AI English Translation, Pages 401-425
The Israeli Spiritual Council
In Baghdad
Number (8)
Date 27 / 8 / 1948
510
⟦illegible⟧ / 8 / ⟦illegible⟧
His Sovereignty the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Greetings and respect,
Further to the letter of the Lay Council No. 179 dated 24 / 8 / 1948
which you were kind enough to present to us for us to consider its contents.
Our council met and deliberated at length on the proposal received from the Lay Council regarding
changing the current slaughter method and adopting the inflation method (Nefikha).
We would like to emphasize what may not be hidden from the public, our appreciation for the current circumstances and the Lay Council's keenness
to manage the affairs of the community. However, the rulings currently followed by us in the slaughter of sheep are not recent
or established half a century ago as is rumored by the public who do not have sufficient knowledge
of religious rulings. Rather, it is the basic method stipulated by law. If some Jewish communities
in some other places violate these rulings and follow the inflation method, that does not mean it is permissible.
To enlighten the Lay Council on the seriousness of changing our method from a religious standpoint, we draw attention to the provisions of paragraph
393 of Chapter 35 of Part One in the book (Minhag Kasher), which states:
(( I was astonished by what I learned that in some places they permit the defect found in the lungs by the method of
inflation among the later rabbis, especially people coming to reside in places where they do not weld
by the inflation method. There is no doubt that this results from a lack of understanding and weak piety or from vanity and pride.
For all legal and canonical codifiers have determined that the inflation method is not useful unless there is
an inflation of an injury in the ribs. We have not found anyone who permitted Nefikha except for Ri Tam, who permitted it for the rabbis of Marseille.
As for most parts of the world, or rather in almost all parts, they do not permit it legally. A person
who is careful about his strong religion should avoid that, especially in places where they do not permit Nefikha. And if
someone dares to do that, his punishment is excommunication and it must be announced that his slaughter is Treif. (See the book
Zivchei Tzedek, Article 283, quoting Ri Yaakov Beizab in his fatwa No. 1 and other prominent scholars).
It was stated at the conclusion of these fatwas that it is not permissible to permit the inflation method in places where
it has not been the custom. Whoever permits that acts contrary to His Almighty's will and has no forgiveness. And it is not forgiven
for whoever tries to change this basic method because the inflation method is completely wrong and requires repentance before
returning to the old method which dictates the impermissibility of using inflation etc... And whoever does not return to
the old method is a rebel against the rulings of the law and the rulings of the rabbis. And whoever helps in establishing
the old method is helping to apply the rulings of religion and protecting souls from impurity etc... ))
From all of this, the provisions of this article are clear and do not need proof. Also, it is not within the powers
(To be continued)
(What preceded it ⟦line⟧)
Or the capabilities of the Spiritual Council will not change the established religious rulings in all cases and circumstances.
This is the position of our council regarding the method of slaughter.
Please accept our highest respect
⟦Salman Mawli⟧
⟦Aboudi⟧
The President
Sh/
(9)
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: 747
Subject: ⟦line⟧
Date: 2 / 8 / 1948
His Excellency the Respected President of the Lay Council
After greetings,
With reference to your letter No. 179 dated 24 / 8 / 1948,
I attach herewith the original letter received by me from the Jewish Spiritual Council
in Baghdad dated 27 / 8 / 1948, which contains the aforementioned Council's response
regarding the proposal to change the current method of slaughter, requesting it be presented to your esteemed council.
Please accept my highest respect;
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
Administration of ⟦illegible⟧
Number 215
Date 2 / 8 / 948
File Number ⟦line⟧
A. A.
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE No. 5452
The Lay Council of the Israelite Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 5452
Presidency of the Israelite Community
522
Date 16 / 9 / 1948
Number :: 187
Date :: 16 / 9 / 1948
Subject Summary ::
( 2 )
His Excellency the Respected President of the Israelite Community
Greetings and respect
Further to your letter numbered 747 and dated 30 / 8 / 1948.
Our council has reviewed the opinion of the Spiritual Council regarding the subject of changing the current slaughter method
and adopting the inflation method (Nefikha). While our council does not wish to stir controversy on this subject
under the current circumstances, it maintains its opinion that continuing with the current method will inevitably lead sooner
or later to the weakening of the community's financial resources and perhaps their absolute disappearance.
Our council also wishes to point out here that the Spiritual Council has broad scope
to permit the inflation method should it wish to view the issue with a spirit of tolerance derived from respected
and well-known religious sources, according to which large Israelite communities with religious standing in various parts of the world operate,
especially since the current (Bedika) method in slaughter is a matter of custom and habit (Minhag) more than
it is religious texts found in the Talmud, for example.
Therefore, our council still hopes that the Spiritual Council will reconsider at the
appropriate time in light of religious requirements and the development of the public interest.
Please accept our respect
Vice President
For filing
⟦illegible⟧
A. A.
C / 414 / 950
10 / 1 / 1950
Submitted on 15 / 2 / 50
15 / 2 / 50
Department Copy
Presidency of the Spiritual Council
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
After greetings
With reference to your two letters numbered 128 and 139 and dated
14 / 12 / 1949 .
The Council has approved the disbursement of the allocations amounting to six dinars to
Rabbi Saleh Youssef Naqqar in exchange for his teaching and guiding religious students
and supervising their attendance at the Bahit Zilkha Religious School for the month of November
1949 only .
As for the management of this school in the future, the Council will consider it
in light of the study of this subject by a sub-committee formed for this purpose. Best regards.
Vice President
Copy to -
The Accountant - to act accordingly ⟦line⟧
The personal file of Rabbi Saleh Youssef Naqqar
A A
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
IN BAGHDAD
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE No. 5452
TELEPHONE No. 5452
Number ::
Summary of Subject ::
Date :: 10 / 12 / 85
Subject :: The Rabbis
Honorable Vice President
Based on the Council's request and on the occasion of the election of the current Spiritual Council term on 6/6/1985
which has lasted about four and a half months since the election of its term, I request attached a list of the names of the rabbis
with the necessary details about their current positions, previous services, and their ⟦direct⟧ information
of information, noting that the rabbis sequence (1 to 22) are those registered in the official register
of rabbis reported to the Ministry of Justice for the purpose of rabbinical elections in the Spiritual Council, as paragraph
(2) of Article Ten of the Community Law states:-
"The Spiritual Council consists of 60 persons, provided that seven of them
are from the rabbis."
Article Ten of the Community Bylaws also states the following:-
"The Chief Rabbi in Baghdad must keep a register containing the names of all
persons possessing the status of rabbinate residing in Baghdad etc..."
"And the right to vote is exercised among the rabbis registered in the mentioned register."
As for the remaining rabbis whose names were mentioned, they have either completed religious studies and have not practiced any
religious work or are recognized as rabbis as a result of the consensus of the community's rabbis who have knowledge of ⟦matters⟧
Due to some inquiries that occurred from some members regarding the clergy and their powers
and duties, I hope to clarify some information in this regard:-
1) A person is legally granted the title of Rabbi under a certificate issued to him by the Spiritual Council
of the Jews in Baghdad, as Article Nine, paragraph (1) of the Community Law states that:-
"Supervision of the training of spiritual men, doctrinal decisions, and all other matters
related to the character of the spiritual affairs of the community belongs to the Spiritual Council, which consists
of seven rabbis elected from among seven members elected by the Lay Council
for a period of four years."
Accordingly, paragraph (k) of Article One of the Clergy Exemption Regulation
from Military Service No. 56 of 1978 defined the word (Rabbi) for a person who meets the following conditions:-
a- To be a holder of a certificate from the Spiritual Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
confirming that he is a clergyman and that he has completed spiritual religious lessons and that
he is knowledgeable in religious and theological matters."
Presented with the minutes
12/12
⟦signature⟧
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
IN BAGHDAD
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE No. 5452
TELEPHONE No. 5452
Subject Summary ::
Number ::
Date ::
(B) <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> The Spiritual Council for the purpose of the aforementioned article regarding the organization of clergy members
provided that the Rabbi, in his capacity as ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ the Spiritual Council in Baghdad, but rather
which qualifies them to perform religious duties. Following our inquiries into the reason for this council's non-participation
in the body reported to the Ministry of Justice, I learned that the Spiritual Council does not include all these rabbis
and they do not possess sufficient qualifications to perform the heavy tasks of religious courts and spiritual councils
as it is believed that the person whose name is entered in the register of rabbis reported to the Ministry of Justice
has taken a step that qualifies him to assume membership in the Spiritual Council or religious courts.
(C) The articles related to the community law regarding the powers of the Spiritual Council
in religious judicial matters were abolished following the issuance of the Law for the Organization of Religious Courts for Christian
and Mosaic Communities No. (32) of 1947, as this law stipulated the formation of a Court of Cassation
and a Cassation Council, each consisting of a judicial presidency of clergymen with reserve members, provided that
the religious head of the community is the president of the Cassation Council, and the presidents and original members
and reserves are appointed by Royal Decrees for a period of three years.
On this occasion, I would like to clarify to the Council that the Religious Court and the Cassation Council for the Jewish community
in Baghdad were formed on 12/29/1947 according to the High Royal Decree as follows:-
Cassation Council
President | Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
Original Member | Rabbi Eliyahu Shua
" | Rabbi Daoud Ezra Sofi
Reserve Member | Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri Isaac
" | Rabbi Isaac Eliyahu
Religious Court
President | Rabbi Yeshu'a Sassoon Hay
Original Member | Rabbi Daoud Shaul Shammash
Original Member | Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Rabie
Reserve Member | Rabbi Saleh Yaqub
" | Rabbi Yosef Ibrahim Shaul (Royal Decree recorded under date 11/4/1947)
Following the death of the late Rabbi Yeshu'a Sassoon
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
IN BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE No. 5452
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE No. 5452
Subject Summary ::
Number ::
Date ::
(2)
According to this law as well, the same Religious Court and the Court of Cassation follow the rules and procedures of Sharia trials
falling within its jurisdiction until the Law of Procedure for Christian and Mosaic Communities is issued, with
the knowledge that the draft of this law is deposited with the necessary authorities and its legislation is nearing completion.
The mentioned article also specified that the presidents and members are chosen from nomination lists
prepared by the Spiritual Council of the community, provided that these lists are submitted to the Minister of Justice before the end of the three
years by at least four months.
Accordingly, it will be necessary for the Spiritual Council of this community in the middle of the year 1950 to prepare
lists with the names of the Religious Courts body on 12/31/1950.
The mentioned law also concluded that the two parties pronounce in the Arabic language the rulings and decisions
of Sharia that are applied in all lawsuits falling within the jurisdiction of the Religious Courts, and the
rulings have indeed been written in the Arabic language with the knowledge of the Ministry of Justice.
As for the powers and duties of the Spiritual Council, Article (9) of the Community Bylaws stipulated
the following:-
1- All religious decisions related to the origins of the communities, rituals, belief, worship, teaching, shrouding,
2- burial, and other religious matters belong exclusively to the Spiritual Council, as well as in wills and endowments,
3- provided that such authorization is certified by the Religious Courts, and the Spiritual Council may handle these matters directly or through
a committee or committees appointed by it.
4- Carrying out the matters of preparation, shrouding, and burial is preceded by a committee composed of a chairman from the members of the Spiritual Council
and five members from the community, three of whom are elected by the Spiritual Council and the other three by the Lay Council,
and it operates under the supervision of the Spiritual Council.
Dispute
The legislator anticipated the case of a ⟦dispute⟧ occurring regarding the authority of the Spiritual Council, as Article (10)
of the mentioned Bylaws stipulated the following:-
"If a dispute occurs regarding the authority of the Spiritual Council or the Lay Council in any of the cases, the
"matter shall be presented to the General Council, which decides which of the two councils has the authority to decide on the
"disputed case."
Please accept my respect.
(D)
(E)
⟦signature⟧
Secretary
AD - 4 / 11 / 950
1 ✓ Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri
2 ✓ Rabbi Isaac Eliyahu
3 ✓ Rabbi Eliyahu Ibrahim
4 ✓ Rabbi Elia Yehoshua
5 ✓ Rabbi David Hakham Yaqub
6 ✓ Rabbi David Shaul Shammash
7 ✓ Rabbi David Ezra Masfi
8 ✓ Rabbi Sassoon Hakham Salman
9 ✓ Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Isaac
10 ✓ Rabbi Salman Hoki Aboudi
11 ✓ Rabbi Salman Mushir
12 ✓ Rabbi Saleh Yusuf Hayyim
13 ✓ Rabbi Aboudi Saleh
14 ✓ Rabbi Moshe Hakham Heskel
15 - Rabbi Michael Yoma
16 ✓ Rabbi Nissim Khedhouri
17 ✓ Rabbi Aaron Saleh Dori
18 ✓ Rabbi Yaqub Ezra Masfi
19 ✓ Rabbi Yaqub Shaul Balbul
20 ✓ Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel
21 ✓ Rabbi Yusuf Eliyahu Rabie
22 ✓ Rabbi Yusuf Hayyim Muallim Ezra
23 ✓ Rabbi Yusuf Hay Hakham Heskel Ezra
14
782
10/2/1948
Presidency of the Supervisory Committee for the Israeli Elections
Ministry of Justice - Baghdad
Reference to your letter numbered 7/1/163 and dated 10/2/1948
We submit herewith the list we received from the Presidency of the Israeli
Spiritual Council in Baghdad, containing the names of voters residing in
Baghdad, numbering twenty-three persons.
⟦signature⟧
10/2
Salman Zion
Head of the Community
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Please refer to the general number
Special Office Division:
General Number:
Telegraphic Address: Adliya:
Date: Dhu al-Qi'dah / 1367 AH
September / 1948 AD
Subject Summary:
Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
The Supervisory Committee for the Jewish Elections has decided to request you to send
a register containing the names of all persons holding the status of Rabbinate and residing
in Baghdad, as stipulated in Article (10) of the Jewish Community Regulation
No. 36 of 1931. Please provide us with it as soon as possible to complete the election.
⟦signature⟧
Chairman of the Supervisory Committee
for the Jewish Elections
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Special Number 527
Date 9 / 10 / 948
S. M.
List of names in the Rabbis' Register
Number | Name | Certificate Number | Certificate Date
1 | Rabbi Ibrahim Khadhuri | 35 | 12/5/1935
2 | Rabbi Eliyahu Ashir bin Saleh | 36 | 12/8/1935
3 | Rabbi Menashe bin Yusuf | 37 | 12/8/1935
4 | Rabbi Yusuf Ishaq Yasarkh | 43 | 1/26/1936
5 | Rabbi Ishaq Abdul Aziz | 47 | 2/6/1936
6 | Rabbi Shua Zion | 51 | 4/26/1936
7 | Rabbi Naji Dawud Khalaf (Tuz Khurmatu) | 52 | 6/2/1936
8 | Rabbi Reuven bin Harun | 55 | 6/9/1936
9 | Rabbi Heskel Ishaq Moshi | 80 | 5/9/1937
10 | Rabbi Abdul Aziz Sakham Abboudi | 139 | 10/31/1938
11 | Rabbi Khadhuri Menashe | 144 | 12/14/1938
12 | Rabbi Khadhuri Ishaq Moshi | 164 | 1/24/1939
13 | Rabbi Ibrahim Shaul | 163 | 1/24/1939
14 | Rabbi Yusuf Hayyim Hakham Dawud | 165 | 3/2/1939
15 | Rabbi Salim Abdullah Cohen | 166 | 3/10/1939
16 | Rabbi Salim Eliyahu Rabie | 169 | 3/22/1939
17 | Rabbi Abdullah Shmuel (Al-Hayy) | 177 | 5/11/1939
18 | Rabbi Shlomo Shaul Balbul | 180 | 7/16/1939
19 | Rabbi Shaul Moshi Rahim | 181 | 7/16/1939
20 | Rabbi Yusuf Hayyim Hakham Yaqub | 184 | 8/13/1939
21 | Rabbi Ishaq Shaul Balbul | 193 | 9/25/1939
22 | Rabbi Harun Ezra Meir Aziz | 198 | 9/25/1939
23 | Rabbi Meir Zion Fatiha | 199 | 9/26/1939
24 | Rabbi Eliyahu Khadhuri Heskel Cohen | 201 | 10/8/1939
25 | Rabbi Saleh Abboudi | 207 | 10/17/1939
26 | Rabbi Moshe Menashe | 214 | 10/24/1939
27 | Rabbi Matuq Ishaq | 215 | 10/31/1939
28 | Rabbi Heskel Salman | 217 | 11/27/1939
29 | Rabbi Saleh Ibrahim | 218 | 12/6/1939
30 | Rabbi Ishaq Yusuf | 219 | 12/6/1939
31 | Rabbi Moshi Meir (Basra) | 224 | 1/3/1940
Death
Corrected name
Death and dismissal
⟦illegible⟧
Licensed
- To be continued -
( 2 )
Number | Name | Certificate Number | Certificate Date
32 | Rabbi Yaqub bin Shua | 233 | 1940/3/27
33 | Rabbi Naji Khedhouri (Hindiya) | 234 | 1940/3/27
34 | Rabbi Yusuf Moshi | 236 | 1940/4/3
35 | Rabbi Naim Manshi | 240 | 1940/4/9
36 | Rabbi Naim Hayyim | 241 | 1940/4/9
37 | Rabbi Ishaq Salih | 251 | 1940/5/27
38 | Rabbi Abdullah Yusuf | 253 | 1940/6/2
39 | Rabbi Eliyahu Salman | 254 | 1940/6/9
40 | Rabbi Daoud Mathar (Azair) | 256 | 1940/6/26
41 | Rabbi Yehuda Hakham Daoud | 257 | 1940/6/26
42 | Rabbi Reuben Naji bin Shua | 265 | 1940/9/29
43 | Rabbi Haron Hakham Hizqil | 267 | 1940/10/27
44 | Rabbi Ibrahim Manshi | 269 | 1940/11/7
45 | Rabbi Naim Hizqil | 270 | 1940/12/18
46 | Rabbi Eliyahu Moshi (Erbil) | 275 | 1941/2/9
47 | Rabbi Moshi Yamin | 276 | 1941/3/2
48 | Rabbi Haron Hakham Eliyahu Ibrahim | 277 | 1941/4/7
49 | Rabbi Salman Aboudi | 280 | 1941/4/22
50 | Rabbi Orphael Hay bin Ezra | 294 | 1941/8/18
51 | Rabbi Ishaq bin Ezra | 295 | 1941/8/21
52 | Rabbi Yusuf Hayyim Hakham Moshi | 297 | 1941/9/3
53 | Rabbi Yaqub Khedhouri | 299 | 1941/9/15
54 | Rabbi Ezra Ishaq | 301 | 1941/9/16
55 | Rabbi Yaqub Salim Ibrahim | 305 | 1941/11/5
56 | Rabbi Khedhouri bin Hakham Hizqil | 307 | 1941/11/9
57 | Rabbi Hizqil Hayyim Ishaq Mashal | 309 | 1941/11/11
58 | Rabbi Salim Yaqub | 310 | 1941/11/11
59 | Rabbi Ezra Shaul | 315 | 1941/12/1
60 | Rabbi Manshi Ephraim Dabbie | 333 | 1942/2/2
61 | Rabbi Eliyahu Shaul | 336 | 1942/2/26
62 | Rabbi Daoud Ishaq Haddad | 343 | 1942/5/25
— To be continued —
( 3 )
Number | Name | Certificate Number | Certificate Date
63 | Rabbi ⟦Rabbi⟧ Moshe Hakham Eliyahu | 344 | 1942/5/27
64 | Rabbi Shmuel Isaac (Iranian nationality) | 347 | 1942/6/1
65 | Rabbi Moshe Hakham Benjamin | 367 | 1942/10/19
66 | Rabbi Shimon Hakham Eliya | 368 | 1942/10/19
67 | Rabbi Naji Hesqel Matlaqa | 369 | 1942/11/5
68 | Rabbi Yaqub Hakham Raphael | 370 | 1942/11/8
69 | Rabbi Fouad Doctor Daoud | 387 | 1943/3/1
70 | Rabbi Naji Nassim | 396 | 1943/6/6
71 | Rabbi Yusuf Hayyim Isaac | 397 | 1943/6/7
72 | Rabbi Shimon Hakham Daoud | 412 | 1943/9/9
73 | Rabbi Hakuli Raphael | 414 | 1943/10/6
74 | Rabbi Yusuf Abdullah Shlomo | 422 | 1944/2/6
75 | Rabbi Shaul bin Mashi (Nasiriyah) | 430 | 1944/4/30
76 | Rabbi Ezra Hakham Eliya | 449 | 1944/10/8
77 | Rabbi Echo Murad (Zakho) | 469 | 1946/3/28
78 | Rabbi Benin bin Yamin | 477 | 1947/11/11
79 | Rabbi Nathan Zakkai (Erbil) | 482 | 1948/6/29
80 | Rabbi Asael Isaac (Erbil) | 483 | 1948/6/29
81 | Rabbi Nouri Nahum Daoud (Shiva Rashan village) | 484 | 1948/7/20
82 | Rabbi Eliyahu Ibrahim (Sandur) | 486 | 1948/12/25
A A
Surname | Name of the Butcher
Wahid | Yaqub Moallem Hassoun | 33
Shaul | Yusuf Ishaq Sweiz | 34
Manani | Rabbi Eliyahu Maraji | 35
Rihan | Saleh Sayegh | 36
Refqa | Yaqub Qara | 37
Mashkiya | Ibrahim Tahhan | 38
Khuzam | Nissim Latif | 39
Nuzha | Rahmin Moallem Moshi | 40
Setayesh | Eliyahu Jwila | 41
Ishaq Hosni
Salman Rabbi Baruch
Synagogue Name | Treasurer Name
Zulfa | Rabbi Yaqub Musfi |
Menashe Khabbaza | Rabbi Daoud Musfi | 2
Sheikh Ishaq | Salman Ashir | 3
Midrash Talmud Torah | Aaron Mizrahi | 4
Menashe Saleh | Gurji Bashir | 5
The Alliance | Ibrahim Hayyim | 6
Samouda Madin | Selim Shlomo Rabbi ⟦Badr⟧ Zion | 7
Samouda Salman | Daoud Moallem Ezra Ishaq Zion | 8
Masri | Yaqub Saghir Nathan | 9
Ishaq Shalom | Hai Shlomo | 10
Farha | Daniel Menashe Joseph Ajami | 11
Samouda Shatit | Rabbi Ishaq Eliyahu and Ezra Bulbul | 12
Ezra Daoud | Yassin Aslan Ishaq Shalo | 13
Meir Tweig | Rabbi Abboudi Shaul ⟦Dashash⟧ | 14
Beit Shmuel | Rabbi Hezekiel Cohen Salman Al-Midrash | 15
Karrada | Moshe Darwish | 16
Alwiyah | Selim Ephraim | 17
Rakhita | Rabbi Daoud Shaul | 18
Hinaidi | Menashe Sayegh | 19
Sa'adoon | Rabbi Yeshu'a Fati ⟦Sheikh⟧ | 20
Rachel Shahoon | Shlomo Rubin and Ibrahim Hayyim | 21
Ghadi | Yehuda Abu Al-Mazaif | 22
Rubin | Yehuda Selim | 23
Baruch | Shamil Saleh | 24
Rabbi Hezekiel | Abdullah Ashir and Daoud Hezekiel | 25
Meir | Rabbi Meir Horish and Saida Rabbi Eliya | 26
Rahma | Naji Muslihi | 27
Shuker | Ishaq Sheheit | 28
Meir Raphael | Moshe Sheheit and Meir Musfi | 29
Farha Abed | Selim Yaqub | 30
Dina | Menashe Maqal and Hanouri Dhahwiya | 31
Nuzha | Albert Sheheit | 32
Date - 15 / 2 / 1950
Subject - Rabbis
Honorable Vice President
Based on the Council's request on the occasion of the expiration of the current Spiritual Council's term on 6 / 10 / 1949
(i.e., about four and a half months have passed since the end of its term), I attach herewith a list of the names of the rabbis with
the necessary details regarding their current positions, previous services, and salaries as per the information available to me, with
the knowledge that the rabbis in sequence (1 to 22) are those registered in the official register of rabbis notified to
the Ministry of Justice for the purpose of electing rabbis to the General Council, as paragraph (a) of Article Ten
of the Community Law states:
"The General Council consists of 60 persons, provided that seven of them are rabbis."
Article Ten of the Community Regulations also states the following:
"The Chief Rabbi in Baghdad must maintain a register containing the names of all persons
holding the status of rabbi residing in Baghdad, etc. . . . . .
The right to vote is restricted to the rabbis registered in the aforementioned register."
As for the remaining rabbis I mentioned, they either belong to religious societies such as the Dorat Torah Society
or Tomchei Torah, or are recognized as rabbis by the consensus of community members who are familiar with these matters.
In view of some inquiries made by some members regarding the clergy and their powers and duties,
I hope to clarify some information in this regard:
a- A person legally obtains the title of Rabbi by virtue of a certificate issued to him by the Israeli Spiritual Council
in Baghdad, as Article Nine, paragraph (a) of the Community Law states that:
"Supervision of the training of spiritual men, doctrinal decisions, and all other matters related to
the proper conduct of the spiritual affairs of the community is by the Spiritual Council, which consists of the Chief
Rabbi, who presides over it, and seven members elected by the General Council for a term of four years."
On the other hand, paragraph (k) of Article One of the Regulation for Exempting Clergy and Civil
Employees from Military Service No. (26) of 1938 defined the word (Rabbi) for the purpose of the Defense Law as:
"Every Israelite who has completed the study of religious sciences and has been licensed by the Spiritual Council to teach religious matters
and has no other profession."
b- There is another register of rabbis in the Spiritual Council for the purpose of the aforementioned article of the Clergy Exemption Regulation
containing approximately 130 persons whom the Spiritual Council provided with a Rabbi certificate that qualifies them
to perform religious acts. Following my investigations into the reason why this register does not match the register notified
to the Ministry of Justice, I understood that the Spiritual Council does not consider all these licensed individuals as rabbis who have
sufficient qualifications to carry out the heavy burdens of the religious courts and spiritual councils, as it is believed that the person
whose name is entered in the register of rabbis notified to the Ministry of Justice has taken a step that qualifies him to assume
membership in the Spiritual Council or the religious courts."
P / 18 / 2
- To be continued -
( 2 )
C - Furthermore, the articles pertaining to the community law regarding the powers of the Spiritual Council
in religious judicial matters were abolished following the issuance of the Law for the Organization of Religious Courts for Christian
and Mosaic Communities No. (32) of 1947, as this law stipulated the formation of a
communal court and a court of cassation, each consisting of three members from the clergy with two
reserve members, provided that the religious head of the community be the president of the court of cassation, and the presidents
and the original and reserve members are appointed by Royal Decrees for a period of three years.
On this occasion, I would like to clarify to the Council that the Religious Court and the Court of Cassation
for the Israelite community in Baghdad were formed on 29 / 12 / 1947 according to the High Royal
Decree as follows:-
Court of Cassation
President | Rabbi Salman Hoki Abboudi
Original Member | Rabbi Eliya Yehoshua
Original Member | Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musfi
Reserve Member | Rabbi Sassoon Ezra Ishaq
Reserve Member | Rabbi Ishaq Eliyahu
Religious Court
President | Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Haskil
Original Member | Rabbi Daoud Shaul Shamash
Original Member | Rabbi Youssef Eliyahu Rabie
Reserve Member | Rabbi Saleh Youssef Hayyim
Reserve Member | Rabbi Youssef Hay Haskil Ezra (The decree for his appointment was issued
on 9 / 11 / 948 following the death of the late
Rabbi Moshe Ibrahim Sam)
According to this law as well, the Religious Court and the Court of Cassation apply the rules and procedures of Sharia
trials within their jurisdiction until the Law of Procedure for Christian and Mosaic Communities is issued,
noting that the draft of this law is deposited with the National Assembly and its legislation is about to
be completed.
The aforementioned law also stipulated that the presidents and members are chosen from nomination lists
prepared by the General Council of the community, provided that these lists are submitted to the Minister of Justice at least four months
before the end of the three years.
Accordingly, it will be necessary to convene the General Council for this purpose in mid-July 1950, as
the term of appointment for the Religious Court body ends on 28 / 12 / 1950.
The aforementioned law also mandated the community to record in the Arabic language the rulings and jurisprudential
rules applied in all lawsuits within the jurisdiction of the religious courts, and this has indeed been done.
- To be continued -
( 3 )
Codification of these rulings in the Arabic language by the Ministry of Justice.
D - As for the powers and duties of the Spiritual Council, Article (29) of the
Community Bylaws stipulates the following:-
"All religious decisions related to the principles of Taref, Kosher, circumcision, worship, preparation,
"shrouding, burial, and other religious matters belong exclusively to the Spiritual Council.
"As well as granting licenses to preachers, provided that such licenses are restricted to Rabbis. The Spiritual
"Council may handle these matters directly or through a committee or committees appointed by it.
"To carry out the matters of preparation, shrouding, and burial, a committee is appointed consisting of the President and members of the Spiritual Council
"and six lay members, three of whom are elected by the Spiritual Council and the other three by the
"Lay Council, and it operates under the supervision of the Spiritual Council."
E - The draft addressed the case of a dispute arising regarding the jurisdiction of the Spiritual Council, as it stipulated in Article
(35) of the Community Bylaws the following:-
"If a dispute arises regarding the jurisdiction of the Spiritual Council and the Lay Council in any matter,
"the matter shall be presented to the General Council, which shall decide which of the two councils has the authority to decide
"on the disputed case."
Please accept our highest respects!
Secretary
Baghdad on 16 / 2 / 1950
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Register Number ⟦illegible⟧ Tenant Name | Register Sequence | Register Number | Shop Number | House Number | Neighborhood Number | Neighborhood Name Old Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 2881 New Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ And the year ⟦illegible⟧ Register Number and Page ⟦illegible⟧ Old Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 7281 New Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 6 And the year ⟦illegible⟧ Register Number and Page ⟦illegible⟧ Old Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 8881 New Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 7 And the year ⟦illegible⟧ Register Number and Page ⟦illegible⟧ Old Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 6281 New Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 3 And the year ⟦illegible⟧ Register Number and Page ⟦illegible⟧ Old Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 3781 New Voucher No. ⟦illegible⟧ to No. ⟦illegible⟧ 5...
( 1 )
Sequence | Full Name | Current Position | Date of Birth | Education | Certificates | Languages Mastered | Previous Service | Single or Married | Current Salaries with Various Allowances | Remarks
1 | Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri | Rabbis registered with the Justice Ministry | 1886 | Torah Rabbi | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic | President of the Spiritual Council 1927, President of the Religious Court 1927, Hakham Bashi 928, Head of the Community 932-949 | Married | 33 000 | 6 750 | - | 39 750 | Pension salary
2 | Rabbi Salman Hoqi Aboudi | President of the Court of Cassation, President of the Spiritual Council from Nuriel Endowments | 1897 | Torah Rabbi | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic and a little Turkish | Slaughterer in the slaughterhouse | Married | 16 250 | 6 750 | 20 000 | 48 250 | From the Ministry of Justice | From the Community | From Nuriel Endowments
3 | Rabbi Eliya Yehoshua | Member of the Cassation Council, Member of the Spiritual Council | 1884 | Torah Rabbi Torah | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic | Slaughterer in the slaughterhouse | Married | 6 500 | 6 750 | 20 000 | 33 250 | From the Ministry of Justice | From the Community
4 | Rabbi Daoud Ezra Musaffi | Member of the Court of Cassation, Member of the Spiritual Council, Head of the Slaughterhouse | 1893 | Torah Rabbi Circumcision | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic | Slaughterer in the slaughterhouse | Married | 2 250 | 6 250 | 20 000 | 49 475 | From the Ministry of Justice | From the Community | From the Community
5 | Rabbi Sassoon Ishaq | Additional member of the Court of Cassation, Member of the Spiritual Council, Rabbi in the Yeshivot | 1874 | Torah Rabbi | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic and Hebrew | Rabbi in the Yeshivot | Married | 23 250 | 5 750 | 2 000 | 31 000 | From the Community | Likewise
6 | Rabbi Ishaq Eliyahu | Additional member of the Court of Cassation, Shochet in the slaughterhouse, assigned to Tomchei Torah Association | 1899 | Torah Rabbi | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic | Religious student in Torah Mushir | Married | 5 000 | 5 250 | 12 500 | 22 750 | From the Community | From Tomchei Torah Association (nominal salary)
7 | Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Heskel | President of the Religious Court, Member of the Spiritual Council | 1890 | Torah Rabbi Circumcision | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic | Slaughterer in the slaughterhouse, Judge in the Religious Court, Chief Clerk of the Religious Court | Married | 16 250 | 6 750 | 15 000 | 38 000 | From the Ministry of Justice | From the Community
8 | Rabbi Daoud Shaul Shaman | Member of the Religious Court, Member of the Spiritual Council, Clerk of the Spiritual Council | 1909 | Torah Rabbi | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic | Additional member, Clerk in the Cassation Council | Married | 11 500 | 6 750 | 15 000 | 36 750 | From the Ministry of Justice | From the Community | From the Community
9 | Rabbi Yusuf Eliyahu Rabi' | Member of the Religious Court, Member of the Spiritual Council from Nuriel Endowments | 1885 | Torah Rabbi | Slaughtering sheep and chickens | Arabic and a little ⟦French⟧ | Additional judge, Religion and Talmud teacher, Rabbi in the Yeshivot | Married | 11 500 | 6 750 | 15 000 | 38 500 | From the Ministry of Justice | From the Community | From Nuriel Endowments
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Sequence | Full Name | Job | Date of Birth | Studies and Certificates Mastered | Languages | Previous Services | Single or Married | Current Salaries from Various Allowances | Remarks
10 | Rabbi Saleh Youssef Hayyim | Reserve member of the Religious Court
Additional member of the Spiritual Council
Shohet in the slaughterhouse
Member of the Tomchei Torah Society | 1904 | Torah | Hebrew
English | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer - Hazan | Rabbi in the Yeshivot | Married | 7,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | 17,250 | From the community
14,000 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | 14,000 | From the community
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | Tomchei Torah Society
11 | Rabbi Youssef Hakham Heskel Ezra | Additional member of the Religious Court
Shohet in the slaughterhouse
Rabbi in the Yeshivot
Religion teacher at Masouda Salman School
Allowances from Nouriel Endowments | 1899 | Torah | Hebrew | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer | Head of the community in Kirkuk | Married | 8,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From the community
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | 4,000 | 35,750 | Ditto
8,000 | 5,250 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | From the school
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | From Nouriel Endowments
12 | <del>Rabbi Yaqub Safi</del> | <del>Reserve member of the Spiritual Council</del>
Shohet in the slaughterhouse | 1891 | Torah | Hebrew | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer | Religion and Talmud teacher at Midrash Beit Zilkha | Married | 22,000 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From the community, Hazan in a synagogue
9,750 | 6,250 | ⟦line⟧ | 38,000 | Ditto Zilkha
13 | Rabbi Eliyahu Ibrahim | Shohet in the slaughterhouse
Rabbi in the Yeshivot | 1877 | Torah | Hebrew | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer | Rabbi in the Midrash | Married | 11,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | 19,750 | From the community
14 | Rabbi Haron Saleh Darwi | Shohet in the slaughterhouse
Religion teacher at Shamash School | 1905 | Torah | Hebrew
English | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer | Rabbi in Beit Zilkha School | Married | 7,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From the community
6,000 | 4,000 | ⟦line⟧ | 14,000 | From the school
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From Tomchei Torah
15 | Rabbi Sassoon Hakham Suleiman | Rabbi in the Yeshivot
Religion teacher at Menashi Saleh School
Allowances from Nouriel Endowments | 1909 | Torah | Hebrew | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer - Hazan | Shohet in the slaughterhouse | Married | 6,100 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From the community
7,000 | 5,250 | 5,250 | 28,850 | From the school
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From Nouriel Endowments
16 | Rabbi Moshe Hakham Heskel | Rabbi in the Yeshivot
Director of the Midrash | 1882 | Torah | Hebrew | Rabbi | Member of the Tomchei Torah Society | Married | 9,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | 29,750 | From the community
15,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | From the school
17 | Rabbi Yaqub Shaul Bahlul | Rabbi in the Yeshivot
Allowances from Nouriel
Member of the Tomchei Torah Society | 1900 | Torah | Hebrew
English | Rabbi - Sheep and chicken slaughterer - Hazan and a little English | The slaughterhouse | Married | 10,000 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | 15,250 | From the community
⟦line⟧ | 5,250 | 5,250 | ⟦line⟧ | From Nouriel Endowments
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧ | 14,000 | From Tomchei Torah Society
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0121 ⟦illegible⟧ 21
5881 ⟦illegible⟧ 02
2021 ⟦illegible⟧ 16
0121 ⟦illegible⟧ 66
3121 ⟦illegible⟧ 66
5121 ⟦illegible⟧ 36
2021 ⟦illegible⟧ 57
5121 ⟦illegible⟧ 36
155281 ⟦illegible⟧ 76
0781 ⟦illegible⟧ 86
5781 ⟦illegible⟧ 96
0781 ⟦illegible⟧ 60
5121 ⟦illegible⟧ 16
0281 ⟦illegible⟧ 66
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057 71 ⟦illegible⟧
31 ⟦illegible⟧
2 ⟦illegible⟧
057 71 ⟦illegible⟧ 8 ⟦illegible⟧
3 ⟦illegible⟧
2 ⟦illegible⟧
1 ⟦illegible⟧
3 ⟦illegible⟧
057 5 ⟦illegible⟧
9 ⟦illegible⟧ 7 ⟦illegible⟧
7 ⟦illegible⟧ 1 ⟦illegible⟧ 7 ⟦illegible⟧
2 ⟦illegible⟧
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( 3 )
Sequence | Full Name | Current Position | Date of Birth | Education | Certificates | Languages Proficient In | Previous Service | Single or Married | Current Salaries with Various Allowances | Source of Allowances | Remarks
18 | Rabbi Nissim Khedhouri | Rabbi in the Yeshivot | 1888 | Torah | Rabbi, Slaughterer | Hebrew | Member of the Spiritual Council | Married | 7 000 5 250 12 250 | From the Community |
19 | Rabbi Salman Maseer | Member of Dorshei Torah Association | 1910 | | | | | | 14 000 | From Dorshei Torah Association |
20 | Rabbi Daoud Rabbi Yaqub | | 1885 | | | | | | | |
21 | Rabbi Aboudi Saleh | Dorshei Torah | 1909 | | | | | | 6 000 | From Dorshei Torah |
22 | Rabbi Yusuf Hayim Moallem Ezra | Broker in the market | 1910 | | | | | | | |
23 | Shua Mansi | Teacher in the National School | 1914 | Torah | Rabbi | Arabic, Hebrew | Member of Dorshei Torah Association | Married | 8 000 5 250 13 250 | From the school, Hazan in David Shaman Synagogue |
24 | Mutheer Yaqub Horish | Member of Dorshei Torah Association, teacher in the Midrash | 1915 | | | | | | 4 500 6 000 | From the Midrash, from Dorshei Torah |
25 | Aboudi Ezra | Member of Dorshei Torah Association | 1909 | | | | | | 10 000 | From Dorshei Torah, Hazan in Meir Tweig Synagogue |
26 | Moshe Eliyahu | Teacher in the Midrash | 1915 | | | | | | 4 500 ⟦illegible⟧ | From the Midrash, from Dorshei Torah |
27 | Shua Shamshua | Member of Dorshei Torah Association, President of Dorshei Torah Association | 1895 | | | | | | 5 250 | From Nouriel |
28 | Hizqi Aboudi, father of Rabbi Salman Hizqi Aboudi | Allowances from Nouriel Endowments | 1870 | | | | | | | |
29 | Rabbi Ishaq Mukammal | Former teacher in the National School | 1875 | | | | | | | |
30 | Rabbi Sassoon Dangoor | Disabled man | 1870 | | | | | | 6 000 2 500 9 000 | From the Midrash |
31 | Heskel Ishaq | Teacher in the Midrash | 1915 | | | | | | 2 500 1 250 3 750 | From the Community |
32 | Rabbi Heskel Ezra Rabbi | Yeshivot | 1890 | | | | | Married | 6 000 | From Dorshei Torah |
33 | Mansi Yusuf | Dorshei Torah | | | | | | | | |
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