The Tale of Alexandria and Cairo

When the time of my youth had not yet been poured from the vessel of society to the vessel of wandering, and the days of youth were like oil poured out upon my good name, and times of trouble were still far from me, as east is far from west, I was still sucking and nursing on the breast of the delicious wine of joy and the pomegranate juice of rest, and hopping around on the mountains of spices, and no delight of the world departed my life, in one direction or another. 

I was being raised in enjoyment on the knees of youth and dark hair, and lying in the bosom of peaceful time, in No-Amon [Alexandria], the city full as a pomegranate with glorious beauty, whose fame has been heard all the way to the edges of the earth, like a bell—the fortunate city, full of beauty, built up well, since ancient days. The pride of all other cities bends down to it like a fishhook. It has a tower and a palace, tall as the mountains of Bashan and Hermon, and its dwellings are spacious, their beams are cedars coated with gold and vermillion, and with all sorts of engraved gems. Its construction stones are as if plastered with the sheen of light, and its lovely foundations are as if established upon pillars of marble. Nothing is lacking from it, neither porphyry nor marble nor mother of pearl, nor gardens nor parks. Just as water covers the sea, so is rain mighty over the streets; a torrent of rain passes through. But when you look for it, you will not find it; it passes and is gone, for when the city’s drains pick it up, they bring it out and leave it outside the city. And all its plants find favor in my eyes, like aloes planted by the Lord, so much that it is called “Hephzibah”¹ by its inhabitants and residents. All the merchants of the world choose it and desire it, for [there] they suck from the abundance of the seas, and many merchant ships, by night and day, bring their bread from afar. Ships constantly come to [Alexandria] from Aram and the Philistines [the Levant], and boats from the Kittim [Byzantium?]. The great King Alexander established its foundation stones with his strength and set up its doors with his might; its wall is tall and fortified for times of distress; it has beauty and glory, beyond Tyre the Crowned [see Isaiah 23:8], for God himself said about it, in its favor: Could you be greater than No? (Nahum 3:8). And He yearned to protect it for us, with peaks and towers, high walls and bolts, so that each night they protect its residents, with it thoroughly locked.

I wrote this poem as a testimony, a sign of its greatness, one five-hundredth of its glory:

While I was there, among my friends and companions, my beloveds and my acquaintances, in constant enjoyment on my own time, I heard something from a man who was joined to me—that in Cairo, the great city, there is a pure nation, a treasured people, a glorious flag, whose level is high and lofty above all communities of the diaspora, wise and understanding in all the words of prophecy and vision, knowing God’s opinion, its soul desires and yearns only to keep the Torah and its commandment. Its name is known among the nations; [its members are] called “the children of scripture” [i.e., Karaites] who believe in the Lord—Who is one, and there is none other beside Him—and in Moses His servant, and in the other chosen prophets, who are mentioned in the twenty-four books [of Scripture]. The Lord’s word, which [Moses] brought down in his Torah, He will not exchange it nor replace it; it is the Torah given through the hand of Moses; aside from it, there is no Talmud and no Mishnah. Its opinion is correct, for any commandment other than those of the beloved Written Torah is a mere man-made rule. 

When I heard this, I arose from where I was and set my heart to travel, to see what I had heard. I hastened and did not tarry, for I thought: “Perhaps if I go, I will see this wonderful sight, and the people who have chosen properness and perfection—let me go see it before I die.” I set forth and abandoned my own land. I rowed a boat to get to my destination, and with gladness and joy I found the city, situated upon the river from the garden of Eden.² 

All beauty and elegance and glory was found in it, just as I had heard in rumors—its plants and fruits were like the Lord’s garden, its people were like the stars of heaven, and the city was spacious, with pleasant, tall, airy houses. There were love songs there, restoring the hearts of their listeners, and lovely gardens, restoring the spirit, arranged at the sea, and hewn wells. When I saw its greatness, and the multitudes of people there, I was stunned and did not speak. I thought, in my stunned heart: “This city is so full of people; therefore, it is appropriate for all tongues to say about it: Great among the nations, and princess among the provinces!” (Lamentations 1:1).