Letter to Her Sister

My letter to you, oh my sister, the most honored of creatures to me and by me, may God prolong your life and perpetuate your power, your greatness, and your strength and crush your enemies from any state of peace and health. May God hasten the reunion between us in the happiest of circumstances and in the best completion of hopes in His mercy, God willing.

And your longing—mine [for you] is double. Every day I remember you according to the number of moments and minutes; and if I told you [all of] what happened to me, this letter would not [suffice]. I have no news at all thus far about Sālim. And I already wrote letters to Byzantium. When the ḥazan [a synagogue functionary], son of Mu’ammar son of al-Jazfini, our relative, entered [Egypt], I instructed him to write appropriate and impressive letters to Byzantium to inquire about Sālim.

And by the grace of God, I am in good health; don’t worry your heart. This is the third letter that I’ve written to you, and I don’t know whether or not they reached you. And I haven’t stopped asking about you. I make an effort with everyone who knows [you], that he should notify you. I send you my regards and regards to the children. And I haven’t heard anything from them; thus if you will hear any news whatsoever [from them], then . . . in order to calm my heart. Send him regards from me and regards to you from me. And I request a response in a letter; [send it to me] with whomever brings [this letter to you]—and so long.

Address

[This letter] will reach mother of Salāma           From her sister

To the house of my master   . . . mother of Sālim

. . . [the] magnificent [?]‌ son of Pinḥas.       [May I] not lose her.

Source: CUL T-S 8J22.19.