AI en Translation, Pages 276-300
Page 276
Baghdad May 12, 1935
To the presence of the Honorable President of the Lay Council
I submit to your Excellency that the petitioner is the family of the late Daoud Yehuda
Somi, who passed away two months ago. We request that his name be kept
until the completion of his year, according to the customs of other needy people, so that
we may perform the duties of his year for him. May the Creator protect you from all evil. The matter
is yours, and may you remain in respect.
Widow of the family of
the late ⟦Khedhouri⟧
Daoud Somi
⟦signature⟧
2722
5/22/935
⟦illegible stamp⟧
4/750
6 750
⟦line⟧
40/500
Approved on 5/29/35
⟦signature⟧
To be filed
2.275
Page 277
Baghdad 24 / 1 / 946
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 72
Date: 24 / 1 / 1946
File Number:
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, the Respected
After greetings and respect
His Eminence Rabbi Ezra Bechor responded to the call of his Lord this morning, please give your instructions regarding his salary
which he receives from the Yeshivot. And may you remain.
His Excellency the President
For your kind review
⟦Connection⟧
1/24
The Council decided to cut the salary
Starting from 1 February 1946
⟦signature⟧
1/24
⟦signature⟧
The Accountant
Rabbi of the Yeshivot
Page 278
42
17 / 2 / 1947
File Number
To the Honorable Israeli Spiritual Council in Baghdad
Greetings and much respect. It is not hidden from your honorable selves that I have previously submitted to you and mentioned my situation, asking you to assist me
as one of the Hakhamim of Baghdad and to allocate a monthly salary for me. Likewise, it is not hidden from you that I mentioned to you, perhaps
you would ask about the reason that delayed me until this time; it is the misery of my situation during this difficult time.
I received a verbal response from some members of the honorable Council that it is not possible for you to allocate a salary for a new
Hakham at the present time.
Since Hakham Ezra Yaqub, may God have mercy on him, has passed away at the present time and his position has become vacant, I have come to request
your assistance, that you accept my request and fulfill your honorable promise and assign me a monthly salary to take the place of the deceased.
This, and with much respect to you.
Sincerely,
Dawud Hakham Yaqub
Hakham Yaqub
Barakhil
Day 11 February 1947
Hakham Yaqub
Page 280
80
Baghdad 10 April 946
Council Administration ⟦...⟧ - Baghdad
Number 62
Date 11/4/46
⟦...⟧
His Excellency the President of the Respectable Lay Council
After greetings and respect
I had submitted to your esteemed council a petition dated 25/9/45 in which I appealed to the council to grant me an amount of
200 Dinars to enable me to travel to Palestine for medical treatment, on the condition that I do not demand any salary from the council for the rest
of my life. Your esteemed council was kind enough to decide in its session held on 4/10/945 to grant me 100 Dinars
only, to be calculated against the salaries I receive, and that no amount shall be paid to me until the one hundred
Dinars are settled. The council stipulated at the time that this amount would not be given to me until I present my passport
stamped with a travel visa to Palestine. The prevailing conditions at that time prevented the completion of my passport
formalities. Now, since I will obtain an entry visa to Palestine in the near future, I have
come appealing to your esteemed council to reconsider the aforementioned decision and make the gratuity 200 Dinars and waive
my rights to all my salaries due until my death, because traveling at the present time involves heavy
expenses, and medical treatment costs also cost a lot at the present time. You know that I am an elderly man
and I have no son to assist me. Therefore, I hope your esteemed council will look upon this request of mine with eyes of mercy
and kindness, and the matter is yours.
Rabbi Ibrahim Aslan
⟦thumbprint⟧
Page 281
May 24, 1946
His Eminence Rabbi Ibrahim Aslan, the respected
The Council has reviewed your petition dated April 10, 1946, regarding the request for a gratuity on the occasion of
your travel outside Iraq for medical treatment and decided after deliberation to uphold its previous decision taken in
this regard, the content of which is to grant you a loan in the amount of one hundred dinars against your pension salaries
which you receive from the community fund, provided that the payment of your salaries be suspended until the Council recovers
this loan amount, and provided that the amount is not paid to you unless you present to the President of the Council your passport
marked with an exit visa.
⟦illegible⟧
The President
⟦illegible⟧
5/22
Page 282
Baghdad, December 22, 1946
To the presence of His Excellency the President of the Lay Council of the Israelite Community
The Respected One
After greetings.
It is no secret to you that I have been raised since the days of my youth in the rabbinical order, and until
now I have no profession to live by except for my participation in the Yeshiva and giving
religious fatwas to those who seek them from the members of the community, both internally and externally.
Today I am the head of a large family and my salary is very small, not exceeding three
dinars and seven hundred and fifty fils per month, even though I was and still am dedicated
my time to teaching and religious fatwas, to the point that I can no longer manage the affairs of
my living in these difficult times.
Therefore, I have come with this letter of mine, appealing to your esteemed council to reconsider
my clear capabilities and adjust my salary in proportion to my services and the prevailing
living conditions. And the Almighty Lord does not waste the reward of everyone with justice and fairness.
Please accept my utmost respect.
The one praying for you
⟦Yitzhak Nissim⟧
⟦S.T.⟧
M
Page 283
His Excellency the President of the Honorable Jewish Lay Council
Baghdad
After greetings,
I have previously submitted a request to your Excellency regarding my
entitlement to a salary, similar to the rabbis of the synagogues, and it is possible to inquire
about the validity of my claim from the Jewish Spiritual Council. Until now,
I have not received an answer. Based on the current difficult circumstances and the high cost of living
which is overwhelming, I have come with this request of mine, hoping your Excellency will kindly
reconsider my case and allocate a salary for me along with the synagogue rabbis.
With highest gratitude and respect to your Excellency. 10 / 5 / 1948
Daoud Hayyim
The Synagogue
For filing
Witnessed
The Secretary
Please inquire from the synagogue custodians
verbally if the petitioner attends
the synagogue
Page 284
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Number 21
Date 8 / 10 / 948
File Number
Baghdad, October 8, 1948
His Excellency the Respected President of the Israeli Lay Council
Greetings and respect.
And after. You have no doubt heard the news of the death of my late father, Rabbi Yosef Hayyim.
His death came as a severe blow to me, as I am currently a teacher at the Shamash School with a monthly salary
of only seven dinars, while I am the head of a family consisting of twelve members, including
six daughters and four sons, whose affairs my late father used to take care of. My family has now
become threatened by poverty and starvation after the death of my father and the loss of this resource upon which we relied
after God Almighty.
Therefore, I have come with this petitioning Your Excellency to look upon our case with an eye of kindness and mercy,
and to help this family which has been afflicted by the loss of the most precious thing it possessed in existence, and to order
the processing of my father's salary as a "pension" in appreciation from you for the miserable situation that now threatens us
and for the services rendered by my late father to the community, and I am honored that I have grown up in the field of education
for a period exceeding twenty years and I will serve it as long as I live.
Your Excellency
This is my case which I have presented to you briefly, out of my confidence that your esteemed council has worked and always works to
serve the community and reward the workers among its sons with the best reward. May God grant you success in helping our family which
has begun to pin its hope in life on your mercy after the mercy of the Creator Almighty.
Finally, please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest respect;
Sincerely,
Ibrahim Hayyim Rabbi Yosef
Teacher
Ibrahim Hayyim
A copy of it to
His Excellency the Respected Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
To be placed before the Council
Page 286
12/12/950
11/12/950
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Presented to your Excellency:
The petitioner has been a cleric for thirty years in the Zilka Midrash and also teaches Talmud Torah.
Until now, I have no profession or income other than a partial salary that does not satisfy my hunger, and you are aware
of the terrible current inflation for everyone, and specifically the high cost of living and housing
rents, as I am a family man and fallen into great distress regarding my livelihood. Since there are now
three vacant salaries, which are the salary of the late Yusuf Hakham Ezra Cohen,
the salary of the late Hakham Michael, and the salary of the late wife of Eliyahu Hakham Moshe Shehati,
accordingly, I have knocked on the door of your esteemed council so that you may look upon my circumstances with kindness, mercy,
and compassion to save me from my distress and to allocate a salary for me that will save me
from my hardship, so that I do not remain for the rest of my time wandering, but rather live happily with your esteemed council.
May you remain in respect, my masters. 21 Rabi' al-Thani 950
Your servant
Haqeel Ezra Ibrahim Dori
⟦illegible⟧
A. Dori
Honorable Vice President,
I see that the petitioner is among the needy Mullahs
who receive aid from the community, not in his capacity
as a Hakham, but in his capacity as a needy person (of weak means).
Below is the text of the information available to us about him:
His age is 60 years and he receives a salary of twelve
dinars, to which is added cost-of-living allowances
in the amount of 1.250 dinars per month, noting that the last increase
in his salary was in the amount of one dinar on 4/10/949.
To be postponed until
12/9
⟦illegible⟧
9/12/50
Investigation about him
11/9
Page 288
The following are the names of the members of the Tomchei Torah Committee :-
President Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Shaul Laniado
Secretary Heskel Effendi Salman Munir Darzi
Treasurer Benjamin " Hakham Ezra Cohen
Members : Ibrahim " Abboudi Khedhouri
Abboudi " Munir Sbeiti
Yosef " Hakham Isaac
Saleh " Faraj Hayyim
Number
22 / 5 / 1949
⟦A copy of it to the respected accountant of the community⟧
Page 289
89 / JS / 29
28 May 1929
Regarding the submission of the accounts of the Tomchei Torah Committee
Chairman of the Tomchei Torah Committee
Further to our letter No. 143 / JS / 29 confirmed by No. 168 / JS / 29 dated
15 May 929
The Council, in its session held on 26 May 1929, decided to delay the allocations
of your committee if it does not hasten to submit its accounts before the end of the month
⟦illegible⟧
Vice President of the Lay Council
A copy of it to the department accountant for information
Tomchei Torah
Page 290
Issue No. 2807
Dated July 5, 1949
From the esteemed Al-Iraq newspaper
The Tomchei Torah file
Regarding the disputes
In the Israelite community
To the respected owner of the esteemed Al-Iraq newspaper.
Please publish the following word, and thank you.
The dispute has increased, the rift has widened, and the Israelite community
has split into two large, completely different factions; some are
cheering for a winner, some are encouraging a loser,
some are laughing with joy at the misery of malice, and some are weeping and complaining about what
will befall the community as a result of these personal goals
and self-interests.
I am not able to say anything about the
ambiguous result that will emerge from these strange disputes
of their kind, which have begun to play honorary roles thanks to
their instigators. However, I have come with a proposal that I think everyone who has seen
the facts of these disturbances and the real reasons that
led to them will acknowledge its merit and demand its implementation.
The proposal calls for the cancellation of the (Tomchei Torah) allocations
completely, as long as it has been proven to everyone that they are useless, provided that
these allocations are earmarked to send at least one or two young men
each year from the graduates of the Israelite schools
abroad to specialize in matters of true religion
in religious institutes dedicated to that.
If those in charge do what we have stated, then not a few years
will pass before we have obtained a group of
rabbis fit for refinement, with thinking brains
and conscious minds, who know their interests, rights, and duties,
so they do not follow a rugged path, nor do they violate honor
out of malice in their souls, nor will they be a deaf instrument in the hands of their movers,
and the venerable Lay Council will have performed great services
that will remain recorded for it in the hearts of the community members forever.
I do not think that is far-fetched for those who have proven their sincere intentions
and noble purposes.
A Zealous Israelite
Page 291
JEWISH SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
BAGHDAD
-o-
Jewish Schools Committee
Baghdad
-o-
No.: 54
Baghdad, on: 1 - 8 - 1929
To the Honorable Vice President of the Lay Council
Greetings and respect,
Further to our letter No. 4 dated 5/26/1929
We enclose herewith a letter addressed to you from Tomchei Torah dated 1/24/29, which was referred
to us by you. With highest respect.
Ezra Menachem
Walla
President
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Number 715 / D / 929
Date 1 / 8 / 929
File Number
To the Council
1 / 8 / 29 Written
To the Committee file
Requirements
1
Page 292
Tomkhe Tora Society | Tomkhe Tora Society | TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY
Baghdad | Baghdad | BAGHDAD
Baghdad, 24 January 1929, Baghdad
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council.
Greetings and peace: - Before us is your letter dated January 8, 1929, in which you requested us to inform you of the amounts of development
that the society obtained during the past year and the budget for this year, and to provide you with these points
we say: -
The purpose of establishing this society was to eliminate the chaos existing among the rabbis of the community
and this committee took it upon itself, having no goal other than preparing a selection of superior religious scholars, not only in their religious knowledge
but in all means of social or literary life, and our society has achieved results that call us to
be reassured that the future will be the greatest guarantor for bringing our idea into action.
However, there is a matter we would like to convey to you, the summary of which is that the deficit that occurred in our society was a reason for the delay of our
regular progress, and I further inform you, O noble President, that the amount of this deficit is nearly two thousand rupees, as will become clear
to you from reviewing the attached budget. We hope that you will give this point a listening ear and extra
attention due to the seriousness of its subject and the importance of its status, as we also ask you to assist this society, which has spared no effort in
the service of the community and the refinement of its rabbis, and here we would like to take your hand to show you the reforms that were introduced
this year and the year before in matters of teaching and administration.
The number of our students is twelve, divided into two sections; the first section consists of eight students, while
the other consists of four out of a total of ten selected by the society from the communal schools for its second class.
However, six of them have left the lessons, and we are diligent and persistent in completing this shortage from the school students and finding
students to take the place of the departing pupils so that we can thereby complete the second class, and we will then have two classes: -
The first class: The first class consists, as we mentioned, of eight students who have reached a high level in religious sciences and have
studied since the founding of the society and obtained an ample share of languages and sciences; they studied the
English, Arabic, and Hebrew languages and religious sciences, and today, thanks to that, they have become capable of carrying the title of Rabbi with all
merit and worthiness, just as ⟦that⟧ their widespread benefit will appear to the community in the near future.
Page 293
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY Tomkhe Tora Society Tomkhe Tora Society
BAGHDAD Baghdad Baghdad
Baghdad, 24 January 1929 Baghdad,
The Second Grade: The society has taken interest and will continue to take interest in this grade. Its members have studied a sufficient amount of religious
sciences and the English, Arabic, and Hebrew languages. Furthermore, the society has decided to teach all its students
some sciences, and indeed it has initiated teaching them mathematics and has succeeded in this endeavor as well.
Conclusion: The committee is proceeding with its upright plan with steady steps, and it is always diligent in elevating the status of
the title of Hakham, and that is pride enough for it and sufficient.
President of the Tomkhe Tora Society
Hakham Shlomo Moshe Laniado
⟦Shlomo Moshe Laniado⟧
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY BAGHDAD
Tomkhe Tora Society Baghdad
Tomkhe Tora Society Baghdad
1347
Page 294
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY
BAGHDAD
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad
Baghdad 24 January 1929 Baghdad
Notes | Monthly Expenses | Total Annual Expenses
Arabic teacher for the first and second grades | 50 | 600
English teacher = = | 50 | 600
Teacher of correspondence | 50 | 600
and Hebrew language composition = = | |
Teacher of various sciences for the two grades (such as arithmetic | 30 | 360
geometry and geography) | |
Talmud teachers for the second grade | 85 | 1020
Orphan teacher for the first grade | 50 | 600
Collector and property supervisor | 100 | 1200
Clerk | 15 | 180
Books and stationery for students | 15 | 180
| | 5340
Salaries for 8 students of the first grade | 370 | 4440
Salaries for ten students of the second grade | 100 | 1200
| 915 | 10980
Net property income | | 2000
Estimated subscriptions from generous donors which | | 2000
cannot be relied upon for continuity | |
Allocations from your esteemed council | | 5000
| | 9000
Budget for the Tomkhe Tora Society for the year 1929 - 1930
⟦Tomkhe Tora Society - Baghdad⟧
⟦Tomkhe Tora Society - Baghdad⟧
⟦TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY - BAGHDAD⟧
Page 295
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY
Tomkhe Tora Society
Tomkhe Tora Society
BAGHDAD
Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad 3 December 1929 Baghdad
Number 21
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council
Reference to your letter No. 128 JS in 929 and dated April 12, 1929, regarding our society's accounts
We state that due to the preoccupation of its honorary accountant, the society was delayed in submitting the accounts requested by your
esteemed council, and therefore requests forgiveness.
Enclosed is a detailed account of our society's books, from which the degree of its treasury's distress will be clear. Therefore,
since your esteemed council, as we believe, ⟦our society⟧ desires to continue supporting it to manage this important project,
we hope that you will order the payment of its accumulated allocations so that it can continue this vital project
which has gained approval from your esteemed council.
In conclusion, please accept its supreme thanks, and may you remain well.
President of the Tomkhe Tora Society
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY BAGHDAD
Tomkhe Tora Society Baghdad
Tomkhe Tora Society Baghdad
1344 - 1926
Administration of the Lay Council -- Baghdad:
Number: 555 / W / 929
Date: 22 / 12 / 29
File Number:
⟦illegible⟧
To the Council
⟦illegible⟧
Page 296
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY
BAGHDAD
Baghdad, 23 December ⟦1929⟧
Statement of the account of the Tomkhe Tora Society from its inception in 1926 to the end of November
1929
Anna | Rupee | Anna | Rupee |
0 | 0 | 0 | 8785 | Rents of the Society's properties
11 | 27858 | 0 | 0 | Values of the Society's properties
0 | 0 | 0 | 3066 | Rents of shares in properties shared with others
13 | 9952 | 0 | 0 | Value of shares in properties shared with others
0 | 350 | 0 | 0 | Note receivable
0 | 500 | 0 | 0 | At Eastern Bank
6 | 1493 | 0 | 0 | Claims for property rents
0 | 0 | 6 | 1340 | Subscription and donation account
0 | 0 | 14 | 49776 | Revenue account
⟦8⟧ | 416 | 0 | 0 | Cash account
⟦13⟧ | 22846 | 0 | 0 | Expenses account
4 | 62968 | 4 | 62968 |
Tomkhe Tora Society - Baghdad
Year 5686
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad - 1344
1926
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY, BAGHDAD
Page 297
522 / JS / 930
February 11, 1930
Regarding the accounts of Tomchei Torah
His Eminence, the President of the Tomchei Torah Association, Respected
Reference to your letter dated December 23, 1929, numbered 21
It was stated in your aforementioned letter that you are submitting herewith the account books of your association
in detail, while the attached schedule does not fulfill the requirement because it is summarized and contains
totals of figures, which keeps our council far from all the information it requires
in this ⟦line⟧ matter
Therefore, we hope you take note that when we wish to review the details of
the account, it means that we wish to review every large and small detail of the account,
which you did not provide us with in your aforementioned letter.
Accordingly, we see it necessary to submit the account books of your committee to the Office of the Presidency
of the Lay Council for auditing and to present the situation to the Council to decide on this matter.
⟦illegible⟧
Vice President of the Lay Council
N. M.
Page 299
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY
BAGHDAD
Baghdad, May 30, 1930
Number
27
His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, Respected
After greetings and respect
Please be so kind as to send a certified copy from your respected office of the two decisions
mentioned below:-
1- The decision of the Financial Committee of the previous Lay Council regarding the granting of allocations to our society
from the community fund.
2- The decision of the previous Lay Council regarding the determination of the aforementioned allocations.
With highest respect to your Eminence.
President of Tomkhe Tora Society
Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Laniado
⟦signature⟧
Tomkhe Tora Society - Baghdad
Year 5666
Tomkhe Tora Society
Baghdad - 1344
1926
TOMKHE TORA SOCIETY, BAGHDAD
Office of the Chief Rabbi - Baghdad
Number 509
Date 4 / 6 / 1930
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD
Page 300
⟦May⟧
Baghdad on May 14, 1930
To the Honorable President of the Tomchei Torah Association
After greetings:-
Since my time does not allow me to undertake the work of
your association in addition to my private business, I am forced to submit my resignation
to your Excellency, and I request that my resignation be considered effective upon the arrival of this letter
to your hands. May you remain in peace.
Your servant
⟦illegible⟧
Yosef Hakham Isaac
Member of the aforementioned association
A copy of it to:-
To His Eminence the Acting Qaimaqam of the Hakham Bashi of Baghdad for information
Office of the Hakham Bashi in Baghdad
Number 489
Date 14 / 5 / 1930
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI
BAGHDAD