Voices from the Archive

IJA 2822

Correspondence, Birth Certificates, Financial Assistance, Newspaper Clippings, Baghdadi Jewish Community

Description

These are documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. Included are: correspondence with the British Military Governor and the leadership of the Baghdadi Jewish community about holidays and other community issues such as requesting to preserve a cemetery; birth certificates; marriage certificates; financial assistance for community members; newspapers concerning court decision and recent legislation; newspaper article concerning Jewish citizens leaving Iraq for Israel. Birth certificates record births from the 1870s on. There are letters dated 1917-1918 between the British Military Governor’s Office to the Chief Rabbi regarding the publication of a book, Jewish holidays, the request for legal oversight of community affairs, and a request to protect the land of the Jewish cemetery. There are also printed charts of properties listing buyers and amounts paid and exam records for all the Jewish community schools from 1937-1938.

Metadata

Archive Reference: IJA 2822
Item Number: 5710
Date: Approx. January 1, 1911 to December 31, 1920
Languages: Multiple Languages
Keywords: Charity, Property, Citizenship Laws, Financial, Legal, Midrash Talmud Torah, Alliance Israélite Universelle, Correspondence, Rosh Ha-Shanah, School Material, Travel, British Occupation, Exam Records, Newspaper, Al-Waqā’i‘ Al-‘Irāqiyah, Egypt, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Annotation, Iraqi Government, Ink Stamp, Ottoman Bank, Handwritten, Receipt, Sun Crest, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Printed Text, Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, Israel, Chart, Ministry of Justice, Cemetery, Chief Rabbi, President of the Jewish Community, Marriage Certificate, Spiritual Council, Judeo-Arabic, Military, Jewish Religious Court, Yom Kipur, Synagogue, Birth Certificates, Office of the Civil Commissioner, Typed, India, Jewish Holidays, Bank Note

AI Transcription, Pages 101-125

Page 103

No. M.G./B-945
Military Governor's Office,
Baghdad. 18th August 1917.
⟦19th⟧

[Marginalia] Memo No A1896/129
[Marginalia] d/18/8/17.

To,
Deputy Military Governor, Baghdad East.
Deputy Military Governor, Baghdad West.
A.P.M., Baghdad.
Deputy <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> Commissioner of Police, Baghdad.

Memorandum.

For necessary action.

The Army Commander has sanctioned the request
of the Chief Rabbi for facilities to be given to the members
of the Jewish Community to enable them to leave their
houses to attend the Synagogue for prayer between the hours
of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. during the 40 days of the Cappour
Feast, but for that purpose only.

The celebration commences on August 19th 1917.

[Signature] ⟦J. N. Payne Capt⟧
[Signature] ⟦Staff Capt for⟧ Br. Gen.,
[Signature] MILITARY GOVERNOR.
[Signature] H.H.

Copy to:-
<del>Deputy Adjutant General for information.</del>
⟦Chief Rabbi⟧

Page 104

No. M.G./B-1528.
Military Governor's Office,
Baghdad. 6th Sept. 1917.

To,
G. O. C.,
Baghdad Garrison.

Memorandum.

Will you please have the following
published as a Station Order:-
As far as Military exigencies permit facilities
are to be afforded to Officers and men of the Jewish
faith to attend worship in Synagogues for the festi-
vals "Roshana" and "Your Kipoor" from 4 p.m. 16th
September 1917 to 8 p.m. 18th September 1917 and
from 4 p.m. 25th September 1917 to 8 p.m. 26th
September 1917 respectively.
(Authority:- G.H.Q. No. A-2102 dated 5th September
1917).

[Signature] ⟦Hawker⟧
[Signature] Br. Gen.,
[Signature] MILITARY GOVERNOR.

[Marginalia] H.H.

Copy to His Eminence the Chief Rabbi with reference to
his letter of the 2nd September 1917.

Page 108

No. 30154

Office of the Civil Commissioner,
Baghdad 27th December 1918.

To
His Reverance
The Khakham Bashi,
of Baghdad.

Sir,

In reply to your note about the Greek refugee,
I am directed to say that he should go to the U. S. Consul and
apply to him for a free passage to India.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

[Signature] ⟦illegible signature⟧
[Signature] Superintendent,
[Signature] Vernacular <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> Office.

Page 109

- 2 -

I therefore beg to submit the case to your consideration,
requesting you to kindly give such orders as you will consider
necessary with the view to preserving the integrity of this
holy place as far as possibly consistent with the Government
purposes.

With my best thanks in anticipation.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

[Signature] Chief Rabbi.

Page 110

No 117
Baghdad 13th September 1918.

To
Lieut. Colonel A.T. Wilson, C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O.,
Officiating Civil Commissioner.

Sir,

I have the honour to bring the following to your kind
consideration:

The Jewish Community has a cemetery situated near the
Southern
<del>northern</del> gate of the town in a site affected since generations
to the use of the Jews as burial ground. This cemetery has
in the eyes of the Jewish public a particular importance and
a peculiar interest transformed by the traditions of many
generations into a religious respect for the sanctity of the
place. The Jews are in the habit of assembling there once a
month or at least twice a year and recite prayers. They also
take great care to keep the tombs in good condition by repairing
or building them anew every year.

Originally the place was purchased by the Jewish Community
and from time to time a neighbouring ground was annexed to it
by purchases from the Ottoman authorities.

I may add that the Jews have no other cemetery in any
other part of the town and that in this are buried the greatest
rabbis of the past and present time.

Lately I have been informed that a part of this cemetery
will be shortly levelled for the purpose of building a railway
station. The title deeds were sent for by the Municipal Engineer
in order to assess the value of the ground.

I beg to state that the Municipality cannot make any
satisfying assessment of the ground considering the spiritual
importance of the place which in the eye of the Community is
not exchangeable in any way.

Page 111

قسم الاقلام العربية
بادارة الحاكم الملكي العام بالعراق

عن بغداد في ١٣ تشرين ثاني سنة ١٩١٨

الى نيافة وكيل صاحب السيادة خاخامباشي بغداد الافخم

مولاي ؛

امرني سعادة القائم باعمال الحاكم الملكي العام ان ادعو سيادتكم
للتشريف الى هذه الادارة باكرا في الساعة الثالثة عصرا (على الحساب
الانكليزي) لمقابلة سعادته كما اردتم نيافتكم ؛

ولي الشرف ان اكون لنيافتكم

[Signature] العبد المطيع الوضيع
[Signature] ⟦illegible⟧
[Signature] رئيس قسم الاقلام العربية
[Signature] بادارة الحاكم الملكي العام

Page 112

Copy of a petition No. 17271/10, dated 24th June
1918, from ⟦L⟧ooloo bint Shaool Rabia, Tatran Qr., to the
C.C. Baghdad.
- - - - - - - - -

I have the honour to inform your kindness that
my husband Abraham ibn Shaool Tweq is 10 years ago in
Egypt.
He is leaving me and my daughter since that period
and I request you most kindly to give instructions to whom
it may concern for having a pension from him.
I have no support here and my daughter is 14 ⟦y⟧ears
old.
- - - - - - - - -

No. 14/137
118/56.

Office of the Civil Commissioner,
Baghdad, the 15th July, 1918.

Acting Chief Rabbi, Baghdad

I think this is a case which should be dealt
with by you: there are no grounds for Government intervention.

[Signature] ⟦illegible⟧ Captain, I.A.
[Signature] Offg: Civil Commissioner.

B.B.D. S.
⟦illegible⟧

Page 115

فقط مائة روبية
١٠٠

قد قبضت أنا من الحاخامخانه مبلغ مائة روبية التي تقررت لي من كربلاء
عن يد حاكم الملكي العام في بغداد وقد قبضتها بالتمام ولأجل البيان حررت
هذا الوصول ليكون طابو تحريرياً في ٢٨ تموز ٩١٨

من سكنة محلة بني سعيد
مريم بنت ابراهيم زوجة نسيم مرقيا

[Signature] Mariam ⟦...⟧

[Stamp] ⟦illegible⟧

[Signature] شاهد بذلك
[Signature] ח"מ
[Signature] ⟦...⟧
[Signature] ⟦...⟧
[Signature] ⟦...⟧

[Signature] شاهد بذلك
[Signature] داود اسحاق

Page 116

No. OS. 5837

Office of the Civil Commissioner,
Baghdad 25th September 1917.

[Stamp] ⟦illegible⟧

[Marginalia] ⟦My dear Sir⟧

The Chief Rabbi,
Baghdad.

Dear Sir,

An application has been received from M.Halfon,
Assistant Director of the Alliance Universelle Israelite
of Hamadan through the British Consulate there, for assis-
tance in recovering an alleged debt from Abdalla Mariam
Khan of Baghdad, who is said to be known to yourself.

If this is so I should be very greatly obliged
if you would request Abdalla Mariam to call at this office.

Yours faithfully,

[Signature] Capt.
[Signature] Acting Oriental Secretary.

⟦To His Excellency, The Chief Political⟧
⟦Baghdad 3rd July⟧
⟦Sir,⟧
⟦I have the honour to submit a petition ⟦illegible⟧⟧
⟦⟦illegible⟧ to your Excellency to kindly ⟦illegible⟧ the ⟦illegible⟧⟧
⟦matter.⟧
⟦Chief ⟦illegible⟧⟧

J.H.
⟦initials⟧

Page 117

Baghdad, 25th July 917.

To His Excellency, The Chief Political Officer,
Sir,

I have the honour to submit a petition of Aziza Bint Meyer, and
beg to your Excellency to kindly give me the necessary order in thi
matter.

[Signature] for Chief Rabbi.
[Signature] ⟦signature⟧

Page 119

ادارة الحاكم السياسي العام
ببغداد

الى نيافة الحبر الفاضل باشخاخام الطائفة الموسوية المحترم

تحية وسلاماً وبعد نفيد جنابكم بان حاكمنا السياسي بالعمارة ابرق الينا وطلب منا
ان نضع تحت تصرفكم مبلغ ثلاثة آلاف (٣٠٠٠) روبية تبرع بها رجال الطائفة
الموسوية بالعمارة الى اخوانهم البغداديين
واذا انتدبتم شخصاً من طرف نيافتكم لقبض المبلغ فاننا ندفعه له.
هذا مالزم تعريف لجنابكم وتفضلوا بقبول تحياتنا

[Signature] ١٧/٤/٧
[Signature] P. Z. Cox
[Signature] الحاكم السياسي العام بالعراق
[Signature] سر پرسي كوكس

الى حضرة ذو السعادة الحاكم السياسي العام بالعراق المحترم
تحية واحتراماً وبعد نعرض بان جواباً ⟦لمكتوبكم⟧ المؤرخ ١٧ الجاري قد
وكلنا الخواجه ⟦صموئيل صهيون⟧ يوسف شرباني لقبض الثلاثة الاف (٣٠٠٠) روبية
التي تبرع بها رجال الطائفة الموسوية بالعمارة <del>⟦للموسويين⟧</del> الى اخوانهم الفقراء
هنا. وبهذه الوسيلة اقدم تشكراتنا الجزيلة لحضرتكم ودمتم.

Page 120

I am desired by the Army Commander to say that
there appears to be ⟦illegible⟧
report of the ⟦illegible⟧
owing to hunger.
⟦illegible⟧ correct, Army Commander ⟦illegible⟧
that the ⟦illegible⟧ Baghdad. ⟦illegible⟧ which it would be
fitting for you to ⟦illegible⟧ by local subscription in
consultation with the leaders ⟦illegible⟧

Chief Political Office,
Baghdad, the 30th April 1917.

To
The Chief Rabbi,
Baghdad.

Sir Percy Cox has received the Chief Rabbi's
note of the 29th and will grant him an interview
at 5.p.m. on Tuesday next, May 1st.

[Signature] ⟦H. C. MacLean⟧
[Signature] Captain,
[Signature] P.A. to Chief Political Officer.

To
Chief Rabbi
Baghdad

Page 123

الحكومة العراقية
وزارة العدلية

شعبة: التحرير
رقم عام: ٤ / ١٢٧ / ٩٢٨
رقم خاص:
العنوان البرقي :: عدلية
التاريخ: ٢٧ ايار ١٩٢٨

[Stamp] الرجاء الاشارة الى
[Stamp] الرقم العام

خلاصة الموضوع :

الى "
رئيس المجلس الروحاني للطائفة الاسرائيلية
في بغداد .

وبعد فارسل اليكم بطيه عريضة الياهو بن عزره المؤرخة في ٢٢ مايس ٩٢٨
المرفوعة الى هذه الوزارة وارجو النظر في مدعيات المستدعي المذكور وموافاتنا
بالجواب عليها مع اعادة الاستدعاء ؛

[Signature] القرار ⟦illegible⟧
[Signature] ⟦illegible⟧
[Signature] عن وزير العدلية .

[Marginalia] العدلية
[Marginalia] ٢٧ / ٥ / ٢٨

م . ف .

Page 125

בית דין הצדק דעי"ק
בגדאד יע"א
محكمة الروحانية الاسرائيلية في بغداد
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD

נו': 228
תאריך: 2 כסלו
סנת: 5688

ב"ה
לכבוד הגביר היקר והנעלה מר ששון פתחי הי"ו יחיה וישרה
ופה בגדאד יע"א
בענין ה' קמילה
תתכבד נא בית דיננו זה להודיעך כי ביום 10 לח' ⟦כסלו⟧ הע'ל
הופיעה לפנינו אשתך מרת קמילה בת אליהו כהן וטענה כי אינך ⟦זן⟧ אותה כראוי
כי עזבת אותה בביתך זה כשמונה חדשים ואינך נותן לה מזונותיה כראוי וגם
בביתך זה ⟦אין⟧ לה רהיטים וכלים הצריכים לה וגם היא חולה ואין לה שכר רופא
ולפיכך מבקשת מאתנו וגם מאת ה' ועד הקהלה שתעמוד עמה
ולכן ה' בית דיננו קבעו לך יום ועד ביום 6 לחודש זה ⟦...⟧
בשעה 10 לפני הצהרים לבוא לבית דיננו זה ולעמוד עמה לדין ודברים
ואם לא תבוא למועד הנזכר יראה בית דיננו מה לעשות ושלום

[Signature] ⟦יהושע משה⟧
[Signature] חזן מכיר
[Signature] ס"ט