Letter: JRL SERIES A 75

Description

Letter discussing communal matters, especially income derived from the market place by religious dignitaries. Mentioned are levies imposed for the purchase of new mats (see Gil, Palestine, 2: 743, doc. #400) and oil for the synagogue (notice mention of prayers), an estimate of income which the writer cannot calculate, a weekly revenue of eight dinar, and the market where animals are slaughtered. Avraham b. David, 'the joy of the yeshiva', might refer to Avraham b. David b. Sighmar mentioned with this title in ENA2804.11 (Goitein, Med.Soc.3:183). The letter also mentions the Nasi and ends with profuse expressions of submission. Goitein suggests that the references to the Nasi and the Yeshiva indicate that the letter originated in Fustat (Goitein, Med. Soc., 2:543 note 3). On the verso, there are four lines of greetings possibly in a different hand. This is probably a draft and unconnected to the contents of the recto. Similar expressions are found in other Geniza letters, such as T-S NS 320.9 (Gil, Palestine, 2:388, doc. #211).