Financial Documents, Baghdadi Jewish Community; Correspondence and School Records, Baghdadi Jewish Schools
View interactive document pageThese are documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community including financial records; blueprints; correspondence regarding charitable donations, synagogues, and Torah scrolls; lease agreements, taxi receipts, utility bills, and stationary receipts. There are also documents from the Jewish schools in Baghdad, including correspondence regarding student affairs, teachers, lists of students sitting for exams, school administration and financial matters, curriculum development; schedules; and chemistry notes from the Frank Iny School.
Israeli Community Baghdad Properties (Synagogues) Portfolio Number - 251 Registry Number - Empty Lot (belonging to the Jewish Synagogue) Liwa (Governorate): Baghdad District: / Sub-district: / Neighborhood and Street: Bataween (Jewish) Sequence Number: 142/172 Door Numbers: Property Type: Endowment (Waqf) Property Nature: Empty Lot Land Registry Map Number: Notes: 1/1/1949
Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad Committee ⟦line⟧ List showing the contents of file number: For the property: Page | Nature of the paper and its contents | Number | Date | Remarks | | | ⟦illegible⟧ | General Remarks ⟦line⟧ This list was organized by ⟦line⟧ on / / 19
Committee for Israeli Property Institution :: Churches Committee Registry Serial Number :: 251 Tabu Serial Number :: 142/172 Door Numbers :: Type of Property :: Plot (belonging to the Al-Suwayri Synagogue) Trustee :: Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
T / 2144 / 53 25 / 8 / 1953 Respected Mr. Muzahim Ahmed Lessee of Al-Huwaidi vacant lot, land registry serial 172 / 143 After greetings In view of the maturity of the promissory notes signed by you, the details of which are listed below, and the passage of a long period since their maturity, and your failure to pay them until now, this Presidency warns you of the necessity of taking the initiative to pay the amounts of the promissory notes listed below within three days from the date of your notification of this letter, otherwise we will be forced to take the necessary legal measures to preserve the rights of the Waqf. Please accept our highest respect ⟦signature⟧ Heskel Daoud Shemtob Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council Details of the Due Promissory Notes Note Amount | Maturity Date Dinar Fils | 20 ... | 1 / 8 / 1951 20 ... | 1 / 8 / 1952 20 ... | 1 / 8 / 1953 60 / 000 |
T / ⟦illegible⟧ / 50 2 / 12 / 1950 Respected Mr. Muzahim Ahmed Tenant of the Jewish plot, Tabu sequence 172 / 143 Baghdad ⟦illegible stamp⟧ Greetings, In view of the maturity of the promissory note signed by you on the first of August 1950 for the amount of 20 Dinars, and the passage of about four months since its maturity without your payment of it until now, and since the Presidency of the Community cannot tolerate any delay in paying promissory notes upon their maturity due to its undertaking of large financial responsibilities, we therefore warn you of the necessity to initiate payment of the mentioned note within three days from the date of your notification of this letter, otherwise we will be regretfully forced to take the necessary legal measures ⟦illegible⟧ of it until now, and since the Presidency of the Community cannot tolerate any delay in paying promissory notes upon their maturity due to its undertaking of large financial responsibilities, we therefore warn you of the necessity to initiate payment of the mentioned note within three days from the date of your notification of this letter, otherwise we will be regretfully forced to take the necessary legal measures to preserve the rights of the Waqf. Sincerely; ⟦illegible⟧ 11/28 Acting Head of the Community President of the Lay Council Note I received the promissory note ⟦illegible⟧ 12/1 For filing Subsequent warning procedures 12/29/6
Director of Rusafa Land Registry Baghdad Land Registry Directorate 46612 North Baghdad Al-Tasabil Quarter Al-Maftul 1- 182/156 186 187 Public Road Organized according to the inspection decision Dated ⟦illegible⟧ Scale 1/1000 Due to the layout of this map, the area of the indicated property equals one hundred and seventy-six square meters Registered under number (8012) in Volume (19) Yanawin at the Rusafa Land Registry Department, Baghdad Drawing 4/1/948 The Surveyor The Inspection Officer Director of Rusafa Land Registry 2/4/1948
The Israelite Community Baghdad Telephone 5452 Number :: 224 Date :: 1 / 8 / 1949 Israelite Property Committee 67 1 / 8 / 949 Baghdad Subject Summary: ⟦line⟧ Presidency of the Property Committee The Council has reviewed your letter No. 88 dated 28 / 7 / 1949 and decided to approve in principle the granting of the plot belonging to the Al-Huwaidi Synagogue, measuring 176 square meters, on a long-term lease for a period of ten years at an annual rent of twenty Dinars, according to the detailed conditions in the contract organized by your committee. It also decided to authorize His Excellency the Head of the Community to sign the aforementioned contract. Sincerely! Vice President Copy to - His Excellency the Head of the Community Al-Huwaidi Synagogue Committee On behalf of /
88 7/28/9 Department Copy 251 Presidency of the Lay Council After greetings, With reference to the letter from the Jewish Synagogue Committee dated 7/4/1946 addressed to us, and a copy thereof to your esteemed council. Our committee has studied the proposal of the Jewish Synagogue Committee regarding granting the vacant plot with an area of 176 square meters, sequence 143/172, by long-term lease to Mr. Muzahim Ahmed, and has decided to approve the aforementioned proposal provided that the lease term is ten years with an annual rent of eighty dinars, to be paid in two installments in advance and the remaining eight installments to be paid annually, and provided that the value of the building is eight hundred dinars according to the attached map. Our committee has prepared the attached draft contract intended to be executed with the aforementioned tenant. We request you to kindly take a decision authorizing His Eminence the Head of the Community to sign it if your esteemed council approves in this regard. With respect. ⟦signature⟧ 7/27 Vice President Copy to - Jewish Synagogue Committee - With reference to your letter dated 7/4/1946. Church Committee ⟦line⟧ 14 Dear ⟦Koji⟧ Please kindly sign this letter to be submitted to the Council today, noting that Mr. Sabri ⟦Maji⟧ has approved the draft attached contract. ⟦signature⟧ 7/28 For filing ⟦Attallah⟧
Volume Number 59915 Accounting 37 A Receipts in Dirhams collected for the government Serial Number: 72 Fils/Dinar: 1/800 Department Name: ⟦line⟧ Received from: Ibrahim Edmond Waka in Souq Hanoun Amount: One Dinar and eight hundred Fils On account of: Rent of a vacant plot Date: 2 / 8 / 1946 Signature of the collector: ⟦signature⟧ Job Title: ⟦line⟧ 2215 59
Volume Number 59915 Accounting 37 Receipts for Dirhams collected for the government Serial Number: 73 Fils/Dinar: 1500 - Department Name: ⟦line⟧ Received from: Muzahim Ahmed Al-Kadhim ⟦line⟧ Amount: ⟦line⟧ Dinars and five ⟦line⟧ Fils On account of: Fees for A'la Ridha ⟦line⟧ Date: 24 / 8 / 949 Signature of the Receiver: Job Title: ⟦line⟧ 2216 ⟦signature⟧
⟦Israeli Property Committee⟧ ⟦Baghdad⟧ 3/ /1949 His Excellency the Respected Mayor of the Capital After greetings and respect With reference to your letter numbered 3209 and dated March 13, 1949, regarding your respected municipality's request for 11/750 Dinars on property sequence 143/172 Al-Huwaidi for paving fees. We wish to inform you that the aforementioned property has passed to the Huwaidi Torah (Synagogue) by exchange according to the decision of the Personal Status Court numbered 588/48 and dated May 26, 1948, a copy of which is attached herewith, as a settlement for the section encroached upon inadvertently and in good faith by neighbors upon the Huwaidi Torah. Therefore, we request your Excellency to include this property in the exemption similar to religious temples, given that it belongs to the Huwaidi Synagogue and because it will be used for its purposes. This is for your Excellency's command and respect; ⟦illegible⟧ Head of the Community Based on the receipt of ⟦Map of the Four⟧ this property To be filed in the name of the Synagogue A ⟦illegible⟧
Department Copy 1048 8/7/1949 <del>Secretariat of the Capital</del> Baghdad Greetings, We wish to inform you that the vacant lot belonging to the endowments of the Jewish Community located in the Al-Huwaidi neighborhood, land registry sequence 172/143, has been leased under a long-term lease for a period of ten years to the tenant Mr. Muzahim Ahmed, starting from the first of August 1949, provided that he undertakes the construction of the buildings needed for the aforementioned lot from his own funds, in accordance with the contract certified by the Notary Public of East Baghdad on 3/8/1949. Based on the request of the aforementioned tenant, he has been provided with this letter. Sincerely. Mr. President Sassoon Head of the Community This letter was written based on the request of the tenant Mr. Muzahim Ahmed. ⟦illegible signature⟧ 8/5 14 To be kept in the specialized file
⟦illegible⟧ Second Copy 1049 7/8/1946 His Excellency the Director of Tapu for the Baghdad District, respected After greetings, Please kindly provide me with a copy of the property registration, sequence 143/172 Bataween, dated January 17, 1946, along with a copy of the Tapu map for the aforementioned property belonging to the endowments of the Jewish community in Baghdad. Please accept the highest expressions of respect; ⟦signature⟧ 7/8 Head of the Community Muwaffaq This petition was written based on the request of Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed 815 To be kept in the relevant endowments file
Front elevation appearance Ground floor plan Scale 1:100 Floor plan Upper Roof Room Room Scale 1:100 Porch Room Room Signature Designed by Mr. Mushtaq and sovereignty belongs to God Al-Shakiriya area Baghdad
The letter of the President of the Al-Huwaidi Synagogue Committee dated 4/7/1949 was read, which includes granting the Al-Huwaidi Synagogue plot numbered sequence 172 / 143 located in the Al-Bataween neighborhood, measuring an area of 176 square meters, by long-term lease to the applicant Mr. Muzahim Maher under the conditions shown in the aforementioned letter. Upon deliberation and reviewing the applicant for leasing the plot, it was decided as follows: - 1 - Granting the mentioned plot by long-term lease for a period of ten years starting from the date of ratification of this contract before the Notary Public. 2 - The annual rent for the mentioned plot shall be twenty dinars, of which two installments are paid in advance upon signing the lease contract, and the remainder of the annual rent shall be paid at the beginning of each year of the contract. 3 - The lessee must construct buildings on the mentioned plot from his own funds, provided that the expenses are not less than -/800 dinars. 4 - The lessee must complete the construction of the buildings he needs within a period not exceeding one year from the date of the contract. If the period ends and he has not done so, the contract is considered rescinded and the applicant must pay compensation equivalent to half the amount allocated for construction in addition to any rents that may be due from him, without the need for a notice. 5 - The lessee does not have the right to lease the mentioned plot to another person except with the consent of the owner, and this does not prejudice the right to lease the plot to others. 6 - The lessee must not neglect the maintenance of the building during the lease term. 7 - The lessee must pay the fees, taxes, and charges imposed by the laws in force, including the property tax, paving fees, and other municipal fees. And the house shall be of two floors And the construction shall be of bricks and a machine ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦signature⟧ ⟦signature⟧ ⟦signature⟧ ⟦signature⟧ ⟦signature⟧ The Secretary Member Member Vice President President
The letter of the Chairman of the Al-Huwaidi Synagogue Committee dated 4/7/1949 was read, which includes granting the vacant lot of Al-Huwaidi Synagogue numbered sequence 172/143 located in the Al-Bataween neighborhood, with an area of 176 square meters, by long-term lease to the applicant Mr. Muzahim Maher under the conditions presented by the committee in the aforementioned letter. Upon deliberation and reviewing the applicant for the lease of the lot, the following was decided: - 1 - Granting the mentioned lot by long-term lease for a period of ten years starting from the date of ratification of this contract before the Notary Public. 2 - The annual rent for the mentioned lot shall be twenty dinars, of which two installments shall be paid in advance upon signing the lease contract, and the remainder of the annual rent shall be paid at the beginning of each year of the contract. 3 - The applicant for the lease must construct buildings on the mentioned lot from his own funds, provided that the expenses are not less than 800/- dinars. 4 - The applicant for the lease must complete the construction of the buildings he needs within a period not exceeding one year from the date of the contract. If the period ends and he has not done so, the contract is considered rescinded, and the applicant must pay compensation equivalent to half of the amount designated for construction, in addition to the rent payments that may be due from him, without the need for a notice. 5 - The applicant for the lease does not have the right to lease the mentioned lot to another person except with the consent of the owner, and this does not prejudice the right to lease the lot to others. 6 - The applicant for the lease must not neglect the maintenance of the building during the lease period. 7 - The applicant for the lease must pay the fees, taxes, and charges imposed by the laws in force, including property tax, paving fees, and other municipal fees. ⟦signature⟧ 1 - What is the amount of the installment and what is the number of installments? 2 - The following article shall be added to the lease contract: The building must be handed over upon the expiration of the lease contract in its entirety to the lessor, and he has no right to claim any ⟦illegible⟧ amount in exchange for this building. ⟦signature⟧ 19 / 7 / ⟦illegible⟧
Administration of ⟦illegible⟧ in Baghdad Number 254 Date 4 / 7 / 1949 Number ⟦illegible⟧ Jewish Synagogue Committee Baghdad Date - 4 / 7 / 1949 Presidency of the Pro⟦line⟧perty Committee After greetings We hope to inform you that the Jewish Synagogue has a vacant plot near it with an area of 176 square meters, sequence 172 / 143 Bataween, which was obtained as a result of an exchange. The intention has now turned toward trying to benefit from this plot by offering it for a long-term lease. Indeed, Mr. Muzahim Maher has come forward expressing his desire to lease this plot and has actually submitted a plan for its development, spending an amount of nearly one thousand dinars on it. We kindly ask you to look with urgent necessity into this case regarding the suitability of granting it for a long-term lease and the conditions you deem appropriate for that, whether in terms of the lease duration, development conditions, and the annual rent. Since the aforementioned interested party wishes to be given the result urgently, we would be most grateful if you would kindly look into this matter. We also favor offering this plot for long-term lease by auction in local newspapers after reaching a preliminary agreement with the current interested party. Awaiting your reply, please accept our highest res⟦line⟧pect; President ⟦signature⟧ Salman Suwaid Copy to - Presidency of the Spiri⟦line⟧tual Council } for your kind information Presidency of the Scrip⟦line⟧tures Committee } Note Attached herewith are four maps related to the subject for your kind perusal and to be returned after you are finished with them Yaqub Abd al-Nabi ⟦signature⟧ A / 1
Section A - B Design for the construction of a house in ⟦Al-Mustansir⟧ in Al-Majawiyyin neighborhood Scale 1 : 100 Dining Kitchen Toilet Bathroom Salon The Hall Garage Porch Living Room Garden Entrance Ground Floor Plan Front Elevation View Architect - Hashim Hadi Al-Mu'in Baghdad Iron with cement Piles Wall with cement
Al-Hwaidi Synagogue Committee Baghdad 65 4/7/949 Date - 4 / 7 / 1949 Presidency of the Properties Committee Greetings We wish to inform you that Al-Hwaidi Synagogue has a vacant lot near it with an area of 176 square meters Sequence 172 / 143 on two dates obtained as a result of an exchange, and the intention has now turned to trying to benefit from this plot by offering it for a long-term lease, and indeed Mr. Muzahim Maher has come forward expressing his desire to lease this plot and has actually submitted a plan for its development and spent an amount of nearly a thousand dinars. We kindly ask you to look urgently into this case regarding the feasibility of granting it as a long-term lease and the conditions you deem appropriate for that, whether in terms of the lease duration, construction conditions, and the annual rent, and since the aforementioned interested party wishes to be given the result urgently, we would be most grateful if you would kindly look into this matter, as we also favor offering this lot for long-term lease through bidding in local newspapers after reaching a preliminary agreement with the current interested party. Awaiting your reply, please accept our highest respect; The President ⟦signature⟧ Sassoon Sweid Copy to - Presidency of the Lay Council; Presidency of the Churches Committee; for your kind information Note We attach herewith four maps related to the subject for your kind perusal and return after you are finished with them On behalf of /
Jewish Synagogue Committee Baghdad Date 4 / 7 / 1949 Presidency of the Committee of Am: ⟦line⟧ lam After greetings We wish to inform you that the Jewish Synagogue has a vacant plot of land with an area of 176 square meters Sequence 143/172 in Tawin, obtained as a result of an exchange, and the intention has now turned to trying to benefit from this plot by offering it for long-term lease, and indeed Mr. Muzahim Bah ⟦...⟧ has come forward expressing his desire to lease this plot, and he has actually submitted a plan for its design and spent an amount of nearly a thousand dinars. We request you to kindly look urgently into this matter regarding the suitability of granting it for long-term lease and the conditions you suggest for that, whether in terms of the lease duration, construction conditions, and the annual rent. Since the aforementioned interested party desires a result urgently, we would be most grateful if you would kindly look into this matter, as we favor offering this plot for long-term lease by auction in local newspapers after a preliminary agreement with the current interested party. Awaiting your reply, please accept our highest res ⟦line⟧ pect! The President ⟦signature⟧ Salman Suwaid Copy to - Presidency of the Spiri ⟦line⟧ tual Council } for kind information ⟦line⟧ m Presidency of the Sy ⟦line⟧ nagogue Committee } Note We attach herewith four maps related to the subject for your kind perusal and return after you are finished with them 14
Minutes of the inspection carried out on the vacant plot belonging to the Al-Huwaidi Synagogue Tabu Serial 143/172 Wednesday, 10/12/1949 The inspection was conducted in the presence of Mr. Salih Salman, Engineer and member of the Property Committee and Messrs. Gurji Ishaq, Eliyahu Shahrabani, and Shimon Sofir, members of the Al-Huwaidi Synagogue committee, also present was the Secretary of the Community. The inspection was carried out on the plot's site for the purpose of the third clause of the lease contract concluded with ⟦Mr. Ibrahim⟧ on August 1, 1949, which includes the construction of buildings whose cost is not less than -/800 Dinars. After reviewing the buildings constructed, the engineer Mr. Salih Salman decided, as supported by those present, that the cost of these buildings reaches -/800 Dinars (Eight hundred Dinars), and accordingly this report was organized. Salih Salman | Eliyahu Shahrabani | Gurji Ishaq | Shimon Sofir | Secretary of the Community 14
10/50 Stairs Kitchen Lightwell Hall 4/00 12/00 3/50 5/00 1/50 7/00 Corridor Room Room Room Facade Scale 1/100 Al-Wajeeh House ⟦...⟧ Sixth District
Contract A contract has been concluded between Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri, President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, in addition to ⟦illegible⟧ hereinafter referred to as the Lessor. ⟦illegible⟧ Mr. Muzahim Ahmed, hereinafter referred to as the Lessee, as follows:- First - The Lessor has leased to the Lessee, and the latter has leased from the Lessor after inspection and viewing, the vacant land with known boundaries belonging to the Jewish Community located in Baghdad in the Al-Huwaidi quarter, Land Registry No. 143/172 for a period of 10 years (ten years) starting from the first of August 49 until the end of July 1959 (one thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine AD) for a rental fee of -/200 dinars (two hundred Iraqi dinars only). Second - The Lessee shall pay the rental fee to the Lessor in the following manner: -/40 dinars (forty dinars) in cash and in advance, and the remaining balance of -/160 dinars (one hundred and sixty dinars) shall be paid in eight annual installments, each installment amounting to -/20 dinars (twenty). The first installment shall be paid on the first of August 950, the second installment on the first of August 1951, and so on consecutively, according to eight promissory notes issued dated August 1949. If the Lessee delays in paying any installment when due, the Lessor has the option to terminate this contract, and in this case, the Lessee must pay compensation and the rental fees that may be due until the evacuation in accordance with the fourth paragraph of this contract. Third - In addition to the aforementioned rental fee, the Lessee shall construct on the said land the buildings he requires at his own expense, provided that the expenses are not less than -/800 dinars (eight hundred dinars), according to the attached design signed by both parties. The first party has the right to select ⟦illegible⟧ the engineer ⟦illegible⟧ Fourth - The Lessee must complete the construction of the buildings he requires according to municipal regulations within a period not exceeding three years from the date of this contract. If this period expires and he has not done so, the Lessor has the option to consider this contract terminated, and the Lessee shall then be liable to pay compensation equal to half of the amount designated for construction as stated in the third paragraph above, in addition to the rental fees that may be due until the evacuation, without the need for prior notice or filing a lawsuit by the Lessor or his successor in office. Fifth - The Lessee may not transfer the lease of the said land to another person without the Lessor's consent, and this does not prejudice the Lessee's right to utilize the land within the lease period and to lease the buildings he constructs to whomever he wishes according to customary procedures. Sixth - The Lessee must not neglect the maintenance of the building during the lease period and must not demolish it in whole or in part. If it becomes necessary to demolish a part of it due to technical necessity or need, he must reconstruct that part at a cost not less than its original cost. (To be continued)
(What precedes it) Seventh - Upon the expiration of the lease term, the lessee must hand over the plot of land along with the building constructed thereon with all its fixtures to the lessor or to his successor in office in a condition suitable for exploitation as the property of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, and the lessee shall not have at that time any right to claim anything whatsoever. Eighth - The lessee must pay the fees, taxes, and charges imposed by the laws in force and those decided by the government in the future on the building and the plot, including the property tax and paving fees and other municipal fees, as well as water and electricity charges. Ninth - Based on the above, agreement has been reached between the two parties by offer and acceptance, and the lessee has received the aforementioned leased plot under the conditions mentioned above. Tenth - This contract has been drawn up in an original and a copy; the lessee has kept the original and the lessor has kept the copy. Drawn up in Baghdad on (August 1, 1949). Lessee | Lessor Mr. Muzahim Ahmed | Rabbi Sassoon Khedhouri | President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad Signature | In addition to his position | Stamp and Signature Notary Public of East Baghdad Number - 2256 Fee - 150 fils Date - 4 / 8 / 1949 Witness | Witness Salim Murad Khabbaza | Rabbi Daoud Sh⟦...⟧ul Secretary to the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad | From Al-Bataween neighborhood, member of the Spiritual Council in Baghdad Signature | Signature Notary Public of East Baghdad Signature
I went, based on the request made, to the headquarters of the Presidency of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, on the afternoon of Tuesday, 2/8/1949, and there I found Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri, the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad by virtue of the Royal Decree No. 95 dated 13/2/1949 and the ⟦...⟧ Endowments of the Jewish Community in Baghdad by virtue of the notification issued by the Personal Status Court ⟦...⟧ No. 169/32 dated 28/3/933 and by virtue of the authorization issued by the Court of First Instance No. ⟦...⟧ dated 26/5/48, copies of which are kept in this department. The tenant Muzahim ⟦...⟧ also attended, his identity was verified by the two witnesses signed above, and they presented this paper and requested its certification. Upon ⟦...⟧ and reading it to them, they acknowledged its content. The President of the Jewish Community signed it in his official capacity with his signature and the seal of the Community, and Muzahim Ahmed signed it with his signature before me. Accordingly, their signatures and their acknowledgment ⟦...⟧ were certified on 2/8/1949. Seal and signature of the Notary Public East Baghdad 2215 2216 I certify that this is a copy of the paper certified in this department under general number ⟦...⟧ dated 2/8/1949 and that it is exactly identical to the original recorded in the register under number 59, 8/8/49 Notary Public of East Baghdad Signature and Seal ⟦illegible stamp⟧