Yehosef ben Samuel ha-Nagid

Probably born in Granada, in al-Andalus (Muslim Spain), Yehosef, son of Samuel ha-Nagid (993–1056), received his education from his father, whom he succeeded as vizier at the Zirid court. Yehosef played a pivotal role in assembling his father’s poetry, but only a few of his own poems survive, along with several of his letters, in the Cairo Geniza. Yehosef was killed in anti-Jewish riots in December 1066, together with many other Jews of Granada. After his death, poets composed mournful panegyrics. Both Jews and Muslims imagined Yehosef as the prototypical leader of the Jewish community.