Letter: T-S 10J15.9

Letter T-S 10J15.9

Metadata

Shelfmark
T-S 10J15.9
Primary Language
Judaeo-Arabic

Tags

Input date

In PGP since 2017

Description

Letter from a woman to her husband (ṣāḥib al-bayt). In Judaeo-Arabic. After the greetings, which include wishes for the husband's recovery from illness, she continues, "Don't ask what I suffered on the road due to riding. Ever since I arrived, I have been sick (mariḍa). Your father certainly quarreled with me in the middle of al-Muṣāṣa (a neighborhood in Fustat), and not all that was said needs to be repeated. Don't ask what I suffered with the wife of your father, and Abū l-Surūr who was exceedingly generous, and everyone treated me well (are these euphemisms?). May God repay each servant according to his deeds. He (it seems one of her own family members) said to me, 'Divorce him, and I will take care of all that is necessary.' Now, if I divorce you. . . ." The fragment cuts off here. Information in part from Zinger; this translation differs slightly from his. ASE.

T-S 10J15.9 1r

1r

Transcription

Translation

Mordechai Akiva Friedman, "Divorce Upon The Wife’s Demand as Reflected in Manuscripts from the Cairo Geniza," The Jewish Law Annual 4 (n.p.: Brill, 1981), 103–126.

 

  1. I inform you, master of the house, may God always give you happiness, strengthen your well-being,  

  2. cure your sorrows, destroy your enemies and those who are envious  of you, and bestow upon you in both worlds  

  3. your desire, how much I miss you and pray to  

  4. God that He reunite us for good and in health and grant you that  which will make you independent  

  5. of others. Do not ask what I went through on the journey, with riding on the beast. Wherever  

  6. I alighted, I was sick. Undoubtedly, your father was angry with me in the middle of al-Masasa.

  7.  Not everything that was said need be repeated. Do not ask what I went through with the wife of  

  8. your father. The elder Abu l-Sur[ur] was exceptionally kind. All of them  

  9.  do good with me. May God have mercy on all who do His deeds.  My people spoke of my brother's advice,

  10.  "Divorce him, and I will provide whatever you need." Now were I to divorce you ...  

 

T-S 10J15.9 1v

1v
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