Geniza Lab

Account in Judaeo-Arabic giving the value of something that was sold in Alexandria.

Note from Yosef Tamish (? טמיש) to Namir. In Hebrew. The sender is in prison (שורתיים אלו להודיע לכה איך אני בבית הסוהר) and he has nobody to help him. He asks the addressee to join with Yiṣḥaq al-Ashqar and raise some money on his behalf. Dating: mid-16th century.) Information in part from CUDL)

Letter from ʿIwāḍ b. Ḥananel, in Alexanria, to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Second half of the 10th century. The writer reports on a terrible Nile journey "as if it were the sea of Sfax"; the water entered the boat because of the many "ניו"; this may be a plural form of نَوء, which means storm or gale. ʿIwāḍ stayed up all night, sitting in the water and guarding the merchandise, crying out for help and receiving none. Eventually someone agreed to help, but demanded a hefty price. ʿIwād ultimately reached Alexandria safe and sound. He reports on the state of the merchandise and how he is faring trying to sell it. Information in part from Goitein's transcription.

Informal note. In Judaeo-Arabic. Requesting that the addressee return the collaterals after the settlement of a debt. "To the elder, the Understanding (ha-Mevin), may his Rock keep him. Kindly receive from the bearer 20 dirhems and hand over to him that which is deposited with your excellency, namely, the turban, the bucket, and the oil jug. This is in accordance with the settlement reached in the presence of our Lord (sayyidnā), may he live forever. Do not let this be delayed—(do this) as one bestowing favor, not as one ordered (munʿimān lā ma'mūran). And peace." This is Goitein's translation, slightly modified (he did not translate the last two words). Goitein suggested identifying 'sayyidnā' with Avraham Maimonides and the addressee ('ha-Mevin') as his cantor and treasurer (see Med Soc II, 420, bottom). Information from Goitein's attached notes.

Document in Arabic script. Needs examination.

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic. The addressee is called 'brother.' The writer seems to be trying to justify something he said or wrote. Needs examination.

Letter fragment from Seʿadya Abū Saʿd to Shelomo (Sulaymān) אבוסטרה(?). In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Late, probably no earlier than 15th century. Most of the content of the letter is torn off and missing, but at least one other name (Aharon רשורה?) is preserved. The writer's name is given both in the letter itself and in the seal imprint at the top.

Letter in the hand of Yefet b. Menashshe to his brother Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. In Judaeo-Arabic, with the address in both Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script. Fragment (upper left corner of recto). He confirms receipt of the previous letter which mentioned that Ḥakam had a dabīqī item and its cushions (mikhāddhā) and that he wished to have them cut (? qaṣārathum) — cf. Moss. II,123.1.2. Ḥakam said that he would send something to Dimyāṭ (Damietta). Regards to Abū Manṣūr Ibn Qasāsa. There is a needle piercing at the center of the top of the page. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Document in Arabic script. Only the ends of three lines are preserved. May be a state document.

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew. Very damaged. Needs examination.

Verso: Draft of a legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi. Partnership agreement. In this unsigned and undated draft, an unnamed active partner receives 200 dinars from Sibāʿ, with which he is to travel to Alexandria and transact in unnamed commodities. Sibāʿ agrees to share equally in all losses to the partnership as a whole (e.g. losses due to work stoppage or broken merchandise). Lines 12-16 indicate that if commodities may end up traveling for sale in Alexandria escorted by someone other than the active partner, the active partner should inform Sibāʿ. The risk of loss is wholly carried by Sibāʿ. The active partner’s testimony concerning profits and losses does not require the support of witness testimony. The active partner seems to be entitled to all profits except for the maintenance of Sibāʿ(excluding Sibāʿ's rent and education costs for his son). Sibāʿ's share of the profits – a fixed amount unrelated to the success of partnership assets – might contravene the rabbinic prohibition of usury, but he does bear responsibility for losses. The use of the first person throughout the document suggests that it was prepared and notarized for the active partner, as with powers of attorney. The active partner could then present it as supporting documentation in the event of a dispute concerning distribution of partnership profits. (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture", 97–98.) See also Hebrew description from India Book IV, below. On recto there is a business letter in Arabic script; see PGPID 9140.

Recto, with the address on verso: Business letter addressed to Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi. In Arabic script. Dating: Before the beginning of 1136 CE. Concerning business in goods such as sal ammoniac and turpeth, and mentions a public auction (ḥalqa) several times. (Information in part from Aodeh; see also Hebrew description from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV) Ḥalfon reused verso for a draft of a legal document (see separate record).

Letter from Shelomo b. Eliyyahu to Abū l-Faraj al-Makīn (probably his father-in-law). In Judaeo-Arabic. Prefaced by a single line of decorated biblical quotation. Shelomo mentions Abū l-Futūḥ al-Shamshūrī and how the addressee has cut off his letters (perhaps to be read in the context of the letters discussed by Krakowski in Coming of Age, pp.285–86). Shelomo also mentions the youth Abū l-ʿIzz (probably his cousin by the same name). (Information in part from CUDL)

Accounts and jottings in Arabic script. (Information in part from CUDL)

Recto: Blessings for a ḥaver, in Hebrew. Verso: A few words in Arabic script. Needs examination.

Recto: The bottom few lines of a business letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Verso: In a different hand, instructions for what to load onto the boat: 23 burniyyas and a quffa of gum and a quffa of [it cuts off here].

Short note, probably in the hand of Yedutun ha-Levi, reporting that he has delivered certain items to the addressee. Abū l-Mufaḍḍal is mentioned. There are the remnants of a few words in Arabic on verso.

Small fragment of a Judaeo-Arabic letter.

Fragment of a letter from Shelomo b. Eliyyahu to Abū Sahl al-Ṣāyigh. Very little of the subject matter is discernible without a join.

Fragment of a letter in Hebrew, in an elevated register, in which the writer narrates something that happened at a synagogue where he was surrounded by ignoramuses.