מכתב: Yevr. II A 1554

תיאור

Letter from Fāris b. Ibrāhīm, probably in Jerusalem, to Elishaʿ Fayrūz and Yūsuf Sanbūlī (=Sṭanbūlī?, of Istanbul), probably in Fustat/Cairo. In (rudimentary) Hebrew. Dated: 11 Av 5484 AM, which is 1724 CE. The writer reports that 9 Qaraite pilgrims arrived from Jerusalem, including David Shoḥeṭ, Moshe, and Yaʿaqov Kohen. They were charged 23 אלטס en route in Ramle, and they said, "Our peqid in Jerusalem will pay for us." The צוהדר(?) of a government official came and demanded that amount from the writer (evidently the peqid of the Qaraite community of Jerusalem). He had no money with which to pay, so he went and took out a loan from 'the gentiles.' Now, after interest, he owes more than 35 אלטס. If someone objects that the Qaraites of Damascus should cover this expense, (the answer is not entirely clear; something is very bad in Damascus, and one cannot even walk in the roads). The addressees are asked to get the pilgrims (now back in Egypt) to send the reimbursement for the expense that the writer incurred on their behalf. "For the sake of God, they should send me the response, (or?) then I will go to Damascus, and these people will bear their sin." The letter closes with regards to various people in Fustat/Cairo and a reminder to send more charity to Jerusalem and two signatures of other people who confirm the writer's claims. In the address: "He who reads this without permission (reshuto), may he be buried without his shroud (kesuto)." The name Moshe Meyuḥas appears on the same side as the address, context unclear.