Mevorakh ben Saadiah
MEVORAKH BEN SAADIAH
MEVORAKH BEN SAADIAH (11th century), *nagid and leader of the Jewish community in Egypt. Mevorakh was a descendant of a family of scholars and physicians, and was himself a distinguished scholar; therefore, he is referred to in letters as Sanhedra Rabba ("member of the Sanhedrin"). His fame as a physician was such as to gain him an appointment at the Egyptian royal court. He succeeded his brother Judah as nagid in about 1080. At that time *David b. Daniel b. Azariah arrived in Egypt to wrest the leadership from the heads of the Egyptian community. He instigated others to bring false accusations against Mevorakh and forced the latter's banishment from the Egyptian capital to Fayyum and later to Alexandria. After some time Mevorakh succeeded in proving his innocence, and was reinstated as court physician and nagid. His triumph over David b. Daniel was complete by 1094. He wielded much influence with al-Malik al-Afḍal, the *Fatimid regent, and remained in his position until the beginning of the 12th century.
bibliography:
Mann, Egypt, 1 (1920), 169, 188ff.; 2 (1922), 249ff.
[Eliyahu Ashtor]