Correspondence, Receipts, Budget Information from the Baghdadi Jewish Community
View interactive document pageThese 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.
Baghdad 28 November 945 To the Honorable President of the Jewish Community Baghdad After greetings and respect I ask you to mediate with the competent departments to obtain a transfer of the electrical wires listed in the attached form for the purpose of connecting electricity to the well of Torat Shukur. Please accept the highest expression of respect ⟦Salman Shahrabani⟧
8422 10/16/1945 General Directorate of Customs and Excise Baghdad The Hebra Kadisha Society prepares, shrouds, and buries the deceased of the members of the Israelite community, and since the aforementioned society performs its work often at night, it is in need of lighting on the roads and in the houses to transport the dead to the cemeteries, so I kindly request granting them a transfer of four gallons of spirit (alcohol) monthly for use in the hand lamps required for this purpose. Sincerely yours, On behalf of Head of the Community
8422 10/22/1945 ⟦illegible⟧ His Excellency, the General Director of Imported Funds, Respectfully After greetings and respect, Enclosed is a petition signed by the President of the Association for Assisting Poor Girls for Marriage, hoping Your Excellency will provide your valuable assistance to answer the request of this charitable association to supply it with the required paper. Thanking you in advance, and remain yours. On behalf of Head of the Community
Hebra Kadisha Society | HEBRA KADISHA | HEBRA KADISHA SOCIETY Baghdad | Baghdad | Baghdad No. ⟦line⟧ ⟦216⟧ ⟦line⟧ Number Date ⟦line⟧ ⟦23-11-1945⟧ ⟦line⟧ Date To His Excellency Sassoon Khedouri, the Respectable President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Greetings and respect, Following the contact made with an official in the Ministry of Social Affairs, I was asked to provide him with information concerning the deceased members of the community. And since our society maintained the current account according to a ledger which you will find enclosed, please review it for the cooperation of the referred Ministry regarding the number of deaths that occurred recently, and send us a copy of the mentioned letter to be kept in this record of ours. May you remain in respect, my lord. President of the Hebra Kadisha Society ⟦HEBRA KADISHA SOCIETY⟧ ⟦BAGHDAD⟧ ⟦HEBRA KADISHA⟧ ⟦HEBRA KADISHA⟧ To be filed 11/22 ⟦illegible⟧
8472 Request for a map copy 11 November 945 Land Registry Directorate of Baghdad Province We kindly ask you to provide us with a copy of the map for plot sequence 195 located in Al-Sour neighborhood, and we thank you. ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community Mahfouz 22/11
828 8/28/945 General Directorate of Imported Goods Paper Division The administration of the Jewish community contains three independent departments, which are the headquarters of the Presidency, the Lay Council, and the Schools Committee. Each of them consumes a large quantity of types of paper for relevant correspondence and printing reports and accounts for submission to their relevant authorities. Also, the administration of the slaughterhouse, the administration of the Yeshivot, and the rest of the institutions affiliated with the community administration take the paper they need from this administration. Therefore, the quantity of paper supplied by you does not meet our needs. For this reason, we request you kindly take our considerations into account when granting us an allocation for cut paper which ran out some time ago, and kindly supply us with five reams of it. ⟦illegible signature⟧ Head of the Community Baghdad ⟦line⟧ Number ⟦١٨٦⟧ Excellency Chairman of the Israeli Charitable Hospitals Committee, the respected At Meir Elias Hospital Baghdad After greetings and respect I request to be considered a participant in your respected committee with a monthly fee of ⟦line⟧ fils I pay it once every year. May you remain successful in the service of charitable projects. Six months Sincerely
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number { 3531 President
5452 Secretary
Number: ⟦line⟧
Subject: Price list for Torah Scrolls
Date: 7 December 1945
| Dinar | Fils
Value of three modern scrolls | 120 | -
Value of three ancient scrolls | 100 | -
Value of existing silver items | 30 | -
| 250 | -
Only two hundred and fifty Dinars, no more
⟦signature⟧
12/7
25
7/12
8529 December 10, 945 Newspaper paper His Excellency the Minister of Interior With reference to our letter No. 8487 dated November 19, 945 Please reconsider supplying us with another ream of newspaper paper given that the permit granted to us for one ream was not sufficient to cover our needs for printing the budgets of the community's institutions. For this we give you more thanks. ⟦illegible⟧ 12 / 10 Head of the Community Copy ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
8487 Newspaper paper 19 November 945 His Excellency the Respectable Minister of Interior Please order the authorization of our community's administration to acquire two reams of newspaper paper for the purpose of printing 300 copies of the community's institutions' budgets for the year 45/946 this is due to our inability to obtain white paper from the Directorate of General Imported Funds. For this we offer you much thanks. ⟦signature⟧ 17/11 Head of the Community Sayyid Ahmad - Note the file After Saturday Archived 19/9 ⟦illegible blue text in background⟧
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ the Israeli community ⟦illegible⟧ the virtuous, the most glorious his clinic ⟦illegible⟧ for examining poor patients for free ⟦illegible⟧ afternoon for everyone, as a service to the miserable society And thank you ⟦illegible⟧ very much and I hope you are in full health and wellness, and I congratulate you in advance on the occasion of the marriage of the chaste and protected, your daughter the noble; may God grant you success in all good, and stay Sincerely Doctor ⟦Ahmed Touba⟧ The ⟦illegible⟧ Hospital ⟦illegible⟧
857 11 January 946 ⟦The Honorable Mr. Edward Nassim Hay, Respectfully⟧ Honorable President of the Charitable Sewing Association for Girls Baghdad After greetings, With reference to your letter dated 1/10/946 I have tasked the secretary to attend the annual general assembly meeting of your association on my behalf, and I wish your work prosperity and success. ⟦Edward Aswad⟧ ⟦Secretary⟧ ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community
January 16, 946 His Excellency Mr. Abdul Majid Allawi The Honorable Minister of Social Affairs - Baghdad Greetings and respect, I have learned that the Syrian authorities refuse to grant transit permits through their territory for those afflicted with tuberculosis among the members of this community whom your esteemed ministry deports to Lebanon for treatment at the government's expense. Given my knowledge of the sympathy your Excellency holds for these miserable people, I saw fit to request that you take the measures you deem appropriate to ensure their passage to their sanatoriums. I specifically hope that the case of the tuberculosis patient Saleh Munshi Radwan, who received this kindness from your esteemed ministry, receives the attention it deserves, so that transit through Syrian territory is secured for him and his fellow tuberculosis patients. Please accept, your Excellency, my sincere thanks in advance and great respect. From the sincere, ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community
Presidency ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ 8586 January 18, 1946 His Excellency Mr. Abdul Majid Allawi The Honorable Minister of Social Affairs Baghdad After greetings and respect, The tuberculosis patient, Saleh Munshi Rajwan, approached me stating that your esteemed ministry has taken pity on him and agreed to send him to Lebanon for treatment at the government's expense, and he is therefore profuse in his prayers for Your Excellency. However, on the other hand, he fears that the Syrian authorities—under the orders they recently issued—might prevent his passage through their territory, and thus this act of kindness would remain obstructed. He has asked me to mediate with Your Excellency and to implore you to take the measures you see fit to ensure his passage to his sanatorium in Lebanon. And as I am confident in the kindness and mercy Your Excellency holds for every miserable person, I saw fit to seek Your Excellency's assistance in this charitable cause. May God keep you as a treasure for humanity. Please accept my highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ 1/17 Sincere, ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community
GIRL'S SEWING CHARITABLE SOCIETY BAGHDAD ESTABLISHED 1929 Girl's Sewing Charitable Society Baghdad Location :: Taht al-Takiya 10 / 113 Established in 1929: Telephone: 3146 Number: Date: 1/16/46 Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Private number 117 Date 1/17/1946 To the Excellency the President of the Jewish Community, Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri, Respectfully After greetings The general assembly met under the chairmanship of Mr. Salim Khabbaza as a representative of your Excellency and elected the administrative board for the year 1946. After the election and distribution of positions, the administrative board was composed of the persons whose names are listed below: - President | Israel Nessim Hay Vice President | Ibrahim Ishaq Eliyahu Secretary | Meir Zakaria Treasurer | Ibrahim Hayim Twena Members | Aboudi Ishaq Shammash | Menahim Aslan | Moshe Hakham Nessim We take this opportunity to offer your Excellency our sincerest thanks for your sponsorship of our project and we would be very pleased if your Excellency would honor our society's school with a visit during its hours to observe the progress of the school and its system. Please accept our highest respect. ⟦illegible⟧ Honorary President ⟦illegible handwriting in blue ink across the top form area⟧
Number ⟦line⟧ D.F. Telegram "A" Telegram Deferred External Telegram "A" Sent to ⟦line⟧ Hour ⟦line⟧ Minute ⟦line⟧ Signature of sending official ⟦line⟧ Fee ⟦line⟧ Issuing Office ⟦line⟧ Number ⟦line⟧ Number of words ⟦line⟧ Date ⟦line⟧ Time ⟦line⟧ Route ⟦line⟧ Department of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones Administrative Instructions: Nothing to be written by sender above this line. Nothing to be written by sender above this line. To: His Excellency Dr. Khedouri Khedouri, Respectfully Deferred Mosul To, L. C. The sender of the telegram must observe paragraph five written on the back of this form Instructions by sender, please see item (5 on reverse) Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the wedding ceremony of your noble son, with best wishes to the happy couple Rabbi Sasson Khedouri President of the Israelite Community Name Name: ⟦illegible⟧ Signature Signature: Address Address: This telegram is sent according to conditions on reverse Not to be telegraphed The telegram is sent according to the conditions written on the back of this form Not to be telegraphed
Summary of the conditions under which deferred foreign telegrams are accepted 1 - Deferred foreign telegrams are sent in accordance with the foreign telegram regulations published in the Iraqi Post and Telegraph Guide. 2 - The fee for this telegram is half the fee charged for an ordinary foreign telegram. 3 - It is not permitted to use more than one language in writing the body of this telegram. 4 - The sender of the telegram pledges by his signature on the face of this form that its text is entirely in plain language and does not convey any meaning other than what it indicates. 5 - The sender of the telegram must record in the space provided on the left side of the address on the face of the form his desire to send the telegram by any route, such as the urgent telegraph route, or that the fee for its reply is paid in advance. If the telegram is in the interest of the Iraqi government, the word (Official) is recorded. 6 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration shall not be responsible for delay, error, loss, or damage that may occur to the telegram from non-transmission, non-delivery, or failure to send or distribute. 7 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration has the right to refuse to register the telegram. It also has the right not to send it even if it has been registered for transmission or distribution, and in such a case, its fee is returned to the sender upon his submission of a request for that. 8 - Requests related to the refund of fees and all complaints about telegrams are submitted to the General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs in Baghdad. 9 - To prevent the occurrence of error, the body of the telegram is written in a clear dialect. Conditions on which Deferred Foreign Telegrams are accepted. Deferred Foreign Telegrams are forwarded in accordance with the rules for Foreign Telegrams published in the 'Iraq Post and Telegraph Guide. 1. The rate of this telegram is half that charged for Ordinary Foreign Telegram. 2. The use of more than one language in the text of this telegram is not allowed. 3. The sender, whose signature on this form, declares that the text is entirely in plain language and does not bear any meaning other than that which appears on the face of it. 4. 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 Route, Reply Paid, or State if on 'Iraq Government Service. 5. 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. 6. The Administration of P. & T., '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. 7. Complaints and applications for refund should be addressed to the Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs, Baghdad. 8. To prevent mistakes this Telegram must be legibly written.
Basra, January 2, 1946 The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri After greetings and much respect: we present to you, hoping that you are in constant health and joy, and this is what we wish for you from the bottom of our hearts. We have completed the marriage contract of ⟦Luns⟧, the daughter of our brother Rabbi Joseph, son of your relative Mursil ⟦Tnishef⟧, to the ⟦polite⟧ young man, God willing both parties are successful, and so we have come to congratulate you and we wish from God Almighty that you perform the duty of the rest of your children while you are well. Thus, we have kept the favor of your hands and your father's hands as it is. The brothers and Al-Radiya congratulate you and kiss your hands. Menashi and Khatun also kiss your hands and greet your children, may God protect them. Please accept our highest respect for your dear person, and may you remain in goodness and health. Sincerely, Mushir Ezra ⟦...⟧ Muwaffaq ⟦...⟧
8441 10/24/945 The honorable and esteemed gentlemen Ibrahim Eliyahu Shemshua Ibrahim Eliyahu Shahrabani Ibrahim Munir Somikh Hezekiel Ezra Saleh Zabli Salman Daoud Samarli Shaul Shmuel Nishan Abdul Nabi Isaac Baruch Aboudi Saleh Hiyayat His Eminence Rabbi Yaqoub Ezra Masfi Yousef Hezekiel Abed After greetings and respect The Israeli Spiritual Council in Baghdad, which <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> received your resignation from the Ohavi Shalom Committee, finds it difficult to lose your services and your valuable assistance in bringing peace and harmony to Israeli families; therefore, it declines to accept it. So I ask you to continue in this charitable work of yours, wishing you every success and achievement. With thanks in advance, please accept the highest respect; ⟦signature⟧ Issued by the Head of the Community Miscellaneous
8505 27 November 945 The Honorable Mr. Dawood Haskiel Ezra ⟦Eliway⟧, Respectfully Baghdad After greetings and respect The Jewish Spiritual Council in Baghdad informed us in its letter No. 1588 Dated 20 Dec. 945 that the Council has appointed you as a member of the Oheb Shalom Committee. Please proceed with your work, wishing you success and prosperity. And stay well. ⟦signature⟧ 11/27 On behalf of the Head of the Community S. Kh. / M. 7/28 Archived 7/28 ⟦1946/2/12⟧ ⟦Community ...⟧
Dorshe Tora Society In Baghdad Dorshe Tora Society BAGHDAD Dorshe Tora Society Baghdad ⟦Torah Neighborhood⟧ Presidency of the Jewish Community Special No. 470 Date 17 / 2 / 1946 BAGHDAD 12 / 2 / 1946 BAGHDAD Honorable President of the Jewish Community After greetings We request your mediation with the General Directorate of Imported Goods to provide us with eight reams of cut paper for use in our society for correspondence, receipts, and records. With our sincere thanks to your Excellency President of the Society DORSHE TORA COMMITTEE * BAGHDAD 1928 Dorshe Tora Society in Baghdad Dorshe Tora Society Baghdad ⟦illegible⟧
8250 2 / 19 / 1946 ⟦illegible⟧ 18 February 946 Directorate General of Imported Goods After greetings, The Dorche Torah Charitable Society in Baghdad has requested us to mediate with your respected directorate to obtain eight reams of cut paper for the purpose of the society's use for receipts, registers, and correspondence, as their paper supply is exhausted. Please kindly approve the supply of this religious society with the stationery they require, and please accept our respects. ⟦signature⟧ 2/18 on behalf of/ Head of the Community
The Iraqi Government Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: 1/21/946 Subject: Sending a consumptive patient to Bhamdoun Sanatorium Ministry of Social Affairs ⟦illegible⟧ Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date 1/22/1946 To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs We list below a copy of the letter from the Presidency of the Jewish Community No. 8586 Dated 1/18/946 regarding the consumptive patient Saleh Munshi Rajwan, for your kind consideration of the matter and to inform us. Director of Social Affairs A copy to the Presidency of the Jewish Community with reference to their letter mentioned above. A copy to the Social Affairs Division. Copy of the Letter His Excellency Mr. Abdul Majid Allawi The Honorable Minister of Social Affairs - Baghdad. Greetings. The consumptive patient Saleh Munshi Rajwan states that your venerable ministry has shown sympathy towards him and agreed to send him to Lebanon for treatment at the government's expense, and for that he is profuse in prayers for Your Excellency. But on the other hand, he fears that the Syrian authorities might prevent - pursuant to the orders they recently issued - his passage through their territories, and thus this charity would remain obstructed. He has requested that I intercede for him with Your Excellency and entreat you to take - the measures you deem appropriate to ensure his passage to his sanatorium in Lebanon, and I am confident in the sympathy and mercy Your Excellency holds for every wretched soul, hoping for Your Excellency's utmost assistance in this charitable matter. May God keep you a treasure for humanity. Please accept our highest respect. Sincerest, Head of the Community To His Sovereignty Al-Dai Khan For your kind review ⟦illegible⟧ 1/22