AI en Translation, Pages 226-250
Page 228
8208
July 2, 945
Directorate of General Health Prevention
Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 3827 dated 6/26/945
We have previously promised to fill the swamp of the Jewish cemetery and fence it as soon as
the transfer of ownership of the two adjacent state-owned plots to the cemetery is completed, according to the recommendation of the Director of Health
Prevention for the Baghdad city area ⟦his letter⟧ No. 7032 dated 11/15/1944
In this regard, we refer to the Ministry of Social Affairs letter No. 1758 dated
6/27/945 to the Ministry of Finance and a copy of it to your directorate on this subject.
Although the transfer of the two plots has not been completed yet, the Jewish Cemeteries
Association in Baghdad has begun filling the swamp, and we ask your esteemed directorate to please
emphasize to the Ministry of Finance to speed up the transfer process of the two plots in
question so that the aforementioned association can fill the entire swamp and complete the fencing of
the cemetery after annexing the two plots to it.
⟦Sasson⟧
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Page 230
8105
30 January 945
General Directorate of Imported Goods
Chemical Materials Controller
Paper Department - Baghdad
We confirm our letter No. 8032 dated 5 / 12 / 944
We request the instruction to grant us the required transfer as quickly as possible
Due to the depletion of the paper we have had for quite some time.
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Page 231
8189
26 March 945
General Directorate of Imported Funds
Chemical Materials Division
Baghdad
For the purpose of printing a budget book for schools, hospitals, and other community institutions
and submitting it to the Jewish General Council and distributing it to community members
according to Community Law No. 77 of 1931 and its regulations. We request you
give us a transfer for five bundles of scrap paper for this purpose.
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Expended
Page 232
8215
15 July 945
General Directorate of Imported Goods
Chemical Materials Division - Baghdad
Due to the exhaustion of the quantity of paper that we previously obtained from your
respected directorate, we request that you grant us a transfer for five reams of cut paper, five
reams of lined paper, and ten reams of rice paper. Best regards.
Sassoon
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 233
Capital Secretariat
Administration
(Administration)
5 Shaban / 364
6 August / 945
Date
Directorate of Health Prevention for the Baghdad City Region
Subject - Slaughtering Times
Reference to your letter No. 2788 dated 11 / 7 / 945
An agreement has been reached with the representative of the Presidency of the Israelite Community
to delay the start time for the slaughtering of sheep by
Muslim butchers in the Rusafa slaughterhouse until nine o'clock
in the evening instead of six o'clock.
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Mayor of the Capital
Copy to -/
Presidency of the Israelite Community
Directorate of Health for the Baghdad Province - Reference to its letter
No. 2650 dated 10 / 7 / 945
Director of Discipline for Rusafa - To alert the observers regarding the necessity of
maintaining the time designated above
M / 12 / 19
⟦illegible⟧
A / O
Page 234
Iraqi Government
Department of the Directorate General of Antiquities
Section: ⟦line⟧
Number: ⟦٧/٨/١٠٨٧⟧
Date: 19 / 8 / 45
Subject: ⟦line⟧
To His Eminence the Respected Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri
Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
After offering greetings
We are pleased to inform you that we have received, with much gratitude, the handwritten copy
of the Book of Esther (Megillah) which you were kind enough to donate to the museum. It has been added to
the manuscript collection in the Museum of Arab Antiquities and will be displayed there in a suitable place.
In this regard, we appreciate your feelings toward the museum and your efforts toward developing its national
collections. Please accept our highest respect.
Naji al-Asil
Director General of Antiquities
Miscellaneous
Page 235
8/14/1945
To the Manager of the National Tobacco Company
The Respected
After greetings and respect
We request that you continue to deliver the cigarettes belonging to the administration of
the Israeli community to the person named Salman Shaul after collecting the price
from him.
Please accept the highest expressions of respect;
Sincerely
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 236
August 14, 945
His Excellency the Director of General Supplies, respected
After greetings and respect,
The Bir Sassoon wards contain one hundred sofas (couches) whose
covers, made of brown calico, have been torn and are now in need of renewal.
Therefore, I hope your Excellency will order to provide us with six rolls of brown calico
for the purpose of using them as covers for the sofas in the aforementioned wards.
With respect to your Excellency.
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
Expenses
Page 237
8254
15 / 8 / 945
Directorate General of Antiquities
Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 27 / 10 / 1195 dated 14 / 8 / 945
Since the (Rimonim) belonging to the Torah scrolls have been wrapped
separately, the pieces requested to be sent have become seven instead of six
as indicated in your letter above, so please correct that so that we can obtain
the export license for them from the Ministry of Supply.
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of / Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 238
His Eminence, the respected Head of the Israelite Community
It is not hidden from Your Eminence that the synagogue located in the Taht al-Takiya neighborhood is
in dire need of electrical wires because the installation
of its wiring has not been changed for nearly twenty years, which leads to serious damage
in the future. Therefore, we hope you will provide us with a letter to the specialized department to supply us
with the necessary wires. This, and the matter is yours, sir.
Baghdad 19 / 8 / 945
The head over the synagogue of Rifqa Salman Daniel
Shamoun Faraj Al-Ani
⟦illegible signature⟧
Page 239
8276
26/8/945
General Directorate of Engineering Equipment
Baghdad
The Torah of Farha Salman Daniel is in urgent need of replacing the old
electrical wires according to the attached form, so please provide the possible
assistance to grant those in charge an authorization for the required wires.
On behalf of
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 240
Capital Secretariat
Second Technical Division
Number:
Date:
Notice to Fence a Vacant Lot
To Rabbi Sassoon Khidhouri, on behalf of the Jewish Community Endowment
Owner of the property numbered 112/154 located in Taht al-Takiya neighborhood
Based on the contents of the Health Department report, the Secretariat Council decided at its meeting held
on 24/8/45 to notify you of the need to initiate the fencing of the vacant lot numbered 112/154 located
in Taht al-Takiya neighborhood belonging to you to prevent its health hazards; therefore, you must carry out the fencing
provided that the work is completed within seven days from the date of your receipt of this notice. If you delay,
the Secretariat will do so directly and collect the expenses from you in accordance with the provisions of Article Three of the Law on Premises
Harmful to Health No. 11 of 1936. The vacant lot must be fenced with brick and gypsum according to the Secretariat Council's decision
No. 3 dated 24/8/45 to replace the house fence
(Attached is a copy of the Health Department report and a copy of the Council's decision) on behalf of the department regarding the wall
Copy to: -
Assistant Supervisor of the Third Section for follow-up and to inform me of the result after the end of the specified period
Directorate General of Endowments in its letter No. 2029 dated 24/8/45
Engineer of the Second Technical Division
Signature of the Lot Owner | Signature of the Notification Officer
Date | Date
Page 241
8280
8/28/1945
Secretariat of the Capital ⟦line⟧
Second Technical Division
Baghdad
With reference to your warning No. 15269 dated 8/26/1945
which we received on 8/28/1945.
The Israeli Communal Council in Baghdad has decided to renew the construction
of this plot and has already begun for some time preparing the necessary maps
for that, which will reach your department as soon as possible.
We request you to note this in your records. Respectfully;
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community
Expenditures
Copy of Article Three of the Law on Establishments Harmful to Health
No. 11 of the year 936
Article Three - If the person legally warned does not perform the required works within the period specified in the warning
without a compelling reason, the local administrative authority (1) has the right to remove the harm
by itself, and in this case, it or whoever it authorizes has the right to enter the establishment and remove the harm
and the owner of the establishment shall be obliged to pay the expenses incurred by the administrative authority
local
(1) ⟦The authority⟧ local administrative is the municipal council within the municipal boundaries and the council
of administration outside them in accordance with paragraph (b) of Article One of the Law on Establishments
Harmful to Health No. 11 of the year 1936
⟦signature⟧
Page 242
Extra copy please
Returned for auditing
The honorable Khawaja Ezra Meir Sassoon, may his excellence endure
After greetings and respect
First of all, we wish to offer you our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the end of the war, asking the Almighty that
this new era be an era of peace, love, harmony, and an end to pains and misfortunes.
The purpose of this letter of ours is that a few days ago, a number of our friends and loved ones came to our office
and asked us to intervene in the matter of the marriage of your protected son Saleh. They explained to us that when the protected one betrothed the girl, the daughter of Sassoon
from the Al-Kuwaiti house, he was very pleased with his fiancée because she is complete in modesty and morals and her family is known to them, and furthermore
the girl's family hurried to prepare the trousseau because the idea was to marry after a week, and because the group's circumstances are weak, they were forced
to mortgage their house and borrow approximately a thousand dinars and they bought the entire trousseau, and this is evidence of his satisfaction that
he presented the gift of diamonds, only pearls besides the ring, but some ⟦biased⟧ people happened to change his mind, unfortunately,
and all the efforts made to reconcile the two parties went in vain. Nevertheless, the honorable notables asked me,
out of concern for the reputation of your family, which is famous for good deeds and honorable renown, to request your intervention in the case because
most people who know you and know your pure conscience believe that these matters are taking place without your knowledge, just as it is not
reasonable that a noble person like yourself would accept that this poor girl remains subject to harm.
It is not hidden from your folks that divorce in these times is a difficult thing, especially for a poor, orphaned girl of weak
circumstances, and our family strongly hopes that your protected son might be persuaded by a word to change his mind, or at least to postpone the matter until we see an outcome
from him and with the girl, as it is no secret that the war has ended and livelihoods have become easy, and many people got betrothed and stayed for two years
or more living in one house and then they got married and God blessed them with children, livelihood, and happiness. This is better
than a person remaining with a tormented conscience all his life.
And if the boy remains insistent and you agree with him on divorce, then at least he should provide the girl with a sufficient amount
to hopefully provide her with a means to marry in a way that comforts her because she will be ⟦cast out⟧ and her eyes will remain fixed upon him
and she will not always be speaking and saying that this boy is the one who wronged her without reason. It is with
all regret that it has appeared that the boy does not want to write anything for the girl that would benefit her.
So for your sake is this letter, and I requested the President of the Lay Council, the esteemed Khawaja Ibrahim Hayyim,
to stay with me so that our reputation and status may all remain.
And God is the granter of success.
Your friends, Saleh from this connection, and our farewell is that this poor girl does not remain of ill repute before God and your service, and we see that you should be
her father and protector, rather than leaving her in a time of distress, lest it be said forever that so-and-so lacked mercy; and may He protect my children and all members of
your family, and may God grant success in goodness and joy, Amen.
President of the Lay Council
Ibrahim Hayyim
Page 243
To be saved
Miscellaneous
To the honorable and distinguished Khawaja Ezra Sasson Ishayeq
May his virtue endure
After greetings and respect
First of all, we would like to offer you our kind congratulations on the occasion of the end of the war, asking the Almighty
to make this new era an era of peace, love, and harmony, and an end to pain and misfortunes.
Furthermore, the purpose of this letter is that a few days ago, a number of your friends and well-wishers came to meet me
and asked me to intervene in the marriage of your protected son, Saleh. They explained to me that when he betrothed the girl Hanina
daughter of Sasson from the Al-Kurji family, he was very pleased with his fiancée because she is perfect in beauty and character, and her family
is known to you. Moreover, he asked the girl's family to hurry in preparing the trousseau because he intended to marry after a week.
Since the family is of modest means, they were forced to mortgage their house and borrow nearly a thousand dinars to buy the trousseau,
a set of ten. Proof of his satisfaction is that he gave the girl a pearl necklace as a gift, besides the ring. However, his mind
was changed afterward, unfortunately, and all efforts to reconcile the two parties were in vain. Therefore, the honorable dignitaries requested
out of concern for the reputation of your family—famous for good deeds and honorable renown—that I seek your intervention in this matter,
because most people who know you and know your pure conscience believe that these things are happening without your knowledge,
as it is inconceivable that a generous person like yourself would allow this orphaned girl to remain tormented until the end.
It is not hidden from your sight that divorce in this country is a difficult thing, especially for an orphaned girl of modest
means. We strongly hope that you will write to your protected son so that perhaps he will change his mind, or at least postpone the matter until
you meet with him and with the girl, for it is no secret that the war has ended and travel has become easy. Many people have been betrothed and remained
delayed for two years or more, and then they married, and God granted them success with children, sustenance, and happiness. This is better than a person
remaining with a tormented conscience throughout his life.
And if the boy remains insistent and you agree to the divorce, then at the very least he should compensate the girl with an appropriate amount
to facilitate a dowry with which she can marry in a way that secures her future, so that her eyes do not remain fixed on him and she does not
always feel wronged and say that this boy is the one who transgressed against her without cause, for unfortunately, it has become clear that the boy
does not want to provide the girl with anything that would benefit her.
For this reason, I have written this letter to you at the request of the President of the Secular Council, Khawaja Habib Tawfiq,
to sign it with me so that our conscience and the conscience of all your friends remain at ease regarding this matter. All our hope is that this orphaned girl, because she is
sustained by the protection of God and your protection—and we entrust you to be her father and protector—that you do not leave her in a time of distress. We pray to the Creator,
Exalted be He, to prolong your life and preserve your children and all members of your family, and God willing, we shall meet you in goodness and joy. Amen.
Sincerely | Sincerely
President of the Secular Council | Head of the Community
Page 244
To the honorable and virtuous notable Khawaja Ezra Sassoon Isaac
May his virtue endure
After greetings and respect
First and foremost, we would like to offer you our kindest congratulations on the occasion of the end of the war, asking the Almighty
to make this new era an era of peace, love, and harmony, and an end to pain and misfortunes.
Furthermore, the purpose of our letter is that a few days ago, a number of your friends and well-wishers came to meet me
and asked me to intervene in the marriage of your protected son Saleh. They explained to me that when the protected one betrothed the girl Hanina
daughter of Sassoon from the Al-Kurji family, he was very pleased with his fiancée because she is perfect in beauty and character, and her family
is known to you. Moreover, he requested the girl's family to expedite the preparation of the dowry because he intended to marry after a week.
Since the group is of modest means, they were forced to mortgage their house and borrow nearly a thousand dinars to buy the trousseau
tenfold. The proof of his satisfaction was that he presented the girl with a pearl necklace as a gift, in addition to the ring. However, some people changed
his mind, to our great regret, and all efforts to reconcile the two parties went in vain. Therefore, the honorable assembly asked me,
out of concern for the reputation of your family famous for good deeds and honorable renown, to request your intervention in the matter,
because most people who know you and know your pure conscience believe that these matters are taking place without your knowledge,
as it is inconceivable that a generous person such as yourself would allow this orphan girl to remain in limbo until the end.
It is not hidden from your sight that divorce in this country is a difficult thing, especially for an orphan girl of modest
means. Our strong hope is that you write to your protected son, perhaps he will change his mind, or at least postpone the matter until
you meet with him and the girl, as it is no secret that the war has ended and travel has become easy. Many people have come and stayed
two years or more delayed, and then they married, and God granted them children, livelihood, and happiness. This is better than a person
remaining with a tormented conscience throughout his life.
If the boy remains insistent and you agree to the divorce, at least let him satisfy the girl with an amount suitable to the situation
so that she may have a dowry with which she can marry in a way that secures her future, so her eyes do not remain fixed on him and she does not
remain always feeling victimized, saying that this boy is the one who wronged her without cause, as sadly it appears that the boy
does not want to provide the girl with anything that would benefit her.
Therefore, I have written this letter to you and requested the President of the Lay Council, Khawaja Eliyahu Hayyim Tawfiq,
to sign with me so that our conscience and the consciences of all your friends may be at peace regarding this issue. All our hope is that this orphan girl does not remain
wronged under the protection of God and your protection. We want you to be her father and protector and not leave her in a time of distress. We pray to the Creator
Exalted be He, to prolong your life and protect your children and all members of your family, and God willing, we shall meet you in goodness and joy. Amen.
Sincerely,
President of the Lay Council
Sincerely,
Head of the Community
Page 245
8402
12 September 945
Very Urgent
Directorate General of Imported Funds
Baghdad
Due to our desire to erect a victory arch in welcome of His Royal Highness
the Great Regent to the capital, we request that you order the provision of five
lengths of white calico cloth at the official price. In view of the lack of time,
we request that you consider our request as very urgent.
With our respects,
Sassoon
Head of the Community
⟦Sassoon⟧
Page 246
8402
September 12, 1945
Very Urgent
Directorate General of Imported Goods
Controller of Engineering Materials
Due to our desire to erect a triumphal arch welcoming the arrival of His Royal Highness the Great
Regent to the capital. We request that you order the provision of one hundred feet of
solid wood at the fixed price according to the attached form. And in view of
the short time, we request that you consider this request of ours as very urgent, and remain,
On behalf of
The Head of the Community
The Head of the Community
Attachments
Page 247
Iraqi Government
General Directorate of Antiquities
Office ⟦line⟧
Number ⟦line⟧
Date 5 / 9 / 45
Subject ⟦line⟧
To the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khadhuri
President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
After greetings and respect,
In view of what we know of your personal interest
in the specific collection of the Iraq Museum, we hope that you will be so kind as to work on
adding the following materials to it, in the service of science.
1- Tefillin
2- Mezuzah
By doing so, you will make us very grateful to you. Please accept our respects.
Sincerely,
⟦signature⟧
Assistant Director General
Page 248
8412
September 13, 945
Certificate
2719
16
His Excellency the General Director of Antiquities
Respected
After greetings and respect
Reference to your book numbered 1279/9/27 dated 5/9/945
I am pleased to send with this letter of mine one copy of the organization
and one copy of the amulet to be preserved in the Iraqi Museum manuscript collection
Please accept the assurances of my highest respect;
⟦Sassoon⟧
Head of the Community
Miscellaneous
Page 249
Directorate of Income Tax and General Banks Supervision
Section / Estimators
Number / 2719
Date / 16 / 9 / 1945 To
The Honorable Head of the Jewish Community - Mr. Sassoon Khadduri
Respectfully
Please state the purpose for which you imported (50) bales of women's wool jackets
from New York on 25 / 7 / 1944 and clarify whether that was for charitable or commercial purposes
Income Tax Estimator
Kadhim / A /
Page 250
8415
19 September 945
2719
Directorate of Income Tax and General Banks Budget
Baghdad
Reference to your letter No. 3719 dated 16 / 9 / 945
The fifty percent of woolen clothing imported from New York
on 25 / 7 / 944 was donated by Messrs. Mokamel Brothers - New York
for charitable purposes and it was distributed to the poor ⟦free of charge⟧ under the supervision of a committee
formed ⟦specifically⟧ for this purpose.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Head of the Community
Miscellaneous