Sephardic Tid-Bits Shmuel ha Nagid, also known as Samuel the Nagid, born in 993 and died 1055, rose from obscurity to become Vizier of the ruler of Granada, Spain. Granada, like most of the great cities of Muslim Spain was an independent state through most of the eleventh century. He was therefore the most powerful Jew of the Middle Ages. In addition to his responsibilities at court, he found time to manage the affairs of the Jewish community and to engage in a wide range of literary activities. He was author of a Hebrew grammar book, treatises on the Talmud, and three volumes of secular poetry. In addition to all of that he was a General in the Caliph’s army. His poetry was about his friends, death, war, and work ethic, among many other subjects. He always wrote in Hebrew. Here is one on “work ethics”:
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