Letter to Evyatar ben Elijah ha-Kohen

Tens of thousands of multiple greetings, thousands of great wishes, hundreds of honorable benefactions, dozens of doubled joys, to the master of the Torah, to whom we compose blessings, and whom we crown with a diadem—to his honor, greatness, and holiness, our master and teacher Evyatar ha-Kohen, the fourth in the fellowship, whose wisdom accumulates and shines like a precious stone, whose love is binding, everlasting, unchanging; may the Rock grant him his requests and save him from any evil, descendant of his greatness—our master and teacher, our prince, crown, and diadem, our lord Elijah ha-Kohen, head of the academy of the Pride of Jacob, the emblem of God’s people, may the Lord protect him, the descendant of his honor, greatness, and holiness, our master and teacher, our lord Solomon, head of the academy of the Pride of Jacob.

I have already sent my letters to the glory of our master—the head, the “fourth,” may God protect him—and did not get a response; I hope it is for the best and in peace. I have already explained in all my letters the longing I have—may God make your life pleasant, and may He answer the best of my supplications, which I say after every prayer.

My master is already aware of the reason that is delaying my coming to Fustāt, namely, the news that arrives every day, the fear and hunger—may the Rock in His mercy watch over His world. I have already asked in all my letters that my master will talk to our lord—the nagid [a position of local leadership], may God protect him—and my master—the ḥaver [fellow; an honorific], the leader of wisdom, the wise man of the academy, may the Rock protect him—to see whether a sum of money can be obtained for me to live by, since I am stuck, with no possibility to depart for anywhere else. Tyre is closed; no one can leave from Jerusalem to Ramla because all roads are considered dangerous, as it is said: Neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in (Zechariah 8:10). From every side [there are] bad rumors.

I ask his honored glory to write to Malīj, to my son-in-law Hiba ibn Isra’īl, that he will be willing to return to his children, whom he abandoned for two years without anything; they and their mother were left dying, naked, impoverished, and I have nothing to give them because of my poverty and ineptitude and bad circumstances, and my lord is aware of my situation. And throughout this period, he has sent them not even a dirham, no more, no less. We did not expect such a thing from him, [for him to behave] as if they were not his children. Our lord (may God protect him), don’t cease your efforts in this matter until he does so.

I ask your glory that you will buy for me in Fustāt two mann [four pounds] of borax of excellent quality and bring it with you personally. And notify my son-in-law Hiba that if he can get linen, he should deliver it only through Ascalon, and take it with him from Ascalon, because anyone who sends anything to Jaffa, the governor of Jaffa takes it and forwards it to the master of the armies.

I wish the glory of our lord, the head, the “fourth,” may God protect him, perfect well-being. And I ask that you send the glory of our master, the nagid, may God protect him, wishes of perfect well-being. And to my lords, his children, may the Rock protect them, wishes for perfect well-being. And to my master, the excellent ḥaver, the wise man of the academy, the leader of wisdom, may the Rock protect him, perfect well-being. And to my lord, ha-Kohen, the parnas [administrator of charitable funds], the trustee of the academy, and his son, perfect well-being.

And the one in Tyre who conspired was left without any assistance, and his Rock caused his demise.

I ask his glory to honor me with his letter, with every piece of news about him and about the situation of his affairs and whether he has a place to stay.

His slaves, Abū ’l-Tayyib and his brother, send his glory wishes for perfect well-being. My brother sends his honored glory wishes for perfect well-being. All those who love him send his glory wishes for perfect well-being; they all maintain their love.

Written on the 27th day of the omer.

His slave Eli ibn Ezekiel ha-Kohen.

Address

To the glory of my master, the glory of our lord, the head, the “fourth,” Abū ’l-Faḍl Evyatar ibn Elijah, the head of the academy. To Fustāt, may God build it.

Send my best greetings to my master Tsedakah ibn Mukhtār, and notify him that . . . nothing of what he had promised us.

Counsels of steadfast faithfulness. Counsels of steadfast faithfulness.

Source: CUL T-S 13J15.23.