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 176-200
Page 177
Barq 2
Number ⟦line⟧
Issued Internal Telegram
Inland Telegram “A”
Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration
Type of telegram | Sent to
Time | Hour | Minute
Issuing Office | Signature of Sending Clerk
Date | Administrative Instructions: | Number of words | Fee
Nothing to be written by sender above this line.
Nothing to be written by sender above this line.
To: To.: Head of the Jewish Community in Kirkuk
Instructions by sender, please see item (3 on reverse).: Instructions by sender, please see item (3 on reverse).
The inspector did not find the name of Nazima Kirkukli and Aziz
Khalif in his records. Please clarify the date of the engagement and the name of the inspector.
Head of the Community
Name ) Name:
Signature Signature:
Address Address:
This form is subject to the conditions written on the reverse
This telegram is sent according to conditions on reverse.
Not to be telegraphed
Page 178
⟦illegible⟧
To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
I had previously submitted a request through your committee to the Ministry of Supply, requesting that I be supplied with (1750) kilos of
meat for use in the construction of the Farha Zion Synagogue. However, the esteemed Ministry granted me
a license to purchase (1000) kilos only, and this quantity has been used and was not sufficient to complete the rooms
and other things. Therefore, I request your mediation again with the aforementioned Ministry to grant me a purchase license for the remaining
meat, amounting to (750) kilos. With our thanks and gratitude.
Youssef Murad
⟦B. Murad⟧
15 / 4 / 944
Miscellaneous
Summary of the conditions under which inland telegrams are accepted
1 - This telegram is sent in accordance with the inland telegraph regulations published in the Iraqi Post and Telegraph Guide.
2 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration shall not be responsible for delay, error, loss, or damage that may ⟦happen⟧ ⟦...⟧ upon delivery, transmission, or distribution.
3 - The sender of the telegram must write in the space provided on the left side of the address on the face of the form the indication they desire for sending the telegram in a ⟦...⟧ manner, such as urgent, or if the reply fee is paid in advance. If the telegram is in the interest of the Iraqi Government, the word (Official) shall be written.
4 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration has the right to refuse to register the telegram, and also has the right not to send it even if it has been registered for transmission or distribution, and in this case, its fee shall be returned to the sender upon submitting a request for that.
5 - Requests regarding the refund of fees and all complaints about telegrams shall be submitted to the General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs in Baghdad.
6 - To prevent errors, this telegram shall be written in clear handwriting and in a clear manner.
Conditions on which Inland Telegrams are accepted.
1. This telegram shall be forwarded in accordance with the Inland Telegraph Rules, published in the 'Iraq Post and Telegraph Guide.'
2. The Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, Iraq, shall not be liable to make compensation for any delay, error, loss, injury or damage arising from omission, non-transmission or non-delivery of the telegram.
3. The sender may write the instructions in the space provided at the left side of the address on the face of this form, such as Urgent, Reply Paid, or State of on 'Iraq Government Service.
4. The Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, 'Iraq, may decline to accept the telegram. It may also decline to forward it although it has been booked. In such case the amount paid for transmission shall be refunded to the sender on application.
5. Complaints and applications for refund should be addressed to the Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs, Baghdad.
6. To prevent mistakes this telegram must be legibly written.
⟦illegible handwriting in blue ink over text⟧
Page 179
Baghdad 9 / 4 / 945
His Eminence, the respected President of the Jewish Community
After greetings
Regarding the synagogue belonging to the late Menachem Salih Daniel
and its trustee is his wife ⟦...⟧ . The synagogue needs
electrical wiring. The wires have become worn out
and are not fit for lighting ⟦...⟧ electricity.
The aforementioned synagogue has been cut twice from the fire line
Therefore, I ask your Eminence to give me a letter to the Directorate of ⟦...⟧
Public Buildings to provide us with the necessary quantity of wires
no ⟦...⟧
And with much thanks to you ⟦...⟧
The Trustee
⟦Signature⟧
Miscellaneous
Page 180
16 April 1945
Directorate General of Imported Materials
Construction Materials Division - Baghdad
We had requested to be supplied with (1750) kg of iron for use
in the construction of Farha Somikh Towers, but your esteemed directorate granted us (1000)
kg only, and this quantity has been used and was not sufficient to complete the construction. Therefore
I request that one of your inspectors be sent to the mentioned towers for inspection and to grant us a permit
to purchase the remaining quantity, which is (750) kg of iron. Sincerely;
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
Page 181
25th of M. 1942
To the honor of the (Jewish Community) Committee in Baghdad
(To) the Honorable Committee
Many greetings
The request before you testifies from the mouth of Shimon Cohen
⟦Memory⟧ in Baghdad Cohen corrected of Shimon Cohen
Yours today in the hour and in good material
On the second day which is Lag BaOmer 1942
In the morning at the Beit Zilka synagogue in Baghdad
I am unable to return today on the very day Shimon Cohen
And it is not his custom ⟦coming⟧ he sends another to request clarification of the Shimon
In my name I the undersigned below in Baghdad Cohen on Sunday 25th 1942
Miscellaneous
Page 182
27 April 945
Dear Respected Mr. Salim Tarzi,
After greetings and respect,
I would be extremely grateful if you would kindly provide the possible assistance
to install a telephone machine in the house of Mr. Nour el-Din al-Ajwadi, Registrar Observer in
the Ministry of Defense, located in the Bab al-Sheikh district, numbered 629 / 171. He has previously
submitted a petition regarding this matter on 23 / 4 / 945.
With my thanks in advance, please accept my highest respect;
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
⟦signature⟧
Page 183
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone number 531
Number :: 8227
Date :: 1 May 945
Subject ::
Directorate General of Imported Materials
After greetings and respect,
We have previously submitted a request to your esteemed directorate to import one hundred bales of used
clothing to be distributed free of charge to the poor of the community. Following the issuance of your statement, we learned that the
Sewing Charity Association for Girls has submitted a request to import fifty-four bales of these clothes
to be sold at cost price to the association's students, and that the Helpers of the Poor Association has also
submitted a request for fifty bales to be sold to the needy whom they support at cost, unless someone
donates the value, in which case they will be distributed free of charge.
I would like to assure your esteemed directorate that importing the bales ⟦included⟧ in these three
requests is very necessary to provide ⟦some relief⟧ to the poor class and that the distribution and sale of these clothes
which will be carried out by the specialized committees will be with the knowledge and supervision of this Presidency and the
Lay Council of the community, and I ask you to provide your usual assistance and allow the issuance of import
licenses for the three aforementioned requests.
With thanks and respect to you ;
⟦illegible signature⟧
President of the Community
⟦Miscellaneous⟧
Page 184
The Child Protection Society in Iraq
General Center
An Appeal Regarding the Save the Children Project
The Child Protection Society in Iraq is undertaking a national, charitable, and humanitarian project called the Save the Children Subscription Project, and
Her Majesty the Exalted Queen has graciously extended her high patronage to the project.
The goal of this project is to invite the public to donate voluntarily to construct a Child's Home to shelter orphans whose ages do not exceed
seven years, among those who lack the means of livelihood or have lost them entirely, and to establish a shelter to care for them and for the children of working mothers during the day.
This project calls us to think of the displaced children who were left by their families to suffer the hardships of life without a breadwinner or helper,
wanted by no one and pitied by none, through no fault of their own.
These children are sentenced to death due to the lack of institutions that care for them. Those in charge of the prospective project hope to succeed in
constructing a home for those miserable children and others who lose their families through death and remain alone in the struggle of life.
Think! How much you owe in your lives to the kindness and care of your parents, and bestow generosity upon the project as a thanks to God who showered His blessings
upon you during your childhood years. What you provide to this project alleviates human suffering and serves a noble national purpose, and above all, it is a good deed that
may have no better equivalent.
The committee in charge of the project is fully confident that the generous and noble citizens of our country will answer this call with hearts full of compassion.
Remember! The children of today are the women and men of tomorrow, and these donations will not stop at improving the condition of the nation's children, but will make
the miserable and wretched into righteous and productive elements in Iraqi society instead of remaining somber, suffering from poverty and disease.
The project aims to collect (50,000) Iraqi Dinars, and two committees have been formed to undertake this work:
1 - High Committee: Headed by His Excellency Mr. Jamil al-Midfai, Vice-President His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Hassan Kubba, Honorary Treasurer
Director of the Agricultural and Industrial Bank, and its secretaries are Dr. Sanderson Pasha and Mr. Nur al-Din Daoud. Its members consist of their
Excellencies and honorable figures:
Mr. Ali Mumtaz. Mr. Yusuf Ghanima. Mr. Tahsin Ali. Mr. Ja'far al-Shabibi. Mr. Abdul Hadi al-Chalabi. Mr.
Mahmoud Ramiz. Mr. Ezra Menachem Daniel. Mr. Kamil al-Chadirchi. Mr. Hafiz al-Qadi. Mr. Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Shabandar. Mr.
Baqir Ahmed. Mr. Salman Fattah. Dr. Ihsan Doğramacı. Mr. Nouri al-Orfali. Mr. Nur al-Din Daoud.
2 - Executive Committee: Chaired by Dr. Sanderson Pasha, with membership of Messrs. Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Shabandar, Mr. Baqir Ahmed, Mr.
Hafiz al-Qadi, Mr. Ahmad Mukhtar, Dr. Ihsan Doğramacı, and Mr. Nur al-Din Daoud. Other subcommittees have been formed in all
provinces for the same purpose.
Address letters to: The Honorary Secretaries through the Child Protection Society in Iraq, Bab al-Muadham - Baghdad.
Please send donations to the Agricultural and Industrial Bank or one of the provincial committees. Lists of donations and details of collected amounts
will be published in the newspapers from time to time.
Baghdad, August 15, 1944
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Secretary
Page 186
8241
16 May 945
The Honorable Honorary Secretary of the Save the Children Project
Child Protection Society - Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
We have previously recommended helping the Save the Children Project a lot
and it would please me very much if you would spend these cards without seeking the help of this department
which is obviously unable to provide such assistance despite its strong
desire to encourage your noble project. We take this opportunity
to offer to the Save the Children Project a donation of ⟦five⟧ ten dinars, hoping for its acceptance.
And to your Excellency, the highest respect;
Sincerely,
Sasson
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 187
May 20, 945
His Excellency the Minister of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
The Respected
After greetings and further respect
I have received with great pleasure your kind invitation to attend the reception
which you are holding on the occasion of Victory Day next Saturday evening, and it is a matter of
my great joy to be honored to attend this brilliant party
I thank you from the heart; please accept my highest respects;
Sincerely
⟦Salloum⟧
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 188
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice Registration No. 9820
45/5/1
7/1/191
Subject:
It is not hidden from Your Excellency that the Jews in Iraq live under the protection of the Constitution, which
stated that Iraqis are equal before the law, and that the esteemed Government of Iraq and Your Excellency continue to care for the interests of
this community and have not distinguished it from the other communities in Iraq; rather, you have even looked upon this community
and the rest of the minority communities with an eye of kindness and compassion, granting them full freedom in their conduct, especially regarding
personal status, and granting their heads judicial powers to decide on disputes that occur between members of the community.
But with all regret, the judicial authority granted to this community has fallen into the hands of persons who lack competence even
in the basic principles of the personal status laws of the community itself, let alone other legal actions.
My Lord, Your Excellency the Minister,
What I say about the ignorance of those who hold judicial authority among the members of our community is supported by reality and the records of
the spiritual councils themselves. Furthermore, I have fallen victim to the misconduct of these persons, as the aforementioned
spiritual council has issued several contradictory decisions and has also used special methods for issuing and notifying decisions
which led to the loss of my rights and placed me in a very critical position. I am but one among the total members of
this community, and I am confident that everyone whose bad luck led them to this spiritual council
has met what I have met, but they remained silent because they do not know or are afraid to say that the spiritual council has wronged me.
My Lord, Your Excellency the Minister,
I submit to Your Excellency this petition of mine so that you may look with the eye of kindness with which you still look upon the members of this
community and put an end to this tampering with the destinies of the members of this community and intervene in organizing the affairs of this
council in terms of the competence of its men and in terms of applying clear legal procedures to organize the workflow of this
council and its actions, and to organize specific court levels where one supervises the other and examines its rulings, as is
the case in the civil courts, as a guarantee for the rights of the members of this community and ⟦your mercy⟧ upon them. With this, remain in respect.
Manager of the Old Gabbai Drug Store
Pharmacist - Korgi Hizqeel Gabbai 27/112
Al-Ma'mun Street
Copy to -
The Council of Ministers Registration No. 2344 - 45/5/1
The Parliament - " " 973 - 45/5/1
Page 189
Gabbay Drug Store
GABBAY DRUG STORE
No. 365 Bustan El - Khass.
Importers, Exporters. of General Goods
& Commission Agents.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS :-
"GOURGI GABBAY"
365 BUSTAN - KHASS
Codes { A. B. C. 5th Edition
Bentley's
Baghdad ⟦line⟧ 194
⟦Drugstore⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Page 190
823
27 April 945
His Excellency the Director of Imported Goods, Respected
After greetings,
The Girls' Charitable Sewing Association had submitted to your directorate
a request regarding its distribution of the fabrics allocated to the students
of the Israelite community schools. This request was made with our approval for the following reasons:
1- We rely on those in charge of this institution, and they will carry out the distribution
in a manner that ensures the objective.
2- Our students are located in this area and can be provided with the fabrics in a
regular manner according to a special arrangement without this having any impact on lessons
and discipline; therefore, we hope that you will kindly approve the request of the aforementioned association
due to the public benefit therein.
Please accept the highest respect;
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Page 192
8218
27 April 945
Directorate General of Local Products
Baghdad
Your respected directorate has previously supplied the employees of the Community Administration and the Israeli
Religious Courts with winter fabrics, similar to other government employees
and private institutions. We would be extremely grateful if you would kindly supply them
with summer fabrics at the present time. Attached you will find a list of the names of the employees
along with their salaries.
Sincerely yours;
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
⟦Initials⟧
Page 194
8221
30 April 945
His Excellency the Minister of Interior, Respectfully
Greetings and Respect,
The Jewish community in Baghdad previously sent to France in the year
938 three female students to complete their higher studies in Paris and Toulouse and return
to Iraq to teach in its private schools in Baghdad, and they are:-
Flora Israel Hay
Rachel Jacob Mahlab
Naima Moshe Nahum
We have now learned that the aforementioned have completed their studies there and obtained the
required degrees, and they are now in Paris waiting for permission to return to
their homeland. In view of our dire need for the mentioned teachers, we request you
to kindly instruct the competent department to telegraph the Swiss Consulate
in Paris to renew their passports and provide assistance to expedite their return to
Iraq. We beseech your Excellency to consider this matter urgent to ensure
the arrival of the students at the earliest possible opportunity.
With much gratitude and respect to your Excellency;
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Community
Page 195
A
4 May 945
His Excellency the respected Mayor of the Capital
Mr. Yusuf Murad had requested on April 26, 945 from
your secretariat, asking for instructions to conduct an inspection of the Farha Somikh Synagogue located
in the Tauraat neighborhood to ensure its suitability to hold the public who are accustomed
to entering it on certain occasions. We have learned that the inspection has been completed and
the report in this regard has been signed by the engineers and is kept in
your respected department. Since it is very important for me to see the result of the inspection,
I ask you, if possible, to order that I be informed of this result.
With thanks and respect to your Excellency;
⟦Sasson⟧
Head of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
⟦Miscellaneous⟧
Page 196
IRAQ GOVERNMENT.
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF ANTIQUITIES.
Telegram:—Antiquity Baghdad.
Directorate
General of
Antiquities
Telegraphic Address — Antiquities Baghdad
No. ⟦line⟧
Baghdad, May 7, 1945 ⟦line⟧ Baghdad
⟦illegible stamp⟧
His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the respected
President of the Jewish Community
Baghdad
Greetings and respect, thereafter:
We have received with great joy and pleasure your precious gift, which is a manuscript copy of the "Torah"
written on parchment in the Hebrew language, and contained in a cylindrical wooden case.
We extend to your Eminence our deepest thanks for this valuable masterpiece, and we appreciate this kind gesture
which reflects noble generosity.
We will care for this copy with the attention its status deserves, and we will display it among the manuscript collection
in the Museum of Arab Antiquities, with a reference to the name of its donor. We shall invite your Eminence to see the method
of display before it is opened to the public.
In conclusion, please accept our highest greetings and respect. May you remain well.
Sincerely,
⟦Naji al-Asil⟧
Director General
⟦Miscellany⟧
Page 198
May they be blessed with the blessing of heaven from above, El Shimon son of Yitzhak and his wife
Inbar daughter of Masuda " L' Borak (Mazal Tov) "
The congregation of our community shall surround you (and rejoice in your peaceful arrival)
And today, peace
In the name of [God] and praising
Servant of Levi
From
⟦illegible⟧