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 English Translation, Pages 101-125
Name | Salary before promotion | Promotion amount | Salary after promotion | Promotion date | Paid salary | Date
Hakham Sassoon Hakham Khedhouri | 3/000 | 5/000 | 35/000 | 31/1/49 | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧
Ezra Naji | 5/000 | 5/000 | 10/000 | 1/4/49 | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧
Hakham Isaac Moallem | 2/875 | 1/500 | 4/375 | 1/4/49 | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧
Menashe Hayya Bahar | 2/875 | 1/500 | 4/375 | 1/4/49 | ⟦illegible⟧ | ⟦illegible⟧
Nouri Haron | 2/250 | 1/000 | 3/250 | 1/4/49 | |
Youssef Khedhouri | 2/250 | 2/000 | 4/250 | 1/4/49 | |
Hakham Nissim Youssef | 4/625 | 1/250 | 5/875 | 1/10/49 | 5/375 | 1/1/49
Hakham Meir Ibrahim | 2/250 | | | 16/10/49 | |
<del>Hakham Eliyahu</del> | 4/000 | | | 1/8/49 | |
Nissim Eliyahu Shimon | 3/000 | | | 1/8/49 | |
Youssef Ibrahim Hakham Youssef | 2/500 | | | 1/8/49 | |
Salim Levi | 2/500 | | | 1/8/49 | |
Salman Meir | 2/500 | | | 1/8/49 | |
Bakr Moallem | 2/500 | 2/250 | 4/750 | 1/12/49 | |
Hakham Daoud Youssef | 3/000 | 1/000 | 4/000 | 1/8/49 | |
Hakham Yaqub Youssef | 4/000 | | | 1/8/49 | |
4/000
⟦illegible⟧
<del>Saadoun Shaul</del>
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
<del>Abu Darb Karba ⟦illegible⟧</del>
Youssef Lamani
(Nouri) Ezra Lamani
<del>Ahmed Shashi</del>
Saadoun Shaul
They were removed as of
1/11/945
according to C
Book
Drawing lists | ⟦illegible⟧ | Page
2 July | 845 | 75
22 November | 945 | 86
27 June | 946 | 102
D ⟦illegible⟧ 7
N ⟦illegible⟧ 5
R ⟦illegible⟧ 5
M ⟦illegible⟧ 5
E ⟦illegible⟧ 5
⟦line⟧
20 ⟦illegible⟧
21 ⟦illegible⟧
22 ⟦illegible⟧
23 ⟦illegible⟧
24 ⟦illegible⟧
28 ⟦illegible⟧
29 ⟦illegible⟧
⟦line⟧
40
41
Name | Previous Balance | Paid | Received | Date
Hanna Abboud Sahyoun | ⟦line⟧ | 2/000 | 2/28/34 | ⟦line⟧
Ezra Cohen | 2/000 | 2/500 | 3/3/34 | ⟦line⟧
Saleh Khadouri Twayq | 2/825 | 2/875 | 3/3/34 | ⟦line⟧
Ahmed Shasha | 2/187 | 2/347 | ⟦line⟧ | "
Jacob Shaul | 0/500 | 0/750 | 3/5/34 | "
Aaron David | 0/250 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | "
Youssef Khadouri | 2/250 | 2/250 | ⟦line⟧ | "
Selim Shemesh | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
Meir Jacob Gabbay | 2/575 | 3/325 | 3/10/34 | ⟦line⟧
Saleh Hayyim Youssef Moallem | 2/400 | 2/400 | 3/10/34 | ⟦line⟧
Hayyim Youssef Moallem | 5/575 | 5/575 | 3/10/34 | ⟦line⟧
Youssef Abdel Nabi | ⟦line⟧ | 0/130 | 3/10/34 | ⟦line⟧
Selim Al-Hajj Shmuel | ⟦line⟧ | 3/000 | 3/12/34 | ⟦line⟧
Youssef Selim Hayyim | ⟦line⟧ | 2/500 | 3/15/34 | ⟦line⟧
Selim Cohen | ⟦line⟧ | 2/500 | 3/22/34 | ⟦line⟧
Isaac Nimrod | ⟦line⟧ | 2/500 | 3/22/34 | ⟦line⟧
Saleh Makki | 2/875 | 2/500 | 3/22/34 | ⟦line⟧
David Khadouri | Increase | ⟦line⟧ | 3/22/34 | ⟦line⟧
Hayyim Youssef Moallem | 5/575 | 5/575 | 3/24/34 | ⟦line⟧
4004
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
8.475
6.900
⟦line⟧
1.575
11.225
8.475
⟦line⟧
2.750
8.475
8.000
⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
46
2
Budget of the Spiritual Council for the year 37 / 938
As approved on February 21, 938
| Dinar | Fils
Chief Rabbi | 18 | 750
Head of the Religious Court | 15 | "
Salaries of five members of the Spiritual Council at 12/750 each | 63 | 750
Salary of a member of the Spiritual Council | 12 | 750
Allowances for his membership in the Court of Cassation in addition to his work in the slaughterhouse and the Yeshivot | 2 | "
| 14 | 750
Allowances for two additional members for the two courts | 4 | "
Clerk of the Sharia Court of Cassation | 3 | 500
Clerk of the Religious Court | 3 | "
Librarian | 2 | 700
Bailiff | 3 | 221
Bailiff | 2 | 700
Bailiff | 2 | 025
Bailiff | 1 | 350
Servant | 1 | 750
| 136 | 496
| x 12 |
Total annual salaries | 1637 | 952
Expenses | 50 | "
Total annual expenses | 1687 | 952
Deduct the total received by two members of the Spiritual Council from the slaughterhouse and Yeshivot administrations | 200 | 700
| 1487 | 252
The Spiritual Committee of the Holy Congregation
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Israelite Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Number: 697
Date: 29 / September / 98
To the honor of the Sage Sasson Kadoorie, may his light shine, by the hand of
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
On behalf of the Sages
After kissing your precious hands and asking of your good welfare
We hereby inform your honored Torah Eminence that on the past Thursday we merited to see the
books and letters which you sent to us by your faithful messenger
and we thank you very much for this effort, and may it be His will that you merit much more
than this with life and peace, for your desire is to do good and to guide in the way
of truth
Ovadia
⟦illegible⟧
The Council
Spiritual
29 December 937
2095
His Eminence, the President of the Spiritual Council, the Respected
I have understood that the servant Jahla Bata, who receives her salary from the community fund,
passed away several days ago, and until now we have not received notification from Your Eminence regarding this, just
as we have not yet received a response to our letter No. 3070 dated 24 September
937 regarding the allocations for the Jerusalem Committee.
⟦signature⟧
The President
⟦flourish⟧
⟦illegible stamp⟧
The Spiritual Committee of the Holy Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Israelite Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Number: 666
Date: 10 / Tammuz / 98
Teacher Dahab daughter of Ezra son of Naftali son of Hanoch
Your Honor
Since a request was received from ⟦...⟧ son of Isaac from ⟦...⟧ 27/12/29
regarding the marriage of your daughter Mrs. ⟦...⟧ your daughter ⟦...⟧ 10/Tammuz/ 98 ⟦...⟧
Baghdad ⟦...⟧ 1927
Ezra Sassoon
Suleiman
The Spiritual Committee of the Holy Community
Baghdad
For filing
28 February 938
⟦2121⟧
His Eminence, the President of the Spiritual Council, Respected
Enclosed is the budget of your council for the year 37 / 938 as approved by the Lay Council
on February 21, 938 for your information;
⟦signature⟧
The President
⟦26⟧
The Chief Rabbi of the city of
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
BAGHDAD
Number: 744
Date: 12 ⟦illegible⟧ 98
Mu'taqid Daham L. Ezra L. Nissim L. Ezra
Kosher L. Nahum
L. Nissim L. Nahum Khawaja Salim Ezra P.A. Al-Dahabi
Khawaja Salim Ezra mentioned in the house rented to her from L.
Nissim Yitzhak Abdallah and his brother Ezra Yitzhak according to the letter which
the aforementioned rental
L. Nissim H.
Ezra
Salaries for the month of September 1937
2126
July 13, 1938
To
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, the Respected
After greetings,
Reference to your letter No. 724 dated July 13, 98
The Lay Council has not paid the salaries and allowances for the month of September to any
party whatsoever. The fact of the matter is that the Schools Committee has distributed to the schools their share
of the lottery that was previously held for the benefit of the Hospital and School Committees by permission
from the Secretariat of the Capital, on the condition that the proceeds of the aforementioned lottery be allocated to the hospitals
and schools without entering the community's treasury.
As for your statement that the Rabbis are requesting arrears for the current year in excess of the rest of the
institutions, we do not find it to be consistent with reality because our council has paid, up to now, to all
departments and institutions of the community without exception, full salaries and allowances for six months of this
year.
⟦signature⟧
Vice President of the Lay Council
The Chief Rabbi of the Holy City
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
BAGHDAD
Number: 752
Date: 17 / Tammuz 99
Mu'taqid Nahum L. Ezra L. Nissim L. Nahum
Kosher L. Qumayz
Correct the Qumayz L. Wahid L. Anabta Doro from Qawafin 'Alam 'Abda'
One of them was dug at the time of Aliyah and they extracted it for the wedding of
Benjamin
⟦illegible⟧
Approved
29 / 7 / 9
The Rabbi
2172
9 January 939
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, Respected
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, Respected
After greetings and respect
Based on your request, the Lay Council agreed in its meeting held on 5 January
939 to compensate you by borrowing an amount of five hundred and seventy-four Dinars and six hundred and fifty-nine
Fils to be spent according to what is listed below, provided that the payment is due after three
months from its date, as the Council will be ready to pay it on the mentioned date
We hope that you will take the receipts and organize the salary disbursement lists to those entitled to them
in a manner that secures the rights of the Council
Dinar | Fils
119 | 771 | To the Spiritual Administration
46 | 313 | To the Yeshivot Administration
56 | 287 | To the retirees and the needy
15 | 750 | To the Tomchei Torah Society
238 | 121 | The Slaughterhouse
77 | 288 | Slaughterhouse students' dues until the end of September 938
" | 16 | On the expense account for this year 38/ 939
" | 100 | To the Shochatim only for the months of October and November 1938
" | 15 | Expense for building an arch in front of the slaughterhouse for the passage of employees and workers
208 | 288 |
128 | 250 | To the Community Administration on account
659 | 574 | Only five hundred and seventy-four Dinars and six hundred and fifty-nine Fils and no more
⟦illegible⟧
Vice President
Baghdad ( 6 / 5 / 1928
His Excellency, the Honorable Lay Council
After greetings,
We, the undersigned (teachers of the Talmud Torah, numbering four), used to receive from
the Jewish Community Fund a monthly amount of twenty-two and a half rupees.
For three and a half months, this has been cut off from us, and we have come to seek mercy from
God and from your presence, that you may look into our situation, noting that for a period of seven
months we have received nothing from you. Our hope is that you return us to our previous state. May you remain [blessed].
Teachers of the Talmud Torah
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
7172
10 / 5 / 28
For filing
2171
8 January 939
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, Respected
After greetings
In view of the death of His Eminence the late Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Laniado, the Lay Council has decided
on 20 / 11 / 938 to cut his salary starting from the end of the month of August 938. May you remain [in peace].
⟦illegible⟧
Vice President
A copy of it to the Accountant for information
2170/5
8 January 939
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, the Respected
Greetings
We request that you inform us of the location where the Sefarim, furnishings, and furniture belonging to
the synagogues that were expropriated due to their location on King Ghazi Street are kept, and may you remain [in peace]
Vice President
A copy of it to His Excellency the President of the Israelite Community, the Respected
Copy of paragraph 7 of the decision of the Lay Council taken on 30 March 939
7) The Council confirms the election of His Eminence Rabbi Daoud Shaul as a member of the Spiritual Council to fill the membership
vacancy caused by the death of Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Laniado on 23 February 939. Accordingly, and since the aforementioned Rabbi
before his election to membership held the position of an additional member of the two courts with a monthly salary of one dinar
and eight hundred fils 1/800, and this salary is not present in the approved budget for the year 939/38, the Council decided
to add nine dinars to the allocations of the Spiritual Council for the five months starting on the first of October
1938 and ending at the end of February 1939 to be paid to Rabbi Daoud Shaul at the rate of one dinar
and eight hundred fils for each month. Furthermore, Rabbi Daoud Shaul shall receive the salary for membership in the Spiritual Council
starting from the first of March 939, and therefore his salary allocated in the budget in his capacity as clerk of the Court of Cassation
shall be cut starting from the first of March 939, noting that the aforementioned Rabbi will continue to perform his previous
clerical duties within the mentioned membership salary.
True copy
29 March 939
21 May 939
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, respected
For your information, you will find enclosed a copy of the resolution issued by the Lay Council
in its meeting held on 30 March 939;
The President
A copy of it to His Eminence Rabbi Daoud Shaul for information
On the occasion of the death of the late Nassim Hakham Youssef, the employee at the slaughterhouse, the contractor of the weighing station (Al-Qabbaniya) approached
this presidency in the presence of His Excellency the Vice President of the Lay Council, the members of the Israeli Religious Court,
and the head of the slaughterhouse, requesting the appointment of another employee in his place to facilitate the work in the slaughterhouse.
After deliberation, it was decided to make the following arrangements, to be acted upon
until they are approved by the Lay Council:
1) Appointing Hakham Youssef Hayyim Moallem Ezra as an employee in the slaughterhouse in place of the deceased Nassim Hakham
Youssef.
2) Since the salary of the deceased Nassim Hakham Youssef was 4.575 Dinars, one Dinar shall be taken from this amount
and added to the salary of the slaughterhouse employee Salim Hakham Eliyahu, which is 1 Dinar
and 687 Fils, making it 2 Dinars and 687 Fils, on the condition that the attendance of the aforementioned Salim
be regular like the rest of the slaughterers and without interruption, and that he remains every day at the slaughterhouse until the
⟦authorized representative⟧ of the contractor permits him to leave.
3) By adding the remainder of the salary of the deceased Nassim Hakham Youssef, which is 3.575 Dinars, to the salary of
Hakham Yaqub Shaul, which is 2.25 Dinars, the total becomes 5 Dinars and 925 Fils, to be divided
equally between the aforementioned Hakham Yaqub Shaul and Hakham Youssef Hayyim Moallem Ezra, so the salary of
each of them shall be 2 Dinars and 912 Fils (2.912).
4) Anyone who is absent from work at the slaughterhouse without a legitimate excuse shall be fined by deducting the daily portion
from his salary.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Referred to the Presidency of the Honorable Lay Council
January 21, 1929
Session 29/2/9
Based on the committee's decision
Head of the Community
Note: Slaughterhouse
2/4
2417
21 May 939
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, Respected
For your information, you will find attached a copy of the decision issued by the Lay Council
in its meeting held on 30 March 939
⟦illegible⟧
The President
A copy of it to His Eminence Rabbi Daoud Shaoul for information
The Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad
Date: May 3, 1939
His Excellency, the Honorable President of the Lay Council
After greetings and respect,
It is not hidden from Your Excellency that my accumulated salaries from the Lay Council fund have reached
six months. Since I am compelled to find the necessary money for the marriage of my betrothed daughter, I request you
to consider disbursing these accumulated salaries of mine and paying them to me or to my son-in-law, Mr. Ibrahim Twena,
Assistant Director of the Rachel Shahmoon School. To Your Excellency, much thanks and respect in advance;
Sincerely,
⟦Yitzhak Dabbah⟧
⟦S.T.⟧
Member of the Religious Court
11 475
97 / 275
Disbursement approved
5/17
Baghdad 22 / 4 / 29
To the Honorable President of the Lay Council
After greetings
We, the undersigned, have had
salaries from the community fund for twenty years
approximately, and we have no profession other than spending
our days reading the Torah and Psalms and spending this
meager salary. Therefore, we hope from your
esteemed council that you look upon us with the eye of mercy and compassion
by continuing our salary as before, and to you much respect
May you remain, my Lord
Daoud Murad ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
1
⟦line⟧
9/1
Not to be given
7/5
⟦line⟧
6/12
The Chief Rabbi of the Holy City
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
BAGHDAD
Number ⟦line⟧
Date October 29, 1939
His Excellency the President of the respected Lay Council
After greetings and respect
I request you to inform me of the date of the meeting of the esteemed Lay Council so that I may attend to meet
the Council, and I also request that you kindly invite His Excellency the President of the Community to this meeting
to be enlightened by his views on the subject I wish to present to the esteemed Council; and to your Excellency respect;
with the members
⟦Darwish⟧ ⟦...⟧
President of the Spiritual Council
The discussion took place and there is no longer a need for follow-up. To be filed
11/8
⟦...⟧