Epistle to Yemen facts for kids

The Epistle to Yemen is a very important letter written by a famous Jewish scholar named Maimonides. He sent this letter to the Yemenite Jews in the years 1173 or 1174.

This letter was needed because Jewish people in Yemen were facing tough times. They were being treated badly for their religion. Also, a man claiming to be the Messiah appeared. He started teaching a mix of Jewish and Islamic ideas. He even said the Bible predicted his arrival as a prophet.

A leader of the Jewish community in Yemen, Rabbi Ya'akov, wrote to Maimonides. Maimonides was living in Egypt at the time. Rabbi Ya'akov was worried about these events. Maimonides advised him and the Jewish people of Yemen. He told them how to deal with the false Messiah to stay safe from his harmful ideas.

What Was the Epistle to Yemen?

For many centuries, the Jewish population in Yemen was quite small. Jewish people lived all over the country. They were good at business and had many books about their faith's history.

However, in the late 1100s, things changed in Yemen. There was a revolt against Saladin, who was the ruler. Also, Shia Muslims and local tribes started treating Jewish people badly.

Why Was the Letter Written?

This difficult situation, with people being treated unfairly and some even leaving their faith, made Rabbi Ya'akov seek help. He was a respected Jewish scholar in Yemen. He wrote to Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, known as Maimonides, for advice.

Maimonides' Important Reply

Maimonides wrote his answer in Judeo-Arabic. This was a mix of Arabic written with Hebrew letters. Later, it was translated into Hebrew by Nahum Ma'arabi.

This letter had a huge impact on the Jewish community in Yemen. It helped stop the new religious movement started by the false Messiah. The letter also gave strength, comfort, and support to people who were still facing unfair treatment.

Maimonides even spoke to Saladin in Egypt about the situation. Soon after, the unfair treatment of the Jewish people in Yemen came to an end.

What Maimonides Wrote

In his Epistle to Yemen, Maimonides praised the Jewish people of Yemen very much. He used strong words to describe how faithful they were. Maimonides knew about the Jews of Yemen. He said they followed Jewish law and customs very strictly. This was true even before his own writings became well-known there.

Maimonides highlighted how learned and smart the Jews of Yemen were. The letter was sent from Egypt to Aden in the year 1173 or 1174 CE.

See also

• History of responsa
• Rabbinic literature
• Rishonim