AI en Translation, Pages 176-200
Page 176
267
And this is a study of Hamad
That they attended, the sins and their sins attended to them, the sins did not attend in what was studied
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del> in that price they entered, attended at that inside the price in a study
And a study in the sins that at that entered the day of study in the price
And that would be price 26 <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> the price inside them and between a study in what was studied
Upon them attended in the price of a study in the price of the sins in a study in what was studied
In that price the sins entered at and a study in a study in the price
Attended that price at the sins and entered in a study in the price of sins
A study in that in a study entered in a study in a study in the price
So they attended upon them in a study entering a study in what was studied
A study entering a study in a study in a study in what was studied
So they attended in a price and in a study in a study in what was studied in a study in the price
And that is in the price of the sins in a study in what was studied
Page 179
He panicked and warned the people that this would be a year of plague for the people of Baghdad
And that was in the year 5583 of the Creation, and the plague began in Baghdad from the day of Purim
Gentiles, for it was in the time of the ruler Dawud Pasha who went to the north in that year
And the plague was very strong on the 10th of Iyar, and no one remained walking in the market
The rest of the people went out to Kadhimiya, as Dawud Pasha did when he returned to the city and entered
the Saraya (palace); and despite that, the plague increased with more evil day by day, and they began to die
without number, and they did not bury them but threw them in the street; and everyone who went to bury the dead
died himself as well; and the plague went away two days before Shavuot, and all those who fled
to Karkh, Hit, and Kifri were safe, and nothing happened to them until the day
they wanted to return to the city, the plague caught them on the road and many people died of them
And those who reached the city, the plague entered upon them and most of them died, and those who remained
⟦...⟧
And it was a pestilent year and a strong plague like this had not happened since
ancient times, and Baghdad became a ruin from the scarcity of people, and there remained in it
no one, and no movement remained in the city, even the dog and the cat did not remain in it
From those who left them bread and they would not eat, and they died of hunger and of thirst, until
pity for the people of Baghdad, for no one remained in it because they all died, and none remained except
one in a thousand, and the people were not buried, rather the dogs ate them out of hunger and there
remained no living soul in the city, and after that the city was surrendered into the hands
of strangers, and they began to possess the wealth and the houses, and one would begin to take
the daughter of another and marry her, without knowing her religion or knowing her family, because
no one was left in the city, and after that the world became cheap
and gold had no value in that time because no one remained to buy
and no bread remained for sale in the city for people to eat, and they died of hunger
Page 180
With G-d's help
A Tale of a Tailor's Handiwork
There was a tale of a tailor who was a wealthy man and pursued commandments and gave charity beyond
measure and loved Torah scholars. He had one son who would study
Torah constantly, and the son was handsome <del>no</del> God-fearing, and would go to
the scholars, and they would honor him greatly. This tailor was old
and in his days there was no poor person, and even a child knew a verse, and he was
all his days giving charity for Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes, may his merit protect us, Amen.
And it came to pass one day that he fell ill with a disease of ⟦the liver⟧ and was dying, and he called his son and said to him:
My son, know that now I am going to my eternal home, and know that there is no death with you,
and do not think that there is pleasure in this world, but if you do charity and walk
in the ways of the Name, blessed be He, then you will see good all the days of your life. And he commanded him
not to withhold charity from the poor. And he said to him, my son, know that I have a room
full of gold dinars, and this is the key; open it and take one dinar from it and close
it, and go to the house of study and give it to charity, and go to your house and do not go
after idleness, and see that I am going the way of all the earth; and now my son, listen
to my voice. And it was after these things that he expired and died, and they buried him with honor
very great. And it was after the death of his father, the son began to do as
his father commanded him, day by day going to the room and opening it and taking one dinar
and going to the house of study and giving it to charity and sitting and studying until evening.
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271
I loved you, said the Lord; but you said, How have You loved us?
Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the Lord: and I loved Jacob,
And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains waste and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.
Whereas Edom says, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus says the Lord of hosts,
They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord has indignation for
ever. And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The Lord will be magnified from beyond the border of Israel. A son honors
his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is My honor? and if I be a master, where is My fear?
says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, that despise My name. And you say, Wherein have we despised Your name?
You offer polluted bread upon My altar; and you say, Wherein have we polluted You? In your saying, The table
of the Lord is contemptible. And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?
Offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the Lord of hosts. And now, pray, entreat
God that He may be gracious to us: this has been by your means: will He regard your persons? says the Lord of hosts.
Who is there even among you that would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on My altar for nothing? I have no pleasure in you,
says the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun even to its going down
My name shall be great among the nations; and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering: for great
is My name among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you profane it, in your saying, The table of the Lord
is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible. You said also, Behold, what a weariness it is! and you have snuffed at it,
says the Lord of hosts; and you brought that which was robbed, and the lame, and the sick; thus you brought an offering:
should I accept this of your hand? says the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices
to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the nations.
And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it
to heart, to give glory to My name, says the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you,
and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt
the seed for you, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
And you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant might be with Levi,
says the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear
wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was
not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the lips of
the priest should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you
are departed out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says
the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according
as you have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law.
David Sultan had a great treasury <del>and did not</del> know God
And he was a tyrannical, oppressive man who knew very little of David
thus.
David's father had a son named David the second, and he was old in age
And David was afraid of death and did not want to die, and whenever
Azrael came to him to seize his soul, he would say to him: O my lord, I am an old and weak man
And I am afraid of death and cannot die, and thus years passed by him
And Azrael could not seize his soul because of his great fear and his refusal to die
Until one day Azrael entered upon David while he was in a strange form
David's father imagined David would be in a handsome form when he came
And from the sight of him he would die instantly without feeling himself, and this David
His soul trembled before him.
⟦line⟧
He said to him: O David, what is the matter with you?
David's father would be sleeping at night and his leg would come and kick him and say
Rise, O David, I am Azrael, and David would say to him: O my lord, I cannot
Rise, my leg hurts me, my head hurts me, and my whole body hurts me, and I cannot rise
All of it, he said to him: Rise O David, and he would not let go of him neither night nor day, and David would weep
And say: O Lord, let me die and rest from this bitter life, O Lord
I want to die starting tonight, and whatever happens, happens
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(Hint)
Regarding the matter of the four balls of Elisha etc. regarding the letter of Mr. Eliezer -
and his household even if they were ⟦...⟧ they and not even the spoken word are you
worthy to speak of it to say it with my father <del>the Name</del> may God save you in the name
for the Name, may His name be blessed, knows the judgments of the sons of man in justice etc. and a judgment
of peace and truth and judge in your gates and love truth and peace Zechariah 8
by the way, it should not be hidden from you that for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose
Ecclesiastes 3 and now it is not the time for the cattle to be gathered; water the sheep and go feed
Genesis 29 and now now because the Lord has made room for us and we shall be fruitful in the land Genesis 26
And now, please let the power of the Lord be great, as You have spoken, saying: The Lord is slow to anger and great in kindness
Numbers 14 and now write for yourselves this song and teach it to the children of Israel
put it in their mouths so that this song may be a witness for Me among the children of Israel
Deuteronomy 31 and now Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you, but
to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul Deuteronomy 10
to listen to my voice for all that I command you and you shall be my people and I will be your
God Jeremiah 11
⟦...⟧ Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, amend your ways and your doings
and I will cause you to dwell in this place Jeremiah 7
⟦...⟧
⟦illegible⟧
This book
S S
S S
Praise be to God who gave us this hour and did not forget the mention of him who mentioned
His mention in all its mentions, just as the servant was satisfied with his guidance
Just as he found it as an inner spirit, he found it all, and there is not much in it
Devoted, and there is no trace in it; he found all the hour to be an abundance, for in it is the state
Then in that, he found in everything people wrote, he found it more than
The hour in the world, in the world, he found it ⟦illegible⟧
That which he found the whole world for him in his book, he found it an abundance
That after he took that from the hour in the chapter of the hour, he found
All his mention in guidance ⟦illegible⟧ he found in the world in
In the world, he found it an abundance in that, and he found in the world, in the world
Then he found it in this world, he found it as in the world in
The world, he found in the world, he found it in the world, in the world
Always in this hour which he found in the world, in this world
Know that from the hour which he found in the world, in this world
In the world, he found in the world, he found it in the world, in the world
Know that from the hour which he found in the world, in this world
Ladha in an hour he found in the world, in this world in
He found that in this hour which he found in the world, in this
World in this hour
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258
⟦...⟧ said ⟦...⟧
He says in a statement ⟦...⟧ every writing is like fire ⟦...⟧ only the evil of your wisdom and the lifting
⟦...⟧ returned ⟦...⟧ to you honor and you finished ⟦...⟧ how the matter became
And the honor entered, this woman [entered] the house of the Messenger, hair ⟦...⟧ by God, she passed
⟦...⟧ this woman ⟦...⟧ she entered the house of ⟦...⟧ except that I saw that she
⟦...⟧ entered ⟦...⟧ the woman into the house of ⟦...⟧ the Messenger
She entered the house of the woman ⟦...⟧ until she reached ⟦...⟧ to the door of the house
And the fire was blazing in it, and the woman saw ⟦...⟧ she stood weeping and saying
⟦...⟧ O Lord of the Worlds ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
<del>⟦...⟧ the fire ⟦...⟧</del>
<del>⟦...⟧ the woman entered the house</del>
⟦...⟧
The woman to the fire and she threw herself into the midst of the fire ⟦...⟧
So Gabriel the Trustworthy descended by the command of God Almighty and spread his wing under
The fire, and this fire cooled and became ⟦...⟧
What your eye has not seen and your ear has not heard ⟦...⟧
Spiritual, and the house of fire, all of it ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ the Messenger ⟦...⟧ she entered the house of ⟦...⟧
The woman entered the house and it was ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
You have no way out to the relief that comes to you, and all your hopes have been disappointed, so do not return
to plead with him, as the proverb says: He who returns to a homeland -
So do not be, my brother, lower than the dog who, in his service, sees the ⟦...⟧
He wanted to reach his desire, for if the dog sees the club on his head
he does not leave his master's door, and if he knew otherwise he would not be
the dog but a guide, so this is your disappointment the first time you came to it -
So how many times, you see, will you return to it and be beaten and humiliated and expelled as
happened to you in the past time without doubt, so do not return to it
for in the time of distress the friend is known from the enemy, and you saw in the hardship
all your hopes failed and ⟦...⟧ exit without benefit, and if he perished
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
And likewise he who knows his companion to be a liar does not believe him in any
of the things, and if he believes him, he is a bigger liar than him, because the wise man says
do not put your hand in a hole twice, so if you are not a liar then you are
more foolish than the dog because you came to him once and he expelled you with the worst expulsion
so how can you return to him? Does he love you more than himself? God forbid
and far from it, my brother, listen to me, and all people are liars, so do not believe
any of them even if he swears to you by God the Great, for lying to them is
sweeter than honey and more desirable than sugar, so beware of them with the utmost caution
and know that God is with you, and whoever relies on God, He is sufficient for him, the best Protector
and the best Helper
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⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦...⟧ which ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ in ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ from ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ on ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ to ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ in ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ from ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ on ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ to ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ in ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ from ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ on ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ to ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ in ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ from ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ on ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ to ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ in ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ from ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ on ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧
Prevented from this world - and in connection with the matters of the felt body
and all its ways change according to the change of the temperaments
and proof of this matter for you is to see the person on a day
when he is happy and good-hearted, he sees the whole world as level
and straight, and on a day when he is sad and aching in heart, he sees the whole world
as the opposite, while the world is the same world and the change is on the part
of the recipient. And the second matter is that it has no existence, standing, or permanence
except for a brief hour and a small moment, for there is no advantage to a male while he is
alive, for it is like a passing shadow and like a flying bird and like a dream that flies away
thirty years or seventy years like yesterday when it passes and like a watch
in the night, and therefore Solomon, peace be upon him, compared it
and the way of a man with a young woman, meaning like the way a man passes
with a young woman who is a virgin girl, that has no impression
or recognition. And the third aspect is that its end is death and destruction
for it is like a broken clay vessel and like a fading flower and like a passing shadow
and like a vanishing cloud and like a blowing wind and like flying dust and like a dream that flies away
and therefore Solomon, peace be upon him, compared this world to the great sea
which is a place of danger, for whoever wants to set sail in the great sea
needs three things: one, a strong and good ship that is able
to stand before the waves and the winds; and the second, the captain, who must be
wise and expert in leading the ship to save it from the rocks and from
the sandbars; and the third, provisions and food that will suffice for him until he reaches
his desired destination. So a person in this world also needs three
things: one, the body, that it should be clean of iniquities and sins;
and the second, the intellect, which should lead the body in a straight and good way;
and the third, the Torah and the commandments, which are the provisions for a long journey,
and as the verse says: For the commandment is a lamp, and the Torah is light; and the way of life
are reproofs of instruction. And whoever has these three things in his hand
Page 186
With the help of God
Bill of Sale Form
Paragraph 24, Thursday night, 14th of Shevat, year 5620 of the creation, we met here
in this city of Baghdad, may God protect it, in our quarter of Suq al-Ghazal, in the house owned by
the distinguished Ezekiel Joseph Daniel, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, which consists of an upper and lower floor,
a room, a dome, a cellar, a courtyard, a gallery, a kitchen, wells, facilities, and utilities,
and rights and everything attributed to it legally and customarily, and its boundaries which are included in the
sale and purchase: the first boundary ends at the house of the heirs of Aaron Joseph Gabbai, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him;
the second boundary ends at the house of the heirs of Aaron Joseph Gabbai, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, as well; and the third boundary
ends at the house of the heirs of Aaron Joseph Gabbai, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, as well; and the fourth boundary ends at
the thoroughfare leading from it to the aforementioned house and to the house of the heirs of Aaron Joseph Gabbai, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him,
mentioned above, and from there to the public road. And the contract was executed between the aforementioned
seller and the buyer, the distinguished Menashe Joseph Daniel, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him, for a price in the amount
of five hundred Shami, free from defect and deficiency and from all legal claims,
and the aforementioned seller received from the hand of the aforementioned buyer the entire aforementioned
price in its entirety and completion, and the aforementioned house became the property of the aforementioned buyer
to dispose of as he chooses and wishes like the rest of his properties. Likewise, the aforementioned seller
acknowledged that he cleared the aforementioned buyer's liability from all claims
and demands related to this sale with a general, comprehensive, and final release,
with no recourse or second thought. This took place in the presence of the signed witnesses
below, and we wrote this document to be in the hand of the aforementioned buyer for proof
and evidence. And this was on the day of the 14th of Shevat, the year 5620 of the creation, and everything is valid and established.
The young Ezra Ezekiel Joseph Daniel, may his end be good.
The young Joseph Ezra Ezekiel Joseph Daniel, may his end be good.
The young Aaron Joseph Gabbai, may his end be good.
The young Moses Joseph Daniel, may his end be good.
The young Ezekiel Joseph Daniel, may his end be good.
137
And I will tell a little of what passed over us from the day we descended from the airplane
We hired a car and traveled to Tel Aviv and we stayed with our relatives one night
And they did not want to take money and they did not give us rest until they took us
To the immigrants' camp Sha'ar HaAliya
Ramla and Kfar Saba
On the day of the 23rd of the month of Shevat we traveled to visit my aunt Regina and her husband
Who live in Kfar Saba and we enjoyed our visit there very much
They also have a beautiful land and a garden of fruit trees and vegetables
And they also have a beautiful and large house and they live comfortably
And from there we traveled to visit my aunt Simcha who lives in Ramla
⟦illegible⟧
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243
Story 9, Great Village
Once a case came before Rabbi Joseph, saying that a merchant came to a certain city
to sell his goods, and he entered an inn and found a Jew there and gave
him all his money to keep for him, and the merchant sold his goods and put in the hand of that
Jew a bag full of gold and left it with him and relied on him as is the way
among men. And the merchant went to another city ⟦...⟧ and sold there
the rest of his goods and stayed there for some time, and that merchant returned to that
city and took from the Jew the money he had given him and found it missing a great deal.
And the Jew, the master of the house, said to him: I did not touch it, not even by a hair's breadth.
And the merchant began to cry and scream and said to him: Return my money to me, why do you rob
me so? And Rabbi Joseph was there and heard the sound of the shouting and sent for them
and said to them: What is this sound that I hear?
They said to him: Rabbi Jose, I beg of you ⟦...⟧
And Rabbi Joseph sent for the Jew and said to him: My son, give him his money, why do you rob him?
And he answered and said: As my soul lives and as my head lives, I have not touched it and have not lacked from it
anything. And Rabbi Joseph saw that he was swearing truthfully and knew there was trickery there.
And he commanded to bring the bag and took out the coins and counted them and found in them a great deficit.
Then Rabbi Joseph looked at the bag and found that it was repaired on one side, and the
Jew had sewn it with professional sewing and took from the bag from below and sewed it with great
wisdom so that no man would recognize it.
And Rabbi Joseph said to that merchant: Go and bring me the coins that this
Jew gave you. And he gave him the coins, and he saw that the coins were old and worn.
And Rabbi Joseph sent for all the tailors in the city and said to them:
Who sewed this bag? And they all looked at it and said: We do not know.
In the name of God we shall do and succeed Today is Tuesday, 28th of Elul, year 5659
May it not come upon you, from the harmful plague that was in Baghdad this year
On the day of 8th of Tammuz year 5659, the plague broke out in Baghdad in the Jewish quarter
And there would die per day from 50 to 60 souls and in the middle ten days of Tammuz
Death increased and there began to die per day from 100 to 120 souls
And the death was stronger among the Jews more than the Gentiles and at the end of Tammuz
Death lightened and there began to die per day from 70 to 80 souls and at the beginning of Av
Death increased and there began to die per day from 100 to 120 souls and at the end of Av
Death lightened and there began to die per day from 40 to 50 souls and at the beginning of Elul
Death lightened and there began to die per day from 20 to 30 souls and at the end of Elul
The death was sealed and on the day of 28th of Elul year 5659 the plague ended from Baghdad
Praise be to God who saved us from this harmful plague Amen and Amen Selah
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178
Short Commentary on Daniel
And Daniel said to them: Know and understand, O my brothers, that our Lord, Exalted and High,
He reveals the hidden and the covered, and reveals to them all that will be in time,
and I want to reveal to you secrets and tell you about the end of this kingdom,
this one in whose lands we are residing, which is the great kingdom of Babylon, and from it
will be the beginning of the undertaking until Cyrus comes and takes the kingdom and disperses the people
and destroys these cities until great Baghdad is built and called the Abode of Peace.
Then after the Persians, there will come a kingdom in the ultimate glory, and God will raise its mention
and elevate its status, and its name will be the Nation of the Prophet, the Beloved of God, peace of God be upon him
and his family, and he is called by the name Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the Prophet of Mercy and the Messenger
of the Lord of the Worlds, the Seal of the Prophets, the Master of the Messengers, the Beloved of the Lord of the Worlds, and the best
of all people. In his time, the world will flourish, scholars will multiply, and worship will manifest,
as well as asceticism from the scholars and the righteous. Their religion will be the Quran, which is the word of the Mighty God,
and the Glorious Criterion. Their truth is the testimony that there is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger
of God. O my brothers, know that this nation is the last of nations, and their religion
is the last of religions. God has chosen for them a noble Prophet and a great Messenger,
who has great merit and immense status with his Lord, as the Exalted said in His Mighty Book:
"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets,"
and God is All-Knowing of everything. God Exalted described him with beautiful descriptions
and numerous miracles whose number cannot be counted and whose limit cannot be contained.
The first place he appears is in the land of the Arabs, in Mecca, which is the home of his fathers and grandfathers.
Then he moves to Medina, which is Yathrib, and in it will be his noble grave, and from it
his cause will manifest, his status will rise, and his religion will be proclaimed in all regions and in
One comes into the world from the time of birth until death [at] five
and counts the nations, and he who says from the day of birth until death remains
in the world hoping for God's mercies and does good for Him, and an hour before
death he repents
and saw according to the measure of that goodness of God and does good in the world
for you so that he may have a state in the hereafter
the world is nothing but a bridge to the world of the hereafter
as the Sages said: Repent one day before your death, and it was said
in Job: perform [good deeds] during your life
and Job said
and later it repeats: during your life <del>perform</del> and he said: O my son, do not delay
in the world doing good because death comes suddenly
and the Prophet said: do not trust in life because death repeats
and Job said: O my son, do not delay in doing good because death
is like a blink in his eye; the world is narrow, so do good that there may be
a state for him in the hereafter because the world is nothing but a bridge
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 189
Portion
And the days of Israel drew near to die, and he called his son Joseph and said to him
If now I have found favor in your eyes etc. ⟦...⟧
Rashi, of blessed memory, explained: Why is this portion closed? Because once Jacob passed away -
the eyes and hearts of Israel were closed from the distress of the enslavement that they began
to enslave them; and furthermore, that he sought to reveal the end of days to his sons and it was closed off from him.
The Rabbi Kli Yakar, of blessed memory, questioned that this first reason is not relevant
except after death, but now that he has not yet passed away, why is it closed?
And he answered that this is the explanation: Behold it is written, "And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt
seventeen years," and Rashi explained: Why was this portion joined to what is above it?
Because it returned and counted the number of years of Jacob's life to equate them to the years
of Ishmael etc., see there. And it is difficult, for the scripture did not count here all the days of
Jacob's life, but only the days of his life in Egypt, which are 17 years; and if so, what
matter is it to equate them to the years of Ishmael? And furthermore it is difficult, for our Sages said
everywhere it says "And it was" (Vayehi) it is a language of sorrow, and here it is written "And Jacob lived"
(Vayichi) which is a language of life and joy, and this is the opposite of what the Sages said
that the eyes and hearts of Israel were closed from the distress of the enslavement.
And to this he answered that certainly the main reason is because he sought to reveal
the end of days and it was closed off from him. And this is what the scripture hinted: "And Jacob lived
in the land of Egypt seventeen years," meaning that Jacob our father, peace be upon him, lived in the Egyptian
exile in goodness and in tranquility for 17 years, like the numerical value of "Good" (Tov), and he thought
that the iniquity had already been purged in this exile and he sought to reveal the end of days
to his sons that they should be redeemed immediately, and it was closed off from him, meaning that from Heaven
they informed him that the time of redemption had not yet arrived. And this is what is written
"And the days of Israel drew near to die" etc., it did not say the days of
Jacob, but rather Israel, which is a language of mastery and importance,
and that is, even though he had not yet died, nevertheless his importance departed from him.
Explanation regarding the commentary on the second article, likewise,
and its meaning is that God Almighty is with the patient and those who trust [in Him].
And similarly, much has been written on this subject in the rest of
evidence that God Almighty was helping the oppressed from
and similar speech whose explanation would be lengthy,
from the words of the scholars, may God be pleased with them all.
Amen, so may it be His will speedily in our days.
Indeed, there is also a witness to that and what is attributed to the Sheikh
Mansour al-Damari, may God Almighty have mercy on him, in saying:
If I had in time, O my masters, even a foothold,
If I had known, even if a foothold ⟦...⟧ the matter in it,
my wall would have been closer to his people to wear disgrace and shame.
And I am for him the poor servant who was in times
past traveling in the lands of Baghdad with a group of the family,
the children of Sheikh Jacob son of Joseph Al-Ma'arah, may God Almighty have mercy on him.
And we had entered the house of one of the notables for leisure,
and in that house was a very deep well containing water,
and at the head of the well were benches made of plaster and lime.
One of the children of the aforementioned Sheikh Jacob stood on a bench
of those benches, then his foot slipped and he fell into the well.
And we were terrified for him with a severe terror and we shouted out to the people,
⟦...⟧ they should take him out from inside the well but they were not able to.
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With the help of God
I write to you from Baghdad on the day of ⟦...⟧
Regarding ⟦...⟧, your dear letter arrived and reached
us, and we rejoiced in your letter with the utmost joy, and we hoped for nothing from God
Blessed and Exalted be He, except for your safety, your peace of mind, and the permanence
of your glory. Regarding ⟦...⟧ which ⟦...⟧
we had no news until we wrote to you, but now indeed
a letter has reached us from ⟦...⟧ informing us of your safety and confirming
your well-being, and we rejoiced greatly in that, and we ask God to reunite us
with you in goodness, health, and joy.
Likewise, we inform you, O my brother, that a letter reached us from Aleppo informing
that the goods you sent reached them and they are selling them.
Regarding the prices in Aleppo, they are very high, and wheat
is for gold, and barley likewise, and butter is very expensive.
Likewise, we inform you that a letter reached us from Damascus informing
that the road is safe and the caravans go and come without fear.
And we hope from God that He will facilitate the matter and that you arrive here
as soon as possible because the longing for you is very great.
Likewise, we inform you that ⟦...⟧ arrived to us and we paid him
the amount mentioned in your letter and we received the document from him,
and he sends his regards to you very much and asks about your well-being.
Likewise, we inform you that ⟦...⟧ traveled to India
on an English ship, and we ask God that he arrives in safety
and achieves his purpose and returns to us with goodness and health.
Likewise, we inform you that your uncle ⟦...⟧ sends his regards to you
and asks about your well-being, and he is in health and goodness.
Likewise, we all send our regards to you and ask about your well-being,
from our eldest to our youngest, and whoever belongs to us sends their regards to you.
May you remain in the protection and care of God.
Likewise, ⟦...⟧ and ⟦...⟧ send their regards to you,
and everyone who asks about us, we are in goodness and health.
O my master, may God strengthen you on this happy and blessed day
on which you have gathered the loved ones, and joy is in my heart. How can I not rejoice
when I see the beloved of my heart, my dear father, having returned from travel safely,
and he has settled in his home among his family, friends, and loved ones in good
health and safety from all harms, and safety of the road, and safety of the body.
And now the day of joy, pleasure, happiness, and cheer has come,
and prosperity, pleasure, goodness, blessing, safety, and rest.
So praise be to God who gathered the scattered and fulfilled the desire in the ⟦presence⟧
of the beloved of my heart and the joy of my soul.
And we are as the wise man said, O beloved of my heart, that ⟦your love⟧
has dwelled within me and I see you at every moment and time.
You are in my eyes and I find solace in your conversation at every moment and time,
O light of my eyes and joy of my heart, for you are the one who knows my love for you, and I
⟦love you⟧ with a complete love, the likes of which cannot be found again in the world.
And you are the beloved for whom no equal exists, and you are the one who knows my love,
and I pray for you at every moment and time for safety, goodness,
blessing, happiness, and rest.
Amen, O Lord of the Worlds, Amen.
O Shafiq, may God preserve you at all times.
And now, O my brother and master, your dear letter has reached the hand of your beloved, and I
have rejoiced in your dear letter in which you informed me of safety
on the travel route, and the news reached me and I rejoiced greatly, and I hope to see
your dear letter at all times, and I pray for your safety, goodness,
blessing, happiness, rest, and safety at every moment and time. Amen,
O Lord of the Worlds, Amen. And I request from your presence that you write to me
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151
And that will not suffice; rather, your punishment will increase for your denial of your possessions as —
that you used to seize those people, the children of Canaan, whom
Egypt enslaved for 20 years, while you enslaved them for three hundred years ⟦...⟧
And how much, how much they tasted of your harsh service and of the lash of the whip, all of that.
If there were anyone to defend them, you would not have done that to them ⟦...⟧
Therefore, O my brother, do not think that God Almighty is heedless of them —
For someone must surely arise for them who will look out for them and bring forth for them
false and forged commands.
And Joseph's father: O my son, listen to my voice and turn back from your evil deed,
and protect yourself by withholding your hand from them; these are hard matters for you
more than a sharp sword and other things. So when Zepho heard these words —
he answered with a very harsh response and said to him: O you senile old man,
what business have you with these words? Do you not know that I have authority and I have rule
over the whole world? So who can stand before me, and who dares to raise
his head and say to me, 'Why do you do thus?' For I would kill him instantly.
So where are you, O Joseph, to deal with me ⟦...⟧
Then that old man answered him and said to him: O Zepho, my son, listen to me,
for if it were in your power to do ⟦...⟧ the words of the people, you would not
have found yourself in this great predicament that you are in now.
Do as your father, the son of a noble father, commanded you for your own good, and as the wise man said,
the one who accepts the correction of discipline will be saved from the pit, and whoever denies that shall eat
⟦...⟧ from its fruit. So when Zepho heard those words, he answered
with a very harsh response and said to him: O old man of ill-fortune
Likewise, you, may God always be before everyone who wants to know your brother
anything from him, it is only that people mention his soul
fear should be upon the faces of people. Gold, may God protect you and be with you
from these beasts. And I want to inform you that today it has been
five years that I have been in Baghdad, and the world is bleak, and a vow is made, no
one was found who could comfort me, nor anyone who could bring me news of your brother
how this pain is with him. And I saw dreams of various sorts ⟦...⟧
were it ⟦...⟧ Kurd Effendi, my chicken to Basra ⟦...⟧
and may they arrive to me from you, and many of those who love you, for everyone
and much of the longing went to you, and all that is from what is written and that
and their father is goodness and righteousness, and He commanded that God Almighty loves the
loyal, may He protect you ⟦...⟧ goodness and joy. Every word that
comes to you from other people, do not believe until you see with your eyes, and the
news that came to you from me, follow it and do not disbelieve in your mind
anything other than that. And I am writing this paper to you and my tears
flow from my eyes like rain, and everything that happens to us
this is from God Almighty. And I did not want to write to you
this news because He knows your heart is tender and cannot bear it
but what shall I do? If I do not write to you, your mind will remain troubled
Likewise, I want you to be patient and trust your heart in God Almighty, for patience
is the key to relief, and God willing, soon He will grant relief
God upon us from that, and may the existence of your brother Ezekiel be completed through you
When you receive this paper, give charity and read the Fatiha for his soul
and the best of what was asked ⟦...⟧ and benefit, Fram will increase ⟦...⟧
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184
Section on description
If he offers praise, it is not sufficient for all that to be truthful, because
your word is not sufficient proof and it requires another proof ⟦...⟧
Likewise, if he wishes to be truthful in that, when he increases the praise, then he
requires proof of the truthfulness of that for everything he adds in the praise.
Similarly, in condemnation, he requires proof of the truth of his claim regarding that; and if
he increases the condemnation, he requires proof for the truth of his claim in all of that, and sometimes
one proof may suffice for the rest, such as one who claims
that so-and-so is a liar in all his words; for one proof suffices for
the truth of his claim that he is a liar, which is to demonstrate his lie in a single one of
his words; if it is proven that he lied in that, it is proven that he is a liar in everything.
And likewise in praise, if he says that he is truthful in all his words, then
he requires proof for that, which is to demonstrate his truthfulness in one of his words.
⟦line⟧
As for the difference between praise and condemnation: praise is intended to improve the praised person
in religion and worldly affairs; whereas condemnation is intended to corrupt the praised person in religion
and worldly affairs, and it is the opposite of praise; because praise is the mention of virtues, and condemnation is
the mention of vices, and it occurs in word and deed.
⟦line⟧
The difference between love and infatuation is that love is in the intellect and infatuation is
in the body; because infatuation is through the senses and love is through the spirit; and for this
the sage said: and he argued and ⟦...⟧ love is beloved by the spirit, not by the body; and he also
said that infatuation corrupts the intellect and changes the temperament to melancholy, while love
improves the spirit and attributes the soul to the intellect, the spirit, and the
rational soul, and both are from God Almighty and of His grace.
And concerning blood, as it is in the Torah: "You shall not eat the blood, for the blood is the life."
Just as God forbade it in the Torah and said: "You shall not eat the blood of any flesh."
And God said: "The blood of any flesh you shall not eat, for the life of all flesh is its blood."
And God said: "If you eat the blood of any flesh, that soul shall be cut off."
And God said: "To any man who eats any blood, I will set my face against the soul"
that eats the blood, and I will cut it off from among its people." And God said:
"And blood you shall not eat; you shall pour it out on the earth like water." And God said:
"Only be strong not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat
the life with the flesh." And God said: "You shall not eat with the blood."
And God said: "And any blood you shall not eat in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or of beast."
Whoever eats blood, that soul shall be cut off from its people." And God said:
"And any man who hunts a catch of beast or bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out
its blood and cover it with dust."
my blood ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 193
does it - wash in pure water and return afterwards ...
and wrote his name with his finger on ... and on ...
and after the meal he shall take a cup of wine and bless over it 'Creator of the fruit of the vine'
When you come into the land which I have given to you and you possess it and dwell in it
Egypt and all that is his and all that ...
And also a son was born to him and she called his name ...
will not listen to the voice of his father and his mother and they shall chasten him ...
on words of Torah ... ⟦stain⟧ ...
⟦stain⟧ ...
⟦stain⟧ ...
⟦stain⟧ ...
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Page 194
⟦...⟧ year 1925/26 ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ Chaim ⟦...⟧ village
⟦...⟧ Kmr ⟦...⟧
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Page 195
⟦...⟧ will rise, Master ⟦...⟧ and more excellence ⟦...⟧
This holy book, bound in leather, nothing missing from it and not ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ the year 5643 of the creation ⟦...⟧
And we have written our testimony on this document which was before us, we ⟦...⟧
who are signed below, how there came before us the honorable Saleh, may his Rock protect him and give him life, son of the deceased ⟦...⟧
Jacob Cohen, whose soul is at rest, and said to us: Witness for me and acquire from me as of now ⟦...⟧
And he was voiding all notifications and notifications of notifications that were delivered ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ of myself, not under duress and not in error and not in drunkenness and not ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ but with a whole heart and a willing soul and my desire ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ Cohen the aforementioned ⟦...⟧
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In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
⟦...⟧ Yosef ⟦...⟧ from ⟦...⟧ Jerusalem said this ⟦...⟧ in this
the ⟦...⟧ known ⟦...⟧ and I mentioned ⟦...⟧ who hear our news
⟦...⟧ upon us ⟦...⟧ and paper ⟦...⟧ and we spoke ⟦...⟧ and we spoke and [it] returned to us
Mishnah ⟦...⟧ that speech fell into my heart and the world blackened in
my face ⟦...⟧ I found my spirit unable to do anything; that
speech fell upon me, no gold ⟦...⟧ nor ⟦...⟧ nor eating nor drinking
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧ may God have mercy ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ it fell into my heart ⟦...⟧ God ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ how shall I act while I am ⟦afflicted with ophthalmia⟧ ⟦...⟧ and that ⟦...⟧ fell
that news in ⟦...⟧ Elazar and that ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ the loss of the child, that news ⟦...⟧ and I cannot
⟦...⟧ like a ship ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news, I seek His mercy and they repented ⟦...⟧ without
⟦...⟧ for the sake of that and from that ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news and that day ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news, at that time it happened to me ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
⟦...⟧ that news ⟦...⟧
Page 196
For our lord the King, may his majesty be exalted, said here false words and no one will believe them
And mentioned is our arrival in this year Bin Oheb Allah and we saw
the words that he said in it are truth and what the people say is a lie
And likewise what we want from God Almighty is that He grants us victory over whoever is hostile to us
And that He writes for us victory from Him, and today our response we have written it
to before the dear Cantor Joseph, may his Rock preserve him, and I hope it will reach [him]
And the intent of the words of God, may His name be praised, is that He is with the truth and whoever is
his words are a lie, his words shall return upon him, and whoever is with God, God will be
with him. And you, my master, know that the words of people have no foundation
so he whose words are a lie regarding God, exalted be His glory, there will be for him vengeance
among the people, and with God Almighty there will be for him victory and defense
And likewise you, my master, know that the truth prevails and is not prevailed upon
And I have no words with the people except the truth and the sincerity and we do not want
money from anyone nor do we seek anything from anyone except that the truth be
with its seeker, and our Lord Almighty shall grant us victory over whoever opposes us with evil
and wants to deceive us, and the talk is long, the paper cannot bear it, and peace
upon the high station and greet for me my master Abu Salem and Salem
and our son Khalifa al-Rahman and greet for me ⟦...⟧ and all
the community
The one who hopes from the Lord of the worlds, Joseph Nissim