Letter: CUL Or.1080 J224

Letter CUL Or.1080 J224

Metadata

Shelfmark
CUL Or.1080 J224
Primary Language
Hebrew
Secondary Language
Arabic

Description

Letter from an unknown writer in al-Maḥalla to Sar ha-Sarim (Nagid Mevorakh b. Saadya) in Fustat. Written in Hebrew, with the address in Arabic on verso (حضرة سيدنا الريس . . . الجليل ادام الله عزها الفسطاط ان شا الله عز وجل). Calligraphic and beautifully styled. Goitein suggests that the writer is the muqaddam of al-Maḥalla. The name Shemuel b. ʿOvadya b. Saʿadya ha-Levi on verso may be the name of the writer, but this is not clear (the name is prefaced with ל = "to" or "belonging to"). The writer seems to be trying to obtain an invitation to serve in some position in Fustat (וישגר אדוננו שר השרים . . . זולתי אם יניחני במצרים ויתעשת בטובתי ופרנסתי מוטב ואם לאו אגלגל הזמן בזולתי אלמחלה). (Information in part from Goitein's note card.)

Related Places

Destination
Fustat
Origin
al-Maḥalla

Additional metadata

Collection
Cambridge University Library, Oriental Manuscripts
Historical shelfmarks
ULC Or 1080 J 224
Input date
In PGP since 2017
Cambridge University Library, Oriental Manuscripts, CUL Or.1080 J224. Available online through the Princeton Geniza Project at https://geniza.princeton.edu/documents/8920/ (accessed February 25, 2026).