AI English Translation, Pages 126-150
JEWISH HOSPITALS COMMITTEE | JEWISH HOSPITALS COMMITTEE
BAGHDAD | BAGHDAD
Established in 1884 | Established, 1884
Telephone No.: 1480 | Telephone No. 1480
⟦line⟧
Meir Elias Hospital: Meir Elias Hospital
Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital: Reemah Kadoorie Eye Hospital
Refouah Pharmacy: Refouah Pharmacy.
No. الرقم:
Date التاريخ: 20 September 940
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, Respected
A case of engagement and marriage recently occurred between a young man and a young woman from Baghdad, which we wish to recount to the Lay
Council in view of its importance, in the hope that the esteemed Council will take the necessary measures to deter
those responsible.
The young man and the young woman had agreed to the engagement and marriage at the same time, provided that this was arranged for them by
the person named Ezra Mukammal, a clerk at the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad. The aforementioned person agreed with them
that the engagement and marriage contract would be performed by the head of the Jewish community in Kirkuk, who actually came to
Baghdad for this purpose, completed the religious ceremonies, and organized the marriage certificate for them. The transaction finally
ended in divorce.
It is not hidden from the esteemed Council that allowing such acts to occur may lead
to the loss of fees on one hand and to the harm of the spouses on the other. Perhaps the respected Religious Court
is more aware of the consequences of such incidents, which are thought to occur in other places besides Kirkuk as well.
Therefore, we await the measures that the esteemed Council will take. Please accept our respects;
⟦signature⟧
President
228
October 6, 1940
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council, the Respected
The Respected Hospital Committee informed us in its letter dated September 20, 1940, of the occurrence of an engagement
and marriage at the same time for a young man and woman from the people of Baghdad at the hands of a rabbi in Kirkuk who came to
Baghdad for this purpose by the arrangement of a person known to the Spiritual Council, and as we have also learned
that this marriage has ended in divorce.
There is no doubt that the esteemed Spiritual Council well appreciates the consequences of allowing such
matters from both religious and civil perspectives, and it must have taken interest in taking the necessary measures against
the perpetrators, and we hope to be informed of what has been done in this regard, especially since such incidents
occur in Kirkuk and in other places as it is thought.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it to His Excellency the President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, the Respected
To His Eminence the President of the Israelite Religious Court, the Respected
The Chief Rabbi of the Holy City of
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
BAGHDAD
⟦line⟧
Number: 952
Date: 11 / Safar / 307
To the Excellency of Mr. Ezra, Mr. Raphael, Mr. Sassoon
Honorable Mr. Nahum
After seeking peace and blessing and all good forever
Then Mr. Ezra and Mr. Raphael aforementioned came to me and spoke concerning Mr. Nahum
And they told me that they want to give him a sum of 2500 Rupees and also he shall give them a letter of release
Regarding all the claims that he has against them and against their father Mr. Sassoon
Then I sent for the aforementioned Mr. Nahum and I spoke with him concerning the aforementioned sum and he accepted
Upon himself to receive the aforementioned sum and to give them a complete and final letter of release
⟦line⟧
Benjamin H. Moshe
Hakham Bashi
Baghdad
In his handwriting
7/15
The Chief Rabbi of the Holy City of
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
BAGHDAD
Number: 1114
Date: 25/11/935
The detainee Raphael A. Menachem A. Nissim A. Simcha
In the city A. Kahya
Please be informed that we did not earn from the fees of A. Ezra Abraham A. A. Isaac Ezra A.
Which they gave on the 5th day of the month of Adar (year 25) and it was equal in my neighborhood Ezraam A. Rahamim
In the upbringing of the child Dan and we did and we took in the upbringing with the effort of his end
End time in the upbringing A. Ephr'
Hanukkah fees | 1 | 1 | 2.25
Ezra's clothing | 2 | 2 | 2.70
Purim fees | 3 | 3 | 2.22
Passover fees | 4 | 4 | 1.75
And we are the grandchildren of those who earned from these properties A. soon with him Moshe Ezraam A. Meir
And when it occurred to us A. Ezraam goes up here A. Ezra A. Hayyim A. Nissim
And he strove and it was A. our earning from Moshe A. Ezra A. Simcha A. Nissim A. Ezra here
Went up A. building of the seat of the law servant A. Isaac A. Isaac A. Sasson A. Ezra here
Houses of our earning song A. rent A. signature
Benjamin
Moshe
Another portion
A. Menachem Raphael A. Isaac A. Isaac A. Bekhor A. Meir
Please know everything A. Ezra A. Nissim A. Simcha in the month of Adar
For the honor of
9/8
April 29, 702
Assistant Head of the Community Affairs Management Committee
Respected
Based on the request of the petitioner (Umm Zaki), widow of the late Shaul
On behalf of the Commission, we kindly ask for your approval to disburse the amount of ten dinars
as assistance for her and her minor children from the community budget.
Please accept (on behalf of the Commission) the highest respect and appreciation with thanks.
Lawyer, Head of the Commission
⟦illegible⟧
1970
Head of the Commission
To the Accountant
Please disburse the amount of ten dinars to the petitioner above
on the account of the community budget for the year 1970 with thanks
To be filed
11 / 8 / 49
Honorable President of the Lay Council
Baghdad
Greetings and respect,
Previously, the gentlemen Salman Ezra Shahrabani and Yusuf Salman Nissan approached you regarding
the purchase of the plot numbered 27 / 143 located in the Hanoun Saghir neighborhood, adjacent to the remaining piece of land
from the Farha Torah. After this purchase was completed, the necessary measures were taken to buy it
and register it in the name of the Farha Abid Cohen Endowments. This has indeed been done, and the purchase price of
(400.000) Dinars was paid, along with all the expenses and fees required for that from the consumption allowance
of the Farha Torah, which is (378.500) Dinars, after its completion.
And now, since our community is in the direst need of a well (Mikveh) because all the wells have collapsed
due to the excessive rise of groundwater in recent years, and since the aforementioned plot
is located in the best place suitable for this project, and since there are some generous people from our community ready
to spend the necessary money on this project so that a well with a
basement can be built on the mentioned plot, while the land above them remains empty for performing prayers during the summer season, provided that the rest of the
revenues coming from this project, if any occur in the future, are spent on the poor, and that
through our association.
In view of what we have explained above, we hope for approval of this charitable project as soon as possible so that
we may carry out the necessary construction that suits the present time.
With our increased gratitude and highest respect;
Association of ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
1939
Baghdad
⟦signature⟧
Approved
2251
14 November 941
Association of Helpers of the Poor
Baghdad
Greetings
Reference to your letter dated 14/11/941
Our council approved in its meeting held on 10/11/941 the project of building a well (source)
in the plot numbered 27 - 143 Hanoun Saghir purchased for the Torah of Farha according to what was stated in your letter
provided that its revenues, if any, are allocated to aid the poor through your association. Best regards;
⟦signature⟧
The President
The Chief Rabbi of the Holy City of
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, Rabbi Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
BAGHDAD
⟦line⟧
Number: 1057
Date: 6 / ⟦illegible⟧ / 1941
His Excellency, the Respected President of the Municipality
Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
We submit herewith the petition presented by the employees of the Jewish community
who request the high-cost-of-living allowance given by the municipality to its employees.
Therefore, we hope from your Excellency the kindness of looking with sympathy upon these employees who
are in dire need of assistance in the current state of high prices. May you remain [in peace].
President of the Jewish Community
Benjamin
⟦illegible⟧
I present it to His Excellency, the Respected President of the Municipal Council, to kindly look into this request from our community's employees, as
living costs are in constant rise and it is necessary to provide assistance to the employees in this their hardship. 14 Kanun Awwal 941
Number
2725
Benjamin
President of the Community
2782
5/12/941
6 Baghdad 702
Our union, this contains sixty-three 4 para
From it 4 para in the school in the school in Baghdad
After Friday in the school
Miri the para the para
We are those who sealed this document in the House of Wisdom which
In the school which is in Baghdad in the school
Which were in the school in the school in Baghdad in the school the para
Our union in the school which is in Baghdad which the school in Baghdad
The school
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
The para the para
Baghdad
To our esteemed council to look into this request with the attention and justice it deserves in this case which is demanded by
The employees in a special way ⟦illegible⟧ because its cost is 941
Head of the community [K.D. K.L.Y.H] in Baghdad
Wednesday 21 / 4 / 949
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri, the respected President of our Israelite community
After greetings and respect
Our Master. The painful situation we have reached due to the delay of our salaries has become unbearable, especially in these
harsh days when the cost of living has become very expensive and the salary has dropped to a quarter or less, as your Eminence knows.
There is no doubt that your Eminence is known for your chivalry and fairness, and you appreciate the amount of hardship we suffer in these difficult days.
Your Eminence undoubtedly shares our opinion that it is necessary to take the required measures.
We have every hope in your Eminence to fulfill our request urgently. May you remain in respect.
⟦illegible signature⟧ | Saleh Kahli | Ezra Levi
⟦illegible signature⟧ | ⟦illegible signature⟧ | Yusuf Saleh
⟦illegible signature⟧ | ⟦illegible signature⟧ | Musa Belhin
Assistance allocation amount 6000
Amount 8000
⟦illegible⟧
Archive ⟦illegible⟧
Referred to the respected Accounting Manager to kindly provide assistance in this matter 25 / 4 / 949
On behalf of the President of the Community
⟦illegible signature⟧
Baghdad, December 31, 1941
The Israeli Spiritual Council
Baghdad
His Excellency, the President of the Lay Council, Respected
After greetings and respect,
The painful situation we have reached due to the delay of our salaries has become unbearable, especially in
these days when the cost of living has become high and the salary has dropped to nearly a quarter.
We are all heads of families and have children whom we must support and care for their upbringing. There is no doubt that the
respected members of the Lay Council, who are known for their chivalry and fairness, appreciate the amount of distress we suffer
in these difficult days, and they undoubtedly share our opinion that it is necessary to take measures
to provide us relief so that we can live with our families. Therefore, we request the esteemed Council to grant us permission to collect
donations from the public—after obtaining the permission of the competent authorities—to aid the spiritual institutions.
This is the only way, in our view, to solve this problem, and we have every hope that the esteemed Council will grant
this request of ours. Respectfully yours.
⟦Khedouri⟧
⟦1/1/42⟧
President of the Spiritual Council
A copy of it to His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the respected President of the Community
⟦For filing⟧
16 April 942
His Eminence, the President of the Spiritual Council, Respected
Reference to your letter No. 1094 dated 7 April 702
Enclosed is the list of accounts submitted to us by the accountant in response to your letter, to be compared with the figures
you have urgently, and to inform us of the points of discrepancy.
On behalf of the President of the Council
⟦signature⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 7848
Date: 23 July 944
Urgent
Subject ⟦line⟧ Appointment of a lawyer for the Religious Court
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, respected
After greetings and respect
I received a secret and extremely important letter from His Excellency the Minister of Justice under number 4/1/19/A
on its date, and a copy of it to the Religious Court, in which His Excellency requests the dismissal of Ezra Mukammal
from his clerical position in the court and the appointment of a responsible lawyer to attend the sessions of the court
mentioned to guide it regarding legal matters and procedures of litigation. And since
the appointment of employees is within the powers of the Lay Council itself according to paragraph 3 of Article
7 of the Community Law, and as paragraph 7 of Article 15 of the mentioned law
gave the Council the right to appoint a lawyer to the court, the President of the Religious Court
requested of me on its date to mediate with the Lay Council to implement His Excellency's wish
and appoint a lawyer and a clerk for the Religious Court.
Lu
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
The Israeli Lay Council
In Baghdad
Number 2452
Date 22 August 944
His Excellency the President of the Israeli Community in Baghdad, Respected
After greetings and respect
Reference to your letter numbered 7848 dated 23 July 944
The Lay Council decided in its meeting held on 10 August 944
1) Appointing Mr. Naeem Rabie as a lawyer for the Israeli Religious Court according to paragraph 7 of
Article 15 of the Community Law with a monthly salary of thirty dinars starting from the first of August
944. As for the duties of the aforementioned, they shall be under probation as follows: -
1) Managing the affairs of the mentioned court and organizing its records, papers, communications
and announcements in a manner that secures the public interest.
2) Guiding the Religious Court regarding legal matters and procedures of litigation
3) Attendance during the court sessions to look into lawsuits and participate in its deliberations
without having judicial authority.
4) The lawyer's attendance shall be full-time within official working hours daily except for
Saturdays.
5) He shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Minister of Justice's orders as stated in his letter numbered
4/1/191 dated 23 July 944.
2) Terminating the services of the Religious Court clerk Mr. Ezra Mukammal starting from the end of July 944
3) Appointing Mr. Heskel Qattan as a clerk for the Religious Court with a monthly salary of eight dinars
to be received starting from the first of August 944.
4) Allocating three dinars monthly to the person named Bikhor Israel to be received starting from the first of August 944
in exchange for his performance of the duty of process server for the Ohavei Shalom Committee.
5) Allocating two dinars monthly to the court employee named Ishaq Hakham Salem for his supervision of the writing of the
mentioned committee, to be received starting from the first of August 944.
President of the Lay Council
⟦signature⟧
⟦handwritten: Reviewed⟧
A copy of it to His Eminence the President of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad
The lawyer Mr. Naeem Rabie. To the accountant of the Lay Council to act accordingly
The Jewish Lay Council
in Baghdad
Number ⟦452⟧
Date August 13, 944
His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court
in Baghdad, Respected
We request that you provide us with the following information as quickly as possible.
1) The total number of lawsuits filed in your court in each of the last three years
ending at the end of Elul Hebrew 5704, the number of lawsuits settled, and the number of lawsuits
that were not settled in each of those years.
2) The number of divorce certificates issued by your court in each of the years
mentioned.
3) The number of (Chalitzah) ceremonies performed by your court in each of the
three years.
Yours truly
⟦signature⟧
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it to
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, Respected
For information
The Jewish Lay Council
Baghdad
Number 2450
Date 13 August 944
His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court of Cassation
The Respected
We request you to inform us as soon as possible of the number of cassation lawsuits filed with your court
in each of the last three years ending at the end of September 5704 as follows:-
1) The number of appealed lawsuits from the cases of the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad and the number
of those upheld and those overturned in each of the three mentioned years.
2) The number of lawsuits received from Mosul and those upheld and those overturned in each of the
three years.
3) The same information regarding lawsuits received from Basra and from the rest of the regions of Iraq.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it to His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, the Respected
For information.
The Jewish Lay Council
In Baghdad
Number 2477
Date March 16, 1945
His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
The Respected
On the occasion of the issuance of the Lay Council's decision taken on 3/13/1945
According to which it has become prohibited for the President and members of the Religious Court to collect for themselves
any fees such as those they were accustomed to collecting on divorce papers, Khalisa, certificates,
strengthening, divisions, release of recommended debt, and delivery of divorce papers arriving from abroad
and the like. It is also prohibited for court employees to collect any fees in any form
whatsoever. As for what is required to obtain a divorce paper in terms of expenditure, it shall be paid from the court's own fund temporarily
until court fees are organized, provided that what is paid for this purpose does not exceed one hundred fils for each
divorce paper.
Ibrahim ⟦...⟧
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it with a copy of the decision -
To His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad.
To the Presidency of the Spiritual Council in Baghdad.
To the Accountant to act accordingly.
The Jewish Lay Council
In Baghdad
Number 2477
Date 16 March 945
His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
The Respected
Enclosed is a copy of the Lay Council's decision taken on 12/3/1945
According to which it has become prohibited for the President and members of the Religious Court to collect for themselves
any fees such as those they were accustomed to collecting on divorce certificates, sales, testimonies,
strengthening, inheritance division, manumission of the Mosaic religion, and delivery of divorce certificates arriving from abroad
and the like. It is also prohibited for the court employees to collect any fees in any form
whatsoever. As for the expenses required for each divorce certificate, they shall be paid from the court's own fund temporarily
until the court fees are organized, provided that what is paid for this purpose does not exceed six hundred fils for each
divorce certificate.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Lay Council
A copy of it with a copy of the decision -
To His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
To the Presidency of the Spiritual Council in Baghdad
To the Accountant to act accordingly ⟦line⟧
It has become clear to the Council that the President and members of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad
have been accustomed since ancient times to taking for themselves special fees from the litigants
and fees for divorce, jewelry, and others. These fees have become, by de facto,
part of their income upon which they depend to manage their livelihood. While the collection
of fees in this manner, besides not being based on a legal basis, causes dissatisfaction among the members
of the community in general and the interested parties in particular, which has caused many rumors that
do not suit the reputation of the court. Since the Council considers it one of its primary duties to work
to improve the reputation of the judgment and remove the causes of complaint, and to facilitate the study of the possibility of imposing systematic fees
for the courts paid by the interested parties not to the persons of the judges but to the court treasury
itself, it has been decided to strictly prohibit the judges of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad and its employees
from collecting any fees from the litigants under any name and in any form whatsoever. Since
this decision will deprive the members of the aforementioned court of income they relied on and were accustomed to
collecting, and since all members of the Spiritual Council, according to Article 15 of the Community Law,
can be elected from time to time as members of the court so that it can be determined that this decision
will affect all members of the Spiritual Council equally, the Council has found it fair
to compensate them for this income by paying additional allowances under the name of (Fees Allowances)
amounting to seven and a quarter Dinars per month to be paid to each of the President and members of the Spiritual Council
starting from the first of April 945
⟦President of the Spiritual Council⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
It has become clear to the Council that the President and the two members of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad
have been accustomed since ancient times to take for themselves special fees from the litigants
such as divorce and engagement fees and others. These fees have in fact become
part of their income upon which they rely to manage their livelihood. While the collection of
fees in this manner, besides not being based on a legal basis, causes dissatisfaction among the members of
the community in general and the interested parties in particular, which causes much gossip that
is not appropriate for the reputation of the Court. Since the Council considers it one of its primary duties to work
to improve the reputation of the judges and remove the causes of complaint, and has undertaken to study the possibility of imposing systematic fees
for the courts paid by the interested parties not to the persons of the judges but to the treasury of the Court
itself, it has decided to strictly prohibit the judges of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad and its employees
from collecting any fees from the litigants under any name and in any form whatsoever. Since
this decision will deprive the members of the aforementioned Court of income they relied upon and were accustomed to
collecting, and since all members of the Spiritual Council according to Article 15 of the Community Law
can be elected from time to time as members of the Court, such that it can be determined that this decision
will affect all members of the Spiritual Council equally, the Council has found it fair
to compensate them for this income by paying additional allowances under the name of (Fees Allowances)
amounting to seven and a quarter Dinars per month to be paid to each of the President and members of the Spiritual Council
starting from the first of April 945
⟦illegible⟧
The Israeli Lay Council
Baghdad
Number ⟦1997⟧
Date July 9, 1945
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Aboudi, Respected
The Lawyer Mr. Heskel Murad, Respected
The Lawyer Mr. Sassoon Khoja Jiji, Respected
After greetings.
Further to our letter number 3480 dated April 18, 1945
I would be very pleased if you would kindly expedite the submission of your proposals regarding the fees intended to be imposed on lawsuits
of the Israeli religious courts. I am interested to clarify here that the delay in imposing these fees costs the fund of
the community many expenses that it pays at the present time, if it does not deprive it of revenues that it is not in a position to dispense
with. While I am aware of your many preoccupations, I ask you to consider this matter as one of the urgent matters.
May God always grant you success in what is good. Please accept my respect.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Lay Council
The Israelite Lay Council
Baghdad
Number: 248
Date: 18 April 945
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi, Respected
The Honorable Lawyer Mr. Heskel Yaqoub Murad, Respected
The Honorable Lawyer Mr. Sion Shohet Gigi, Respected
The Council decided in its meeting held on 13 March 945 to study the possibility of imposing
statutory fees on lawsuits filed in the Israelite religious courts in Baghdad.
Accordingly, I have appointed you as a committee to draft a detailed proposal in this regard
to be submitted to the esteemed General Council.
I thank you in advance and hope to receive your report at the earliest possible opportunity.
Respectfully yours,
President of the Lay Council
⟦signature⟧
The Spiritual Council of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Israeli Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
Number: ⟦1054⟧
Date: 27 / 1 / 1949
Mu'tadal Raham L. Ezra L. Naftali L. Shimon
Honorable L. Qamayj
After greetings and inquiring about your honorable well-being, we inform you that the letter we received from your respected self dated August 2, 1948, which included your request for the disbursement of an amount of one Dinar monthly to you from the date of August 15, 1948 (until 7) from Ramadan L. Menachem L. Ezekiel No. (26) Tishrei 948, and that is for the rent of the synagogue in which you pray and which is known to Hakhamim Khadouri. We inform you of our explanation on the petition you submitted to the respected Spiritual Council, approving your above request, and we have disbursed to you (4) from Ramadan to (15) from Ramadan L. Menachem L. Ezekiel mentioned.
And this, and peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings
⟦signature⟧
Yitzhak Hayyim
S.T.
We request from your Excellency Raham L. Naftali the respected to deliver this letter
67
Baghdad on July 15 ⟦...⟧
15 / 7
His Excellency the President of the Respectable Lay Council
After greetings
It is not hidden from your Excellency that throughout my tenure as President of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad
for nearly twenty years, I have not received any leave. In view of my urgent need for recreation and rest
and my wife's need for treatment abroad, I request your Excellency to take the necessary steps to grant me a leave of no less
than one month to enable me to travel outside Iraq during the summer season and accompany my wife and some members
of my young family with one of my adult daughters to care for them and supervise them.
While waiting for the approval to grant me the requested leave, please accept my utmost thanks and respect.
⟦Shlomo Hugi Aboudi⟧
⟦Salman Hugi Aboudi⟧
Rabbi Salman Hugi Aboudi
President of the Israeli Religious Court in Baghdad
Copy to =
To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, President of the
Israeli Community in Baghdad - for information.
Approved
⟦...⟧
To be filed
⟦...⟧