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.
I, the undersigned doctor: ⟦line⟧ I have received the injured person and the materials sent with him according to the details above: Date and time: ⟦line⟧ Note :- The doctor is requested to return the signed copy Doctor's signature ⟦line⟧ Signature Police station investigator
Bail Bond I: Munshi Yusuf Residing in the neighborhood of: ⟦illegible⟧ In the house numbered: ⟦illegible⟧ Occupation: I attended the Shorja Police Station and pledged to appear at the station or the Criminal Court of: Baghdad To answer the charge against me according to Article: If I violate this, I shall be subject to legal punishment and pay a fine of: Fifty Dinars to the government treasury. Date: 7 / ⟦illegible⟧ / 44 Signature of the Accused ⟦illegible handwriting⟧ I: ⟦illegible⟧ Residing in the neighborhood of: Fathallah In the house numbered: 24 / 9 Occupation: ⟦illegible⟧ I attended the Shorja Police Station and declared myself a guarantor for the person named above to appear at the police station or the Criminal Court of: Baghdad To answer the charge against him, and if I violate this or neglect to bring him when requested to do so, I shall be obligated to pay the bail amount of: Fifty Dinars to the government treasury. Date: 7 / ⟦illegible⟧ / 44 Signature of the Guarantor ⟦illegible handwriting⟧
Bail Bond I: ⟦illegible⟧ Residing in the neighborhood of: ⟦illegible⟧ In the house numbered: Occupation: I attended the Shorja Police Station and pledged to appear at the station or the Criminal Court: To answer the charge against me according to Article: If I violate this, I shall be subject to legal punishment and pay a fine of: Dinars to the government treasury. Date: ⟦illegible⟧ Signature of the Accused: I: ⟦illegible⟧ Residing in the neighborhood of: Faraj Allah In the house numbered: Occupation: I attended the Shorja Police Station and declared myself a guarantor for the person named above to appear at the police station or the Criminal Court: Baghdad To answer the charge against him, and if I violate this or neglect to bring him when requested, I shall be obligated to pay the bail amount of: Dinars to the government treasury. Date: Signature of the Guarantor:
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13 September 944 His Excellency the Director of Central Telephones, Respected After greetings and respect, We are in urgent need of installing the telephone of the Head of the Community, number 3531, on four (jacks) with one plug, and the secretary's telephone 5452 on (two jacks) and one plug. We request you to instruct their installation to facilitate our work, and to your Excellency further respect. ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community
Iraqi Government Department: Number: Office: Date: Subject: ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
792. 12 September 944 His Excellency the Deputy Mayor of the Capital, respected After greetings and respect We request you to grant permission to hold an evening party (Ball) at the Laura Khedouri Club on Thursday evening, October 5, 944. 75% of its proceeds will be allocated for orphans and 25% for the Nursing Mothers Relief Society, provided that the price of a single ticket is one dinar per person and the number of tickets is five hundred. With the request to kindly exempt this charitable party from the stamp duty. Please accept our respect. Sawa Head of the Community ⟦illegible stamp⟧
6 September 944 Land Registry Directorate of Baghdad Province We request you to provide us with a copy of the property record with sequence 326 and property number 26/326 located in the Al-Kulat neighborhood belonging to the Jewish Cemetery. Respectfully, ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community
792 15 September 944 Ministry of Supply General Directorate of Imported Goods Textiles Division - Baghdad Greetings In your letter No. 6985 dated 25 / 6 / 944, you stipulated that the distribution of donated used clothing for the poor be carried out under the supervision of your directorate. Since the specialized committee is about to carry out the distribution (after the restrictions that were placed on the <del>sale</del> distribution of used clothing were lifted), please inform us whether you will be sending someone to supervise the distribution. If so, please appoint your representative and inform us. Respectfully, ⟦signature⟧ On behalf of the Head of the Community
Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad Telephone No.: 3531 President / 5452 Secretary Number: 7919 Subject: ⟦line⟧ Date: 12 September 944 Honorable members of the Iraqi Israelite community in Tehran Respected ones, After greetings and respect, The Presidency of the Community will hold a large charity bazaar on October 4th for the benefit of the orphans of the 1941 events. Gifts and goods provided by generous people will be sold in this bazaar, and donations will be collected from benefactors who sympathize with these poor souls whom fate has deprived of every helper except (The Orphan Relief Committee) established by the Presidency of the Community to handle their livelihood and upbringing. In view of what we know of your noble persons regarding zeal for your community and passion for charitable projects, we have seen fit on this occasion to request the assistance of all of you. We have assigned on our behalf the zealous young man, Mr. Niazi Shamoon, to receive your gifts and donations. May God bless you and keep you as a treasure and a help. Please accept our respect. Sincerely, ⟦signature⟧ President of the Community A copy of it to each of the honorable gentlemen: Khedhouri Joshua Shamoon Gurji Masri
October 1, 1944 The honorable and virtuous Professor Mr. Nazim al-Chalabi, respected The honorable and virtuous Professor Mr. Abdul Razzaq Dabbagh, respected After greetings and respect. A charitable market will be held on the fourth day of this month at the Al-Rashid Club for the benefit of orphans, which will continue from morning until nine o'clock in the evening. A group of virtuous doctors have donated by organizing a health room in the market for the benefit of the public. In view of what you are known for in terms of chivalry and magnanimity, those organizing this room have requested that I ask you to kindly present some chemical curiosities in this section of the market for those among the attendees who wish to see them at any time of that day that is most suitable for you. If I thank you in advance and wish you success. Sincerely, ⟦illegible⟧ The Secretary
25 September 944 Land Registry Directorate of Baghdad Province Please provide us with two copies of the two maps of the cemetery with sequence 275 located in the Al-Kulat neighborhood and sequence 321 in the Bani Said neighborhood. With respect; ⟦signature⟧ Head of the Community
The Architect Youssef Mir Baghdad September 15, 944 His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community respected Baghdad Farha Somikh Synagogue Upon inspecting the aforementioned Torahs, I found that the papers pasted on the arches have not torn yet, which indicates the cessation of the earth movement. Therefore, I see no objection to occupying the Torahs throughout the upcoming holidays only, provided that their use by worshipers is strictly prohibited after they end until the necessary repairs are completed to maintain the building. In both cases, the main halls in the front facade or the roofs may not be used. Please accept the utmost respect Architect Youssef Mir
September 21, 944 His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah, Leader of the Muslims, Sayyid Abu al-Hasan al-Isfahani, may his shadow endure. After offering signs of reverence and respect to your eminence and inquiring about your precious health, which we pray to the Creator, Glory be to Him, to be at its very best. We hope Your Eminence will be so kind as to accept our sincere heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the blessed and happy Eid al-Fitr. May God return it to you and to your flock of our fellow Muslims with abundant goodness, and may peace flutter its wings over the world. Amen. I am, Your Eminence Ayatollah <del>the scholar, the learned</del>, in the greatest longing to be blessed by your radiant presence, may the Creator grant me success in beholding it in the near future. Please accept my sincerest wishes. From the loyal Head of the community ⟦red scribble⟧
September 21, 944 His Eminence Ayatollah al-Uzma, Leader of the Muslims, Sayyid Abu al-Hasan al-Isfahani, may his shadow endure, After offering signs of reverence and respect to your Eminence and inquiring about your health, which we pray to the Creator, Exalted be His Majesty, to be as perfect as desired. We hope your Eminence will be so kind as to accept our sincere heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the blessed and happy Eid al-Fitr. May God return it to you and to your subjects among our Muslim brothers with abundant goodness and peace fluttering its wings over the world, Amen. I am, Your Eminence Ayatollah, in the greatest longing to seek blessings from your radiant presence, perhaps the Creator will grant me success in beholding it in the very near future; And please accept my sincerest wishes. From the sincere ⟦Sassoon⟧ Head of the Community
Anti-Tuberculosis Association in Iraq General Center Baghdad Number: 5/472 Date: 13/8/44 For filing To His Eminence Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, Respectfully Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Greetings. We were very moved to receive your Eminence's letter dated 8/8/1944 and we are pleased to inform you of our receipt of the amount of 25.000 Dinars which you donated to contribute to achieving the goals of the Anti-Tuberculosis Association in Iraq. We cannot but offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to you for this generous gesture. The Anti-Tuberculosis Association has so far received the support of the righteous sons of the people like you, who truly appreciate charitable and humanitarian projects. Given what we know of your strong inclination to support and encourage such charitable projects, we appeal to your generosity and hope for your assistance in collecting donations from the wealthy among your acquaintances and members of your community in support of the association, which aims to serve all the sons of this homeland. We are confident that your efforts in this regard will be highly fruitful. Please accept, Your Eminence, the assurances of our highest respect. ⟦signature⟧ President of the Administrative Board of the Anti-Tuberculosis Association in Iraq.