Halakhah sobre Números 13:22

Rabbi Yosef, seizing upon the phrase, "and these cities are different ones which were settled afterwards," understands this opinion in an entirely different manner. According to Rabbi Yosef's interpretation, the meaning of this statement is that the geographic location of Egypt of today is not identical with that of Egypt of the Bible. The cities inhabited by Rambam and others were not part of ancient Egypt and hence Jews may reside in such places without restriction. Indeed, Rabbi Ya'akov Castro, in a gloss to Even ha-Ezer 128, declares that the city of Cairo is not within the boundaries of ancient Egypt. Citing Sa'adia Ga'on's translation of Numbers 13:22, R. Castro identifies Egypt of antiquity with the area surrounding Fostat. Rabbi Yosef points out, however, that the basic question is not really resolved since Alexandria was within the boundaries of Egypt, as indicated by Sukkah 51b, and Jews nevertheless resided in Alexandria over a period of centuries.