Cairo Genizah : Letter

Cairo Genizah

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Part of a letter, c. 1035 CE, from a Ḥaver, probably in Aleppo, to a Gaʾon, probably Solomon b. Judah, in Jerusalem, in which the Ḥaver complains about the members of his congregation who plot against him and have twice slandered him, once to this present Gaʾon, and once to his predecessor. The writer’s innocence has been proved before, and will be proved again, with the help of Ṣadoq b. Levi, whose previous letter had been lost. Also mentions Tamīm b. Abraham and Yefet Ibn al-Šīzrī. The writer is also on good terms with the local governor. The writer is leaving for Kalneh, to attempt to resolve a dispute within the Jewish community there over who should succeed their recently deceased judge. As the recipient’s last letter was lost, the writer requests that the recipient sends a letter of support to strengthen the writer’s authority within the community in Aleppo; with allusions to Job 30:26, 10:22 and Proverbs 27:19. </p>