Voices from the Archive

IJA 1048

Correspondence among Jewish Community Committees

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Description

These are documents from the Baghdadi Jewish community. There is a letter from the British Military Governor for the allotment of lambs for the Jewish New Year 1918. Included are various correspondences: what students should bring to the Rabbinical College in Rhodes, Greece; verifications of birth certificates; letter and reply to the Jewish Lay Council from the Institute for the Blind to report its budget for 1934; letter from the Girls Sewing Charitable Society that lists its budget for 1934; letter from the head of Ozer Dalim Society to the President of the Jewish community regarding charity; 1933-1934 budget for Tomkhe Tora Society in Baghdad; letter from Chief Rabbi Benjamin Moshi; letter from the budget council of the Jewish Lay Council to all accountants in the Jewish community regarding decisions and instructions on budgets for 1934; letter from an accountant addressed to the head of the budget council regarding annual budget for 1934 - expenses, property tax, Jewish schools, wages for retired and needy people; spreadsheets containing expenses and revenues of the belongings of the Jewish community - hospitals, Morashi and education institutes; letter to a military figure asking for the release of six named war prisoners in 1919; letter from a legal codification department requesting deputy rabbi to look into a divorce subject to the rabbinical system in 1929; letters about a legal case of a woman claiming the right to collect her deceased husband's allowance, arguments stating she was divorced before he died; letter to the Lay Council concerning a house contract and a settlement; letter from the administration office of the Jewish community to a tenant regarding money for leasing a house; letter from the President of the Jewish community addressed to Iraqi government and Council of Ministers urging them to help distressed victims that were subjected to a catastrophic burglary and damage to their properties and shops, a total of 2731 families; letters to the Jewish Schools Committee regarding decreasing wages, transfers, retirements, sale of school belongings, requests interpretation of some amount to be reported, decrees and increases of allocated money; 1100 new students and their requirements from Jewish community funds; school debts and a copy of the annual budget; a teacher requests a teaching job in Almedrash School or any Jewish school in Baghdad appended by recommendation to the head of the Jewish Lay Council; request to make changes on class schedules and other educational arrangements. Correspondences from community members to the President of the Jewish Community regarding personal issues: help to finding relatives; dispute on a dowry issue; burials; a teacher requests a financial reward for 32 years of working in Midrash Talmud Torah, requests to continue to receive a retirement allowance of deceased husband; letter to Rabbi Sassoon Khedouri from a member of the Supreme Court requesting an additional salary for some extra work he does to help him financially; letter from workers requesting salary increases to the President of the Jewish Butchery; list of thirty names of needy and retired people whose allowances were decided upon by the Jewish Lay Council and approved by General Council. Also included are issues of the Iraqi Chronicle in 1973 on the nationalization of Exxon and Mobil Oil companies.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 1048
Item Number
16216
Date
Approx. January 1, 1911 to December 31, 1920
Languages
Multiple Languages
Keywords
Benjamin Moshi, Greece, Rhodes, Envelope, Postage Stamp, Financial, Legal, Midrash Talmud Torah, Correspondence, Divorce, Rosh Ha-Shanah, School Material, Dowry, British Occupation, Revenue Stamp, Marriage Certificates, Newspaper, Letterhead, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ozer Dalim, Shamash Secondary School, Hakham Sassoon Khedouri, Jewish Schools Committee, Iraqi Gazette, Annotation, Iraqi Government, Ink Stamp, Institute for the Blind, Charitable Sewing Society for Girls, Handwritten, Baghdadi Jewish Community, Accounting, Menashy Saleh School, Alliance School, Al-Rashid Club, Jewish Lay Council, Chief Rabbi, Rivka Nouriel School, President of the Jewish Community, Rahel Shamoon School, Judeo-Arabic, Lawrence Khedouri Primary School, Lease, Tenant, Military, Benjamin H. Moshi, Jewish Religious Court, Teacher, Birth Certificates, Basrah, Typed, Appeals Court, Tomkhe Tora Society, Albert David Sasson School, Masooda Saliman School

AI en Translation, Pages 251-275

Page 252

The Religious Court of the Holy Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No.: ⟦illegible⟧
Year: 5690
Date: 2 Kislev ⟦illegible⟧
To the Honorable
Treasurer, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, of the Talmud Torah of the Community, may its Rock and Redeemer protect it
Baghdad
After greetings
We hereby send you the sum of 25/00 twenty-five rupees
Divorce fees for the woman Mazal daughter of Sasson Gurji and her husband Ezra son of ⟦illegible⟧
With great respect
Hazan Ezra
Secretary
Administration of the Lay Council in Baghdad
Number 2876
Date 22 / 8 / 929
File Number

Page 253

Baghdad 11 July 935
His Excellency the President of the Lay Council, Respected
After greetings and respect
Fils | Dinar |
124 | 24 | The amount allocated for slaughterhouse expenses
|  | Subtract the amounts spent
540 | 32 | Total amounts spent
" | 9 | Subtract the value of carbolic acid
540 | 23 |
584 | " | The remainder
1- Please kindly make the decision to transfer the amount of 9 Dinars from the slaughterhouse expenses
to the extraordinary expenses, which is the value of the carbolic acid spent on the slaughterhouse during
the nine months ending in June 935, extracted from the attached schedules
2- After performing the mentioned transfer, there will remain for the slaughterhouse from the allocated amount
for spending only 584 fils
This is what was necessary, and to your Excellency all respect
⟦signature⟧
Accountant
2852
11 / 7 / 935
935
Note: The remainder of the Spiritual Council's expenses until the end of August
Slaughterhouse expenses spent are 24 Dinars and seven hundred and thirty-eight fils
So from 11 July until 20 August 935 with the spending of a Dinar and until ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ for carbolic acid
935
28 August 935
⟦signature⟧

Page 254

2928
30 August 935
His Eminence the President of the Religious Court, Respected
After greetings and respect
Reference to your letter No. 12 dated 20 August 5695
Your expenditure of the amount of 4 and a half Dinars for installing electric fans without
obtaining the approval of our Council is a matter contrary to the regulations followed by the community administration
Furthermore, the amount required from the expenditures allocated for the Sharia Courts in
the budget of 34 - 935 is 2 Dinars and 738 Fils; therefore, the
Council decided in its session held on 29 / 8 / 935 to approve the bill
amounting to 6 Dinars and 900 Fils attached to your letter;
x
Vice President
⟦illegible⟧

Page 255

Court of Appeal of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Israelite Court of Cassation
in Baghdad
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
Lender to Baghdad
555
Mr. Khedouri
for ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
040 - for ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
3 650 for ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
2 198 Mr. ⟦...⟧
2 240 Mr. ⟦...⟧
649 - ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
240 - ⟦...⟧
150 - ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
9 257
700 - ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
465 - ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
420 - Mr. ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
11 197 ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦signature⟧

8982
526 B 67
⟦illegible⟧
Subject: Allocation of funds for Jewish schools
To the Honorable President of the Physical Council
5225 B 67 on November 21, 1934
We would like to inform you that based on the decision of the Budget Committee in its session held on
January 18, 1934, regarding the study of the Jewish schools' budget for the fiscal year 1934,
and after deliberating on the requests submitted by you, it has been decided to allocate the amounts shown
in the table attached to this decision, in order to cover school expenses, salaries, and wages
due for the period from April 1, 1934, until March 31, 1935, according to the budget
approved by Council Resolution No. 526 / 8 / 32 in its session held on
January 1, 1934. Please act accordingly.
Please accept our highest respect and appreciation.
Chairman of the Budget Committee
⟦illegible signature⟧

Page 256

Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakam Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 759
Date: 27 July ⟦...⟧
⟦His Excellency the President of the Lay Committee⟧
⟦The Respected One⟧
⟦Baghdad⟧
To the Honorable Lay Committee, the Dear One
In our city, May God Protect It
After greetings of peace and blessings as is fitting and proper
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
Benjamin
⟦...⟧

Page 257

2841
30 August 935
His Eminence the Honorable Chief Rabbi
Reference to your letter No. 359 dated 27 August 5695
Your disbursement of the amount of 11 Dinars and 397 Fils without obtaining the permission of this Council
is contrary to the regulations followed by the community, and our Council has refused in its session held
on 29 / 8 / 935 to disburse the aforementioned amount as long as you have not obtained any permission from it for its disbursement.
Vice President
⟦Nuri Rashid⟧

Page 258

The Religious Court of Justice
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No.: 1277
Date: 2 Kanun II
Year: 5695
Estate of the deceased Sassoon Hayyim ⟦...⟧
P. M. D. ⟦...⟧
195   ⟦...⟧ per day
850   Customs fees ⟦...⟧
450   ⟦...⟧
225   ⟦...⟧
200   ⟦...⟧
600   ⟦...⟧
2720  ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧

Page 259

Appellate Court of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, May G-d Protect It
Israeli Court of Cassation
Baghdad
Number: 822
Date: 6 / ⟦11⟧ / 95
For the deceased Abraham Zilkha 75/6/6
Burial fees |
737 | A. Bracha
370 | Kaddish reciters
450 | Lesson for the whole year
38 | Patient transport
530 | For Kaddish reciters
825 | 1
Burial and Kaddish fees ⟦200⟧ and total ⟦825⟧ Dirhams
Kadouri H.
⟦illegible⟧
2 720
2 912
6 / 857

Page 260

From the Helper of the Poor to the Lay Council of the Baghdad Community
For 6 months (6 regular recipients)
According to the 1934 budget per month
At the rate of ⟦-⟧ 25 Dinars per month for all of them (6 members) as detailed below
Fils | Dinars
525 | 8
. . | 1
675 | 1
075 | 1
272 | 2
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 2860
Date: 1935/7/29
File Number:
To the General Treasurer
5229
15
For filing
Education
Ext.

Page 261

The Chief Rabbi of the Holy City
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 228
Date: 10/1/95
The honored and magnificent Mr. Menachem Mr. Daniel Mr. Hakim
Respect to Mr. Al-Hayyim
We bring to your knowledge that I have delivered to Mr. Shimon son of Hakim
And one ⟦...⟧ piece of a vessel for Dinars and it has a date and also one piece and one D.R.
For a division in copper likewise and under your protection
Benjamin H.

Page 262

Dirham | Dirham Plus
25/10/33 Balance | Menachem A. Nissim | 375 | 2 | 964
25/11/33 Balance | (Menachem A. Nissim) | 292 | 9 | 222
25/12/33 Balance | // | 400 | 2 | 995
26/1/34 Balance | // | 411 | 4 | 854
26/2/34 Balance | // | 422 | 2 | 870
|  |  | 19 | 904
Preservation

Page 263

The Chief Rabbi of the city
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧ 92
Your supporter R. Menachem R. Nissim R. Isaac
Kashar A. Qatayeb
Narkis al-Framsis al-Din. Framsis al-Din al-Chalabi
And he was relieved on 25/11/33 from the religious service and other things and I did not give
anything and because of our wisdom
Benjamin H.M.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦For accounting⟧

Page 264

The Religious Court of the Holy City
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No. 1217
Date 8 Tammuz Year 5695
From the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Kadoorie 20%
Entrance fees
Hakham Sassoon 192
Hakham Yosef 250
Hakham Avraham 500
⟦And more⟧ 1960
⟦line⟧
2902
We received from Rabbi Sassoon Kadoorie the aforementioned sum
Hakham Sassoon
Hakham Yosef
or

Page 265

Court of Appeal of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
Jewish Court of Cassation
Baghdad
Number: 484
Date: 19 / 11 / 929
Regarding Petition A 167 in the year 25/11/929
| Dirham Plus
785 | Receipt and Protocol A Petition
170 | Petition in the name of Baghdad
210 | Baghdad
270 | Fines
485 | Known Dirham
2020 | Stamp fees and petition fees Dirham total 2020
⟦illegible⟧
Or

Page 266

The Chief Rabbi, may he live for many good years
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 400
Date: 25 / November / 92
To the honorable Director, the Director, the Director
Kasher L. Kahia
We hereby share in the sorrow of the Director on the passing
of his father, of blessed memory, on the 25th of Tishrei and send you condolences and may it be the will
of the Blessed Name, Blessed be He and Blessed be His Name Amen
Benjamin H.M.
⟦illegible⟧
The Archive

Page 267

Court of Appeal of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
Jewish Court of Cassation
Baghdad
Number:
Date: ⟦25/12⟧
Account of the ⟦the⟧ appeal expenses ⟦of⟧ past 25/12
335 | Protocol
150 | Copy of the judgment
280 | Stamps
430 | Account of other matters
1295 | Total, plus registration fee and costs
regarding other matters
⟦Signature⟧

Page 268

The Court of Justice of the Holy Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No. 1249
Date 18 Adar
Year 569
For ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ 600
⟦...⟧ 200
⟦...⟧ 300
⟦...⟧ 600
⟦...⟧ 1700
⟦...⟧
Ezra ⟦...⟧
Hugi ⟦...⟧

Page 269

The Chief Rabbi of the City
Baghdad, May God Protect It
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 475
Date: June 11, 93
To the Honorable and Respected Mr. Nissim L. Fattal
Honorable Mr. Qamir
We hereby inform you that Mr. Joseph H. Ezra Al-Najjar Al-Shimoni
married on 10/25/1932 Mrs. Habiba and her daughter and gave her a dowry
of fifty and a quarter pounds as written in their Ketubah
Benjamin H. M.
⟦signature⟧
F
Archive

Page 270

Court of Appeal of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
Jewish Court of Cassation
Baghdad
Number ⟦line⟧
Date ⟦line⟧
Funds received on Sunday 25/8/1929
| Dirham Fils
A. Dangur | 585
Hazuri Saleh Al Daoud | 250
Shimon Cohen | 250
Ezra Al Habib for Shimon | 150
Shimon Al Habib for Shimon | 287
Shimon Katani Peretz | 200
Bashir Karkali | 487
Kadouri Menashe | 320
Habib Darwish | 435
Total appeal fees, order, printing, and Maran Dirham | 2964
Collected by Haz
⟦illegible⟧

Page 271

The Chief Rabbi of the City
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 411
Date: 12 / July / 93
Your servant Kaham L. Ezra L. Nissim L. Simcha
Kosher L. Kamiz
Entered into the dwellings of Ka'ini Ezra L. Naftali Ibn Menashe
For rent ⟦942/1/1⟧ from the day of his entry and his rental period and his time is free L.
And this is for him as testimony and evidence according to the law
Benjamin H.
⟦signature⟧
The Rabbi
Administration of the Lay Council - Baghdad:
Number: 2926
Date: 13 / 7 / 34
File Number:

Page 272

Court of Appeal of the Jewish Community
Baghdad, may God protect it
Jewish Court of Cassation
Baghdad
Number: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: ⟦illegible⟧
Expense account ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ 1/1/926
From Plus
210 | ⟦...⟧
250 | Scribe's fee
540 | ⟦...⟧
100 | Letter ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
648 | ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧
1748 | Total ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ ⟦...⟧ From
Benjamin
⟦illegible⟧

Page 273

The Religious Court of the Holy Community
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
⟦line⟧
No.: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: ⟦illegible⟧
Year: ⟦illegible⟧
For the Honorable Rabbi Sassoon Kadoorie ⟦...⟧ |
Kippur money |
Charity for ⟦...⟧ | 150
Mevaser Tov ⟦...⟧ | 500
⟦...⟧ | 165
⟦...⟧ | 2000
⟦...⟧ | 300
Total ⟦...⟧ | 3115
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
~

Page 274

The Chief Rabbi of the city
Baghdad, may God protect it
Chief Rabbi of Baghdad Benjamin Hakham Moshi
CHIEF RABBI
BENJAMIN H. MOSHI
Baghdad
Number: 442
Date: 16 / September / 926
Respected Fahm L. Shalom L. Nissim L. Hamra
Kosher Jamia
Regarding the charitable participants in the year you worked on the rights of the wall
⟦...⟧ in this year it is your duty to hand over the debts to the Minister of Law
Your service for the religion upon you for the court
Benjamin H.
⟦signature⟧
Preservation

Page 275

The Jewish Religious Court
Baghdad, May God Protect It
The Jewish Religious Court in Baghdad
JEWISH RELIGIOUS COURT
BAGHDAD
No.: 1271
Date: 10 Adar
Year: 5696
⟦illegible⟧
For the honor of ⟦the Rabbi⟧ ⟦illegible⟧
Pocket money
600 ancient coins of the year ⟦illegible⟧
200 ⟦illegible⟧
750 ⟦illegible⟧
⟦line⟧
1550 this item was written ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧