מכתב: T-S AS 151.286

תיאור

Letter fragment on parchment. Probably a letter of appeal for assistance, written in a flowery style in a mixture of Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Most of the preserved text consists of blessings for the community to which the letter is addressed, potentially Latakia in Syria (לאתקיאיה in l. 7, an unusual spelling but the letters are clear). The letter originates in Spain or the Maghrib and dates to the period 1086–1147 CE, probably the earlier part of that range, based on the reference to the Almoravid invasions: "the Almoravids descended upon us and burned and plundered and killed. . . ." (l. 11). It seems also to refer to "Alfonso"—presumably either Alfonso VI of León and Castile (r. 1065–1109) or Alfonso VII of León and Castile (r. 1126–57). Only the letters לפנש are preserved (l. 11), which does not seem consistent with any Hebrew or Arabic word, and the the name Alfonso is spelled الفنش (equivalent to אלפנש) in the Arabic chronicles. Numerous Geniza documents mention Almoravid dinars, but there are very few documents directly describing the Almoravids' military activities and rule; see Sassoon 713 (PGPID 9640) for another. (Information in part from CUDL.) ASE