מכתב: Moss. IXa,2.20

תיאור

Letter probably from a certain Abū l-ʿIzz to his brother. In Arabic script. Written on a bifolio. One of the four pages has Hebrew piyyuṭ; the remaining pages are occupied by the letter. Dating: Likely ca. 14th or 15th century, based on the hand, layout, orthography, and the use of the root qshʿ (qšʿ) for "see." The sender excuses his absence by explaining that he has been preoccupied with the illness of the boy (maraḍ al-saghīr(!)), who has turned toward health (qad tawajjah ilā l-ʿāfiya qalīl). The sender himself complains that he no strength left in his feet/legs to walk (ووحق الشريعة ما في رجلي قدر اقدر امشي بها). He complains of his situation (wa-anā fī aḥwāl nāqiṣ), there is no wine (lā nabīz), no vinegar (wa-lā khall), and no harvest at all (wa-lā ḥaṣīda wa-lā shayʾ). He reports about people who came to him and their discussions about money and business affairs. Toward the end he writes that "all the little ones miss you" (wa-l-sighār(!) kullhum mushtāqīn) and that his eye is hurting as he writes this letter, so that he can hardly see what he writes, so the addressee must not blame him for failing to come (وما كتبت لك هذالكتاب … [الا] وعيني توجعني ما قشعت ايش كتبت فلا توخذ عليه (=عليّ) في كوني ما حضرت عندك). YU. ASE.