Description
These are documents from the Baghdadi Jewish Community. They contain correspondence regarding marriages, divorces, civil disputes; the birthday celebrations of the Iraqi king, responses to inquires about the treatment of Iraqi Jews under Iraq’s citizenship laws, the history of Jews in Iraq, and the provision of Jewish artifacts to the Iraqi Museum. There are receipts for furniture stores and other vendors, invoices; budget allocations, deficits, and planning for various community organizations and institutions; ritual slaughtering administration, names of butchers with the numbers of animals slaughtered, names of community organization members, ledgers of payments for goods or fees, building plans, provisions for school children, concerns over hospital food distribution, blanket distribution to the poor, receptions, meetings, shipment orders, import and export of goods, the care of orphans, and a census on the number of synagogues in Baghdad in 1945 (40). There are copies of a printed text titled “Appeal to Save the Children.” Letters include: the President of the Jewish Community to the Controller of Foodstuffs in Baghdad thanking the Controller for the allotment of sugar and tea for the students at the Rahel Shamoon School; addressing complaints at the Meir Elias Hospital in Baghdad; purchasing blankets for the poor via the Poor Welfare Society; sending money rather than clothes from an importer in New York City to the poor in Baghdad since clothing costs have gone up.
AI en Translation, Pages 101-125
Page 101
8006
11/24/1944
His Excellency the Mayor of the Capital, the respected
After greetings and respect
The Meir Tweg Synagogue is located on Street No. 1/13 in Battaween
And these synagogues are the largest and most important synagogues for worship and holding ceremonies
religious ceremonies in this part of Baghdad, and wedding ceremonies are also held
often there due to its spaciousness, and therefore Street 1/13 (located between
Aoun Street and Al-Muallimin Street) sees many cars and people who
are heading to this synagogue.
And since this street is not paved, they often suffer
from dust and mud in a harmful manner. Therefore, I have come to request your Excellency
to order the paving of this street to ensure the comfort of the people and to preserve
their health
Please accept, your Excellency, the assurance of my highest respect;
⟦Alwi⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Page 102
7980
2 / 11 / 944
His Excellency the Director of Engineering Equipment
The Respected
Greetings and respect
Mr. Yusuf Murad has requested that we clarify his relationship with the Torahs
and ⟦his plot of land⟧ numbered in the Torahs neighborhood, based on
the request of your respected department from him.
We wish to clarify that the aforementioned Torahs (which are among the ancient
religious places ⟦revered⟧ by Jews in Iraq) have been demolished. And the
aforementioned benefactor Mr. Yusuf Murad donated and rebuilt them anew from his own pure money
and they now need iron bars to connect the pillars, so we hope to facilitate
his request to complete the construction.
To your Excellencies, thanks and utmost respect.
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad
Excellency, Chairman of the Jewish Charitable Hospitals Committee, Respectfully
At Meir Elias Hospital
Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
I request to be considered a member of your esteemed committee with a monthly fee of ⟦line⟧ fils
to be paid every year / six months at once. May you remain successful in serving charitable projects.
Sincerely,
5
Page 103
7 November 944
Urgent
Central Telephone Directorate
Baghdad
Please instruct to move telephones No. 5452 and 3531 from the
ground floor to the second floor, noting that the wires are already
present from before.
⟦illegible⟧
for the Head of the Community
Page 104
We mourn with great sorrow and regret the death of the honorable notable Mr. Yehuda Saleh Zelouf
Former Deputy of Baghdad, who passed away to the House of Permanence on Thursday night the 21st at the age
of eighty-seven. The deceased was one of the notables and elites of the Jewish community in Baghdad.
He held membership in the Board of Directors and the Jewish General Council and presided over
the Community Spiritual Council several times. In all these positions, he was an example of a man working
for the good of his people and his homeland. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
for this great loss, and we wish them patience and solace, and for the noble departed, the widest mercies.
Note: Condolences are accepted at the home of the deceased located in the Al-Sinak neighborhood near
the Al-Sinak police station until Wednesday afternoon, the 25th of this month.
Newspaper | Al-Fayha
Please publish the above news in your local section ⟦line⟧
Thank you in advance.
Secretary
⟦illegible⟧
Page 105
7922
10/23/944
His Excellency the Respected Deputy Mayor of the Capital
After greetings and respect,
I hereby submit the Tabu map and a copy of the registration ⟦for the property⟧ with sequence and numbered
Modern door numbers ⟦127⟧ 192 — 194 ⟦24⟧ located in the Al-Hanoun Al-Kabir neighborhood,
As its current status is a staircase and a warehouse, and we intend to divide it into
three shops and a staircase as drawn in the attached map. Please have it certified
by your esteemed council.
With all respect to Your Excellency,
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
Page 106
7921
23 / 10 / 944
His Excellency, the Deputy Mayor of the Capital, Respected
After greetings and respect,
I submit herewith the land registry map and a copy of the deed for the property sequence 472
and modern door numbers 79 - 137 located in the Al-Tawarat neighborhood, as
we intend to subdivide it into four houses as shown in the submitted map, so I hope
it will be ratified by your esteemed council.
With all due respect to your Excellency;
⟦signature⟧
⟦On behalf of⟧ the Head of the Community
Page 107
To the honorable and most beloved Mr. Director of the ⟦...⟧ school, the respected,
Greetings and much respect, thereafter, I present to your Excellency within your letter
so that you may be informed and kindly accept our apology for your delay ⟦...⟧
You complain to me about the Fakhr Khatun residence, which is a matter of ⟦...⟧
I am searching for ⟦the daughter of⟧ Salim Fallah, the girl who does not exceed ten years of age
⟦...⟧ from its origin. The deputy's house has helped us before
⟦...⟧ and I inform you that this case ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ and the persons have been released from the court on bail ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ and this case has been referred from ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ knowing that we have been present that it has been lost ⟦...⟧ and that I
⟦...⟧ this issue in the nature of the terrible malignant disease
⟦...⟧ all that is needed for it is an amount of (100) Dinars which was necessary
⟦...⟧ the ugly ⟦...⟧ with virtue and patriotism ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ all religions, and I offer my utmost thanks
⟦...⟧ to the director of the aforementioned hospital so that he may provide
⟦...⟧ writing by ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
Page 108
1/22
Iraqi Posts and Telegraphs Administration
Telegraph 11
Telegram via Internal and External
15 MAR 45
TELS.
BAGHDAD
Telegram Type: P
Registration Time: 9/10
Received at: Kirkuk
Issuing Office: Kirkuk
Date: 15/3/45
Words: 21
Remarks: ⟦My condolences⟧
To: Baghdad, His Excellency Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
I thank you for your long life, may God not show you any harm
Shemtob
⟦Single⟧
Page 109
The Iraqi Government
Directorate of Land Registry and Settlement of Public Lands
Governorate: Baghdad
District Land Registry Office:
Neighborhood: Qanbar Ali
Serial Number: 0597
District Number:
Parcel Number:
File Number:
Outbound Number:
Date: 1 / 1 / 135
Subject Summary
To the Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
Based on your petition submitted to this directorate dated August 29, 939.
Upon examining the records and the folder of the house located in Qanbar Ali neighborhood, numbered 58/49, it was found
that it is owned by Farha daughter of Salman Daniel and is registered under number 12 of the April 308 Yoklama register
collection, and that this directorate cannot provide a copy of the record from this register unless it undergoes
the confirmation process.
Director of Land Registry, Baghdad Governorate
2500 Fils
29 / 8 / 939
⟦illegible signature⟧
1939 / 8 / 29
M / 26
⟦illegible text in green ink⟧
⟦illegible text⟧
Page 110
5215
10 August 939
Tapu Directorate of Baghdad Province
Please provide us with a copy of the deed for the Waqf house numbered 58/94 Qanbar Ali, and thank you;
⟦Arif⟧
Head of the Community
Page 111
The Jewish Lay Council
in Baghdad
No. 2456
Date: August 22, 1944
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
With reference to your letter No. 7848 dated July 23, 1944,
The Lay Council decided in its meeting held on August 10, 1944:
(1) To appoint Mr. Nissim Rej as a lawyer for the Jewish Religious Court according to Paragraph 7 of
Article 15 of the Community Law with a monthly salary of thirty dinars starting from August 1,
1944. As for the duties of the aforementioned person, 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 ensures the public interest.
2) Guiding the Religious Court regarding legal matters and procedures of litigation.
3) Attending during court sessions to consider lawsuits and participating in its deliberations
without having judicial authority.
4) The lawyer's working hours shall be full-time during 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 No.
191/1/4 dated July 23, 1944.
(2) Terminating the services of the Religious Court clerk, Mr. Ezra Mukammal, effective from the end of July 1944.
(3) Appointing Mr. Heskel Qattan as a clerk for the Religious Court with a monthly salary of eight dinars
payable starting from August 1, 1944.
(4) Allocating three dinars monthly to the person named Bechor Israel, payable starting from August 1, 1944,
in return for his position as an usher for the Oheb Shalom Committee.
(5) Allocating two dinars monthly to the court employee named Ishaq Hayyim Salem ⟦for performing⟧ the clerical work of the
mentioned committee, payable starting from August 1, 1944.
President of the Lay Council
A copy to His Eminence the President of the Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
" " the lawyer Mr. Nissim Rej. To the accountant of the Lay Council to act accordingly.
⟦Correct⟧
⟦Signature⟧
Page 113
List of distributions for used clothing
( 3 )
Number | Name | Women's Jacket | Women's Coat | Women's Silk Gown | Boy's and Girl's Jacket | Vest | Men's Jacket | Total
| Distribution by hand of ⟦.....⟧ | 644 | 350 | 493 | 716 | 586 | 365 | 3154 previous
31 | Messrs. Ezra Abd al-Nabi and مکمل Brothers | 39 | 7 | 36 | 24 | — | 22 | 128
32 | Mr. Yamin Aslan | 32 | 20 | 30 | — | — | 22 | 104
33 | Mr. Mir Zaki—a | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 15
34 | Mr. Shalom Darwish | 4 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 11 | 26
35 | Lawyer Salman Shina | 10 | 15 | 10 | — | — | 13 | 48
46 | Mr. Saleh Faraj Haym | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 9
37 | Under the supervision of the Special Distribution Committee | 28 | 45 | 23 | — | 1 | 45 | 142
| Total | 751 | 449 | 601 | 740 | 587 | 498 | 3626
| Shortages that appeared upon opening the bales and their number — | — | 3 | — | 10 | 15 | 2 | 30
| Perhaps quantities according to ⟦the magazine⟧ the lists | 751 | 452 | 601 | 750 | 602 | 500 | 3656
| | 750 | 450 | 600 | 750 | 600 | 500 | 3650
Surplus that appeared in some bales | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 6
Note — Nuaim School returned (9) torn and unusable gowns to us, and the Girls' Intermediate School also returned (8) gowns in the same condition, as was also found in the amount
allocated to the Girls' Charitable Sewing Association (10) gowns of the same type, so the total was (27) torn gowns given to the Girls' Charitable Sewing Association to dispose
of them and make what can be made from them and distribute them to poor female students.
⟦signature⟧
Honorary President
Page 115
21st November 1944
To :
The Controler of Food
D.G. of Import
Baghdad.
Dear Sir.
I would be much obliged if you would kindly consider
my needs of whisky and be kind enough to issue a delivery
order for one case of this commodity.
Thanking you in anticipation,
I beg to remain dear Sir,
⟦21⟧
Yours faithfully
⟦From⟧
President.
Copy to :
The Chairman of the Whisky Committee
Baghdad.
⟦Publications⟧
Page 116
GIRL'S SEWING CHARITABLE SOCIETY
BAGHDAD
ESTABLISHED
1929
Girl's Sewing Charitable Society
Baghdad
Location: Taht al-Takiya 101 / 113
Established in 1929
Telephone Number 3146
Number:
Date: 24 / 11 / 44
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community
Greetings,
This institution was commissioned by the special committee formed for the purpose of distributing fifty bales of used clothing
to the poor of the Jewish community according to its decision dated September 7, 1944. This
institution carried out the distribution under the supervision of both His Eminence Rabbi Daoud and Mr. Israel Nassim Hay, and we attach herewith
a table showing the details of the distribution that took place across various institutions and other classes.
Please accept our highest respect,
⟦signature⟧
Honorary President
Copy to:
The Special Distribution Committee
The Jewish Lay Council
The Jewish Schools Committee
Messrs. Mukammal Brothers.
Pursuant to your request, we wish to state that the men's jackets were of excellent quality.
As for the women's clothing (dresses), most were worn out, and the vests (waistcoats) were of little utility. The most
important items in the shipment were the small jackets which clothed hundreds of male and female students, necessitating
our thanks and gratitude to you for this charitable work during such difficult times. May God reward you with good.
Page 117
8022
10 / 12 / 1944
Distinguished Gentlemen of the Mackel Company
New York
Baghdad
After greetings and respect
On the occasion of the specialized committee completing the distribution of the fifty bales of
used clothing that you gratefully donated to clothe the poor, I would like to
record here for you my further thanks and great gratitude for your charitable work, which
we hope will be an opening of goodness and an example followed by others.
These clothes were distributed at a time when the poor were in direst need
of clothing, and I pray to the Creator to always grant you success in doing good.
Remain in respect
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
Attached is the distribution schedule for information.
In our body and in the present state ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ 12 Tishrin ⟦...⟧
Supervisor
Page 118
12/29/1944
Respectable Director of the National Tobacco Company
After greetings and respect
Since the cigarette entitlement voucher from your company belonging
to the administration of the Jewish community has been lost, please kindly
provide us with a second voucher to enable taking the cigarettes allocated therein.
With much thanks to you in advance.
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
⟦Bank⟧
Page 120
Basra on 21 / 10 / 1944
His Eminence the respected Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri
President of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
After greetings and much respect, we received your telegram regarding the marriage of our daughter Khatoon
and to your ⟦highly revered⟧ self we offer our great thanks, and God willing, the day of
the marriage of your remaining children while you are well and see their grandchildren, Amen.
On this occasion, we offer our fragrant wishes and heartfelt congratulations on your new election,
asking God to grant you victory and success always, and to sustain you as a pride and support, and that we hear
good news from you. From here, both the newlyweds kiss your hands
and the hands of your mother, and likewise our mother singles you all out with greetings, and Um Fantan
and Al-Radiya and the brothers kiss your hands and your mother's. In conclusion, please
accept our highest respect for your dear person, and our son Fantan kisses your hands.
May you remain in good health and wellness. Sincerely,
⟦illegible⟧
Miscellaneous
Page 122
No 8062
4th January
5
⟦illegible⟧
To :
The Officer Commanding
Paiforce.
Baghdad.
Sir.
I have the honour to inform you that the Poor Welfare Society, taking
into consideration the very painful conditions of the poor, have decided to
purchase between 3000-5000 blankets, to be distributed to these miserable
creatures who are suffering from the bitter cold of winter. As we were
given to understand that there exists a quantity of second-hand blankets
which are not used by the army, we decided to approach you, soliciting your
valuable assistance in this matter of general welfare.
I desire furthermore to bring to your kind attention that these blan-
kets are being purchased by the Poor Welfare Society and distributed free of
charge to the poor people who are enlisted on the society's register. To
ensure that all these blankets are distributed properly by the said society,
I venture to suggest, if you find it convenient, to appoint a deputy on your
behalf to supervise the distribution.
I believe that you would like to join in this welfare scheme of prov-
iding warmth to those stricken people. Therefore I trust that you would
give this matter the importance due to it, and favour us with an early reply.
Kindly accept my best regards.
Yours faithfully
Alms ⟦...⟧
President.
Page 124
Iraq Red Crescent Society
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE : 3847
Iraq Red Crescent Society
General Headquarters
Baghdad
Telephone : 3847
No.: 52
Date: 12 / 1 / 1945
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Subject - Regarding Mr. Moshe Haim
The administration of the Prisoners of War Agency of the International Committee of the Red Cross
in Geneva sent us a letter dated 11/22/1944 stating that the German High Command
informed them by an official letter dated 8/1/1944 of the presence of the Iraqi person whose name
and address are mentioned below, detained in Internment Camp No. (122) in France. The administration
of the aforementioned agency has promised to provide us with all new information that will be received in the future
regarding the current place of detention of the aforementioned individual.
Based on the inability of this society, despite its investigations, to find the relatives of this person
to inform them of the situation, we took the initiative to present the matter to you, hoping for your mediation in conveying the news to whoever
is concerned with this person's matter to inform them of this.
Haim Moise Born on 25.2.1898 in Baghdad, arrested on
22.1.1944 in Paris No. 2676 .
Fam. Adr. Mrs. J. Haim 1, Rue Melingues, Paris 19e
⟦Signature⟧
. General Secretary
21290
Page 125
things like stones and others.
And it was in my intention ⟦...⟧ what I received before
except that I ⟦...⟧ as I requested your address
from my brother the Doctor, and a few days ago I received
his letter, as it seems the reply
was delayed. In conclusion, please accept
my greetings, wishing you continued health
and a long life full of great
deeds.
Sincerely
⟦Wasfi⟧
Address: Dr. Wasfi Muhammad Ali
The Iraqi Legation. Zamalek
Cairo. via Al-Sharif
Rakan Nasser