Letter: T-S 8J19.5

Description

Fragment of a letter probably addressed to Shemuʾel b. Ḥananya (“ha-Nagid ha-Gadol”). In Judaeo-Arabic. Uses an unusual variant of a blessing formula: khallada allāh suʿudahā (rather than saʿdahā). Mentions al-shaykh al-ajall Abū l-Fakhr; wood and honey; a request probably having to do with taxes; the superintendent (al-mushrif) is al-sayyid Abū l-ʿAlāʾ Ṣāʿid ibn Surrī whose brother is the head (ṣāḥib) of the Dīwān al-Hilālī. “Perhaps he (=the head of the dīwān?) can write to his brother (Abū l-l-ʿAlāʾ?) to take care of this poor community. . . .” Concludes with greetings for the addressee and his sons. Mentions a certain Abū l-Khaṣīb at the bottom of the margin. (Information in part from Goitein’s index card). VMR/ASE