Letter: ENA 4010.15

Description

Letter from Ṣadoq b. Av ha-Kohen, either in Ramla or Jerusalem, to [...] ha-Reviʿi. Mainly in Hebrew. About the oppressive measures of the local government (ha-moshel) in connection with the death of the beadle and his funeral procession (פומפי, derived from Greek πομπή via Aramaic) and a fine/tarsīm of 5 dinars a day. Mention Ḥannuka and lighting the Shabbat candles; evidently this is when the messenger of the governor came and the trouble started. Also mentions some names, including Ibn al-Maṣmūdī. There is a postscript in Judaeo-Arabic ("do not blame me for this, כי באו מים עד נפש"). (Information in part from Goitein's attached notes.)