AI en Translation, Pages 126-150
Page 126
⟦illegible⟧
DUPLICATE RECEIPT.
Received, with thanks, from Messrs. K.J.Ellis &
E.J.Ellis, of Singapore, Trustees of Abdullah Saleh
Shooker Trust Fund, the sum of I.D. 745/024 ( Iraqi
Dinars SEVENHUNDRED FOURTY FIVE and Fils TWENTY FOUR
only ) being the counterpart of $ 6371.70, accumulated
amount against the said Fund, up to the end of December,
1949, Vide D/Draft on the Eastern Bank, Ltd, Baghdad, in
my favour, enclosed to the Trustees'letter dated 10th,
August, 1950.
⟦Ihattore⟧
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL, BAGHDAD.
President.
⟦signature⟧
12 th November, 1950.
f
Page 127
No: 606 /50
Baghdad 13/11/1950
Messrs K.J.Ellis & E.J.Ellis,
1.Oxley Road,
Singapore,9.
The Flora Shooker & Abdullah
Saleh Shooker Trust Fund.
Dear Sirs,
Further to our letter of the 31st October, and in compliance
with your wishes conveyed in your letter of the 27th October addressed
to Mr. Huim Eliahou Tawfick, we have pleasure in enclosing herewith two
separate duplicate Receipts, duly sighned by us, as per details below:-
Receipt for $ 8,782.69-Flora Shooker Trust Fund.
Receipt for $ 6,371.70-Abdullah Saleh Shooker Trust Fund.
The counterpart of the above two amounts, amounting to
I.D. 1771-958, has been duly collcted by us, against D/Draft, in our
favour, on the Eastern Bank, Ltd, Baghdad, and equally distributed by
us to the following three institutions, their respective receipts, made
in Iraqi Dinars only, have already been forwarded to you under cover of
our letter referred to above:-
President, Jewish Hospitals Committee Baghdad....... I.D.590-653
President, Jewish Schools Committee ( Account
Midrash Talmud Torah ) Baghdad........... I.D.590-653
President, Jewish Orphanage ( Charitable
Institution, ) Baghdad................... I.D.590-652
⟦line⟧
I.D.1771-958
We trust you will find the enclosed receipts in order, and shall
be obliged to you if you will send us back the original receipts.
Again thanking you for the trouble,
⟦illegible⟧
13/11
Yours faithfully,
⟦signature⟧
PRESIDENT.
Enclosures:- Two Receipts.
f/
Page 128
K. J. ELLIS.
GENERAL MERCHANT
AND
COMMISSION AGENT.
TEL. ADDRESS:-
"ELITE"
TEL. No. 83756
1, OXLEY ROAD,
SINGAPORE,
30th November, 1950.
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad
Number C / ⟦504⟧ / 50
Date ⟦12 / 12⟧ / 50
File Number ⟦...⟧
The President,
Jewish Lay Council,
152/113 Kambar Ali Street,
Baghdad.
Dear Sir,
The Flora Shooker and Abdullah Saleh
Shooker Trust Fund.
⟦line⟧
I am in receipt of your letter No.606/50 dated the
13th instant and contents of which has been duly noted.
I thank you for your 2 receipts in respect of the
two amounts of the above trust fund which has been distributed
by you in three equal shares to the Jewish Hospitals, the Midrash
Talmud Torah and the Orphanage Charitable Institution.
As requested, I enclose herewith the 3 respective
receipts which you have posted to me previously.
Thanking you again for the trouble and wishing you
well for the charitable work you are doing.
Yours faithfully,
⟦signature⟧
Trustee.
I have reviewed
⟦signature⟧
12/12
To be filed / and a telegram of thanks
Page 130
A
British
Manufacture
Estate of Raphael Haroun Kabbay
Page 131
✓
⟦Embossed seal of the British Consulate⟧
No. 5/13.
British Consulate,
Bagdad.
May 29, 1937.
Sir,
With reference to your letter No. 3057 of May 25,
regarding the late Raphael Aaron Gubbay's bequest of
£80,000 for the benefit of various charitable
institutions, I have communicated with the Government
of Bengal about the matter, asking them to inform
the Official Trustee, Bengal, of your requirements
and intentions.
2. I shall not fail to inform you of the result of
my enquiry, and will grant, in due course an inter-
view to Messrs. Khedouri Chouker and M. Ittah if it
appears from the reply of the Official Trustee,
Bengal, to be desirable.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
For the file
⟦illegible signature⟧
ACTING CONSUL.
THE PRESIDENT,
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL,
B A G D A D.
W/R
Page 132
The Lay Council of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone Number 531
⟦line⟧
JEWISH LAY COUNCIL
BAGHDAD
TELEPHONE NO. 531
⟦line⟧
Number:
Date:
Subject Summary: ⟦305⟧
Baghdad 25th May, 1937
To
The British Consul,
Baghdad.
Sir,
I would like to draw your attention to certain facts
concerning the late Raphael Aaron Gubbay of Hong Kong, who
has left £80,000 to be distributed among charitable institu-
tions in Calcutta, Baghdad, Jerusalem and England. Distribution
is at the sole discretion of the Official Trustee, Bengal, No.1
Council Street, Calcutta. I should be grateful to you if you
could make inquiries concerning this legacy, and get if possible
a copy of the Will.
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Jewish Lay
Council of Baghdad, whose intention it is to make an applica-
tion for the Baghdad share of the legacy. The Jewish Lay
Council is an elected body, fully representative of the Jews
of Baghdad in order to administer the schools, hospitals and
other charitable institutions of the Community. We are willing
to perpetuate the memory of the deceased by naming one of our
institution after him. Perhaps you would be so kind as to
grant an interview to Mr. Khdouri Chouker and Mr. M. Ittah, who
could give you any information concerning the activities of
the Jewish Lay Council.
Yours faithfully,
⟦illegible signature⟧
President,
Jewish Lay Council,Baghdad.
Page 133
✓
⟦embossed seal⟧
-2-
the Jewish Lay Council is entitled to a share in the
legacy, on the grounds of its administration of the
Jewish community's schools, hospitals, and charitable
institutions.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
^
⟦C Monboline⟧
Acting Consul.
Page 134
No.5/13. British Consulate,
Bagdad.
August 13, 1937.
Sir,
With reference to your letter No.3057 of May 25,
1937, regarding the estate of the late Raphael Aaron
Gubbay of Hong Kong, I have to inform you that the
Will of the deceased, after providing for a life
interest in the late Raphael Aaron Gubbay's residuary
estate to his son, Aaron Raphael Gubbay, gives the
capital of the residue to his (Aaron Raphael Gubbay's)
children in equal shares. After these provisions the
Will concludes with the following proviso:-
"Provided that if my said son should predecease
"me or die without issue then to pay the said
"capital in four equal parts to such Jewish
"Charitable Institutions in Calcutta, Bagdad,
"England and Jerusalem, respectively as my
"Trustees may approve of".
2. The Official Trustee, Bengal, is the present
Trustee of the Trusts under the Will of the late
Raphael Aaron Gubbay and the responsibility for
selecting the Jewish Charitable Institutions in
Calcutta, Bagdad, England and Jerusalem, to benefit
under that proviso, rests with him. He will be glad
<del>to</del> have any suggestions which the President of the
Jewish Lay Council of Bagdad can make which will assist
him in arriving at a decision as to the particular
Jewish Charitable Institutions and Organizations which
are deserving and which should be included amongst
these to benefit under this bequest.
3. I advise you therefore to communicate direct with
the Official Trustee, Bengal, and to satisfy him that
The President,
Jewish Lay Council,
Bagdad.
the
Page 135
With God's help ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
To the honor of the distinguished and exalted Minister ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ may his light shine ⟦...⟧
After inquiring after his high welfare as is fitting for him. I am hereby informing
his Excellency that I received his letter from the day of ⟦...⟧
And regarding the matter of ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
And behold, regarding the matter of ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Which his Excellency wrote to me that ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
The young ⟦...⟧
Page 136
With God's help, Friday, Rosh Chodesh Adar 5685
To our dear friend, the honorable Rabbi Yosef Sasson, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him
Greetings,
We have pleasantly received your dear letter from yesterday and understood its contents
And behold, regarding what your honor wrote about
the sage Yechezkel ⟦...⟧ may his lamp burn brightly
in all this we did not know what to write to your honor
except for ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ that we wrote to him in our previous letter
for we have no power ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
to pay him any sum ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
since we have no money from the aforementioned estate
and therefore ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ your honor ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
The young one
Aharon Sasson
Page 137
No. 24/1/6.
⟦stamp⟧
British Consulate,
Baghdad.
January 21, 1938.
Sir,
I have to acknowledge, with thanks, the
receipt of your letter No. 3109 of the 12th January,
covering a copy of your letter No. 3108 of the same
date to the Official Trustee, Bengal, regarding
the distribution of the Raphael Aaron Gubbay
bequest.
2. I should be grateful if you would inform me
in due course of the terms of the Official
Trustee's reply.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
⟦L. B. Grafftey-Smith⟧
H. M. CONSUL.
The President,
The Jewish Lay Council,
Baghdad.
Page 138
5 - If the First Party refuses to complete the inspection procedures ⟦...⟧ when invited by the Second Party to do so
then, as well as if it appears that the sold property is less than the area specified in the first clause
and the Second Party terminates entirely for this reason, then ⟦likewise⟧ he shall be obligated to pay to
the Second Party, without any warning, notice, or any other official formality, damages in the amount of
fifteen thousand English pounds. However, if the Second Party refuses to carry out the inspection
or perform other ceremonies to complete the sale, he shall be obligated to pay to the First
Party damages in the amount of fifteen thousand English pounds, without any warning,
notice, or any other official formality.
Page 139
3
no vested capital or other form of stable revenue.
Its revenue is practically & solely derived from
a tax <del>of</del> on meat and is liable to considerable
fluctuation. At the same time it does not keep
pace with the growing burden of the expenses.
It may therefore be said that compared with
such communities as those of Jerusalem or
England or India this community stands
in a far greater need of help.
<del>The help to</del>
<del>If a share of the bequest may</del>
I shall be much obliged if you will
kindly let me know what is the situation
in connection with the bequest and what
form you consider best suited to give effect
to the will. I trust that the brief data
placed before you in this letter and the
attached report will enable you to <del>f</del>
form an opinion in this behalf and that
in doing so you will take into consideration
both the large scope and the urgency <del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del> of the problems facing
this community.
I may add that it would <del>as</del> be easily
possible to single out one or more institutions
and affect the bequest to them. It would
however certainly be more <del>consonant with</del> conducive to
good general administration to entrust the
money to the Lay Council to be disposed of
for the purposes indicated in the will.
The Lay Council is the chief official body
which is responsible for the <del>ad</del> general
administration of communal affairs.
Page 140
the slaughterhouse and the rabbinical and other
personnel attached thereto, the body attending to
graves and the free burial of the poor etc.
It will be seen that this community has the
charge of a complex organisation which surpasses
that of most Jewish communities in other parts of
the world, in that the necessities of its situation
have led it to undertake duties which are not
necessarily communal and are not treated as
such elsewhere, such as education and health.
The report attached gives a faint idea of the
magnitude of the task, <del>which</del> especially as most
of the work of organisation and supervision of
<del>our</del> up to date hospitals and of schools with a total
population of about 10.000 falls <del>to</del> the shoulders
of committees who do the work in an honorary
capacity.
The <del>slender</del> resources of the Community are on
the other hand <del>rather</del> limited and fall generally
beneath its requirements. From time to time
recurrent deficits are made up or helped to
endure by public subscriptions <del>and</del> by which
difficult situations are temporarily tided over.
<del>The</del> As matters stand even the existing organisation
complex and elaborate as it is, <del>is</del> is far short
of the requirements of a community numbering
over 100.000 in a city of about 450.000
inhabitants. Of foreign help it receives
almost none. Contributions by the Alliance
Israelite Universelle of Paris and the Anglo
Jewish Association of London come to about
£ 2000. The <del>old</del> community <del>suffers a</del> has a
serious handicap in the fact that it has
Page 141
The Official Trustee
Bengal
Sir,
I am informed that the late Raphael Aaron Gubbay
of Hong Kong has left a will under which the Jewish
Community here may be a beneficiary. I have made
enquiries at the British Consulate, <del>here</del> Baghdad and have been
directed by H.B.M's Consul to address myself to you
in this connection. I understand that the late Mr.
Gubbay died without issue and that his estate goes
to Jewish charitable institutions in Calcutta, Baghdad,
England and Jerusalem. I have no information
however as to whether the institutions should dispose
of the capital or of the interest. I do not also know
whether the will provides quite definitely for <del>equal division</del> <del>whether</del>
<del>of the estate in four shares</del> equal shares <del>as</del>
<del>⟦line⟧</del>
<del>left to you or to another authority</del>. I should be
much obliged if you can let me know the exact
situation in this respect.
In the meantime I venture to <del>put</del> forward
to you a brief report giving an outline of
the present organizations and institutions <del>to</del>
<del>which</del> of this community. The report <del>it</del> covers
such institutions as are designed to ensure
certain essential public services such as
education, the care of the sick and the blind
etc, and does not include the institutions
forming part of the administrative organisation
of the community as such and those which
are called to existence on religious ground,
such as the various bodies, committees,
councils etc which make up the central
administration, the religious court,
Page 142
Shamash School
Baghdad
Tel. No. 1028
11.
No.:
Date:
Subject:
are collected from fees and donations and the grant
of the Lay Council of 2,800 dinars p. a. This means
that these institutions have an annual deficit of
7,000 dinars.
The Jewish Community of Baghdad is, therefore, at the
present time in need of the following things:
(a) A playground on modern lines for the schoolchildren
with a sports stadium.
(b) A modern library and reading room.
We would, therefore, propose that the bequest should be
spent in the following way:
(1) If, according to the will, the money is to be dis-
tributed among institutions, we would request that
the choice should be <del>left to</del> made by the Jewish Lay Council.
(2) If, according to the will, only the interest can be
spent, we would request that it should be sent
every year to the Jewish Lay Council for distribution.
Model No. 22-2000-11-935
Page 144
Shamash School | Shamash School
Baghdad | Baghdad
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
Tel. No. 1028 | Telephone Number 1028
9
No. ⟦line⟧ Number
Date ⟦line⟧ Date
Subject ⟦line⟧ Subject
Hospitals
17 The Meir Elias Hospital is a charitable institution
for the cure of internal and external diseases, surgery,
gynecology, children's diseases and analytical and X-ray
laboratories. Men, women and children are treated there.
The institution contains <del>100</del> beds, a Professor for the study
of internal diseases and an assistant, a surgeon and a
lady physician, who has specialized in womens' and
children's diseases, and a <del>physi</del> specialist for analysis
and X-ray, and a specialist for nose, throat and
ear. The number of patients, who received treatment
in 19<del>47</del> was <del>2,104</del> with an average of 80 patients a
day, the number of surgical operations, which took place
in the hospital in 19<del>47</del> was <del>524</del>.
120
40
40
70
surgical
18 The Rima Kadoorie Eye-Hospital is a charitable
institution for men and women. The number of
out-patients within one year was 225,035, representing
an average of 750 - 800 per day. There were 180
major operations and 594 minor operations.
about 600
Form No. 22—2000—11—935
Page 145
Shamash School
Shamash School
Baghdad
Baghdad
⟦line⟧
⟦line⟧
8
Tel. No. 1028
Telephone Number 1028
No. / Number:
Date / Date:
Subject / Subject:
(14) Silas Kadoorie Blind Institute, founded in
1927, has its own building, contains 65 blind inmates, who
are trained in various crafts and music, ^and reading in Braille.
The institution has a special committee to collect subscrip-
tions and donations, which together with the proceeds of
performances etc. cover the whole expenditure.
(15) The Sassoon Heskel Technical School was built
from the bequest of the late Sir Sassoon Heskel, <del>and</del>
which amounted to about 28,000 dinars. It is completed
and, we hope, will be opened in the near future.
(16) The Ezra Sassoon Ishayig School <del>and</del> for Handicrafts was
founded in , has its own building and
contains 500 poor girls, who are trained in sewing,
reading and writing. The contribution of the Founder
together with the proceeds of the sale of work suffice
to keep up the institution.
Form No. 22-2000-11-935
Page 146
Shamash School
Baghdad
Shamash School
Baghdad
7
Tel. No. 1028: Telephone Number 1028
No.: Number
Date: Date
Subject: Subject
1833 and possess their own buildings and contain
⟦2,100⟧ poor pupils, exempt from tuition fees. The teaching
is confined to religious subjects. The income of the
charitable Trust, through which this institution was
founded, together with the Lay Council's grant of
650 dinars, cover an expenditure of 2,500 dinars
per annum.
12. The Menahem Saleh Daniel Elementary School for
Girls <del>was foun</del> was founded in , has its
own buildings, contains 350 pupils of whom 60 pay
no fees and the rest pay fees ranging from 200 fils
to four dinars a year. School fees and the income from
the charitable trust, by which the school was founded,
cover all the expenditure.
13. The School for Dressmakers was founded in 1932, pays
rent for its premises, has 200 girls from the poorer
classes, exempt from fees. Instruction is given in sewing,
embroidery, reading and writing. Subscriptions and
donations and the sale of work, together with the Lay
Council's contributions, about 100 dinars p.a. cover
an annual expenditure of nearly
500 dinars.
Model No. 22 - 2000 - 11 - 935
Page 147
Shamash School
Baghdad
6.
Shamash School
Baghdad
Tel. No. 1028
Telephone Number 1028
No. / Number:
Date / Date:
Subject / Subject:
<del>(9) The Kerem Primary School was founded in 1924,</del>
<del>pays rent for its premises, has 300 pupils, of whom</del>
<del>190 pay no fees and the rest pay fees ranging from</del>
<del>half a dinar to two dinars p.a. School fees and a</del>
<del>a grant estimated at 590 dinars from the Jewish Lay</del>
<del>Council help to cover a yearly expenditure of 800</del>
<del>dinars.</del>
N.B. The three last-mentioned schools are
conducted according to the official syllabus
of the Ministry of Education, <del>but</del> more attention
is given to English and Religion.
(10) The Menashy Saleh Medrash Talmud Torah School, founded
in 1935, has its own building and is an elementary school,
containing ⟦1,100⟧ pupils, all of them poor and exempt from
school fees. Great attention is given to religious
instruction and, at the same time, the official
syllabus is followed as far as possible. The grant
of the Lay Council is estimated at 1,600 and covers
the total annual expenditure.
(11) The Midrash Talmud Torah Schools were founded in
250
Model No. 22-2000-11-935
Page 148
Shamash School Shamash School
Baghdad 5 Baghdad
Tel. No. 1028 Telephone No. 1028
⟦line⟧
No. / Number:
Date / Date:
Subject / Subject:
from half a dinar and four dinars,^and a half a year. The official
syllabus is being followed with more attention to English
and Religion. School fees and the contribution of the
Lay Council (estimated at 950 dinars) help to cover an expenditure
of 1,700 dinars per annum.
(7) The Wataniyah School, an elementary school for boys,
was founded in 1923, has <del>its</del> no building of its own, but pays
rent for its premises, contains 700 pupils, of whom 400
pay no fees x and the rest pay fees ranging from
half a dinar to <del>four</del>^three and a half dinars. The syllabus
is that of the Ministry of Education. School fees and the
contribution of the Jewish Lay Council of 980 dinars
p. a. help to cover an ^yearly expenditure of 1,580 dinars.
<del>p</del> (8) The Masuda Saleiman Elementary School for Boys
was founded in 1931, has its own building, contains 400
pupils, of whom 210 pay no fees and the rest pay
fees ranging from half a dinar to three and a
half dinars p. a. School fees and a grant from
the Lay Council (estimated at 590 dinars) help
to cover a yearly expenditure of 1,000 dinars. <del>p.a.</del>
Form No. 22-2000-11-935
Page 149
Shamash School Shamash School
Baghdad 4 Baghdad
⟦line⟧ ⟦line⟧
Tel. No. 1028 Telephone No. 1028
No. / No.:
Date / Date:
Subject / Subject:
looks to the Alliance Israelite of Paris to choose
Headmasters and teachers for these schools.
5. The Shamash School for Boys was founded in 1928 and
has its own building. It contains two sections, elementary
and secondary, in the first of which the syllabus of the
Ministry of Education is followed with greater attention
to English and Religion, while in the second, the language
of instruction <del>of</del> is English and boys are prepared
for the London University Matriculation Examination.
There are 600 pupils in both sections, of whom 150
pay no fees, while the rest pay fees ranging
from half a dinar to six dinars a year. School
fees, the contribution of the Anglo-Jewish Association in
London and the Grant of the Jewish Lay
Council, which is 1,220 dinars per annum, help to
<del>provide</del> balance a ^yearly budget of 3,200 dinars.
6. The Rahel Shahmoon Elementary School for Boys,
which was founded in 1909, has its own building
and contains 600 pupils, of whom 280 pay
no fees, while the rest pay fees ranging
Model No. 22 - 2000 - 11 - 935
Page 150
Shamash School | Shamash School
Baghdad | Baghdad
⟦line⟧ | ⟦line⟧
3.
Tel. No. 1028 | Telephone Number 1028
No. / No.:
Date / Date:
Subject / Subject:
and contains 650 pupils in both sections, elementary
and secondary. Of these 220 pay no fees, while the
rest pay fees ranging from half a dinar to six
dinars a year. School fees, the contribution of the
Alliance Israelite of Paris and the grant of
the Jewish Lay Council of 1,000 dinars per annum
help to provide a yearly budget of 3,000 dinars.
4. Nourael Elementary School for Boys. (Alliance)
was founded in 1902, has no building of its own but
pays rent for its premises. There are 250 pupils, of
whom 150 pay no fees, while the rest pay fees
ranging from half a dinar to two dinars a year.
School fees and the income from the Rebecca Nourael
Charitable Trust, through which the institution was
founded, help to make up the budget of 600
dinars per annum.
N.B. These four schools are known as the
Alliance Schools. They are under the direct control
of the Jewish Lay Council <del>both Administrfrom the</del>
educationally and financially, but the Lay Council
Form No. 22-2000-11-935