Geniza Lab

Recto: Letter from a teacher to a parnas. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Likely late 11th or early 12th century, based on the mention of Abū l-Bishr Azhar (see Bodl. MS heb. c 50/16-17 and index of Gil, Kingdom). The writer asks to be paid his weekly salary in addition to what is still owed him from last week. He has already (unsuccessfully) applied to Abū l-Bishr Azhar and to Abū Yaʿqūb with the same request. In support of the urgency of his request, he emphasizes that his wife is severely ill (bi-maraḍ khaṭir ṣaʿb). He is not explicitly identified as a teacher, but Goitein perhaps deduced this from the fact that he is both impoverished and receives a weekly salary from the community chest. Information in part from Goitein's note card. Verso: Reused for accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.