The Egyptian Money Parcel “Alsurra”, Sent to the Natives of the Holy City of Jerusalem in the Ottoman’s Period (1529 –1918 AD/935 –1336 AH) Records of the Jerusalem Religious Court as a Major Source

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the financial allocations, known as the “Egyptian Surra” which was sent by the house of authority from Egypt’s council treasury and particularly from its financial department to the natives of the Holy City of Jerusalem during the Ottoman’s period by relying on Jerusalem Religious Court’s records documents preserved in the Documents and Manuscripts Centre and the Levantine Studies in Jordan University. In addition to this, this study aims at shedding the light on “the Surra’s” value and its significance due to what it contains of hundreds of names mentioned in its records documents from those who benefited from it with their different categories and occupations throughout the methods of managing the Egyptian Surra’s functions and the financial and administrative roles related to it, in addition to what the Egyptian Surra’s records reveal when they are sent, handed over and delivered to the worthy groups of them. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the groups that are worthy of the Egyptian’s Surra and the practical application to its functions which are mentioned in the records documents of The Jerusalem Religious Court with regard to those who benefited from it, their professions and salaries and what the authorization documents unveil of names getting these whole annual payments until the end of the Ottoman’s period.