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.
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 required 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. Head of the Community Miscellaneous
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 wiring because the installation of its wiring has not been changed for nearly twenty years, which leads to serious damage in the future. Therefore, we request you provide us with a letter to the competent department to supply us with the necessary wiring. This is for your order, sir. Baghdad ⟦19/8/948⟧ The President of the Rifka Salman Daniel Synagogue Shimon Faraj Al-Ani ⟦signature⟧
8276 26 / 8 / 945 Directorate General of Engineering Supplies Baghdad ⟦line⟧ The Torahs of Farha Salman Daniel are in urgent need of replacing the old electrical wires according to the attached form, so I hope to provide the possible assistance to prevent those in charge of its affairs from transferring the required wires. On behalf of Head of the Community Miscellaneous
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
8280 28/8/945 Secretariat of the Capital ⟦line⟧ Second Technical Division Baghdad Reference to your warning numbered 15269 and dated 26/8/945 which we received on 28/8/945. The Israeli Lay Council in Baghdad has decided to renovate the building of this plot and has actually started some time ago preparing the necessary maps for that, which will reach your department as soon as possible. We hope you will note this. Sincerely; On behalf of The Head of the Community Manuf
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⟧
Extra copy from a pen To me The honorable and respected Aziz Sassoon Samih, may his virtue last After greetings and respect - First of all, we would like to offer you our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the New Year and Ink holidays, asking the Almighty to make this new holiday an era of peace, love, harmony, and happiness for all people and for the righteous. Furthermore, the purpose of our letter is that a few days ago, a number of our friends and loved ones came to meet me and asked me to intervene in the matter of the marriage of your protected son, Saleh. They explained to me that the protected girl we have, the holy girl Hasna daughter of Sassoon from the house of Adri, was intended for him as his fiancée because she is of complete modesty and character, and her family is known to them. Moreover, the girl's family did not rush in preparing the trousseau because of the idea that she would marry after a week, nor are the group weak, those who reported that they would mortgage their house and borrow nearly a thousand dinars and bought the trousseau, a tenfold set, as evidence of his satisfaction that he presented a gift of a thousand only pearls besides the ring, but <del>corrupt</del> people happened to change his mind, unfortunately. And all the beloved things that were for the sake of reconciliation between the two parties were in vain. Nevertheless, the honorable notables asked me, out of concern for the reputation of your family, famous for good deeds and honorable fame, to ask you about the case because most people who know you and know your pure conscience believe that these matters are taking place without your knowledge, because it is unreasonable for a generous person like yourself to accept that this orphaned girl remains suffering until the end. It is not hidden from your sight that divorce in these times is a difficult thing, especially for an orphaned girl and her current luck. And know, my lord, that if they write the protected girl's misfortune, it will reach beyond its measure, or at least postpone the matter until the exhaustion of what is with him and the sale of the house, as it is no secret that the war has ended and prices are easy, and many people have sanctified and remained scattered or most travelers emigrated and then got married. And now, we swear by the children, asceticism, and worship, this is the right than for him to remain now in the torment of conscience all his life. And if the boy remains insistent and you agree to the divorce, it has been said that he should accompany the girl, her price reaching to the hope that she will have a dowry to marry with, and in this way it will be a support and a document for her, her eyes fixed upon it, and she will not always remain complaining and saying that this boy is the one who wronged her without reason. It is with all regret that it has become clear that the boy does not want to write anything for the girl that would benefit her. So for your sake, this is what is requested, and at the request of the lovers of the lovers, Khawaja Adham, I hope that we return to the current situation, as my love is for the sake of our reputation and your prestige remaining for all of us. Our friends insist on this request of theirs, and be confident that this orphaned girl, there is nothing between her and God, and your sincerity and her supplication to God will be for your knowledge and the protection of all your children. You are her father and protector and ⟦illegible⟧ your partners in time of distress, and may the Creator, Glory be to Him, bless you with goodness and joy. Amen. Sincerely, On behalf of the lovers of the lovers, On their behalf, Sassoon ⟦illegible⟧
For preservation Agreed upon The honorable and distinguished Khawaja Ezra Sassoon Ishaq 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 Exalted be He, that this new era be an era of peace, love, and harmony, and an end to pain and calamities. Furthermore, the purpose of this letter of ours is that a few days ago, a number of your friends and loved ones 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 son betrothed the girl Hanina, daughter of Sassoon from the Al-Kurji house, he was very pleased with his fiancée because she is of complete beauty and character, and her family is known to you. Moreover, he asked the girl's family to hurry in preparing the trousseau because his thought was to marry after a week. And because the group is of weak financial means, they were forced to mortgage their house and borrow nearly a thousand dinars and bought the trousseau completely. Evidence of his satisfaction is that he presented a gift to the girl, a pearl necklace besides the ring, but a change of heart occurred and they changed his mind, unfortunately. All efforts to reconcile the two parties went in vain. Therefore, the distinguished gentlemen, out of concern for the reputation of your family famous for good deeds and honorable fame, asked me 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, as it is unreasonable for a generous person like yourself to accept that this orphaned girl remains suffering until the end. It is not hidden from your sight that divorce in this country is a difficult thing, especially for an orphaned and weak girl of status. Our strong hope is that you write to your protected son, perhaps he will change his mind, or at least postpone the matter until your meeting with him and with the girl, as it is not hidden that the war has ended and travel has become easy. Many people betrothed and remained two years or more delayed and then they married, and God granted them success with children, livelihood, and happiness. This is better than a person remaining with a tormented conscience for his whole life. And if the boy remains insistent and you agree to the divorce, then at least he should compensate the girl with an amount suitable to the situation in order to facilitate a dowry for her to marry in a way that secures her future, so her eyes do not remain fixed on him and she does not remain always complaining and saying that this boy is the one who wronged her without cause, as unfortunately it has become clear that the boy does not want the girl to gain anything that benefits her. Therefore, I have written this letter to you and asked the President of the Lay Council, Khawaja Habib Tawfiq, to sign with me so that our conscience and the conscience of all your friends remain at ease regarding every matter. All our hope is for this orphaned girl because she is sustained by the care of God and your protection. We want you to be her father and protector and not leave her in the 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 ⟦line⟧ Sincerely ⟦line⟧ President of the Lay Council | President of the Community ⟦line⟧
To the honorable and virtuous notable, Khawaja Ezra Sassoon Isaac, 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 Exalted be He, that this new era be an era of peace, love, and harmony, and an end to pains and calamities. Furthermore, the purpose of this letter of ours is that a few days ago, a number of your friends and loved ones 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 son 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 asked the girl's family to hurry in preparing the trousseau because his intention was to marry after a week. Because the group is of weak means, they were forced to mortgage their house and borrow nearly a thousand dinars and bought the trousseau tenfold. Evidence of his satisfaction is that he presented a gift to the girl, a pearl necklace besides the ring. However, some people changed his mind, unfortunately, and all efforts to reconcile the two parties went in vain. Therefore, the general virtuous people asked me, out of concern for the reputation of your family famous for good deeds and honorable fame, 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, as it is unreasonable for a generous person like yourself to accept that this orphaned girl remains suffering to the end. It is not hidden from your sight that divorce in this country is a difficult thing, especially for an orphaned and weak girl of means. Our hope is strong that you write to your protected son, perhaps he will change his mind, or at least postpone the matter until your meeting with him and with the girl, as it is no secret that the war has ended and travel has become easy. Many people betrothed and remained two years or more delayed, and then they married, and God granted them success with children, livelihood, and happiness. This is better than a person remaining with a tormented conscience all his life. If the boy remains insistent and you agree to the divorce, then at least he should compensate the girl with an amount suitable to the situation so that a dowry can be arranged for her to marry in a way that secures her future, so her eyes do not remain fixed on him, and she does not always complain and say that this boy is the one who wronged her without cause, as unfortunately it has appeared that the boy does not want the girl to gain anything that would benefit her. For this reason, I have written this letter to you and asked the President of the Lay Council, Khawaja Eliyahu Hakim Tawfiq, to sign with me so that our conscience and the conscience of all your friends remain at ease regarding this case. Our full hope is that this orphaned girl does not remain oppressed, by the care of God and your protection. We want you to be her father and protector and not leave her in the 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 Lay Council | President of the Community
8402 12 September 945 Very Urgent Directorate General of Imported Goods Baghdad Due to our desire to erect a victory arch to welcome the arrival of His Royal Highness the Great Regent to the capital, we request you to order the supply of five lengths of white cloth at the fixed price. In view of the lack of time, we request you to consider our request as very urgent. With our best regards; On behalf of Head of the Community ⟦signature⟧
Chairman of the Management Committee of the Jewish Community Temples in Baghdad Baghdad on To the Honorable Chairman of the Management Committee for Jewish Community Affairs After greetings and respect, we would like to present the following to your Excellency: - Based on your request submitted to us regarding the subject of ⟦illegible⟧ in the building of the school located in the Torah neighborhood, which is currently occupied by the Alliance Private School for Boys, and since this building is very old and in need of radical and comprehensive renovations to be fit for habitation and study, and since the committee decided in its meeting held on ⟦illegible⟧ to carry out the necessary renovations for this building, provided that this is done during the summer vacation so as not to affect the progress of study therein, and since the committee has contacted a number of contractors to submit their bids regarding this matter, the contractor Mr. ⟦illegible⟧ submitted his bid, which includes performing all required works for an amount of ⟦illegible⟧ Dinars, and since the committee found that this bid is the most appropriate and best from a technical and financial standpoint, the committee decided in its meeting held on ⟦illegible⟧ to approve awarding the work to the aforementioned contractor, provided that he starts work immediately and finishes it within a period not exceeding ⟦illegible⟧ days from the start date, and since the committee requested the contractor to provide a bank guarantee to ensure proper execution, the contractor provided bank guarantee number ⟦illegible⟧ issued by ⟦illegible⟧ Bank in the amount of ⟦illegible⟧ Dinars, therefore we request your kind approval to disburse the amount of ⟦illegible⟧ Dinars as a first payment to the contractor so that he can start the work, provided that the remaining amounts are disbursed according to the measurements of completed work certified by the engineer supervising the work, noting that the committee has appointed the engineer Mr. ⟦illegible⟧ to supervise the execution of the work and follow up on the progress of completion according to the required technical specifications, and you will find attached a copy of the bid submitted by the aforementioned contractor. Please accept our highest respect and appreciation. Signature Chairman of the Management Committee of the Jewish Community Temples
8402 12 September 945 Very Urgent ⟦line⟧ Directorate General of Imported Funds Controller of Engineering Materials Due to our desire to erect a victory arch welcoming the arrival of His Royal Highness the Great Regent to the capital. We request you to order the supply of one hundred feet of pine wood at the fixed price according to the attached form. And given the lack of time, we request you to consider this request of ours as very urgent. Sincerely; On behalf of Head of the Community Head of the Community Disbursements
The Iraqi Government Department: Directorate General of Antiquities Office: Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: 5 / 9 / 45 Subject: ⟦line⟧ To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the respected President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad After greetings and respect In view of what we know of your personal interest in the Iraqi Museum's manuscript collection, we hope you will kindly work on adding the following items 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 respect. Sincere ⟦signature⟧ Assistant Director General
8412 13 September 945 Certificate 2716 96 His Excellency the Director of Ancient Antiquities, the Scholar Respected After greetings and respect Reference to your letter numbered 27/9/1279 dated 945/9/5 I am pleased to send with this letter of mine one copy of the organization and one copy of the Mezuzah to be kept in the Iraqi Museum's manuscript collection Please accept the highest respect; On behalf of Head of the Community Miscellaneous
Income Tax Directorate and General Banks Supervision Office /: The Assessor ⟦line⟧ Number /: 2719 Date /: 9 / 5 / 1945 to "- To the Head of the Israelite Community - Mr. Sassoon Khedhouri 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 Assessor Kadhim / A / A
8415 19 September 945 Directorate of Income Tax and Supervision of General Banks Baghdad Reference to your letter No. 3719 dated 16/9/945 The fifty percent of the woolen clothes imported from New York on 25/7/944 had been donated by Messrs. Makmal Brothers - New York for charitable purposes and they were distributed to the poor successively by a committee formed at the time for this purpose. ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community Miscellaneous
8416 20 September 945 His Excellency the Director General of Revenues, Respected After greetings and respect, I have obtained a building permit from the Capital Secretariat dated 5 / 3 / 945 under number 245 for the purpose of reconstructing the shops located in the Jadid Hassan Pasha neighborhood, numbered 17, 19, 21, and 23 anew. Therefore, I request that after completing the renovations, you order an inspection and tax assessment and exempt me from taxes for a full year according to the provisions of Article Seven of the Property Tax Law. May you remain [in peace]; On behalf of The Head of the Community Miscellaneous
September 20, 945 His Excellency Mr. Mustafa al-Umari The Honorable Minister of Interior After offering the purest greetings and sincerest wishes for your health and safety, I present to Your Excellency the bearer of my letter, Mr. Reuben Zilouf, whom I had previously spoken to Your Excellency about before your trip to the North, and you promised me to provide the possible facilities for the travel of Mr. Reuben Munozon and his wife outside Iraq. My entire hope is that you include him in your kind sympathy, and please accept my utmost thanks and great respect. Sincerely, On behalf of Head of the Community Governor ⟦illegible⟧
Baghdad ⟦line⟧ October 2, 1945 Teachers' Association Committee To: The Respected Jewish Schools Committee Greetings, Our committee has decided to undertake a project to transport the male and female students of our schools by buses to transport them back and forth, and we have reached a preliminary agreement with the owners of the two vehicles numbered 2922 and 4247. Since the two mentioned vehicles are of the (lorry bus) type operating on the Bab al-Muadham - Adhamiya route, therefore a permit must be obtained from the Baghdad District Police Directorate authorizing the two mentioned vehicles to transport the male and female students in the morning and at noon from Al-Bataween to Al-Amin Square passing through Ghazi Street. Therefore, please mediate with the mentioned Directorate to obtain the permit, and with much respect. ⟦signature⟧ The President To His Excellency the Head of the Community to kindly provide assistance in obtaining the required permit 8 / 10 / 945 Doctor ⟦illegible⟧ Kanji Miscellaneous
⟦illegible⟧ Number ⟦illegible⟧ Date ⟦illegible⟧ Subject ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦signature⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ from the account of ⟦illegible⟧ 1938/10/⟦illegible⟧ ⟦circular stamp - illegible⟧
8 / 10 / 945 His Excellency Mr. Abdul Majid Allawi The Honorable Minister of Social Affairs After greetings and respect, Dr. Hazim Al-Abed, the health doctor in Hilla, wishes to travel to England for specialization. Naturally, this desire of his cannot be realized unless he receives your Excellency's sympathy and support. As I know for a certainty that the specialization of Dr. Hazim is of benefit to the country, I did not hesitate to petition your Excellency to provide assistance to the aforementioned person. I am certain that Dr. Hazim will receive what he deserves from your Excellency's generosity and chivalry. Please accept, your Excellency, the assurance of my respect ⟦illegible⟧ Sincerely, Sassoon Head of the Community Achievements
⟦illegible stamp⟧ I, Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, undertake to use all construction materials in the building or 527/107 The structure ⟦illegible⟧ and sequence 27/197 located in the Hanoud al-Saghir neighborhood and the ⟦illegible⟧ according to the building permit numbered ⟦illegible⟧ And dated 25 / 4 / 1945 issued by the Secretariat of the Capital or the Municipality in this building within a period of eight months from the issuance of the purchase permit issued by the Directorate of General Engineering Supplies numbered And dated / / 1945 and in the event of my failure to use these same construction materials other than the building bricks mentioned above, I shall be obligated to pay a cash amount of (1000) Dinars and to return all the mentioned construction materials under discussion to the Directorate of General Engineering Supplies directly - without recourse to the courts or prior notice, and I have no right to claim any compensation of any kind or degree in this regard. Stamp category 100 Fils Al-Mas /
8421 19 / 10 / 945 Directorate of General Engineering Materials Baghdad Mr. Salman Ezra Shahrabani is the head of the management committee of the Shukr Synagogue located in the Hanoun al-Saghir neighborhood, numbered 37 / 147, and he is authorized to sign all transactions related to it. Please consider his signature on the attached guarantee provided by you. ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community Deceased
8594 26 June 945 N L ⟦illegible⟧ 16 His Excellency the Respected Minister of Interior After greetings and respect I submit herewith to ⟦illegible⟧ you the petition of Mr. Ezekiel Yaqub Murad, the lawyer and his colleagues requesting the establishment of a charitable association named (Association for Assisting Poor Jewish Girls for Marriage) along with the internal bylaws of the association. I wish to assure Your Excellency that this association, if its formation is met with the approval of Your Excellency, will be able to provide charitable social services that we are in dire need of. Therefore, I request Your Excellency to include this request in your kindness and order the provision of all possible facilities in this matter. With thanks to Your Excellency in advance and further respect. ⟦signature⟧ Sassoon Head of the Community
1442 24 / 10 / 945 To the Respected Manager of Habib Nathaniel Company Baghdad After greetings and respect This Presidency wishes to export ⟦six⟧ Torah scrolls with their accessories placed in one box to the Chief Rabbi Habib Nahum in Cairo according to the attached customs declaration. So I ask you to kindly transport them by car to Haifa and from Haifa to Cairo by train and deliver the customs declaration to the aforementioned Chief Rabbi without demanding any expenses from him. I also ask you to record the resulting fees and expenses against us so that we may pay them to you upon completion of the transaction. With best regards; Sassoon Head of the Community Foreign Affairs