Cairo Genizah : Document

Cairo Genizah

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Enactment passed by the Jewish community of al-Maḥalla, in which they pledge their loyalty to their judge Peraḥya [b. Joseph], to retain his position as long as he remains in the country and does not want to emigrate to the Land of Israel. Perahya was Abraham b. Peraḥya Ibn Yijū’s nephew (his brother’s son) and was married to his daughter Sitt al-Dar. He served as the muqaddam of al-Maḥalla. The enactment is authorised by Joshua b. Job, Moses ha-Kohen b. Beraḵot ha-Kohen, Samuel b. Yefet, Nathan ha-Kohen b. Mevoraḵ, ʿUlla b. Nathan, and Beraḵot b. Ephraim. The community passed this enactment in response to a power struggle that was taking place between Abū Zikrī Yaḥyā (later known as Mar Zūṭa), the Head of the Jews, and local communities. Zūṭa had attempted to force the local judge Peraḥya to collect a tax from anyone approaching him for halakhic rulings - a fee which was to be passed on to Zūṭa. To prevent Zūṭa appointing a different judge who would be loyal to him, the community of al-Maḥalla pledged their loyalty to Peraḥya in this enactment.</p>