Geniza Lab

Recto/verso: recto

Letter from an unknown writer to an unknown addressee. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer rebukes the addressee for failing to write with his news. Everyone has been worried about him. The writer himself has been distressed and sick ever since leaving the addressee, but he finally feeling better. The writer found a certain item with him (second word of line 7) that evidently had to be sent to the addressee, but it was the eve of Passover, and Abū l-Barakāt b. al-Ṣabbāgh had traveled, so the writer had to send it with the bearer of the present letter, Abū l-Faraj al-Kohen known as Ibn Qasāsa. There are also a few lines of Arabic script at the bottom, oriented 180 degrees to the main text. Includes a basmala and the word "mablagh" (amount/sum). (Information in part from CUDL and from Goitein's index cards.) ASE