Abu Ali Jepheth ibn Bundār Ḥasan

Abu Ali Jepheth ibn Bundār Ḥasan is thought to be one of the first of the Yemenite negidim (the head of the Jewish community in Islamic countries) who lived in Aden between the 11th and early 14th centuries. According to fragments from the Cairo Genizah and tombstone inscriptions, Jewish leadership was transferred from San’a to Aden, because of the rising importance of the latter’s port as a center of trade between Egypt and India. Hasan was himself wealthy merchant engaged in trade with India. He served as a representative of the traders, and as “the head of the communities,” meaning that he had authority over the Jewish communities of southern Yemen.

Ḥasan’s descendants were also negidim and wealthy traders who signed agreements with tribal chiefs and pirates in control of the sea routes from Egypt, by way of the Red Sea, to India, thus assuring freedom of navigation and trade.