In the introduction to her edition, Jane Hathaway notes: "ENA 3958.10 is an abbreviated acknowledgement, or iqrār, dated 1244 AH/1829 CE, of liability for a loan by an official known as Ḫāḫām Başı (Khākhām Bāshi in Arabic). […]
Curiously, the office of Ḫāḫām Başı was officially established in the year of his death; its first holder was Benyakār’s successor as leader of Istanbul’s Jewish community....
The aforementioned Chief Rabbi
took
a vow upon himself
to
God the exalted that as long as
thisamount is in his possession, he will pay every month that passes, beginning on this day, 300 ghurūsh to
the merchant Elkān.