Voices from the Archive

IJA 2820

Correspondence to the President of the Jewish Community and the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews Regarding Rental Properties

View interactive document page

Description

These are archival documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. Included is correspondence to the President of the Jewish Community and to the members of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews. Correspondence includes issues regarding rental properties owned by the Jewish community such as requests for maintenance, upkeep, reduction of rent, potential tenants for shops and houses, and lists of renters behind on rent. There are also government requests for tax on leased properties and notifications of building demolitions, and an electricity bill.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 2820
Item Number
9684
Date
Approx. January 1, 1951 to December 31, 1960
Languages
Arabic
Keywords
Financial, Baghdad Power and Light, Revenue Stamp, Letterhead, Thumbprint, Rent, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Shamash Secondary School, Annotation, Iraqi Government, Handwritten, Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Invoice, Chart, Jewish Lay Council, President of the Jewish Community, Receipts, Tax, Property Commission, Lease, Tenant, Synagogue, Typed, Maintenance

AI en Translation, Pages 51-75

Page 51

Lawyer Yaqub Abdul Aziz
Office: Khan al-Pasha al-Kabir - Baghdad
85493 Office
3150 Residence
Telephone {
Baghdad on 26 / 5 / 1954
To the Honorable Gentleman
After greetings
Since the exclusive lease contract for the endowed shop, which is under the guardianship of my client, the Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad, has expired and you have not renewed the contract according to Article Four of the Real Estate Lease Control Decree No. (9) of the year
1953, I hereby warn you of the necessity of consulting my client to agree with them on the rent amount within three days
from the date of your receipt of this letter. Otherwise, I will be forced to approach the competent courts to compel you to vacate the leased property, with you incurring
lawsuit fees and attorney's fees. This ⟦and please accept⟧ and please accept the assurances of my highest respect
Sincerely
⟦signature⟧
⟦illegible stamp⟧

Page 53

Lawyer Yaqub Abdul Aziz
Office: Khan al-Pasha al-Kabir - Baghdad
Telephone { 85493 Office
3150 Residence
Baghdad on 26 / 5 / 1952
Honorable Mr. ⟦President⟧
After greetings
Since the lease contract for the shops for the endowment, which is under
the guardianship of my client, the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, has
expired and they have not renewed the contract according to Article Four of
the Real Estate Lease Control Decree of 1952 No. (7)
Therefore, I have come to warn you of this, and according to my referral to the Presidency of the Community
the Jewish [Community], my client, to agree with them regarding the rent amount within
three days from the date of your notification of this letter, otherwise
I will be forced to refer to the competent court and file a lawsuit to vacate
the shops while charging you the court fees and attorney's fees.
Please accept my utmost respect
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Yaqub Abdul Aziz, Lawyer

Page 54

To the Honorable Chairmen of the Committee for the Israelite Community
Subject
I, the plaintiff Safiya daughter of Murad, my husband has passed away and left in my care six daughters and four sons. The
Committee has allocated me a weekly allowance of ⟦1/000⟧ dinars, and you are best suited to judge this amount,
for how can it suffice for me and my children? I beg for its increase to lift from us the calamity of hunger.
When my husband was alive, he had rented a house from the community for three dinars monthly, and after
his death, ⟦we remained⟧, I and my ⟦deprived⟧ children, without means of livelihood; we have become bewildered as to how I shall pay
the rent? While your honors have provided me with an allowance. Therefore, I beg for the removal of
this rent from me, and I beg that you inspect for yourselves my condition and the condition of my
hungry children who have fallen ill from the lack of food.
Furthermore, I, by my Most High Lord, cry out to your conscience and raise my appeal
to your mercy, perhaps God will place in your hearts mercy for eleven persons
who have been perished by hunger, pain, and deprivation after the death of the head of the household.
The matter is yours to decide.
Note: My house is a ruin and consists of only one room
and without toilets or a kitchen.
The Petitioner
Safiya Murad
⟦fingerprint stamp⟧
The Committee
To the Properties Committee
To inspect the condition of the petitioner
and submit a detailed report
⟦signature⟧
2/7

Page 55

To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community
Greetings,
Since I am one of the tenants in the ⟦Endowment⟧ building in Bab al-Sheikh according to the rent receipt
numbered ⟦144⟧, and since I have vacated the aforementioned shop and handed over its keys to the specialized collector
in the month of November of the year ⟦1943⟧, I therefore request you to kindly order an inspection
of the aforementioned shop to confirm that it has been vacant of any occupants since the date mentioned above, so that I may
settle the account with the specialized department, as I have paid amounts in excess of the rent
due from me up to the aforementioned date of evacuation. Please accept my highest respect.
The matter is yours, Sir.
The Tenant
⟦Abdul Hussein⟧
Building Inspection
Please inspect the aforementioned shop and state the date of evacuation.
With appreciation,
The Accountant
1/12/1944
The inspection is now underway
by the inspector

Article (59) A - If it is verified by the technical employee of the municipality after inspection that a building, in whole or
part, has become liable to collapse, either due to its age or because it was constructed in an
unstable manner or due to another incident, he shall be accompanied by two experts from the permanent board of experts
appointed by the municipality, provided that their number is not less than six and
does not exceed twelve experts. These two experts, along with the technical employee
of the municipality, shall issue their decision by majority or agreement as to whether the building
is liable to collapse. This decision shall be submitted to the municipality, which must warn
its owner of the necessity of demolishing it totally or partially as indicated in the decision within
three days from the date of notification. If he refuses or the specified period passes
without him filing an objection, the municipality must carry out what was stated in the report
and recover the expenses from him.

Page 56

Amanat al-Asima (Mayoralty of Baghdad)
Form No. 3 according to the Roads and Buildings Regulation
Baghdad: Date ⟦16 / 10 / 1956⟧
Number ⟦9535⟧
Warning for the demolition of dangerous buildings
To: ⟦The Honorable Presidency of the Mosaic Community⟧
Owner of the property numbered: ⟦62⟧
Located in the neighborhood of: ⟦Al-Rawaf⟧
Enclosed herewith is a copy of the report dated / / and we warn you of the necessity of implementing what is stated therein in accordance
with the provisions of Article 59 - of the Roads and Buildings Regulation No. 44 of 1935 and its amendments, and the danger must be removed within a period of
three days from the date of your notification of this warning. If you delay in doing so during the mentioned period, the Mayoralty will carry out the demolition
directly and will collect from you what it spends in this regard.
⟦(Signature)⟧
Mayor of the Capital
Copy to: -
⟦...⟧
Engineer of the Second Technical Division: -
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
Signature of the property owner | Date | Signature of the notification officer

20
To the Honorable President of the Israeli Community in Baghdad
There is land belonging to your esteemed association located in the Al-Kulat neighborhood
Numbered <del>144</del>. I hereby request to lease the aforementioned plot on an annual basis and I am
prepared to pay its rent and make it a place for my residence and to maintain
the aforementioned land. The matter is yours to decide. ⟦10/1/⟧ 954
The Petitioner
Saeed bin Kadhim
Note: The house numbered 144 is occupied
and is not vacant, and is leased by Khatoun
Raphael
⟦illegible⟧
To the Properties Committee
For inspection and to submit a detailed report
regarding the price
⟦illegible⟧
27

Page 58

Baghdad Light & Power Co., Ltd.
BAGDAD LIGHT & POWER CO., LTD.
(Incorporated in the United Kingdom.)
7.057
N.B.—This bill should be paid within 15 days from date / Note: This bill must be paid within 15 days of its date:
Date / Date: ⟦illegible⟧
Consumer / Consumer: The Jewish Community
Address / Address: 410/129 ⟦...⟧
Tariff / Supply Type: ⟦...⟧
Meter No / Meter Number: 471705
Bill No / Bill Number: 42758 51/1/1
For electricity supplied during the undermentioned period / Electricity supplied during the period mentioned below:
METER REGISTER | Ds. | Fs. | Dinars | Fils | Meter Register
To ...........195  |   |   |   |   | 5/5/51 to ... 195
From .........195  |   |   |   |   | 4/4/51 from ... 195
Units Supplied     |   |   |   |   | 249 Units Supplied
...........@ 18 fils | 4 | 582 |   |   | at 18 fils
...........@ 12  "   |   |     |   |   | at 12 "
...........@ 10  "   |   |     |   |   | at 10 "
Meter Rental       | 1 | 225 |   |   | Meter Rental
Current Limiter    |   |     |   |   | Current Limiter Fee
| 7 | 057 |   |   | Total
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT
Chief Accountant
After having taken a continuous supply in one premises for not less than 12 months, any consumer who considers his deposit to be in excess of the requirement may apply for a re-assessment.
No receipt for payment to the Company is valid unless bearing the Company's embossed official receipt which is stamped by the Cashier at the time of making payment.
Any subscriber who considers their deposited security to be in excess of what is necessary after receiving continuous supply in one location for a period of no less than 12 months should apply for a re-assessment.
A receipt for the amount paid to the company is not considered valid unless it is stamped with the company's official stamp by the cashier at the time of payment.

Page 62

To the Honorable Chairman of the Israeli Administrative Committee in Baghdad
After greetings
Presented:
I reside in the house numbered 56 / 147 ⟦Tahar⟧ and the house is in a
dangerous state requiring urgent repair because I have children and I fear an accident occurring
God forbid. I request you to kindly order the community engineer to be sent to inspect
the aforementioned house. Please accept my highest respect.
Alwan
Muhammad
Alwan Muhammad
Clarification
For the community statement
1- The rent is two Dinars monthly
2- The actual rent is sixty Dinars annually
3- Property tax is eighty Dinars
4- Does the tenant pay rent regularly? No, the month of June is required from him.
⟦illegible⟧
9/7
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧

Page 63

Baghdad: 11/14/1954
His Excellency the Chairman of the Administrative Committee, Respected
After greetings,
I have previously leased the warehouse with sequence 1/425 located in the Al-Qashla neighborhood
for a period of three years. And now I wish to transfer this lease to the name of Mr. Hamid Abdul Wahab,
I request your approval to transfer the lease to the name of Mr. Hamid Abdul Wahab starting from the date 7/6/1954
With highest respect to your Excellency.
Al-Hajj Issa Muhammad Tabra
⟦signature⟧
His Excellency the Chairman
The tenant Al-Hajj Issa Muhammad Tabra
has leased the surplus of Rabbi Hayyim's synagogue
for a period of three years ⟦pursuant to⟧ an annual fee
of 275 Dinars, and there remains of his lease period
one year which he wishes to transfer the contract in the name of
Mr. Hamid Abdul Wahab, Respected
11/14/54
Property Committee for inspection and submission of
the report
⟦signature⟧

Page 64

His Excellency the Chairman of the Administrative Committee, respected
After greetings:
Since I have become unable to perform the work that
enables me to support myself, I request your assistance to allocate an amount for my support
from the living allowance, and the matter is yours to decide
⟦illegible⟧
Yaqoub Abboud Khudair
Investigation Committee
To state the condition
on
9/7
We do not know anything about the identity of this person
Investigation Committee
⟦illegible⟧ 10/7/52

Page 65

Sequence Number ::
Doors Number :: 14/127 and 14/119
Leased Property :: A house and a shop
The contract has been concluded between the Mutawalli of the Endowments of (The Lay Council of the Israelite Community in Baghdad) hereinafter referred to
as the Lessor, and Shakir Mahmoud al-Saffar, hereinafter referred to as the Lessee, as follows: -
First - The Lessor has leased to the Lessee, and the latter has leased from the Lessor after inspection and review
the house and shop located in Baghdad in the Tatran neighborhood numbered 127 and 119 to be used as a residence
from the beginning of 1 / 10 / 1954 to the end of 30 / 9 / 1955
for a rental amount of only forty-two dinars only
Second - The Lessor received from the Lessee only three and a half dinars only, and as for the remainder amounting to
thirty-eight and a half dinars, the Lessee must pay it according to the promissory notes drawn up with their amounts and maturity dates below
Promissory Notes
Installments
1 at the beginning of every month
2
3
4
Third - If the Lessee delays in paying any (installment of the installments) promissory note of the promissory notes drawn up above upon maturity
the entire debt becomes accelerated and due for payment immediately, and the Lessor has the option to terminate this contract and lease the property to others, and the Lessee shall be liable
for the difference in the rental amount if a deficit occurs, without the need to give a formal notice to the aforementioned Lessee.
Fourth - The Lessee has the right to occupy the leased property for the duration of the lease and does not have the right to lease it to others without written consent from
the Lessor. At the end of the lease term, the Lessee is obliged to vacate the leased property to the Lessor free of occupants, and if he delays in doing so
he shall be obliged to pay for the period of delay a daily rent of a quarter of a dinar without the need for a formal notice.
Fifth - The Lessee undertakes to return the leased property to the Lessor upon the expiration of the contract safe from any damage or deficiency and to compensate him
for all deficiencies and damages that occur in the leased property in kind or in value.
Sixth - The property tax shall be the responsibility of the Lessor, while the water, electricity, security, and sanitation fees are the responsibility of
the Lessee, and he is obliged to pay them regularly.
Seventh - The Lessee acknowledges that he has waived the right to request an oath from the Lessor regarding the admission of falsehood and other
oaths related to this contract.
Written in two copies, one copy in the hand of each of the two parties in Baghdad on / / 195
Witness          Witness          The Lessee          The Lessor
Mutawalli of Endowments
(The Lay Council)

Page 69

Ali Ramadan, tenant of shop number 12/21 in Biran
Three installments are due from him, each for the amount of 26 Dinars
The first on 1/7/54
The second on 15/8/54
The third on 1/10/54
And when confronted for payment, he says every time that he will pay it next week
House number 78 B / 114
Previously requested on 21/2/54 an amount of thirty Dinars, and from that time until now she receives
a weekly aid from the community in the amount of one and a half Dinars per week, and we have previously submitted a report on him and you referred it to the secretary
Hassan Abdul Wahab, the former employee in the Special Division, tenant of the house located in Aqd Bahr, number 114/22
20 Dinars are previously owed, and his lease ended on 21/8/54, and we have urged him to pay but ⟦nothing⟧ was received
We await your observations
Shaul Shmou' Shai, tenant of the house numbered 44 T / 94 for the amount of 48 Dinars
And his lease ended on 22/8/54, and we filed a lawsuit against him for eviction, and your orders were issued to the lawyer
Yaqub Abdul Aziz to stop this lawsuit, we await your observations
Salman Abu Faraj, tenant of the house numbered 22/94 for the amount of one Dinar monthly, and he is refusing
payment, and Yaqub Abdul Aziz filed an eviction lawsuit against him, but no result was obtained from the lawyer and he remains until
now in the house, and the eviction has not been executed procedurally
22 Dinars are owed until now
Abid Antaki is required for maintenance in the amount of 42 Dinars, tenant of the shops numbered 54 72 N / 145
Due on 1/8/54 and the second on 1/10/54
Aqla Wahid, tenant of the house numbered 128/2156 for the amount of one and a quarter Dinars monthly, and is owed for the month of
August 54, and he refused to pay, why ⟦...⟧ for him, and the house is worth more than the amount, and it has one room
you want three corners meeting on, and I do not accept any value, we await your observations
Mahdi Al-Hassan has usurped the house for two years and he consulted with the lawyer Yaqub Abdul Aziz when we handed over
the lawsuit to the lawyer, and he turned away from it and did not complete the lawsuit
The house numbered 83/145 has been usurped by Jamil Al-Fifa for three years and the lawyer did not accept
filing a lawsuit against him

Page 71

Sequence Number ::
Door Number :: 113/78
Leased Property :: Shop
(Mr. Farid Daoud Samra, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad)
The contract has been concluded between the Trustee of Endowments ⟦line⟧ <del>(The Lay Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad)</del> hereinafter referred to
as the Lessor, and Mr. Hassan Ali Qandarji, hereinafter referred to as the Lessee, as follows:-
First - The Lessor has leased to the Lessee, and the latter has leased from the Lessor after inspection and review,
located in Baghdad in the Taht al-Takiya neighborhood, numbered 113/78, to be used as a shop
starting from 1/9/54, the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-four, until 31/8/55, the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-five
for a rental amount of only -/24 Dinars annually (twenty-four Dinars annually)
Second - The Lessor received from the Lessee only -/4 Dinars (four Dinars), and the remainder, amounting to -/20 Dinars (twenty
Dinars), the Lessee must pay according to the <del>promissory notes</del> installments, the amounts and maturity dates of which are written below
1 In monthly installments of two Dinars at the beginning of each month.
2
3
4
Third - If the Lessee delays in paying any (installment of the installments) promissory note of the promissory notes written above upon maturity,
the entire debt becomes accelerated and due for payment immediately, and the Lessor has the option to terminate this contract and lease the property to others, and the Lessee shall be liable
for the difference in rent if a deficit occurs, without the need to give a formal notice to the aforementioned Lessee.
Fourth - The Lessee has the right to occupy the leased property for the duration of the lease and does not have the right to lease it to others without written consent from
the Lessor. At the end of the lease term, the Lessee is obliged to vacate the leased property for the Lessor free of occupants, and if he delays in doing so,
he shall be obliged to pay for the period of delay a daily rent of half a Dinar per day without the need for a formal notice.
Fifth - The Lessee undertakes to return the leased property to the Lessor at the end of the contract safe from any damage or deficiency and to compensate him
for all deficiencies and damages that occur in the leased property in kind or in value.
Sixth - The property tax shall be the responsibility of the Lessor, while water, electricity, security, and cleaning fees are the responsibility of
the Lessee, and he is obliged to pay them regularly.
Seventh - The Lessee acknowledges that he has waived the right to request an oath from the Lessor regarding the admission of falsehood and other
oaths related to this contract.
Written in two copies, one copy in the hand of each of the two parties in Baghdad on 28 / 10 / 1954
Witness | Witness | Lessee | Lessor
|  | Mr. Hassan Ali Qandarji | Trustee of Endowments Mr. Farid Daoud Samra
|  |  | Chairman of the (Lay Council) Administrative Committee

Page 72

Sequence Number:
Door Number: 113/78
Leased Property: Shop
The contract was concluded between the administrator of the endowments (Mr. Farid Daoud Samra, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Community in Baghdad)
⟦<del>The Physical Council of the Jewish Community in Baghdad</del>⟧ hereinafter referred to as
the Lessor, and Mr. Hassan Ali Qandarji, hereinafter referred to as the Lessee, as follows:
First - The Lessor has leased to the Lessee, and the latter has leased from the Lessor after inspection and review
located in Baghdad in the Taht al-Takiya neighborhood, numbered 113/78, to be used as a shop
from the beginning of 1/9/54, the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-four, until 31/8/55, the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-five.
For a rental amount of only -/24 Dinars annually (twenty-four Dinars annually).
Second - The Lessor received from the Lessee only -/4 Dinars (four Dinars), and the remaining amount of -/20 Dinars (twenty
Dinars) shall be paid by the Lessee according to the promissory notes whose amounts and maturity dates are written below:
Installments
1 In monthly installments of two Dinars at the beginning of each month.
2
3
4
Third - If the Lessee delays in paying any (installment of the installments) promissory note of the promissory notes written above upon maturity,
the entire debt becomes accelerated and due immediately, and the Lessor has the option to terminate this contract and lease the property to others, and the Lessee shall be liable
for the difference in rent if a deficit occurs, without the need to give a formal notice to the aforementioned Lessee.
Fourth - The Lessee has the right to occupy the leased property for the duration of the lease and may not lease it to others without written consent from
the Lessor. At the end of the lease term, the Lessee is obligated to vacate the leased property for the Lessor free of occupants, and if he delays in doing so,
he shall be obligated to pay for the period of delay a daily rent of half a Dinar per day without the need for a formal notice.
Fifth - The Lessee undertakes to return the leased property to the Lessor at the end of the contract safe from any damage or deficiency and to compensate him
for all deficiencies and damages that occur in the leased property in kind or in value.
Sixth - Property tax shall be the responsibility of the Lessor, while water, electricity, security, and cleaning fees are the responsibility of
the Lessee, and he is obligated to pay them regularly.
Seventh - The Lessee acknowledges that he has waived the right to request an oath from the Lessor regarding the admission of falsehood and other
oaths related to this contract.
Written in two copies, one copy in the hand of each of the two parties in Baghdad on 28 / 10 / 1954.
Witness | Witness | Lessee | Lessor
|  | Mr. Hassan Ali Qandarji | Administrator of Endowments Mr. Farid Daoud Samra
Chairman of the (Physical Council) Administrative Committee

Page 73

Sequence Number:
Door Number: ⟦78⟧
Leased Property: ⟦112⟧
The contract has been concluded between the Trustee of Endowments, Chairman of the Administrative Committee
(The Lay Council of the Israelite Community in Baghdad), hereinafter referred to as
the Lessor, and Mr. Hassouni Ali Qandarmaji, hereinafter referred to as the Lessee, as follows: -
First - The Lessor has leased to the Lessee, and the latter has leased from the Lessor after inspection and review,
the shop located in Baghdad in the Taht al-Takiya neighborhood, numbered 58/314, to be used as a shop
from the beginning of 1/9/1954 until the end of 31/8/1955
for a rental amount of only twenty-four Dinars.
Second - The Lessor has received from the Lessee only four Dinars, and as for the remainder, amounting to twenty Dinars,
the Lessee must pay it according to the <del>promissory notes</del> installments, the amounts and maturity dates of which are written below:
1 In monthly installments of two Dinars at the beginning of each month.
2
3
4
Third - If the Lessee delays in paying any (installment of the installments) promissory note of the promissory notes written above upon maturity,
the entire debt becomes accelerated and due immediately, and the Lessor has the option to terminate this contract and lease the property to others, and the Lessee shall be liable
for the difference in rent if a deficit occurs, without the need to give a formal notice to the aforementioned Lessee.
Fourth - The Lessee has the right to occupy the leased property for the duration of the lease and may not sublease it to others without written consent from
the Lessor. At the end of the lease term, the Lessee is obliged to vacate the leased property for the Lessor free of occupants, and if he delays in doing so,
he shall be obliged to pay for the period of delay a daily rent of one Dinar without the need for a formal notice.
Fifth - The Lessee undertakes to return the leased property to the Lessor at the end of the contract safe from any damage or deficiency and to compensate him
for all deficiencies and damages that occur in the leased property, either in kind or in value.
Sixth - Property tax shall be the responsibility of the Lessor, while water, electricity, security, and cleaning fees are the responsibility of
the Lessee, and he is obliged to pay them regularly.
Seventh - The Lessee acknowledges that he has waived the right to request an oath from the Lessor regarding false admission and other
oaths related to this contract.
Written in two copies, one copy in the hand of each of the two parties in Baghdad on 8/12/1954.
Witness Witness Lessee Lessor
Trustee of Endowments
(The Lay Council)

Page 74

His Excellency the Chairman of the Administrative Committee, respected
After greetings
The house leased from me located in the Qanbar Ali neighborhood, No. 5/10
needs restoration due to a crack on the right side of the house, and therefore
please conduct an inspection and carry out the necessary repairs, and please
accept my highest respect.
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
Salah al-Din al-Tabtabai
8/12
Master Alwan
To conduct the inspection and provide
the necessary cost
Naji
8/20
I have conducted the inspection on
the house numbered 5/10 and it appeared
that it needs repairs to the house courtyard
and tiling the floor of the house and the corridor
and some plastering and electrical repair
and ⟦behind⟧ the basement windows
The cost is twenty-five dinars
excluding the painting of doors and windows
⟦illegible signature⟧
8/22
His Excellency the President
I request approval to carry out
the required restoration and the cost
is twenty-five dinars
⟦illegible signature⟧
8/24
To the accountant Charles
The amount is to be paid from the surplus
⟦illegible signature⟧