The great Jewish thinker Moses Maimonides was often called upon to assist with acts of charity. Here he writes to introduce Isaac al-Dari, an immigrant from Morocco. Maimonides encourages the local Jewish community to pay Isaac’s jizya – a poll-tax imposed by Muslim rulers on their dhimmi (non-Muslim) subjects. The jizya was a considerable burden, and the Jews of Egypt established charitable institutions to assist poorer members of society to pay it. At the end, Maimonides signed his name.

Judaeo-Arabic, paper, Fustat, 12th century

T-S 12.192