AI English Translation, Pages 176-200
149
⟦line⟧
1109
Baghdad 25th Dec. 1918.
To.
His Excellency
Civil Commissioner
Excellency.
The bearer Moyes Isac
is a Jew from Salonika, he was conscripted
by the Turks, he now holds a Passport from the
Greek Consul, having deserted and come here
he is a pauper and an orphan, intending to travel
to Bombay, so kindly order to allow him a free
passage by a steamer to go there for which I
shall be obliged.
Yours Obedient Servant
Acting Chief Rabbi of Baghdad
President of the Religious Council.
copy
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,
⟦illegible signature⟧
Superintendent,
Vernacular <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> Office.
- 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,
Chief Rabbi.
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.
Arabic Secretariat Department
Under the Administration of the Civil Commissioner in Iraq
From Baghdad on November 13, 1918
To His Eminence, the Acting Hacham Bashi of Baghdad the Illustrious
My Lord;
His Excellency the Acting Civil Commissioner has commanded me to invite your Eminence
to honor this administration with a visit early at three o'clock in the afternoon (according to English
time) to meet His Excellency as your Eminence desired;
I have the honor to be your Eminence's
Humble and obedient servant
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Arabic Secretariat Department
Under the Administration of the Civil Commissioner
Copy of a petition No. 17271/10, dated 24th June
1918, from ⟦L⟧ooloo bint Shaool Rabia, Tatran Qr., to the
C.C. Baghdad.
⟦line⟧
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.
⟦line⟧
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.
⟦illegible⟧ Captain, I.A.
Offg: Civil Commissioner.
B.B.D. S.
⟦illegible⟧
No. - 14997
Number
No. ⟦line⟧
Office of the Civil Commissioner,
Baghdad, the 26th July, 1918.
Office of the Civil Commissioner General in Baghdad
26 July year 1918 = 17 Shawwal 36
To
The Rev. Actg: Chief Rabbi,
B a g h d a d.
To His Eminence the Acting Chief Rabbi, the Respected
Baghdad
Memorandum.
A certain lady of your Jewish Community, called Mariame, had sent to her late husband, P/W No 8389 Nassim Zakhri, a First of Exchange No. W0847 dated 20th May, 1918 on the Eastern Bank, Limited, Baghdad for Rs.100/ made payable to him thro' the Commandant, Prisoners of War Camp, Sumerpur, Rajputana, India.
After greetings. I inform your presence that one of the ladies of your Israelite community named Mariam had sent a transfer for one hundred rupees (the first copy of it under number W0847 and dated 20 May year 1918 on Eastern Bank Limited Baghdad) to her late husband Nassim Hezekiah, prisoner of war number 8389, via the Commandant of Prisoners of War in Sumerpur, Rajputana, India.
As this P/W, I regret to say, has been reported dead on the 1st. May, 1918 in the Camp Hospital, Sumerpur, I am now directed by the Offg: Civil Commissioner to request you to be so kind as to return to Mariame her First of Exchange No. W0847, together with her last letter to her husband.
However, I say with regret that the aforementioned prisoner, according to what has reached us, passed away on the first of May year 1918 in the camp hospital in Sumerpur, and therefore the Honorable Acting Civil Commissioner has ordered me to request you to be so kind as to return the transfer paper to Mariam and her last letter which she sent to her husband, and since her surname is unknown to this office and since she is an Israelite lady, it is probable that you will be able to find her and deliver this check paper and letter to her, and please inform us of their receipt, and we thank you in advance for that, and peace.
There is no indication in this Office of her address, but as she is a Jew, you could probably deliver same to her.
Kindly acknowledge receipt. Thank you very much in advance.
⟦signature⟧
Supdt. Vern. Section.
⟦signature⟧
Head of the Arabic Clerical Section
No. 2846/B/4/1 A/8
Commandant's Office,
Prisoners of War Camp,
Sumerpur 6th July 1918
Lt.-Col. H. S. GARRATT (103 Mahrattas),
Commandant, Prisoners of War Camp,
Sumerpur, Rajputana.
To: Chief Political Officer,
BAGHDAD.:
No.:
Dated: 191
CHIEF POLITICAL OFFICE
Regd. S 20 520/1
Dated 25-7-18
C. P. O. BAGHDAD
SIR,
I beg to enclose herewith a letter and a First
<del>bill</del> of Exchange No. W 0847 dated 20th May '18 on the Eastern
Bank Limited, Baghdad, for Rs.100/- made payable thro' me to a
Jewish <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> PW in this camp, viz
Prisoner of War No.8389 NISSIM HAZKRI
2 . As this P/W, I regret to say, died on 1st May 1918
in the camp Hospital here, could you kindly have the letter and
the bill returned to the sender - the deceased man's wife,
MARINNE, who writes in French.
Marianne
I am unable to give any indication of the sender's
address, but I venture to send it to you, as being a Jew, the
information would I think be at once forth coming from the
Jewish authorities near you. I enclose her letter in original.
⟦illegible signature⟧
Lieut.-Colonel,
Commandant, Prisoners of War Camp,
Sumerpur, Rajputana.
Telegrams—
Prisoners Sumerpur.
Only one hundred rupees
100
I have received from Hajj Salih ⟦illegible⟧ one hundred rupees which ⟦illegible⟧ to him from Kirkuk
by the hand of the General Justice of the Peace in Baghdad, and I have received it in full, and for the sake of clarification I have written
this receipt to be a written stamp in ⟦illegible⟧
resident of Qanbar Ali neighborhood
Mariam daughter of Ibrahim, wife of Nassim Hazqeel
mariam ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible stamp⟧
Witness to that
⟦hebrew text⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
Witness to that
Daoud Ishaq
No. OS. 5837
Office of the Civil Commissioner,
Baghdad 25th September 1917.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦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,
Capt.
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⟧
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 this
matter.
for Chief Rabbi.
⟦signature⟧
Chief Political Office,
Baghdad 3rd May 1917
My dear Sir.
You wished a few days ago to send a telegram
to London saying that the poor classes among your
community were perverting their morals for their
livelihood etc.
I am desired by the Army Commander to say that
there appears to be some doubt as to the accuracy of the
report of the prostitution on the part of Jewesses
owing to hunger.
Moreover if it is correct, Army Commander considers
that the case would appear to be one which it would be
fitting for you to remedy by local subscription in
consultation with the leaders of your community.
Yours truly
P. Cox
⟦illegible⟧ telegram ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧ (200) ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
To
Chief Rabbi
Baghdad
⟦illegible⟧
Office of the Civil Commissioner
In Baghdad
⟦line⟧
To His Eminence the Virtuous Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community, Respected
Greetings and peace. We inform your Excellency that our Civil Commissioner in Amarah cabled us and requested
that we place at your disposal the sum of three thousand (3000) rupees donated by the men of the Jewish
community in Amarah to their Baghdadi brothers.
If you delegate a person on behalf of your Eminence to receive the amount, we will pay it to him.
This is what was necessary to inform your Excellency, and please accept our greetings ⟦...⟧
P. Z. Cox
Civil Commissioner in Iraq
Sir Percy Cox
17 / 4 / 7
To His Excellency the Pride of Happiness, the Civil Commissioner in Iraq, Respected
Greetings and respect. We state that in response to your letter dated the 17th of this month, we have
authorized Mr. Saqeel Sahya Yusuf Sharbani to receive the three thousand (3000) rupees
donated by the men of the Jewish community in Amarah <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> to their poor brothers
here. By this means, I offer my great thanks to your Excellency, and may you remain well.
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⟧
Captain,
P.A. to Chief Political Officer.
Chief Rabbi
Baghdad
⟦illegible ghost text from reverse side⟧
The Court of Justice of the Holy Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Israelite Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
⟦line⟧
No.: 740
Date: 22 Kislev 5694
Year: 5694
Before us
Lhazor Ma'tuq Na'im Ma'tuq 6 April 6 Shuwayk
⟦illegible⟧
Regarding 6 marriage
Hazar Ma'tuq who agreed that it be given from this court and further his testimony on day 6
Kislev ⟦illegible⟧ year 5694 explicit and clear and we have already explained and seen 10 hidden sin
And Baghdad from it we showed 66 Rupees Shen Patz and by virtue of his testimony in our hands and his fee from 6 Nawid and so
We received and thus we signed in our names 6 who were summoned and we heard 6 Sar we said Yitzhak 6 Ephraim 6 Hanukkah
Ya'akov Ovadia who heard his testimony and in his testimony in our hands and included in the group among these five
And all and they explained between them 6 Baghdad and so Shen and clear Shen 6 they all received and by virtue and we justified and signature
6 his testimony there 6 and all and they signed they received his testimony who were summoned to and they received his testimony and in his testimony in our hands
These. All is true, established and enduring that all his testimony 6 we heard and signature 6 that is clear and valid
Nissim Salman
Menashe Ovadia
Sh.
Presidency of the Israelite Community
1111
22 / 12 / 10
Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Department: Drafting
General Number: 4 / 127 / 928
Special Number:
Telegraphic Address: Justice
Date: 27 May 1928
Please refer to
General Number
Subject Summary:
To "
Head of the Spiritual Council of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad.
Furthermore, I am sending you herewith the petition of Eliyahu bin Ezra dated May 22, 928
submitted to this Ministry, and I request that you look into the claims of the aforementioned petitioner and provide us
with the answer to them along with the return of the petition;
Decision ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
On behalf of the Minister of Justice.
Justice
27 / 5 / 28
M. F.
To the Honorable Acting Hakham Bashi of Baghdad,
Greetings and respect: I submitted a letter to the Spiritual Court dated January 9, 1929,
a copy of which was sent to your Excellency, and another dated January 14, 1929, directly to your Excellency, in which I explained
that I have been informed that the Spiritual Court has issued against my son and client, Yehuda Shaul, a decree
for monthly alimony for his fiancée, Simha Kashi, in the amount of 20 rupees, based on my absence on the day of the hearing.
We were astonished by such a strange ruling that was not built on a civil or religious basis, for we do not recall that I
was ever summoned and failed to attend except for substantial reasons which I explained on the side papers. Furthermore,
I stated in my two letters that I am ready for the hearing before the court in this case, which has not been preceded
by any other case in being delayed for more than four years. About a month ago, the Spiritual Court decided
to hear my statements and appointed a day for the trial; however, I do not know the reasons that necessitated this
delay in this lawsuit, which has greatly harmed our interests since our repeated follow-ups on it began
four years ago and more. The reason for this is the Spiritual Court closing its doors suddenly. We appeal to
your Excellency, based on what Article Six of the Hakhamkhana Regulations has authorized you and what the
regulations themselves have mandated upon you, to look jointly with the Spiritual Court into this lawsuit and issue what is justified to guarantee
your right, which I do not doubt will be an impartial judgment. It pains me and pains every discerning person to see
such delays in clear cases where the truth is as apparent as the morning light. If it is not
within the power of the office of the Hakham Bashi of the community to resolve this case, then I have no choice but to appeal to
our exalted government to realize a clear right that has often been manipulated by personal goals in the exercise of its private
and public affairs. The matter is yours, sir.
A copy of it to the Honorable Lay Council for information.
Signature
Shaul Haron Yehuda
⟦signature⟧
Haron Yehuda
Baghdad, March 19, 1929
The Kashi House Case
General Form 16
G. F. 16.
Iraqi Government
GOVERNMENT OF ‘IRAQ.
⟦line⟧
Department: Baghdad Treasury
Department.:
Number: 4/127/928
No.:
Date: 12/6/928
Dated:
To: President of the Spiritual Council of the Jewish Community
To: Baghdad
Memorandum.
Greetings. We request a prompt reply to the letter of this department
I shall be glad of an early reply to this
Number: 4/127
office No.: 27/1/928
Dated: 27 May 928
dated:
Regarding: Properties of the Jewish Community
regarding:
⟦stamp: ⟦illegible⟧⟧
With respect
Signature ⟦signature⟧
Signature ⟦line⟧
Position: For the Minister of Finance
Designation ⟦line⟧
BGP3...45...134...500 Pads...5-7-27.
The Justice Court of the Holy City
Baghdad, may God protect it
Jewish Spiritual Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No.: 228
Date: 2 Kislev
Year: 5688
With God's Help
To the honorable, dear, and exalted Mr. Sasson Pathi, may his Rock and Redeemer preserve him, live and prosper
Here in Baghdad, may God protect it
Regarding Mrs. Camilla
Our court has the honor to inform you that on the 10th of the month of ⟦Kislev⟧ aforementioned
Your wife, Mrs. Camilla daughter of Eliyahu Cohen, appeared before us and claimed that you do not ⟦sustain⟧ her properly
For you left her in your house for about eight months and you do not give her her sustenance properly and also
In your house she ⟦has no⟧ furniture or necessary utensils and she is also sick and has no fee for a doctor
And therefore she requests of us and also of the Community Committee that you stand with her
And therefore, our court has set a meeting day for you on the 6th of this month ⟦...⟧
At 10 o'clock before noon to come to this our court and to stand with her for litigation
And if you do not come at the aforementioned time, our court will see what to do, and peace
⟦Yehoshua Moshe⟧
Hazaan Mechir
S.T.
16/H
21 June 1928
Subject: Regarding the case of Eliyahu Qaldarji
His Excellency the Honorable Minister of Justice
Greetings,
Reference is made to your letter No. A/9/827 dated 27 May 1928
and the petition attached herewith.
It is clear from the course of the lawsuit that was presented in the Spiritual Court that the person named Eliyahu son of Ezra had sheltered his wife and reconciled with her on 26 Av (Hebrew) of the year 5687, and she gave birth to a child on 15 Shevat (Hebrew) 5688. According to the claimant's admission, it must be mentioned here that Mosaic Law states:
1) A newborn whose gestation period is seven months is a legitimate child of his parents.
2) The calculated seven months include the month of union and the month of birth, regardless of the number of days in these two months. For further clarification, we provide an example from the case under discussion: the husband Eliyahu joined his wife on 26 Av and the woman gave birth on 15 Shevat. Therefore, if we want to determine the child's age, we must count Av, Elul, Tishrei, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, so the son's age is seven months and he is a legitimate son of his parents.
After reviewing what we have mentioned and based on the legal texts, the Spiritual Court has considered the son to be the legitimate child of his parents.
With highest respect to Your Excellency;
Attachment: Petitioner's petition
⟦illegible⟧
Representative of the Hakham Bashi
Justice
Sh. L.
SGPS... 260... 477... 1,000 Pads... 8-8-25.
G. F. 12.
General Form (12)
FROM: President of the Baghdad Court of First Instance
To: Spiritual Head of the Israelite Community
No.: 10772
Dated: 24 July 928
Corresponding to:
Memorandum.
Please inform us of the result of the lawsuit formed between Eliyahu bin Ezra al-Qandariji
and Lamia bint Eliyahu, before the trial date falling on 31 July 928.
⟦illegible⟧
The President
J. Y.
⟦illegible⟧
418
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Ministry of Justice, Case of Al-Qandariji
10/17
Comparative table of primary school examination results in community schools for the year 1937/38
School | Apprenticeship | Shamoun | Shamash | Menashi Saleh | Masuda Salman | National | Nouriel | Laura Kadoorie
General Average | 71.51 | 68.34 | 67.86 | 67.35 | 67.10 | 66.40 | 61.99 | 60.36
English | (1-1) 83.75 Louisa | (3-6) 70.45 Abdullah | (1-7) 78.76 Zeloof | (5-8) 63.00 ⟦the Albansam⟧ | (3-7) 69.00 Zeloof (Menashi) | (2-5) 74.60 Haddad Meir | (1-4) 75.15 Darwish | (1-2) 79.79 Cohen Lisa
Geometry | (2-3) 83.10 Zalkha | (1-3) 83.45 Twina | (2-6) 77.92 Basri | (1-1) 85.02 Lawi | (1-4) 82.00 Haddad (Shamoun) | (1-5) 79.10 Abdul Sattar | (3-7) 67.94 Darwish | (2-8) 66.11 Haddad
Arithmetic | (3-1) 79.79 Zalkha | (3-5) 70.45 Twina | (4-6) 69.12 Basri | (3-3) 73.00 Lawi | (2-2) 74.16 Haddad (Shamoun) | (3-4) 71.20 Sabri | (4-7) 65.84 Darwish | (4-8) 57.78 Haddad
Arabic | (4-1) 76.57 Abdul Ahad | (2-3) 74.53 Kabay | (3-4) 73.16 Zakaria | (2-2) 74.90 Shmeil | (4-6) 67.74 Deebie | (4-7) 67.24 Haddad (Shaul) | (2-5) 70.43 Darwish | (3-8) 62.67 Haddad
Geography | (5-2) 64.97 Zalkha | (4-1) 65.75 Rushdi | (5-5) 63.24 Yusuf | (4-6) 63.00 Ezra | (5-3) 64.50 Habiba | (5-4) 64.01 Rushdi | (5-7) 59.50 Darwish | (6-8) 55.54 Farah
Science | (6-1) 63.57 Zalkha | (5-2) 61.70 Naim | (6-3) 59.06 Douri | (6-3) 61.30 Salim | (6-4) 61.00 Dahan | (6-5) 59.82 Haddad (Ezra) | (7-7) 57.38 Shamoun | (5-8) 56.00 Haddad
History | (7-4) 60.79 Zalkha | (6-2) 61.20 Cohen | (7-1) 63.14 Zakaria | (4-3) 63.00 Ezra | (7-5) 60.66 Deebie | (7-6) 59.52 Haddad (Ezra) | (6-7) 57.37 Shamoun | (8-8) 51.45 Farah
Civics | (8-1) 60.30 Zalkha | (7-2) 60.00 Twina | (7-3) 59.52 Yusuf | (7-5) 57.00 Ezra | (8-4) 57.08 Dahan | (8-6) 56.52 Khalaschi | (8-7) 54.87 Shamoun | (7-8) 53.47 Farah
Note: The first number in brackets indicates the subject ranking among all schools, and the second number indicates the subject ranking within the school
No 44
Baghdad, the 16th January 918.
To the Dy.Military Governor,
Baghdad.
Sir,
I have the honour to confirm my letter dated the 7th September on
the subject of Farha, daughter of Ibrahim Gourdji, and beg you to be wi-
lling to re-instruct the concerned authorities to deal with the quest-
ion.
Yours sincerely,
The Chief Rabbi.
5 August 1928
His Excellency the President of the Baghdad Court of First Instance, Respected
Subject: Outcome of the lawsuit of Eliyahu Qandarchi and Lima daughter of Eliyahu
After greetings, with reference to your letter No. 1733 dated 24 July 1928
The husband, Eliyahu son of Ezra the Qandarchi, has claimed that his wife Lima daughter of Eliyahu gave birth
after a pregnancy he considers incomplete, and therefore requests the prohibition of his wife and proof of the illegitimacy of the newborn. After the hearing
in presence and reviewing the religious texts, the Spiritual Court did not find justification for the husband's claim; therefore, it ruled
the legitimacy of the son.
Respectfully yours;
⟦hebrew signature⟧
Deputy Haham Bashi
Sh
Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Please refer to
General Number
Department: Drafting
General Number: 14 27/28
Special Number:
Telegraphic Address: Adliya
Date: 31 July 1928
Subject Summary:
To "
President of the Spiritual Council of the Israelite Community
Reference to your letter numbered 16/J and dated 21 June 1928.
It appears from your above-mentioned letter that the child was born at an age not exceeding
five and a half months, and you have considered this period as seven months for reasons we do not see
correctness in accepting. Since it is impossible for a newborn of this age to remain alive, it has become
obvious that this consideration cannot be accepted; therefore, we have decided to request you
first to bring the midwife Labiba daughter of Eliyahu, wife of the petitioner, and inquire from her about
the date of the first meeting with her that resulted in pregnancy and birth, and inform us of that as soon as possible;
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Justice
⟦illegible stamp⟧