Letter to Berakhot

Samuel ben Judah ha-Bavli

1130s

In Your name, O Merciful One.

Peace from skies of heaven, and a lasting memory and glory, and submission of your enemies, and assistance, and all other blessings of the holy and pure Torah; all these shall be a laurel, a crown, a wreath, a splendid ornament on the head of his honor, greatness, and holiness, our master and teacher, Berakhot the ḥaver [fellow; an honorific], the sage, the wise, the God-fearing, a balm to the heart, a soul’s desire, may his honor rise and his greatness increase, amen.

The Holy One knows how deeply I miss him, how difficult our breaking was for me, and how I long to see his blessed face, so much that I cannot express it in words. Please forgive me for not writing to you before. I also wrote several letters to the elder Abū ’l-Faḍā’īl, may God protect him, in which I asked for news about R. Nathan, but I did not mention you. The reason for that was that I thought, as God is my witness, that you were on your way to al-Shām [Greater Syria], as we discussed upon my leaving, and I did not know you still had not departed on your way.

I ask you to send my peace greeting to R. Nathan, may God protect him, and notify him of my longing to see him, and my prayers for him, may God grant you peace. I also ask of you to kindly tell the elder Abū ’l-Faḍā’īl that I sent him several letters but did not get a response to any of them, and my heart is worried because of that. And I also ask of R. Berakhot the ḥaver to act toward me according to his customary grace and kindness, so he should make sure, with the ḥazan [cantor and synagogue functionary] Abū Sa‘īd and with anyone else who is selling books, that they are not concealing anything from him. So whenever he chances upon any tractate from the Talmud, or a commentary, or midrashot of the tannaim, or responsa, or Halakhot rabbati [Great Laws, likely the work by Isaac al-Fāsī], anything except what the Maghribī copied—the orders of Nashim and Nezikin, that is, of R. Sasson, or Kitāb al-ḥāwī [The Comprehensive Book, by either Hayya Ga’on or David ben Se‘adya] or Kitāb al-hidāya [Book of Direction to the Duties of the Heart], by R. Baḥya [Ibn Paquda]—he should purchase it for me, without bargaining for the price, whether cheap or expensive—as long as the writing is not cut off or ḥashṭat [meaning of word unknown]. I do not care if the writing is small, as long as it is clear. And if he finds any geonic compositions, or a translation of the Bible, a good copy, he should purchase it for me as well.

He should get the money from Tsedakah the perfumer, who lives in Cairo; I have already told him. If there is no time, he [Berakhot] should lend me money, and later he should get it from him [Tsedakah]. I adjure you in the name of God the Lord of Israel to make every effort regarding this matter; swear that nothing will distract you from it. It is the greatest favor you can do for me. It will be also considered a good deed for you, to strengthen me in studying Torah. And if you are going on a journey, instruct R. Nathan in this matter. I have already written to the elder Abū ’l-Faḍā’īl about that but have not seen a response. Let me know what you did. By God! I will be his slave for this favor. I cannot thank him enough for that. Make every effort in this matter, as befits your habitual goodness.

And this is to notify you that here in Alexandria we are told that in the land of the Rūm [Byzantium], in Thebes and Salonika, there are well-established religious academies and prominent scholars, and they love those who desire Torah. I have made up my mind to go there after Passover, God willing, because I have no desire except the Torah. I have made up my mind to devote my very life in quest of Torah. But before I do that, I intend to go to Miṣr [Fustāt] and to take whatever copies you will be able to get for me, God willing, or to store them. And if you are also keen on pursuing Torah [with me], let me know, so I can rejoice in that. As for myself, I truly mean to do that. Whatever you are able to get, deposit with R. Nathan or with the elder Abū ’l-Faḍā’īl. Please God, put all your efforts to it, for anything you will be able to get for me will be like a present from you. Do not stop writing to me.

Send R. Zakkay and R. Yeshu‘a the most ample peace greetings. And to the two cantors, Abū Ya‘qūb and his brother, give peace greetings. Kiss the hand of R. Eleazar in my stead and give him my peace. And so, for whomever you can of the elders and the sages, greet them and give them my peace greetings, and so also for the nezer [diadem; an honorific], as well as for the kohen R. Solomon. I have left a bag with him. Please be so kind as to leave it with R. Nathan, for I will need it.

May your peace increase.

I, Samuel ben Judah, the Babylonian.