The Epistle to Yemen or Yemen Letter (Arabic: الرسالة اليمنية, translated as Hebrew: אגרת תימן, romanized: Iggeret Teiman) was an important communication written by Maimonides and sent to the Yemenite Jews. The epistle was written in 1173/4.^[1] The letter was written in Arabic.^[2]

The need for the epistle arose because of religious persecution and heresy in the 12th century Yemen, marked by a messiah claimant who had arisen there. The man who claimed to be the Jewish messiah began preaching a syncretistic religion that combined Islam and Judaism and claimed that the Bible had foretold his coming as a prophet. Haggai Mazuz believes this unnamed claimant was al-Samawal al-Maghribi, author of the Confutation of the Jews (Arabic: افحام اليحود, romanized: Ifḥām al-Yahūd).^[3]

One of the leaders of the Jewish community in Yemen, Jacob ben Nathanael, the son of the illustrious Natan'el al-Fayyumi, had addressed his concerns in a letter which he had sent to Maimonides, who was in Egypt. Jacob had conjectured that perhaps the influences of the stars were responsible for these occurrences, to which conjectures Maimonides replied that Jacob ought to expunge from his heart the vain concept of being able to determine the influences of the constellations, yet counselled him and the Jewish people of Yemen on how they were to act concerning the messiah claimant to be saved from his harmful effects.^[4]

Background

The average Jewish population in Yemen for many centuries had been very small. The Jews were scattered throughout the country, but were successful in business and acquired books about the history of their faith. However, contemporary events in Yemen show that, in the last quarter of the 12th century, the Yemeni populace was shaken by a revolt against Saladin as sultan, while Shia Muslims and local Bedouin tribes began to persecute the Jewish faith in the Yemen at that time.

The persecution^[5] and increasing apostasy led Jacob ben Nathanael to write for counsel to Maimonides.

Maimonides' response was written in Arabic and later translated into Hebrew by Nahum Ma'arabi.^[6] This letter made a tremendous impression on Yemenite Jewry, and effectively stopped the new religious movement. It also served as a source of strength, consolation, and support for the faith in the continuing persecution.

Maimonides interceded with Saladin in Egypt, and shortly thereafter, the persecution came to an end.

Epistle's introduction

Maimonides, in his Epistle to Yemen, heaps lavish praises upon the Jews of Yemen in his day, and uses hyperbolic speech to describe the condition in which he found them. Evidently, Maimonides had knowledge of the Jews of Yemen, and avouched that they maintained a strict adherence to Jewish law and custom, long before his writings became widespread throughout Yemen. In his Epistle to Yemen, Maimonides stresses the state of high-learnedness and aptitude of the Jews of Yemen. Unfortunately, the rhyme employed in his verse has been lost in the translation. The Epistle was sent from Egypt to Aden in anno 1173/4 CE.

Excerpt from the Epistle to Yemen

In what concerns the [existence of some subterranean] root of truth, its own trunk shall bear witness [of the same]; whereas, in what concerns the goodness of a [hidden] wellspring, its own current shall give testimony [to the same]. For, verily, from the root of truth and righteousness has blossomed a faithful offshoot, and from the wellspring of loving kindness, a large ravine has stretched itself out in the land of Yemen, to water therewith all gardens, [and] to cause the flowering of [all] buds. Behold! It conducts itself in a slow pace, for all who are exhausted and thirsty in the wilderness, and by it have the wayfarers and isles of the sea supplied their want until, at length, they were completely made satisfied thereby! Therefore, they have published in Spain and in Sepharvaim,^[a] from one end of the heavens unto the other, [saying], 'Lo! All those that be thirsty, let them go to the waters!'^[b] And the traders and all the merchants, all of them together, have answered those that inquired of them, [saying] that they have found a bountiful [and] comely orchard, and a good pasture, where anyone who is lean becomes fat, and where their shepherd is a faithful shepherd – [even] those who dwell in the land of Yemen! For they are a refuge for the poor, supplying him with bread, [and are become] the stay for the rich, [even] those who take the first steps to salute him! The traversing caravans of Sheba have put their [hope and] expectation in them, while their hand to all travelers was outstretched. And their home was opened widely [for all], and with them, all [men] have found rest, whilst anguish and sighing fled away! And all day long, they utter the Law of Moses, walking in the way that Rav Ashi instructed. [They are] those who pursue [diligently] after righteousness, and strengthen the places that have fallen; those who establish the principles of the [divine] Law upon their razed places, [and] who gather the dispersed of God's people by their words; who, in their assemblies, perform all of the commandments in a most scrupulous manner! There is no unruly conduct [to be found among them], neither she who departs [from the path], nor [any] crying in their streets. Blessed be God who has brought no end to those who observe the [divine] Law, [even] those who keep [His] precepts in the distant isles! ... Now when your letter reached us in Egypt, our friend [and] our beloved, all ears were pleased to hear it, as was it desirable [also] to the sight. It bore witness before us concerning you, that you are of the servants of the Lord who dwell in His quarter, who are encamped beside His banner, and who are of those who pursue [diligently] the [divine] Law, and those who love its commissions, [even] those who attend fervently at its doors[.]

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