AI English Translation, Pages 376-400
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number:
Subject:
Date: 8 / 8 / 1947
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi, Respectfully
After greetings and respect
I am very pleased to announce to your Eminence that the esteemed General Council in
its meeting held on August 4, 1947, has placed its trust in your Eminence's person
and elected you as President of the Courts for the next four years.
I congratulate you from the heart on this precious trust and wish your Eminence continued
success.
Please accept the highest respect
⟦Sassoon Khadhuri⟧
President of the Community
Copy to the esteemed Spiritual Council
The esteemed Lay Council
⟦illegible⟧
59
8 / 8 / 1947
⟦illegible⟧
The Spiritual Committee of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Israeli Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
Number: 2874
Date: 24 September 947
Our Master the Hakham Bashi of the Jewish Community, the respected
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings as is fitting
After the greeting
Your honored letter dated 15/8/947 was received by us
On the occasion of your aforementioned letter in the session held on 6 Tishrei current
The aforementioned Spiritual Council decided unanimously and after examining the requests it contained
The letter of the Hakham Bashi. And to your presence the answer
The first request mentioned in the second paragraph thereof is the holding of the farmer who
has the identification and in this manner as in the letter. For this matter as is fitting
identification and after examining the requests in this session we explained on the letter. And to your presence
the answer that the slaughterer shall be in the slaughterhouse (4) cm the hour (15) cm
and among them the aforementioned Hakham the dated. And by this aforementioned letter upon them from the farmer the
written that it and the written upon it shall be the written
The poor one, the signatory
Menachem Shmuel
Peace be upon you the
Writer
With complete respect
The poor one, the aforementioned signatory
Ezra Sasson
Administration of the Council ⟦illegible⟧ Baghdad
Spiritual Committee of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Israeli Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
Number: 1871
Date: June 14, 1947
Honorable Mr. Manager of Economy and Purchasing, Honorable Sir
We have come to inform you that our committee in its last meeting
In the name of God we shall do
After investigation and inquiry into the request of Mr. Kutani Yosef Avraham from 9/6/1947, our committee decided
to participate in the surgery expenses of his wife Habiba at the Meir Ezrah Hospital in the amount of 15 (fifteen)
dinars on the condition that the payment be made directly to the Director of the aforementioned hospital against a receipt.
The aforementioned amount will be recorded as follows:-
From the account of Mr. Yehoshua Sasson Yehezkel Basha | 10 | Dinars
" " Mr. Yosef A. Jouri Cohen | 2 | Dinars
" " Mr. Menashe Hakham | 3 | Dinars
Based on this decision, you are requested to issue a payment order in the amount of 15 dinars
and transfer it to us as soon as possible.
⟦illegible⟧
The Administration
Number 51
Date 16 / 6 / 1947
File Number
With great respect
Spiritual Committee
In the name of the President
Mr. Kutani
Copy
To Mr. Director of the Meir Ezrah Hospital
For his information.
The Spiritual Council
8/ ⟦illegible⟧ /947
His Excellency the President of the Honorable Spiritual Council
After greetings,
With reference to your two letters numbered 871 and 1874 dated 6/8/947 regarding
the new formations in the Religious Court and the Sharia Court of Cassation.
I am providing you below with a copy of this Council's resolution No. (4) taken in the session of August 28,
947, for your information and to notify the concerned parties of its content.
Please accept our highest respects;
⟦signature⟧
The President
Copy to:
His Eminence the Head of the Community - for information
The Accountant - to act accordingly
Copy of the Resolution
4 - After reviewing the two letters of the Spiritual Council numbered 871 and 1874 dated 6/8/947,
the Council decided the following:
First - In view of the election of His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Aboudi as President of the Spiritual Council
in the General Council session held on August 4, 947, his nominal salary shall be
(21.500 Dinars) per month instead of (17/- Dinars).
Second - In view of the election of His Eminence Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Hezekiel as President of the Religious Court
on 5/8/947, his nominal salary shall be (17.000 Dinars) per month
instead of (14.750 Dinars) with an increase in cost-of-living allowances by the prescribed amount.
Third - In view of the election of His Eminence Rabbi Moshe Ibrahim as a member of the Spiritual Council
in the General Council session held on August 4, 947, his nominal salary
shall be (14.750 Dinars) per month, to which (5.250 Dinars) cost-of-living allowances
and (7.250 Dinars) fee allowances shall be added, provided that all
salaries he currently receives from the Community Fund are canceled, whether in his capacity
as an alternate member of the Spiritual Council or the Kibub.
Fourth - In view of the election of His Eminence Rabbi Saleh Yusuf Hayim as an alternate member of
the Spiritual Council in the session of 5/8/947, it was decided to grant him a salary of five Dinars
per month without cost-of-living allowances.
These increases and appointments shall be implemented as of each of their aforementioned dates.
Baghdad on 11/15/1947
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, the respected
After greetings
I enclose herewith the Council's letter dated 4/23/1947
Requesting your kindness to look into it and give your orders regarding the continuation or suspension
of the salary of Nissim Hakham Shalom, the Shechita instructor.
And please accept my respect
The Accountant
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 77
Date: 11/16/1947
File Number:
For review with His Excellency the President of the Commission
Has any result been obtained from the work of this teacher
and how many people have trained in slaughtering so far?
⟦By inspection⟧
⟦The Spiritual Council⟧
11/ /1947
His Eminence the President of the respected Spiritual Council
After greetings
Further to our letter No. 19 dated 4/23/1947 regarding the assignment of Mr. Nassim
Hakham Shalom to undertake the task of training those wishing to learn the principles of slaughter according to Israeli law
The Council has decided to extend the granting of monthly allowances of two dinars to the aforementioned person
for a further period of six months starting from the first of November 1947, provided that this is reconsidered
decision at the end of April 1948 in light of the results obtained from training the new Shohatim.
Please accept our respect!
⟦Baruch⟧
Vice President
Copy to ⟦line⟧
His Excellency the Head of the Community - for your kind information
Mr. Nassim Hakham Shalom
The Accountant - to act accordingly
A.
228
1/10/1949
Department Copy
Submitted 2 5/1/949
Furniture Register
Presidency of the Spiritual Council
We request that one of your council's employees be instructed to organize a
special register for the furniture of the Spiritual Council and the Religious Court, similar to the register organized
for the furniture of the Community Presidency, hoping that the mentioned register will be ready for auditing
at the end of the fiscal year. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧
Vice President
⟦illegible stamp⟧
To the Vice President
After investigation, it was found that
there is no furniture register
in the Spiritual Council, and therefore
it was delegated to instruct the mentioned
Council to organize such a
register. Once it was initiated and completed
directly, we will examine it
under the guidance of the Secretary of the Vice President of the Spiritual Council to organize this register.
14
To be filed
⟦illegible signature⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
The Spiritual Committee of the Jewish Community
In Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Israeli Spiritual Council
In Baghdad
Number: 24
Date: 6 / 2 / 949
Presidency of the Lay Council of the Israeli Community in Baghdad.
Subject: Organizing a furniture register
This Council has organized the register referred
to in your letter numbered 228 and dated 10 / 1 / 49.
Salman Sadqa
⟦Ayoud⟧
The President
Administration of the Lay Council -- Baghdad:
Incoming: 284
Date: 6 / 2 / 949
File Number:
Seen
⟦illegible⟧
7 / 2
Spiritual Committee of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Israeli Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
Number: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 14 / 12 / 1949
418
14 / 12 / 949
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council of the Jewish Community, Respected
Baghdad
Presented to your Excellency:
Based on the approval of His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, Rabbi Saleh Youssef Naqqash has commenced
teaching, supervision, and guidance for religious students at the Beit Zilkha Religious School for a monthly
salary of six dinars. Since this amount has actually been paid to him starting from the date he commenced,
which coincided with the first of November 1949, we request approval for its disbursement.
This is in addition to the fact that the presence of the aforementioned person in his stated position and his performance of teaching and supervision
for a salary that makes him feel responsible is a necessary matter for the aforementioned school. Therefore, we request your approval
for the aforementioned Rabbi to continue performing his current duties at the salary mentioned above.
With respect,
Salman Hooki
Aboudi
The President
⟦illegible⟧
His Eminence the President has authorized ⟦the aforementioned⟧ on his behalf ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ in the Beit Zilkha Religious School ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ the religious students ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Incoming Number 882
Date 26 / 12 / 1949
Baghdad on 25 / 12 / 1949
His Excellency the Acting President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad
Presented to your presence
On the 24th of this month, I had a trial pertaining to my brother regarding a divorce case
And I paid at the time the regular fee amounting to one Dinar against a receipt, and upon my request
to expedite the case, I was asked to pay an additional five Dinars by the hand of the servant, and after
the end of the trial on that day, I asked His Eminence Rabbi Salman for a receipt for the amount
of five Dinars, but he answered me that no receipt is given for this amount
Therefore, I have come to plead with your Excellency to look into the matter and give me
a receipt for the amount or return it to me
With much gratitude and great respect to your presence
The Petitioner
Eliyahu Ibrahim Hayyim
Shorja - Khan al-Dajaj - Baghdad
Kingdom of Iraq 10 Fils
Kingdom of Iraq 20 Fils
Referred to His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council
to provide an opinion
⟦illegible⟧
26 / 12
Council Management Committee ⟦...⟧
Number C / 427 / 949
Date 21 / 12 / 949
File Number ⟦...⟧
Baghdad on 20 / 12 / 949
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council of the Jewish Community, Respected
Presented to your Excellency:
I, Rabbi Yaqub Shaul, the teacher at the Beit Zilkha School, have
performed the teaching and organization for the religious students in the aforementioned school for a period exceeding six years.
Throughout my period of service, I have gained the trust of my superiors among the respected Rabbis of the Spiritual Council.
I have been absent from teaching for a full month for personal reasons (I am ready
to state them orally before the esteemed Council if I am ordered to do so).
I have learned that His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council has submitted a request to
your Excellency to appoint another person to this profession in my place. Since I am now ready to practice
teaching as before, it is not justice for someone else to seize my livelihood which I have been accustomed to
for several years, and there is no justifying reason to terminate my services and give them to someone else.
Therefore, I have come with this petition of mine, hoping your Excellency will look into this matter
and include me in your mercy and kindness to keep me in this position of mine.
With this, to your Excellency my further thanks and respect, Mr. President.
Rabbi Yaqub Shaul
Teacher of religious students at Beit Zilkha School
Yaqub Shaul
⟦To be directed to the Council⟧
21 / 12
Submitted on 1/1/950
7/1/950
⟦illegible⟧
25/2/50
Department Registration
J/ 400/ 949
26/12/1949
Presidency of the Spiritual Council
After greetings,
We attach herewith a copy of the petition dated 20/12/1949 received by us from Rabbi
Yaqub Shaul for your kind review and comments on it. Best regards;
⟦signature⟧
Vice President
Enclosures
⟦line⟧
Copy of the petition
/A
G / 402 / 949
26 / 12 / 1949
⟦Copy for the Department⟧
Presidency of the Spiritual Council
Baghdad
After greetings,
The Council has considered your letter No. 128 dated 14 / 12 / 1949
regarding the allocation of a salary for Rabbi Saleh Yusuf Naqqar in exchange for his teaching of religious
students at the Beit Zilka Religious School, and it decided to inquire from your Council about the elements
of this religious school, including the school's location, the names of its teachers, the number of its students, the number
of its classes, the teaching curriculum followed therein, and the duration of study there, along with its annual
budget.
We hope your response regarding this matter will be sent as quickly as possible. Best regards,
⟦illegible⟧
Vice President
14
⟦Administrative Committee⟧
T / 14 / 12 / 949
27 / 12 / 1949
Secret
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council
After greetings
I list below for you a copy of the petition received from the petitioner Eliyahu Ibrahim Hayyim for your kind
expression of your opinion regarding it as quickly as possible, and please accept my respect;
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
Copy of the petition of Mr. Eliyahu Ibrahim Hayyim
Dated 15 / 12 / 1949
His Excellency the Acting Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Baghdad
Presented to your presence
On the 14th of this month, I had a trial belonging to my brother regarding a divorce case, and I paid at the time
the usual fee amounting to two and a quarter Dinars against a receipt. When I requested urgency in the case, I was asked to pay
an additional amount of five Dinars by the hand of the servant. After the trial ended on that day, I asked His Excellency Rabbi
Salman for a receipt for the amount of five Dinars, but he answered me that no receipt is given for this amount.
Therefore, I have come to beg your Excellency to look into the matter and give me a receipt for the amount or return it
to me.
With this, to your Excellency, many thanks and much respect;
Sincerely
Eliyahu Ibrahim Hayyim
Shorja - Khan al-Dajaj - Baghdad
A. A.
The Spiritual Committee of the Holy Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Israeli Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
Number: 139
Date: 28 / 12 / 49
Administration of the ⟦Spiritual⟧ Council - Baghdad
J / 421 / 949
Date 28 / 12 / 949
File Number ⟦illegible⟧
His Excellency the President of the Respected Lay Council
Baghdad
After greetings: -
Your letter numbered 402 and dated 26 / 12 / 1949
The religious school occupies the building of the Beit Zilkha Synagogue located in the Taura neighborhood, where
there is a special class in the aforementioned school for religious students subject to conscription, and
the number of these students was previously nearly eighty students, and as a result of the annual examinations
those who failed joined the military service and their number has now become nine, and they are continuing
their studies for three hours daily according to the copy of the curriculum attached herewith. Previously,
Rabbi Yaqub Shaul was a teacher for this class, but in the past month Rabbi Saleh
Youssef Naqqar took over teaching in the aforementioned class. Respectfully to your Excellency.
Salman ⟦Khedhouri⟧
on behalf of
The President
Presented to the Council
29 / 12
(1)
The Spiritual Committee of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Israeli Spiritual Council
Presidency of the Israeli Community
In Baghdad T / 892 / 949
Date: 28 / 12 / 949
Number: 138
In Baghdad: <del>T / 892 / 949</del>
Date: <del>28 / 12 / 49</del>
Presidency of the Israeli Community in Baghdad
Reference to your letter numbered 1214 and dated 27 / 12 / 49
The followed custom is to take from the person requesting the performance of
divorce ceremonies after working hours an additional amount consistent with his financial
condition, provided it does not exceed five dinars. This is for your Excellency's
respect
Salman Sadqa
Hayoun
The President
⟦illegible⟧
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⟦illegible⟧ ⟦line⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
15/1/50
T/ 950/
1/1950/
Secret
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council
After greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 138 dated 12/28/1949,
Since there is nothing in the sect's regulations or the courts that justifies collecting fees
for additional work outside of working hours, please stop the custom followed in
this regard mentioned in your letter, with the request to return the amount of five
dinars to the petitioner Eliyahu Ibrahim Hayyim and inform us of the result, please.
Please accept our respect;
Acting Head of the Sect
President of the Lay Council
14
2/2
Approved
⟦illegible stamp⟧
⟦illegible⟧
1950
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ The Community
⟦illegible⟧
T / 1289 / 950 Secret Confirmation ⟦line⟧
22 / 2 / 1950
His Eminence the President of the Spiritual Council ⟦line⟧
After greetings
We refer you to our letter No. T / 1222 / 950 dated 3 / 1 / 950
regarding the collection of fees for additional work outside of working hours, and we request a prompt
response to it. May you remain ⟦line⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council ⟦line⟧
A / 2 / 22
⟦signature⟧
(2)
The Spiritual Council of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
The Israeli Spiritual Council Number 50/482 <del>159</del>
In Baghdad Date 2 / 1 / 1951 Date 2 / 7 / 950
His Excellency the President of the Respected Lay Council
After greetings:
Reference to your letter numbered 950/1222 and dated 2/7/1950
Confirmed by number 950/1289 and dated 22 / 12 / 1950.
We inform you that we have abandoned the followed custom regarding the collection of
additional fees after working hours starting from the date of our receipt of
your first letter referred to above, according to the wish of your
esteemed council,
Please accept our respect
Salman Hooki
Aboudi
The President
And the return of the 5 Dinars?
To be sent with the collection
1/4
⟦signature⟧
⟦I want⟧
C 477 / 950
19 / 3 / 1950
(4)
Department Copy
Presidency of the Spiritual Council
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
After greetings
The Council reviewed in its thirteenth session held on 13 / 3 / 950
your letter numbered 159 and dated 1 / 3 / 1950 regarding the abandonment of the procedure followed
previously regarding the collection of fees for additional work outside of working hours and approved
its content ⟦line⟧
Vice President
A / 16 / 3
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
(5)
Spiritual Committee of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Israelite Spiritual Council
in Baghdad
Number: 950/479/2
Date: 21 / 2 / 1950
Presidency of the Lay Council
Baghdad
After greetings
Please be so kind as to approve the disbursement of fifteen
dinars as a permanent advance for the account of the expenses of the Israelite Spiritual Council
in Baghdad monthly.
Please accept our respect
⟦Salman Hooki⟧
⟦Ayuri⟧
The President
Decided
A / 2/21
⟦To be paid by the Council⟧
⟦2/26⟧
J/ 474 / 950
19 / 3 / 1950
⟦Department Copy⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi, Respectfully
President of the Spiritual Council
Baghdad
Greetings,
Reference to your letter No. 156 dated 21 / 2 / 1950.
The Council, in its thirteenth session held on 13 / 3 / 950,
considered your above-mentioned letter and approved granting you a permanent advance of -/15
(fifteen) Dinars for the purpose of meeting the monthly administrative expenses of your Council,
provided that this advance remains under your custody.
Enclosed herewith is a check to your order for the amount of -/15 Dinars on the Ottoman Bank
in Baghdad, No. 838815 dated 14 / 3 / 950. Please acknowledge receipt.
Please accept our respects;
⟦signature⟧
Vice President
Copy to -
The Accountant - to record the necessary accounting entry regarding the advance.
A/3/16
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE No. 5452
The Lay Council of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 5452
( 7 )
Presidency of the Jewish Community
544
24 / 8 / 48
Number :: 179
Date: 24 / 8 / 1948
Subject Summary ::
His Excellency the Respected President of the Jewish Community
Greetings and respect
Further to our oral conversations during the last two weeks regarding the issue of slaughtering
I would like to emphasize to your Excellency the great importance that the Lay Council, I personally, and the majority
of the members of this community attach to changing the current method of slaughter and adopting the inflation method (Nafikha)
This latter method is, as far as we know, in accordance with the Jewish religion and is used in slaughtering
among Jewish communities in various parts of the world, and it was also used in Baghdad until
half a century ago. In addition, this method provides significant benefits, including:
First - It reduces the enormous percentage of Treif, which currently amounts to no less than 35% of
the total sheep slaughtered, thereby greatly easing the Treif problem.
Second - It leads to a reduction in the prices of Kosher meat, which have currently risen
greatly, causing severe hardship for the middle and poor classes in particular, which are the classes that consume
meat more than others.
Third - It leads to facilitating the implementation of the Gabelle commitment and preserving this resource from which
the community derives the necessary expenses for its religious, charitable, and cultural institutions.
The Lay Council, responsible for managing the community's financial affairs, believes it is difficult to maintain
the Gabelle necessary for conducting religious and charitable affairs without resorting to the inflation method (Nafikha)
in slaughtering. It hopes that your Excellency and the esteemed Spiritual Council will appreciate this issue as it deserves. We ask
that you kindly discuss this with the respected Spiritual Council as a preliminary step to adopting this method, and kindly invite
the Spiritual Council to hold a joint session with the Lay Council at six o'clock on Thursday evening,
September 2, 1948, at the headquarters of the Community Presidency to deliberate on this subject. In conclusion, I would like to state to your Excellency
that it will be impossible for our council to continue managing the community's affairs, especially from the financial side, if
the Spiritual Council insists on adhering to the current method of slaughter.
Please accept the highest respect
⟦illegible⟧
Vice President
Sh