Letter to Sa‘d al-Mulk

In this Judeo-Arabic letter, a teacher named Manasseh informs Eleazar ben Judah ha-Kohen (here referred to as Sa‘d al-Mulk) that his son has impressed his grandfather with his abilities to read from the Torah. (It appears that this refers to personal study, not to public reading in the synagogue.) Manasseh accordingly asks his recipient for an increase in salary. This text invokes religious values shared by the community, especially the value of education for young boys, and makes reference to Jewish festivals. It also underscores the precarious standing of teachers, who were often underpaid. Ellipses indicate lacunae in the manuscript.