Scholarship on Letter: CUL Or.1080 J33

S. D. Goitein, unpublished editions.

J. Kraemer, "Six Unpublished Maimonides Letters from the Cairo Geniza," in Maimonidean Studies (New York: Yeshiva University Press, 1992), 2:61-94.

The servant of his honor
She’erit the cantor
To his honor, our master and teacher, the prince, the wise and discerning physician,
Moses, may God preserve him.
His servant She'erit kisses his feet,
may God safeguard his excellency. After I visited you,
and the matter you know was decided
between us, a man came to me requesting
that I conduct a circumcision ceremony tomorrow morning in the
(synagogue of the) Iraqians, may it flourish as long as Israel lasts.
Would his honor kindly give me a stay
until after the Sabbath, or else do as he sees fit, so that (people)
not say that because (the man) is poor (She’erit) slighted him,
and were he rich he would have come and performed the ceremony for him. You
know our colleagues! Your servant is steadily engaged
in (the synagogue of) the Iraqians in this and like matters.
If you cannot give me a postponement, take
a(nother) cantor if you wish, and I shall compensate you
in some other way. I inform you,
and await a reply
from your honor, with your unstinting indulgence. May you never lack
those you serve and love you.
Whereas this matter came up this morning in the synagogue,
I neglected informing you on account of your servant’s concern with his son and his journey.
Now I inform you about the matter.
Let it not be though that I had any intention but to serve you,
on my oath.

CUL Or.1080 J33 1r