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.
8618 Shroud Fabric 1 February 946 Directorate General of Imported Goods Reference to your letter numbered 2752 and dated 1/29/946 In view of the association's urgent need, please supply it with wide white Sehamayon or white raw fabric or any other available type due to its urgent need for that to cover matters at the present time. ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the Head of the Community Preserved 1/10
Telegram 1 Number ⟦line⟧ Outgoing Inland Telegram Inland Telegram "A" Telegram ⟦line⟧ Sent to ⟦line⟧ Time Hour Minute Issuing Office Signature of Sending Clerk Date Word Count Fee Post and Telegraph Administration Mosul Nothing to be written by sender above this line.: Nothing to be written by sender above this line.: To :: His Excellency Mr. Mustafa Al-Umari, Respected To.: Mosul Baghdad Your misfortune in the loss of the dear deceased pained me greatly and shook my heart. I offer my sincere condolences to Your Excellency, praying to the Creator to cover the deceased with His full mercy and pleasure. Rabbi Sassoon Khadduri Head of the Israelite Community Name Name: Signature Signature: Address Address: The sender of the telegram must observe paragraph three written on the back of this form. This telegram is sent according to conditions on reverse. Not to be telegraphed Najaf 1/10
8527 9 December 945 His Excellency Mr. Abdul Hamid Rifaat, Director General of the Interior, Respected My dear Abdul Hamid Bey A group of zealous individuals submitted a request to the venerable Ministry of Interior to obtain permission to form an association under the name (Jewish Charitable Orphans Association) The gentlemen requesting the establishment of this association have proceeded to realize this venerable charitable project under the guidance and support of the responsible bodies in the community which entrusted them with the matter of caring for male and female orphans, and they accepted with goodwill this sacrifice which requires much effort and time. Many orphans look with broken eyes to what this association will do to rescue them from the loneliness into which fate has cast them, and knowing that Your Excellency carry within you mercy for these weak ones and a tendency to encourage those working to aid them, I saw fit to write this letter to Your Excellency and to recommend well this association which deserves to receive your kind sympathy so that you may kindly order the implementation of all possible facilities in the process of granting permission for its formation. Please accept, Your Excellency, the utmost thanks and great respect from the sincere S. R. E. Khazam Head of the Community For auditing ⟦illegible⟧
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 occur to the telegram in its non-transmission or non-delivery, during sending 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 under which he wishes to send the telegram, such as urgent, 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 written. 4 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration has the right to refuse to register the telegram, and it also has the right not to send it even if it has been registered for sending or distribution. In this case, its fee shall be returned to the sender upon his submission of a request for that. 5 - Requests related to the recovery of fees and all complaints about telegrams are submitted to the General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs in Baghdad. 6 - To prevent errors, this telegram should be written carefully and clearly. 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. ⟦line⟧
11 February 946 The African Eastern Company (Near East) Limited Baghdad After greetings and respect, Please be so kind as to supply us with a suitable quantity of the cigarettes available with you, given our urgent need for them, as we consume large quantities of them during the meetings of the various sectarian councils and committees. For this, we offer you much thanks. ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 11/2
Number: ⟦illegible⟧ Date: 1/1/1946 Mutasarrifate of Baghdad Province Properties Directorate of Land Registry of the Province Subject / Granting ownership of a plot of land to the Jewish Community ⟦line⟧ We reiterate our letter No. 17526 dated 11/6/1945 and request a response to it as quickly as possible. Mutasarrif of Baghdad Province A copy of it to:- Ministry of Finance, with reference to its letter No. 11885 dated 12/25/945 For information ⟦line⟧ Head of the Jewish Community, to follow up with the Land Registry Department of Baghdad Province to complete the subdivision transaction.
8695 17 February 946 General Directorate of Local Products Baghdad Please instruct the delivery of the soap quantity for the month of February allocated to the employees of the Jewish community, numbering 399 three hundred and ninety-nine, to the named Salman Shaul, employed in this department. ⟦signature⟧ 2/17 Head of the Community
8592 17 January 946 22 Directorate General of Local Products Baghdad Please instruct the delivery of the soap quantity for the month of January allocated to the employees of the Jewish community, numbering 399 three hundred and ninety-nine to the individual Salman Shaul, employed in this department. ⟦signature⟧ 1/14 Head of the Community
8549 23 December 945 Directorate of General Local Openings Baghdad Please instruct the delivery of the soap quantity for the month of December allocated to the employees of the Jewish community, numbering 399 (three hundred and ninety-nine), to the individual named Salman Shaul, employed in this department. This number has increased by ten persons since last month due to the appointment of new employees in the schools. ⟦signature⟧ 12/21 On behalf of the Head of the Community ⟦illegible⟧ 12/22
Outgoing Inland Telegram Inland Telegram "A" No. 2 Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration Number: Sent to: Hour: Minute: Signature of sending official: Word count: Fee: Administrative instructions: Nothing to be written by sender above this line. Nothing to be written by sender above this line. To: His Eminence Hujjat al-Islam / Abu al-Hasan al-Isfahani In: Karbala Your loss in the passing of your late brother pained me greatly and grieved my heart. I offer my sincere condolences to your Eminence, praying to the Almighty Creator to cover the dear departed with His mercy and pleasure. Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Head of the Israelite Community Name: Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Signature: Sassoon Address: Head of the Israelite Community - Baghdad The sender of the telegram must observe paragraph three written on the back of this form.
Summary of the conditions under which internal telegrams are accepted 1 - This telegram is sent in accordance with the internal 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 occur to the telegram due to non-transmission, non-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 under which he wishes to send the telegram, such as Urgent, or that the fee for its reply is prepaid. If the telegram is in the interest of the Iraqi government, the word (Official) is written. 4 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration has the right to refuse to register the telegram, and it also has the right not to send it even if it has been registered for transmission or distribution, and in this case its fee is returned to the sender upon his submission of a request for that. 5 - Requests related to the recovery of fees and all complaints about telegrams are submitted to the General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs in Baghdad. 6 - To prevent errors, this telegram should be written carefully and clearly. 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⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
The Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Head of the Jewish Community Baghdad I raise to your high status and spiritual fatherhood the sincerest greetings and best wishes. Furthermore, the bearer of my letter to you is among the best youths I know, and he is distinguished, along with his refined manners, by his mastery of the work he performs and his ability to fulfill his duty. He wishes to transfer from the department of (Directorate of Municipalities) to the General Directorate of Post and Telegraph. Since your obeyed command and your represented indication to His Excellency Selim Bey Fawzi, Inspector of General Post and Telegraph, would fulfill the hopes of this active young man and secure the future of his large family, it is hoped that he be assisted as required by your status of fatherhood. In closing, please accept my highest respect. Director of the Religious Scientific School and Secretary of Fatwa in Balad District ⟦signature⟧ 24 Safar 1365 Muhammad ⟦illegible⟧ 2/19
⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ / 2 / 9 The Honorable Judge of the Sunni Sharia Court " " Ja'fari " His Beatitude the Patriarch of the Chaldean Community, Respectfully His Eminence the Head of the Jewish Community " His Eminence the Bishop of the Syriac Catholics " " " " Orthodox " " " Armenian Orthodox " Subject / Nomination of half the members of the Baghdad Liwa Administrative Council Due to the expiration of the term of half the members of the Baghdad Liwa Administrative Council, we request your presence at the office of this Mutasarrifate at 11:00 AM on Monday, 25 / 2 / 46 for the purpose of electing the necessary members in accordance with the provisions of Article (47) of the Liwa Administration Law No. 16 of the year 1945. ⟦signature⟧ Governor of Baghdad Liwa A copy to: Directorate of Revenues of Baghdad Liwa Director of Land Registry of Baghdad Liwa ⟦line⟧ for the same purpose Director of Correspondence of Baghdad Liwa The Mukhtar
To the honor and benefit of the dear, righteous congregations of ⟦illegible⟧ In all, and including the President, head of the community in ⟦illegible⟧ To ⟦illegible⟧ our teacher and rabbi, may his light shine, the Rabbi Hacham Shimon Khadouri, may the people desire your life, in all the world recognized and known To your holy honor, and pleasantness, we are Israelites today in the city of Baghdad, and this year there was war from Arabs and from Kurds and ⟦illegible⟧ From this side and from that side, armies of Kurds and of Arabs, and they called against us like ⟦illegible⟧ people, and they looted and plundered us and our synagogue And not a holy Torah scroll remained with us, nor Tefillin, nor a Mezuzah on the door. And we, for several months the world has been quiet, and we gathered to our city to the place And furthermore, light of our eyes, holy priest, act for the sake of God, have mercy on us regarding a Torah scroll, if you have mercy on us, and for Tefillin and a prayer book, and a Hacham for us to preach to us on the Sabbath and festivals and Tefillin and Mezuzot, all of which you shall take ⟦illegible⟧ it is written ⟦illegible⟧ do not withhold good from its owners, do not ⟦illegible⟧ Torah, and also we are about thirty houses, we remained without Tefillin and a scroll and a dwelling ⟦illegible⟧ Do not withhold kindness from donors, this is a great mitzvah to raise from the seat of poverty to be firm, and may the community always come in good life, Amen. Yosef Yehezkel Sabriel | Nissan Ephraim | The youth Ma'tuq ⟦illegible⟧ Nero | Ma'tuq | Yitzhak | Makas Malukh Ma'tuq | Yitzhak | Qahuh Avraham | Abdel | Kohen Binyamin Rahamim | Mash'aman | Kohen Avraham | Sasson Bekhor Shakhuri Binyamin Yitzhak | Eliyahu David Ezra | Menashe Rehov Avraham | Ezer | Ezra | Na'ama Barzani | Mordechai | Navi Yaakov Daniel | Ma'tuq Yamin | Avraham | Yair Hanania | Ezra Yitzhak | Hezek Yair | David | Rahamim | Eliyahu Barzani | Barzani
Appeal ⟦illegible⟧ We appeal to the mercy of all those with living consciences to assist the Ozri Society. I direct this appeal of mine to all the honorable members of our community, hoping that they will extend a helping hand to Dalim on the occasion of Passover to provide unleavened bread and other necessities for the poor. The high prices and the increase in poverty make the society's mission in these difficult circumstances more arduous than it was in past years; it is therefore waiting for the resolve of the honorable members of the community, their assistance, and their zeal to complete this great charitable project. That
An Appeal I direct my appeal to all those with living consciences to assist the Ozri Dalim Association on the occasion of Passover to provide unleavened bread and rice for the poor. The high prices and the increase in poverty make the association's mission in these difficult circumstances harder than it was in past years, and it therefore awaits the determination of the noble members of the community, their assistance, and their zeal to complete this great charitable project. The amounts we need this year are estimated at three times what was spent last year, and our hope is firm that the generous public appreciates the association's efforts and supports it, and God is the granter of success. Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri Head of the Jewish Community Baghdad, March 10, 1943 Note We request the honorable donors to send their donations to one of the gentlemen listed whose names are below. Isaac Goury | Salman Ezra Shahrabani | Ibrahim Shashoua Elias Akairib | Yamin Aslan | Yusuf Heskel | Yusuf Yehuda Nissan ⟦line⟧
244 Telegram 9 Incoming Internal Telegram Department Stamp ⟦illegible⟧ Number: 4 Telegram Type: Time of registration: 1840 Arrived at hour: 19 Minute: 40 From: 159 Received by: Mansour Word count: 20 Administrative instructions: Date: 15 Issuing Department: Basra To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish Community, Baghdad We thank you and the Jewish community as we share your feelings regarding our painful loss and affliction of our dear departed May God keep him seated and protect you from all harm The Al-Ani Family
ELIAS DABBY ARCHITECT 17 SHAMMASH BUILDING RASHID ST., BAGHDAD. Elias Dabby Architect Shammash Building No. 17 Al-Rashid Street Baghdad Telephone 7719 Residence 4522 Baghdad, ⟦line⟧ Baghdad (Iraq) The Honorable Secretary of the Presidency of the Jewish Community - Baghdad - I kindly request the typing and signing of the letter listed below by the Presidency of the Jewish Community and its submission to the Directorate of Baghdad Land Registry (Tabu), after obtaining the approval of the Western Side of the Jewish Cemeteries Committee, Mr. Yusuf ⟦illegible⟧ With thanks and respect :- Note: Please send a copy of the letter to the address mentioned above or contact me by telephone to follow up on the case. Architect Elias Dabby ⟦signature⟧ His Excellency the Honorable Director of Baghdad Land Registry (Tabu) Greetings, Please kindly delegate an engineer to fix the boundaries of the Jewish Cemetery With ⟦illegible⟧ 726 129 President of the Jewish Community
26 February 946 His Excellency the Director of Land Registry of Baghdad Province, Respected After greetings, I request you to kindly send an engineer to fix the boundaries of the Israeli Cemetery, sequence 326 - 142, Al-Kulat quarter. With much thanks and highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ 2/26 On behalf of Head of the Community To be sent with the servant to the engineer Mr. Elias ⟦Dabbi⟧ with the extra copy, please. ⟦signature⟧ 2/28
20 February 946 His Excellency the Director General of Imported Funds, Respected Baghdad After greetings and respect You will find enclosed the original letter received by me from the Dorshei Torah Society regarding a request to provide them with forty yards of wide satin to clothe ten poor students. This religious society's goal is to raise spiritual men from the poor class and in view of my knowledge of the kindness Your Excellency holds for these poor people, I saw fit to implore you to fulfill this request Please accept, Your Excellency, my utmost thanks in advance. Sassoon Head of the Community ⟦illegible signature⟧ 2/20
Capital Secretariat Number ⟦line⟧ Administration ⟦line⟧ Date March 946 Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Subject - Ball Party Account Please return the unspent tickets along with a list of revenues and expenses regarding the ball party held by you at the Al-Rafidain Club on the evening of 26 / 2 / 946 according to our statement No. 30 dated 5 / 2 / 946 for the purpose of auditing the account and publishing the result in the Official Gazette, and to confirm to us that the amounts collected have been deposited in the bank, stating the name of the bank and the date of deposit. ⟦signature⟧ Mayor of the Capital Presidency of the Jewish Community 217 7 / 2 / 1946 A. R. 4 / 5 / 38
Menashy Saleh School - Baghdad Established in 1935 Telephone Number 5583 Number: 221 Date: 12 / 1 / 46 Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Incoming Number 117 Date 12 / 1 / 46 Subject ⟦line⟧ Request His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, Respectfully After greetings I request mediation with the Directorate of General Engineering Supplies to supply us with ⟦line⟧ iron beams of type (4 x 8) length 16 feet 260 kilos to install them under the ceiling of the sixth grade classroom which is slanting, in order to remove the danger according to the report of the engineer Mr. Abdul Nabi Shamoon Gabbay dated 4 / 1 / 46, as you will find enclosed the necessary forms after filling them out With respect Menashy Saleh School - Baghdad Menashe Saleh - Baghdad 1935 MENASHY SALEH SCHOOL BAGHDAD ⟦signature⟧
858 14 January 946 Directorate of General Engineering Supplies Baghdad The Director of Manshi Saleh Primary School for Boys has requested from your esteemed directorate to supply the mentioned school with two (2) iron beams of type (4 x 8) length 16 feet, weight 262 kilos, to be installed under the ceiling of the sixth grade classroom which is leaning, to remove the danger threatening the building, according to the attached form herewith. Please fulfill the request due to urgent necessity. With thanks to you. ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community
Menashe Salih School - Baghdad: Established in 1935: Telephone Number 5583: Number: 252 Date: 28 / 7 / 1946 Subject: Request to provide us with five hundred kilos of cement His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, the Respected After greetings and respect Please mediate with the Directorate of Engineering Supplies to provide us with five hundred kilos of cement For the purpose of building a wall under the ceiling of the sixth grade Because the building is prone to collapse, according to the advice of The engineer Mr. Abdul Nabi Shamoon to remove the danger With respect Menashe Salih School MENASHE SALIH SCHOOL The Director Baghdad ⟦signature⟧
8599 28 January 946 General Directorate of Engineering Supplies Baghdad Further to our letter No. 8580 dated 14 January 946 The Director of Menashi Saleh Primary School for Boys has requested mediation with your esteemed Directorate to supply the aforementioned school with five hundred kilos of cement for the purpose of building a wall under the ceiling of the sixth grade because the building is prone to collapse as per the recommendation of the engineer, Mr. Abdul Nabi Shamoun, to remove the danger threatening the building according to the attached form Please fulfill the request due to the urgent necessity, and thank you. ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community Attachments: Form ⟦illegible stamp⟧