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153 Chapter 6: An Epistle as a Literary Work: Rabbi Ya’acov Hayyim’s Letter to Farha Sason Until the advent of modern technology, Jews corresponded long distance through Hebrew letter writing. Despite living in different countries, Hebrew remained the common written language for Jews rather than their respective mother tongue. For example, Rashbah, who could not speak Polish, could correspond in Hebrew with a Jew in Warsaw who could not speak Arabic. Epistles provide examples of how Hebrew culture was active in many countries. In this chapter, I will illustrate how this letter can be considered a creative piece of literature. Rabbi Ya’acov Hayyim (1854-1920), the son of Rabbi Yosef Hayyim (18341909 ), published two books and authored unpublished religious manuscripts. His primary teacher was his father (ibid., Chapter 4) In 1888, Rabbi Ya’acov Hayyim wrote a rhyming epistle (see the entire epistle in Ben-Yaacob, Perakim, 452-456) discussed in this chapter. This epistle was addressed to Farha (1856-1936), the wife of the renowned Saliman Sason (18411894 ). Rabbi Yosef Hayyim reviewed the epistle prior to sending it to Farha. Saliman Sason was born in Bombay. A member of the Sason dynasty, Sason spoke Hebrew and studied Judaism. He was a successful businessman, a philanthropist , and a beloved public figure. He also held a managerial post for the Central Bank in Bombay. Farha was born in Bombay into a wealthy religious Jewish family of noble Baghdadi lineage. Farha studied with five Rabbis and attended a Catholic school. She was well versed in the Bible, the Talmud, Jewish law, Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, and Latin. She gained recognition for her knowledge, wisdom, and good character. In 1894, she became administrator for the family business. In 1911, she relocated to London where she continued her philanthropic work. Farha became a leader for Iraqi Jews in England and befriended the royal family. Rabbi Ya’acov Hayyim’s epistle included a narrative, a riddle, a fable, and a wish. He introduced the epistle with the following comment: “Here is my fable and riddle / henceforth my statement / and a discussion about the phrases of 154 Part 2: Folktales, rePortage, ePistles, research, and a story my ornate speech.” In his epistle, Rabbi Ya’acov Hayyim indicated that he wrote the letter in deference to his father’s request to write a “delicacy” to his father’s beloved friends. Upon leaving the city, Hayyim imagined a story about a ram that left his ewe behind to find work in the city. The ram headed toward the house of Ahinoam, an influential woman whom he perceived would help him. As he approached her home, twilight arrived: It was dusk; the sun peeked through magenta colored clouds and haze, and cast onto the earth its last golden rays, and the crescent moon slowly and steadily glowed as the sun set, and made rays for the crescent moon, and the moon walked amidst the splendor of the stars in the sky, the same way that one of the small town young clerks would behave in a conceited and haughty manner after his supervisor walks away, as if the young clerk was saying, “I will rule.” During the night, the ram became restless and could not sleep. Yet he was hopeful that Ahinoam would help him find employment. The ram imagined that he met Ahinoam. When he praised her, she did not remain indifferent . Rather, she initially asked him what he wanted, then proceeded to offer him money. The ram rejected her monetary gift. Instead, he requested that she use her influence with a powerful man named Yedidyah (Jedidia) to secure a position for him so he could earn a living. The ram and Ahinoam exchanged devotional gifts (Ben-Yaacob, 453).Then, the author digresses to describe hope and imagination as powerful forces: Imagination transforms time and space, arranging everything according to its will, especially when accompanied by hope. Hopes born to the imagination portray earth as a paradise, as a smoothly paved road without obstacles. Indeed, hope is powerful and with the sweetness of its lips, it will seduce the wise and sagacious to aspire to greater things. Hope will revive the soul of the gloomy and the poor-spirited; it will console the poor in his poverty and will promise him thousands of gold and silver [coins]. Hope will sweeten that which is sour and will persuade the miserable through loving and comforting words. It will promise the poor who embrace a dunghill, that it...

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