Will he, her beloved, remember?
The Wife of Dunash ben Labraṭ (attrib.)
Mid-10th Century
Will he, her beloved, remember his lovely gazelle,
when he is separated from her? And that in her arms was his only son?
When he placed the signet-ring from his right hand upon her left,
and on his arm she placed her bracelet.
When she took his mantle as a memento,
and as a memento he took her mantle?
Would he remain anywhere in Sefarad,
even were he to receive half the territory of its prince?
Translated by Gabriel Wasserman.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.
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Did you love my death day?
Did you love my death day when you wrote:
“Have you betrayed, and annulled the [marital] bonds?”
How could I betray a learned woman like you,
when God has commanded [to be faithful] to the wife of…
God in His faithfulness
God in His faithfulness and kindness,
caused this groom to unite with his bride,
as He brought joy to His servant Adam
with Eve, and blessed him,
and said, It is not good for man to be alone,
I will…
The Tale of Ben Sira (Poetic Version)
Divulging a secret is a great shame,
and a stealthy blow will bring a curse.
Pillars of smoke precede fire,
and quarrel augurs bloodshed.
Whoso guards a confidence will not suffer shame,
and…
Gazelle desired in Spain
Gazelle desired in Spain,
wondrously formed,
Given rule and dominion
over every living thing;
Lovely of form like the moon
with beautiful stature:
Curls of purple
upon shining temple,
Lik…
Rhymed Proverbs
His alone is wisdom, to rule the species:
wild beasts and cattle and all terrestrial creatures.
To him alone was thought given, to meditate,
to distinguish good from evil, to direct every deed.
T…
I am turning [to you] to help you
I am turning [to you] to help you,
so that I can make you increase in wealth.
Request what I should give you;
open your mouth and speak.
I will fulfill all that you ask;
I will not decrease…
Engage with this Source
This Hebrew poem—written in the voice of a woman saying farewell to her departing husband—is thought to have been composed by the otherwise unknown wife of Dunash ben Labraṭ. It was copied together with a poem by Dunash, on a page found in the Cairo Geniza, with a heading, which may or may not be accurate, that says it was written on the occasion of Dunash’s forced departure from Spain. The last line alludes to Esther 5:3.
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Creator Bio
The Wife of Dunash ben Labraṭ
10th Century
Almost nothing is known of the wife of Dunash ben Labraṭ. A single Hebrew poem is attributed to her.
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Did you love my death day?
Did you love my death day when you wrote:
“Have you betrayed, and annulled the [marital] bonds?”
How could I betray a learned woman like you,
when God has commanded [to be faithful] to the wife of…
God in His faithfulness
God in His faithfulness and kindness,
caused this groom to unite with his bride,
as He brought joy to His servant Adam
with Eve, and blessed him,
and said, It is not good for man to be alone,
I will…
The Tale of Ben Sira (Poetic Version)
Divulging a secret is a great shame,
and a stealthy blow will bring a curse.
Pillars of smoke precede fire,
and quarrel augurs bloodshed.
Whoso guards a confidence will not suffer shame,
and…
Gazelle desired in Spain
Gazelle desired in Spain,
wondrously formed,
Given rule and dominion
over every living thing;
Lovely of form like the moon
with beautiful stature:
Curls of purple
upon shining temple,
Lik…
Rhymed Proverbs
His alone is wisdom, to rule the species:
wild beasts and cattle and all terrestrial creatures.
To him alone was thought given, to meditate,
to distinguish good from evil, to direct every deed.
T…
I am turning [to you] to help you
I am turning [to you] to help you,
so that I can make you increase in wealth.
Request what I should give you;
open your mouth and speak.
I will fulfill all that you ask;
I will not decrease…