Letter to Ḥalfon ben Nethanel

Abū Naṣr ben Abraham was a prominent Alexandria-based businessman. He was involved in the India trade, and in Alexandria, he had a shop that sold clothing and prayer shawls. The store became a nexus of important dignitaries who lived and traveled through the city. In this context, and as a wealthy trader, Abū Naṣr met and aided Judah ha-Levi in his journey to Palestine. Abū Naṣr’s letters indicate that he had a leadership role in Alexandria, though often behind the scenes, and his connections led him to support poets and other intellectuals.