Letter to His Sons’ Teacher

Unknown

11th Century

In Y[our name,] O Mer[ciful]!

I have written you before, most esteemed teacher, about the two boys—may God keep them alive—asking you to pay more attention to both of them, especially to Abu Manṣūr—[may his] Ro[ck] pre[serve him]. He should be able to repeat before me on Saturday all he learns by heart and reads during the week, so that my heart may rejoice before I die. However, up till now, this aim has not been attained. I cannot believe that the most esteemed teacher has not kept his promise in this matter—far be it from him to break his word! Therefore, in future, please do all you can, and you will earn my gratitude and praise,1 if God will. The boys—may God keep them alive—are late and come to school at this time of day because of the teacher of Arabic. Please do not scold him [the elder boy], or spank him. Peace. And salvation may be near.

Source: CUL Or.1081 J4.

Translated by S. D. Goitein.

Notes

Words in brackets appear in the original translation.

Literally: “and my prayer for you.”

Credits

Unknown, “Letter to His Sons’ Teacher,” trans. S. D. Goitein, in S. D. Goitein, “Side Lights on Jewish Education from the Cairo Geniza,” from Gratz College Anniversary Volume, ed. Isidore David Passow and Samuel Tobias Lachs (Philadelphia: Gratz College, 1971), 110. Used with permission of the publisher.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.

Engage with this Source

This short note in Judeo-Arabic, sent by an unnamed father to the teacher of his two sons, reprimands the teacher while also seeking to excuse his sons’ tardiness. The father is unimpressed by his older son’s inability to recite his lessons at the end of the week, and he seems to blame the teacher. The students would have brought this letter with them to school. Children learned the Arabic language and various Hebrew subjects in a multidisciplinary curriculum. Here, it is indicated that the boys have different teachers for language and for religious instruction. Words in italics were originally in Hebrew.

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Related Guide

Correspondence in the Early Medieval World

7th to 12th Century

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