מכתב: T-S Ar.46.263 + T-S Ar.48.294

תיאור

Bifolio containing a copy of a formal communal letter. There is a folio number "12" on the lefthand side of recto. It is not clear if all four pages here are continuous (likely not, as the catchword at the bottom of the righthand side of recto does not match the first word of the next page). Written with Babylonian vowels, which suggests a Yemeni origin. Opens with a Hebrew poem containing praises for "[...] the son of Moshe" and "Avraham," likely Avraham Maimonides. The reference to "our Nagid Shemarya" must be Shemarya b. David, a.k.a. Maḍmūn b. David, the Nagid of Yemen in the early 13th century. This is confirmed by comparison with T-S Ar.48.294, another bifolio from the same codex (with folio number "9") which gives his name in full (נגידנו שמריה בן חיי גבירינו דוד). The letter also acknowledges receipt of a letter from a certain Manṣūr b. Shelomo (אלשיך אלאגל רבנ מנצור בן חיי מרנ שלמה נע), potentially the same as in T-S NS 304.16 + T-S NS 304.17 + T-S 6J1.29 (PGPID 3597). The letter concerns sectarian controversies. It has been discussed in several publications of M. A. Friedman; pending more complete description on PGP.