Geniza Lab

Letter from Shelomo b. Nissim ha-Levi al-Barqī, in Alexandria, to Mūsā b. Abī l-Ḥayy, in Fustat. Dating: ca. 1080 CE. Shelomo had been asked to come to Fustat with his sister, who is Mūsā's wife. He responds that he is not able to come because of his poor health. "You have already been informed, my lord, of my condition following the illness (ḍuʿf). I go about my business only with the use of a cane (ʿaṣā). If God grants me health, I will be delighted to comply. I beg God for this. Hopefully I will find someone to treat me, for here there is no medicine and no physician and nothing to strengthen my spirit (nafsī—Gil translates it as body)." Mūsā has also been suffering from a prolonged illness. Shelomo conveys his sympathies and explains that he only refrained from writing sooner so as not to increase Mūsā's preoccupations (shughl al-sirr). The letter also mentions the purchase of books. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #646.) VMR. ASE.