Shaoul Sassoon
Shaoul Sassoon (b. 1948) is an Iraqi engineer and inventor, who worked as Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals and Iraqi Scientific Research Council during the era of Saddam Hussein. Additionally, he was a member of the Iraqi Jewish Committee, representing Jews in meetings with the government.
Sasson's contributions were recognized in 1987 when he received a certificate and letter of appreciation from President Saddam Hussein along with a monetary reward. His invention, a kiln feed interruption warning system, was officially registered as patent in 1988. In 1997, he developed a fire-resistant cement formulation essential for high-temperature industrial applications, that was widely adopted for lining industrial furnaces and reactors. His worked to the production of specialized expansion cement, used for structural reinforcement and sealing applications.
During the Gulf War and subsequent sanctions on Iraq, industrial production faced severe disruptions. Sasson continued working in the chemical and metallurgical industries, supervising the construction of high-temperature kilns for ammonia and fertilizer production. He contributed to the engineering of refractory materials used in various industrial applications.
Early life
Shaul Sassoon was born in 1928 in Al-Sanak, Baghdad. His family lived on Republic Street before being forced to leave in 1952 or 1953 when their house was confiscated. The family was compensated with 1,500 dinars, significantly less than neighboring properties. He worked in cement production in Baghdad until 1978. His father and grandfather were goldsmiths, continuing their trade in Shorja near Al-Alousi Market. The Farhud pogrom led to the looting of their possessions. Sassoon was involved in property management related to the Jewish sect, including overseeing endowments and cemetery maintenance.
His family had roots in both Baqubah and Basra. His father lived in Baqubah, while his mother, Marcel Dawood Shlomo Haik, was from Basra. She married in Baghdad. His family members eventually emigrated, while his parents remained due to financial difficulties. His father passed away in 1983, and his mother in 1994. Sassoon witnessed key events in Iraq's history, including the July 14, 1958, revolution. He saw the corpse of Abdul Ilah being dragged through Rashid Street. He recalled the execution of Yehuda Khudouri Tuweiq in 1971 and noted that 40 Jews were executed during that period.
He attended Menachem School in Baghdad, where he studied Hebrew. He later received Hebrew instruction from Rabbi Najee Baneri in 1965-66. He also studied under Shamash. His schooling was interrupted during times of unrest, and he was a top student despite hardships. In his early years, Sasson encountered difficulties obtaining official identification documents, which were essential for legal and academic processes. Jewish citizens were required to carry a "Non-Dropout Identity Card" to prove they had not emigrated to Israel, as Iraqi authorities were suspicious of those who had.
During Sasson's years in Iraq, the political environment was highly volatile, particularly under the Ba'athist regime. The execution of political dissidents, including Jewish individuals, was a common occurrence. In the early 1970s, a wave of public executions targeted those accused of espionage and anti-government activities. Although Jewish students in university were not directly persecuted, the executions deeply affected the community. Some professors and students expressed condolences to their Jewish colleagues after these incidents. One of his colleagues later became Minister of Construction and Mayor of Baghdad. He climbed the ranks quickly under the Ba’ath Party. After graduating, professors advised him to avoid sensitive government jobs because he was Jewish.
The committee oversaw substantial endowments, including multiple markets and properties. Some assets were managed by the sect itself, while others remained under the oversight of the Ministry of Finance. Certain properties, such as Cinema Samiramis, were officially endowment properties, generating rental income that was deposited into the committee’s bank account. The collected funds were not immediately distributed but were allocated for memorial ceremonies in honor of Daniel. The committee's secretary would attend these ceremonies to ensure proper use of funds. A portion of the funds was also designated for committee expenses, such as tea and coffee for meetings.
In one instance, the Minister of Industry summoned Sassoon for a meeting. Initially, security personnel denied him entry due to a false claim that he was Israeli. The misunderstanding was later resolved when the minister confirmed his meeting. By the late 1990s, Sassoon’s salary had been significantly affected by inflation. His final earnings amounted to 500,000 Iraqi dinars, equivalent to approximately $250, with an official salary of only 20,000 dinars supplemented by incentives.
Sasson's contributions were recognized in 1987 when he received a certificate and letter of appreciation from President Saddam Hussein along with a monetary reward. His invention, a kiln feed interruption warning system, was officially registered as patent in 1988. In 1997, he developed a fire-resistant cement formulation essential for high-temperature industrial applications, that was widely adopted for lining industrial furnaces and reactors. His worked to the production of specialized expansion cement, used for structural reinforcement and sealing applications.
During the Gulf War and subsequent sanctions on Iraq, industrial production faced severe disruptions. Sasson continued working in the chemical and metallurgical industries, supervising the construction of high-temperature kilns for ammonia and fertilizer production. He contributed to the engineering of refractory materials used in various industrial applications.
Early life
Shaul Sassoon was born in 1928 in Al-Sanak, Baghdad. His family lived on Republic Street before being forced to leave in 1952 or 1953 when their house was confiscated. The family was compensated with 1,500 dinars, significantly less than neighboring properties. He worked in cement production in Baghdad until 1978. His father and grandfather were goldsmiths, continuing their trade in Shorja near Al-Alousi Market. The Farhud pogrom led to the looting of their possessions. Sassoon was involved in property management related to the Jewish sect, including overseeing endowments and cemetery maintenance.
His family had roots in both Baqubah and Basra. His father lived in Baqubah, while his mother, Marcel Dawood Shlomo Haik, was from Basra. She married in Baghdad. His family members eventually emigrated, while his parents remained due to financial difficulties. His father passed away in 1983, and his mother in 1994. Sassoon witnessed key events in Iraq's history, including the July 14, 1958, revolution. He saw the corpse of Abdul Ilah being dragged through Rashid Street. He recalled the execution of Yehuda Khudouri Tuweiq in 1971 and noted that 40 Jews were executed during that period.
He attended Menachem School in Baghdad, where he studied Hebrew. He later received Hebrew instruction from Rabbi Najee Baneri in 1965-66. He also studied under Shamash. His schooling was interrupted during times of unrest, and he was a top student despite hardships. In his early years, Sasson encountered difficulties obtaining official identification documents, which were essential for legal and academic processes. Jewish citizens were required to carry a "Non-Dropout Identity Card" to prove they had not emigrated to Israel, as Iraqi authorities were suspicious of those who had.
During Sasson's years in Iraq, the political environment was highly volatile, particularly under the Ba'athist regime. The execution of political dissidents, including Jewish individuals, was a common occurrence. In the early 1970s, a wave of public executions targeted those accused of espionage and anti-government activities. Although Jewish students in university were not directly persecuted, the executions deeply affected the community. Some professors and students expressed condolences to their Jewish colleagues after these incidents. One of his colleagues later became Minister of Construction and Mayor of Baghdad. He climbed the ranks quickly under the Ba’ath Party. After graduating, professors advised him to avoid sensitive government jobs because he was Jewish.
The committee oversaw substantial endowments, including multiple markets and properties. Some assets were managed by the sect itself, while others remained under the oversight of the Ministry of Finance. Certain properties, such as Cinema Samiramis, were officially endowment properties, generating rental income that was deposited into the committee’s bank account. The collected funds were not immediately distributed but were allocated for memorial ceremonies in honor of Daniel. The committee's secretary would attend these ceremonies to ensure proper use of funds. A portion of the funds was also designated for committee expenses, such as tea and coffee for meetings.
In one instance, the Minister of Industry summoned Sassoon for a meeting. Initially, security personnel denied him entry due to a false claim that he was Israeli. The misunderstanding was later resolved when the minister confirmed his meeting. By the late 1990s, Sassoon’s salary had been significantly affected by inflation. His final earnings amounted to 500,000 Iraqi dinars, equivalent to approximately $250, with an official salary of only 20,000 dinars supplemented by incentives.
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