Scholarship on Letter: T-S Ar.18(1).33

S. D. Goitein's unpublished edition (1950–85), with minor emendations by Alan Elbaum, 2020.

Mark Cohen, The Voice of the Poor in the Middle Ages (Princeton University Press, 2005).

Moses, who thanks you
I honor R. Amram ha-Levi, the precious, the honored, the scholar,
may the Guardian of the souls of the Pious guard you and make prosper
your works, with best regards and a thousand greetings
and the respect of Moses, who thanks you, without intending any ill-will.
I sent your excellency a petition, which includes
some of my complaints about my situation and the severe and ever-increasing straits
in which I suff[er]. But I have not received an
an[s]wer. As God is my witness, today I am in even greater straits,
and facing the greatest adversity
yet. Far be it from the virtuous generosity of my master that he
should neglect someone in this great trouble, who turns to him for help. In fact,
you should favor me without my having to turn to you. As God is my witness,
in my house there is no [...] wheat or flour or loaf of bread or
any other food, as God is witness to its (exorbitant) price.
I asked your excellency for half a wayba of wheat,
or money to buy it, so I can make my young ones happy this
week. After the break for

T-S Ar.18(1).33 1r