Letter to Ḥalfon ben Nethanel (II)

After he began, they were able to comfort him and console him. And neither my grief nor the situation I was in was concealed. Except that my agony and harsh situation increased when Abu Yaqūb went to India—may God return him safely. And on this day, Sunday the 8th of Nisan, Mar Isḥaq al-Sijilmāsī arrived. May God bring you many pleasant years, and may He bring near the complete redemption of His people in His days and in our days, in the days of His people Israel, and may you eat from the sacrifices and from the Passover offerings whose blood reaches the side of our God’s chosen altar, and so may it be. I never mark a holiday without blessing him, and the Creator knows, my master, that from the time we celebrated the festival with Rabbenu Eli the Diadem—may he find mercy—we have celebrated festivals only in sorrowful melancholy, and last year, in particular, we were grief-stricken because of his dearest [sister] and our situation. And Abū ’l-Ma‘ālī is like a light who shines before me.

And I am ungrateful for the mercy of God upon me. How can I be this year crying and sighing and groaning [see Malachi 2:13] over my son? But by your truth at every moment [we are so], and the sorrowful, the miserable [one], [my] wife, who is [like one] lifeless upon the earth: the wounded shall groan (Jeremiah 51:52). I ask Him that this be enough now, for her and for the whole household. She and I guided him when his cousin set out, and we caused him heartache and sought what was not in his power to give—employment and support, of which we were in great need. And how should we feel if he seeks to depart after the festival? Who will help share our misfortune? I should have cut and shortened the news of my situation down to one page, as he shortens his. I could not find a way to do that. To the dirges and lamentations that I pronounced over Rabbenu Judah ha-Levi, the righteous and holy, I could compare some of the verses I used to praise him: The Lord is righteous in all His ways (Psalms 145:17).

And his brother, when God favored him and me with health, he fled and departed for his in-laws due to our hardship. There is no way for me to travel to you, and I cannot stay in Alexandria. And were it not for the sickness of this “confined one” [my wife], I would have found myself with you, so that I might watch over his affairs and instruct him about what he should do, concerning marriage and so on. For me, as it is said, The dead praise not the Lord, etc. (Psalms 115:17).

I’ve already taken up too much of his noble splendor’s time. But to whom should I open my heart if not him? Who remains from among the “beloved ones” to whom I can complain about my circumstances and who will understand my hurt? God reward me and reunite you and me before death. I’ve already asked you a number of times if you could get the commentary on Isaiah from the sheikh Abū Naṣr for this poor creature, his brother, to study. Perhaps the Lord of Hosts may be gracious (Amos 5:15), and let Him remain a nourisher of thine old age (Ruth 4:15) and watch over my day.

And I’m again making the request that you send it with whomever you wish. And Rabbenu Eli the Diadem—may he find mercy—has already taken action concerning the deposits collected by the sheikh Abū ’l-Faḍl the Trustee—may God protect him—son of the Trustee—may God be pleased with him. He carried them from Abyār when the possessions of his maternal uncle, Bishrun, were taken. And it happened that everyone who came from Abyār tried to tempt me with a fancy box [zinjala] or a jug cover. And I did my best to get a receipt from our lord, the head of the academy—may his memory be blessed. But time was against me. The deceased sent it a few times to the Diadem—his rest be in Eden—but it wasn’t possible to copy it because of the delay. I am asking you please to speak to him to write a letter to go with the letter from our splendid lord, the nagid—may he live forever. And the list in all its parts, let it be sent with the one who will carry the letter to the deputy in Minyat Zifta. Let me know his name and his father’s name, meaning Abū Faḍl. Moreover, if you don’t mind, please draw his attention to this part. He already wounded me and wounded my heart at the same place he wanted to benefit me by keeping them for me.

Wishing him well-being, and well-being on the honorable, great, and holy, our master and our teacher Ezekiel the sheikh Abū ‘Alī—personal greetings—and all the boys and the cousins, the sheikh Abū Naṣr and the sheikh Abū ’l-Faraj and the sheikh Abū ’l-Majd—personal greetings. And if you can, inform me of your circumstances and the circumstances of my master, [your] brother. And if not, forgive me. And inform me of any news of Rabbi Isaac, the relative of Rabbenu Judah ha-Levi—may his memory be for a blessing. And greetings.

Source: CUL T-S 13J19.23.