Geniza Lab

Formal letter in Arabic script. Dating: Perhaps 12th or 13th century based on handwriting. From ʿAbdallāh b. [...]. He reports that he has obeyed the addressee's order (imtathala al-mamlūk al-marsūm) and investigated the matter of Ibrāhīm b. [...]. Then mentions "for the treatment of the eye (li-mudāwāt al-ʿayn).

Fragment from a business letter written by Yefet b. Menashshe to his brother Halfon. Abu sl-Fadl is mentioned and ruba'i of 'anzrut (= Sarcocolla, mentioned in medical books in recipes for the treatment of eye complaints such as redness, itching , and eye diseases)

Letter from Yosef to his brother Elʿazar aka Abū Manṣūr b. Abū l-Surūr. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Likely 12th or 13th century. Fragment (upper part of recto). Yosef complains about his weakness and poverty and worries. Greetings from [Abū] l-Surūr, from the sender's maternal uncle Abū Saʿd and his wife and Isḥāq. On verso the sender seems to complain about a lack of news: he heard something about a marriage, a (newborn?) boy, Sitt al-Kull, and Daniel, but was not informed. He ends the letter, "Do not blame me, for my vision is weak."

Fragmentary letter. The writer informs that his cousin has arrived. He is complaining for having an eye infection (רמד). On verso fragment from a letter written by another hand. AA

Letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. "Your friend, my brother Abū Bishr Al-Ṭabīb (the physician) sends his regards and asks you to honor him with whatever you need. If you [...], and inform him about your illness [...] and go see him, so that he can treat your eye." The writer goes on to mention flax and the village and the Sultan ('may God prolong his days'). Verso has many greetings. ASE.