IN MEMORY OF ALISA MEIR HAKKAK
The Iraqi Jewish community in New York State was organized in 1934, as the
"Iraqi Aid Society". Its aim was to help its members who found difficulties
in their new country of settlement, and to purchase burial sites for the
members of the community.
BURIAL GROUND, BAGHDAD
In the center is the grave of Hakham Yosef Hayim
In the early 1950's, several members of the community established a second
organization called the "American Alliance Society". A few years later,
they merged with the original "Iraqi Aid Society". The new name that
emerged was the current "American Aid Society,"also known as A. A. Society, Inc.
Between the 1940's and the 1980's, the community's social activities took
place at very prominent hotels. In addition, during the High Holidays in the
1970's and up to 1980's, a large hall was rented in Esplanade Hotel
in Manhattan for religious services.
The 2011-2015 members of the Board of Trustees of the A. A. Society Inc.,
are listed below:
| President | Alan Shamoon |
| Vice Presidents | Oliver Iny, Abe Lerner, Samy Salem |
| Treasurer | Eze Bashi |
| Secretary | Robert Aizer |
| Trustees | Alice Aboody, Aboud Anwarzadeh,
Maurice Bakhash, Carole Basri, Nanette Jiji, S. David
Moche, Sabah Pishanidar, Robert Shasha, Haron Shohet |
| Religious Advisor | Aaron Abrahams |
Members of the cemetery committee telephone numbers:
Samy Salem (H)516-621-3467 or (C)415-730-1402 ssalem@optonline.net, Abe Lerner (Muallem) (H) 516-482-0880 or (C) 516-626-7888 alerner26@gmail.com, Eze Bashi (H)718-631-2322 or (C) 516-662-4258 eze22@verizon.net,
Aaron Abrahams (H)718-424-0476.
| Contact Us | 85-34 Midland Parkway
Jamaica Estates, NY 11432-2222 |
| Phone Us | (718) 297-5737 |
| Email Us | Click Here |
IN MEMORY OF ALISA MEIR HAKKAK
Due to Mrs. Alisa Meir Hakkak generosity, Congregation Bene Naharayim, which was established by the A. A. Society, Inc.
received a large donation according to her will.
Here are some excerpts from the will:
"I direct my executors to purchase or have written a Scroll of Law (Sefer Torah) and a proper
cloak or container and a set of silver fillials (rimonim) for the scroll, and a silver plate with an inscription dedicating the
torah to the memory of my husband, Meir Nessim Hakkak, and myself."
Three conditions had to be satisfied before the money was bequeathed to the A. A. Society, Inc./Congregation Bene Naharayim:
1) The A. A. Society, Inc. should own premises to be used as a synagogue, and that the services will "be conducted in accordance with the customs
of Iraqi or Sephardic Jews."
2) The main auditorium, used as the main prayer hall, should display a suitable plaque with the legend, "Dedicated in Memory of Meir Nessim
Hakkak and his wife, Alisa Hakkak."
3) The name and plaque should be carried over to any future synagogue used by the A. A. Society, Inc.
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