Geniza Lab

Letter from Ibn al-Naj[era] to [Ḥalfon b.] Netanʾel ha-Levi. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: ca. 1138 CE, as it seems to belong with documents 32ח to 34ח (T-S 12.285, T-S 8J18.3, and T-S 13J14.21). It is very faded. The address appears at the top of recto. This scribe represents ط as צ, sometimes with a dot over it. Scattered phrases: "... I encountered Abū Ibrāhīm... mithqāl(s) from Tilimsān... Almeria, and the silk... I entered Granada...." Belongs in the addendum to India Book IV. ASE

Letter from Yiṣḥaq b. Simha al-Naysaburi, in Alexandria, to 'Ulla ha-Levi b. Yosef, in Fustat. Gil identifies the author of the letter by his handwriting. The letter deals with the trade of silk and pearls and involves Muslim trade partners. (Information from Gil)

Small fragment from the bottom of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Might be asking for a remedy to administer to a sick person (בשי אן אמן . . . אן אסקיה. . . .), but it is too fragmentary to be certain.

Recto: opening of a Hebrew 11th-century letter. Verso: has an unidentified Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic text. (Information from CUDL)

Letter, probably to a certain Shemuʾel. (Information from CUDL)

Minute fragment from an opening of a letter to a notable. AA

Legal document signed by Yaʿaqov b. Shelomo. (Information from CUDL)

Minute fragment from an opening of a legal deed. AA

Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. Only a small corner remains. The writer seems to be a woman: "When I remained a widow (tarammaltu). . ." Also mentions "the ruin of the daughter (or house?). . . raising her children. . ."

Legal document/note testifying that a certain Baqā' b. al-Surūr the [indigo] merchant will operate the tax farm (ḍamān) of Tamīm, the ḍāmin of al-Burqāniyya (location unidentified), for a payment of 4 dirhams a month, as long as he has that tax farm and the tax farm for Qalyūb. Dated the first of Ramaḍān. Witnesses: Ḥalfon Kohen b Elʿazar; Shemuel b. Nissim. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards.) On verso there are additional notes in Arabic script and Hebrew script mentioning Rabīʿ I and Tishrei.

Letter to the Nagid (or at least to a dignitary titled [...] ha-Yeshiva, probably the same Yaḥyā ha-Sar named in line 7). The sender asks for help on behalf of a woman. He describes her circumstances and meager resources and then refers to Rabbenu Moshe and a public collection (jibāya). May mention Peraḥ[ya] in the margin. Reused on verso for Arabic poems, including one referring to colors and stones. (Information in part from CUDL.)

A family letter, contains mostly regards from Avraham Sagish to his brother Moshe. 16th century. Published by A. David, Katedra 114, p. 67-68.

Letter from a father to a son. In Judaeo-Arabic. Also conveying messages from the son's mother. There are some fatherly exhortations here ("... wa-l-tanbīh yā bunayy..."). (Information in part from CUDL)

Legal testimony in Arabic script, in which someone declares that he longer owes any money to someone. One of the parties is named Abū l-Munā. Underneath, presumably witness signatures, Mevorakh b. Sar Shalom and Moshe b. Maṣliaḥ are written in Hebrew characters. (Information in part from CUDL)

Accounts, mentioning several sums of dirhams. (Information from CUDL)

Letter head addressed to Abū Yaḥyā Nahray b. Nissim. (Information from CUDL)

Very faded letter by Hillel ha-Haver b. Avraham?

A letter of reproach. The writer refers to 'your courts' and speaking about the right moral behavior a man should embrace when appealing to court.

Beginning of a court record (last will and testament?) for Shelah b. Yefet the silk tax-farmer in Sammanud.