street for the period from 1 / 4 / 950 to 30 / 11 / 950
according to the agreement reached between you and this department, so please send the mentioned amount
to this department as soon as possible.
⟦signature⟧
p.p. Mayor of the Capital
Copy to :-
Director of Accounts - Revenues - for follow-up
Director of Cleaning - for follow-up
W/16
For Account
For Accounting
Presidency of the Jewish Community
⟦Incoming⟧
Page 212
G / 50 / 6005
11/9/1950
⟦Administrative Committee⟧
Presidency of the Israeli Slaughterhouse
Baghdad
Greetings,
In view of the financial distress currently affecting the community fund,
please observe complete economy in monthly incidental expenses. Best regards.
⟦signature⟧
11/7
⟦red stamp/signature⟧
Justified
⟦signature⟧
Vice President
11/7/1
Page 213
G / 282 / 501
2 / 12 / 1950
6
Presidency of the Slaughterhouse
After greetings
The Council has approved the disbursement of your expense list for the month of October 1950, provided
that you observe the requirement for Council approval before incurring expenses exceeding
one Dinar. Best regards;
⟦illegible⟧
12/2
For filing - Slaughterhouse
Vice President
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
12 / 3 / 1
Page 214
T / 51/1677
1/4/1951
V
⟦illegible⟧ Department ⟦illegible⟧
His Excellency the Director General of Imports, Respected
After greetings and respect,
We attach herewith the petition submitted to your Excellency by the Jewish butchers regarding
the difficulties they face in selling the remaining meat in the areas of Abi Saifain and Souq
Hanoun, hoping you will kindly look into their complaint and remove the injustice from them. Please, your Excellency, accept
the highest expressions of thanks and respect,
⟦signature⟧
1/4
⟦Secretary⟧
On behalf of the Acting Head of the Community
Vice President of the Lay Council
Attachments
Copy of the Jewish butchers' petition
Ibrahim / 4
⟦For filing⟧
Page 215
His Excellency the General Director of Imports
After greetings and respect
We wish to present to your Excellency that it has been the custom for
Jewish butchers ⟦who⟧ sell meat ⟦in⟧ the ⟦areas⟧ of Karrada and Al-Bataween to transport
what remains of their meat to the outskirts of Baghdad every evening and sell these leftovers
there. Knowing that the seller is equipped with the official consumption form issued from
the slaughterhouse according to the regulations, and this seller is usually in possession of this form when he
transports the meat from the outskirts of Karrada and Al-Bataween to the shops in Baghdad mentioned above.
And after ⟦more than a month⟧, the consumption officer of Abi Saifayn has now begun confiscating
the butchers' meat while transporting it from Karrada and Al-Bataween into Baghdad. As he claims that this act is contrary
to the law. And it is not permitted to sell taxed meat inside Baghdad, and this is an order to arrest the ⟦persons⟧
the butchers whose names are mentioned below ⟦and⟧ ⟦seize⟧ ⟦what⟧ ⟦they⟧ ⟦have⟧ ⟦of⟧ ⟦the⟧ ⟦taxed⟧ ⟦meat⟧ ⟦which⟧ ⟦is in their hands⟧ ⟦and obtain⟧
below with amounts that are in reality not ⟦deserved⟧ ⟦for collection⟧
1- Akram Jumaa | 4- Mutasallih Wali Salih the meat that was in their possession
2- Joki Shemesh | 5- ⟦Salih⟧ ⟦Mulla⟧ ⟦Haqqi⟧
3- Naji Cohen the meat | 6- Haqqi Eliyahu
7- Akram Shemesh
8- Reuben Yaqub | Haqqi Yusuf Dahoul
9- Anwar Cohen | Eliyahu Janti
Ibrahim Janti
In order to stop this, by the mercy of your Excellency, the attachment
Please allow the butchers to remain, as the aforementioned work affects our livelihoods and the situation
the incident to ⟦investigation⟧ ⟦due to the lack of⟧
that a great degree of this, and to your Excellency the command and respect
A group of butchers
Anwar Cohen
Ibrahim Janti
Akram Jumaa
Joki Shemesh
Haqqi Yusuf Dahoul
Mulla Haqqi
Haqqi Eliyahu
Reuben Yaqub
Akram Shemesh
Haqqi Yusuf
Anwar Cohen
Naji Cohen
Page 216
1514 / H
1950 / 5 / 21
Presidency of the Spiritual Council
After greetings
We list for you below a copy of the second paragraph of the Financial Committee's report regarding the determination of powers
of ⟦spending⟧ related to your council for your kind observation and to proceed accordingly. Note that the Lay Council
has approved this report. Best regards.
⟦illegible⟧
5/21
Vice President
Copy of the second paragraph of the Financial Committee's report dated 8 / 5 / 1950
1- Authority is given to the President of the Spiritual Council to spend petty cash amounts not exceeding half a dinar
per payment, provided that the total expenditure does not exceed two dinars per month, excluding water, electricity, and security fees.
2- Preliminary approval is required for every expenditure exceeding half a dinar.
3- A unified list of divorce proceedings expenses shall be submitted.
⟦illegible⟧ 5/21
For filing
1950 / 5 / 21 / 9
Editor
Page 217
On 12/28/49
5062940 ✓ Received from the treasury on 12/18/49 by check No. 28172
7245780 ✓ Received from the treasury on 12/18/49 by check No. 25967 issued on 12/21/49
12000 Amount paid on 12/20/49
9899240 Transfer on 12/21/49 by check No. 645 on 12/4/49
6210 Received from the treasury on 12/18/49 by check No. 12450 on 12/12/49
4060 Received from the treasury on 12/18/49 by check No. 2900 issued on 12/21/49
2000 Amount paid on 12/20/49
11156240 Transfer on 12/21/49
242
228
225
5
5
⟦illegible symbol⟧
Page 218
Honorable Vice President
His Eminence the Hakham Bashi has provided us, according to a file issued by the head of the slaughterhouse, with the information detailed
below regarding the fees related to the slaughter in the slaughterhouse during the period from 1/4/950 to 30/6/950
Please be kind enough to review.
Fils | Dinar | Revenues
940 | 5062 | Total slaughter from 1/4 to 30/6/950 (28122 head of sheep and slaughtered animal)
| | Its expenses were added at a rate of 180 fils per head
280 | 2625 | Total Kosher from 1/4 to 30/6/950 (25927 head of Kosher at a rate)
| | Weight of each head is 14 kg at a price of ten fils per kilo 10 x 14 x 25927 =
| | Approximately
⟦line⟧ | 1200 | Estimated value of sheep testicles and kidneys and their revenue from 1/4 to 30/6/950 at a rate of 400
| | Dinars per month
220 | 9899 | Total revenues from 1/4 to 30/6/950
Fils | Dinar | Expenses
500 | 8152 | Installment of the midwife for the period from 1/4 to 30/6/950 at a rate of 2717/500 Dinars
| | Monthly from the original commitment fee amounting to 27000 Dinars annually
⟦line⟧ | 360 | Miscellaneous expenses, inn rent, and employees' salaries at a rate of 120 Dinars monthly
| | Estimated
500 | 8512 | Total expenses from 1/4 to 30/6/950
Fils | Dinar | Summary
220 | 9899 | Total revenues
500 | 8512 | Total expenses deducted
720 | 1386 | Net profit of the contractor for the period between 1/4 to 30/6/950
| | Only one thousand three hundred and eighty-six Dinars and seven hundred and twenty Fils only
⟦illegible⟧
Accountant
For filing
Drafted
Page 219
From 1/4/49 to 31/12/949 x 9 months at a rate of ⟦1235⟧
Total salaries 51000 at a rate of 5666 Dinars
Total 71112 Dinars
5464/324 <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> ⟦Fils⟧
74
From 1/1/50 to 31/3/50 at a rate of 53825 Dinars
8072/750 until 31 March at a rate of ⟦1510⟧ Dinars ⟦Fils⟧
4000/000 ⟦Balance⟧ ⟦Carried forward⟧ from the first year
17326/112
200/000 Wages
From 1/4/55 to 31/12/55 x 9 months at a rate of ⟦5666⟧
Total salaries 51000 at a rate of 5666 Dinars
Total 51620 Dinars
⟦Fils⟧
160
From 1/1/56 to 31/3/56 at a rate of 53825 Dinars
Until 31 March at a rate of ⟦1510⟧ Dinars ⟦Fils⟧
Balance carried forward from the first year
Request ⟦Year⟧ 9
9291 600
6620 000
2000 000
17911/600
1000/000
16911/600
720
17200/000
Note:
The above amounts do not include the salaries of the ⟦servants⟧
which the community pays monthly
Note:
The above amounts do not include the salaries of the ⟦servants⟧
which the community pays monthly
8500
150
150
8000
120000
(Salaries) ⟦Year⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
9 x 2520 = 22680
240
Page 220
Summary of the slaughterhouse operations for the period from 4/1 to 10/12/1950
Revenues
Fils | Dinar |
200 | 8259 | Total slaughter for the mentioned period 51620 head of sheep at a price of 160 fils per intestine (51620 x 160) =
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | Total Kosher for the mentioned period 44200 head of sheep, estimated at 15 kg per head, Gabelle tax per
⟦line⟧ | 6630 | single kilogram is ten fils (44200 x 15 x 10) =
⟦line⟧ | 3000 | Estimated revenue from sheep testicles for the mentioned period.
200 | 17889 | Total Revenues
⟦line⟧ | 720 | Deduct estimated necessary expenses at a rate of 120/- dinars per month
200 | 17169 | Total Net Revenue
Summary of the slaughterhouse operations for the period from 4/1 to 10/12/1949
Revenues
Fils | Dinar |
362 | 5262 | Total slaughter for the mentioned period 71113 head of sheep at a price of 74 fils per intestine (71113 x 74 fils)
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | Total Kosher for the mentioned period 53825 head of sheep, estimated at 15 kg per head, Gabelle tax per
750 | 8073 | single kilogram is ten fils (53825 x 15 x 10) =
⟦line⟧ | 4000 | Estimated revenue from sheep testicles for the mentioned period.
112 | 17336 | Total Revenues
⟦line⟧ | 600 | Deduct estimated necessary expenses at a rate of one hundred dinars per month
112 | 16736 | Total Net Revenue for the mentioned period
53825
7
1612750
Note
Clarifications regarding 9 days of slaughtering - approximately 10000/- dinars
To the committee
⟦Mahmouda⟧
A Z
Page 223
To the Honorable Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, may God protect it
Regarding Mr. ⟦Yitzhak⟧
I, the undersigned, hereby submit this request to your honor and hope that you will consider it with an eye of compassion and mercy
Since I have been working at the Meir Elias Hospital as a cleaner for about twenty years, and during this time I was
working faithfully and with dedication, and all my superiors were satisfied with my work and my conduct, and recently I fell ill with a disease
in my eyes and I received leave from the hospital committee for a period of three months and I also received my full salary
But now, after the end of the aforementioned three months, I was sent to the community committee doctor, Mr. Dr. ⟦Yitzhak⟧, and he
decided that I can no longer work at the hospital because of my eye disease, and therefore I was dismissed from my job at the hospital
And since I have no other source of livelihood and I am burdened with a family of seven souls and I have no bread to eat
Therefore, I ask your honor with every language of request that you have pity on me and my family and allocate me some monthly amount
as a pension or monthly aid so that I can live on it with my poor family, and for this I will thank you very much
With great respect and anticipation
5 Tishrei 5710
1949
The Applicant
⟦Yitzhak⟧
246
To the Honorable Manager of the Meir Elias Hospital
Please inform us if the aforementioned worked for you / 20 / years as he says
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
The council decided on 22 / 10 / 49 to allocate a monthly aid of
seven and a half Dinars starting from the date of the aids. Line
5/9
Page 225
Baghdad 15 Av 1949
Your Excellencies, the General Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Subject: Request of Mr. Isaac Abraham
I have no objection to Mr. Isaac Abraham receiving his salary
as a Cantor in the A. Eini Synagogue and also as a Torah Reader in the Meir Eliyahu Synagogue
11 Av 1949 and this is starting from the day 25 Tammuz 1949 and until further notice.
Rabbis of the City
Sasson Kadoorie
H. Salman Levy
2221
15 / 8 / 949
For filing
17 / 8