Description
Book SynopsisA companion to "Poverty and Charity in the Jewish Community of Medieval Egypt", this book contains the voices of the poor themselves, found in documents heretofore largely ignored. It provides access to the attitudes and philanthropic activities of the charitable, alongside the dramatic writings of the poor themselves.
Trade ReviewMark R. Cohen, Winner of the 2010 Goldziher Prize, The Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at Merrimack College
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi Note xiii PART ONE: LETTERS ABOUT THE POOR AND ABOUT CHARITY Introduction 3 Chapter One: Basic Themes 15 Chapter Two:Taxonomy: Structure and Conjuncture 32 Chapter Three: The Foreign Poor 47 Chapter Four: Indigent Captives and Refugees 68 Chapter Five: Debt and the Poll Tax 73 Chapter Six: Women and Poverty 83 Chapter Seven: Letters Regarding Public Charity 95 PART TWO: CHARITY LISTS Chapter Eight: Alms Lists 107 Chapter Nine: Donor Lists 164 PART THREE: EPILOGUE Chapter Ten: Poverty and Charity in the Fourteenth Century 191 List of Geniza Texts 199 Bibliography 203 Index 209
