Geniza Lab

Personal letter for Yeḥiʾel al-Qahlānī [from Yosef b. Shalom Siman] – 28 Kislev __96 [first two digits illegible on document] – Bassatine Cemetery – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 238) – in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 55). An original scan and translation of the letter is available in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (pp. 203-207). The letter sender writes in order to ascertain why al-Qahlānī has not responded to previous letters and that he is ready to send payment. Given that most of the dated documents in the possession of the MIAC are twentieth-century the most likely reading of the date is [56]96AM or December 24, 1935CE. It is also possible that the year is Common Era dating (perhaps [18]96CE) and the month/day are Anno Mundi as is the case in other 19th-20th-century documents, such as, MIAC 10). MCD.

Statement from an appointee to a charitable organization on the assistance for the educational level of Jewish students who are learning prayer and interpretation together but ceased doing so for a period of time, therefore the appointee departs on a visit to their houses and asking first about the situation of the students, wrote this statement, the times and dates of these home visits are recorded and the first response on the matter – from 9/16/1954CE to 10/03/1954CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 239) – in Arabic. (Information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 30). MCD.

Appeal concerning a warning to youth about the thoughts of some outsiders in the teachings of religious law and the appeal is from the Aḥbāb al-Hayā society of Jerusalem – undated Museum of Islamic Art (number 24) – in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 35). MCD.

Complaint against a Jewish teacher cursing the Jewish faith and Jews in front of the non-Jews in the Jewish school in ʿAbbāsiya, and also the request for his punishment before the non-Jews and his dismissal from the Jewish community – 1946 CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 240) – in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 32). MCD.

Religious exegesis, on the recto pen trials and on the verso a proverb repeated three times – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 241) – in Aramaic (recto) and in Hebrew (verso). (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 47). MCD.

Request advanced by a rabbi to the public secretary of the Cairo Jewish community – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 242) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 60). MCD.

Letter from Herzl to Doctor M.I. Bodenheimer about their negotiations with von Richthofen – 1899CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 245) – in German. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 62). The full names of those mentioned in the catalogue description are most likely: Theodor Herzl, Max Isidor Bodenheimer, and Freiherr von Richthofen. Although it is unclear from the MIAC description whether this was a printed or handwritten letter, it is crucial to note that Theodor Herzl visited Cairo in 1903 and thus the letter may have been a draft or copy once held in Herzl's possession. For more information on Herzl's time in Cairo, see: Desmond Stewart, "Herzl's Journeys in Palestine and Egypt," Journal of Palestine Studies 3, no. 3 (1974): 18-38. MCD.

Invitation from the Jewish community of Maḥallah al-Kubra for a visit to the synagogue of "Ḥayyim al-Amshaṭī" – 5 April 1950 – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 246) – in Arabic and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 54). MCD.

Announcement regarding the relocation of the Grand Rabbinate of Cairo to a new site in ʿAbassīya (Cairo) – 22 May 1952CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 247) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 60). MCD.

Religious commentary and exegesis – undated – Bassatine Cemetery – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 248 repeated) – in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 40). MCD.

Commercial letter – May 5 1933CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 249) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 68). MCD.

Receipt from the association of the Ashkenazi Jews in Cairo in the amount of one hunded qirsh – December 3 1950CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 251) – in French and Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 68). MCD.

Notebook of contributions received – February 1941-December 1941 – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 253) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 75). MCD.

Files of Jewish families who are owed payment containing names, addresses, the members of each family, and their employment, wages, and neighborhood, the initial payment for each family is calculated in kilograms – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 254) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 61-62). MCD.

Minutes of meetings of the educational committee for the administration of teaching-related affairs, gifts, oversight, and sanitation – October, November, December of the year 1954 – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 255) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 31). MCD.

Responsa on familial matters – undated – Museum of Islamic Art (number 256) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 33). MCD.

Religious exegesis – undated – Bassatine Cemetery – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 257) – in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 44). MCD.

Budget statement – July 1948CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 258) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 75). MCD.

Personal letter from individuals named Rafael, Yosef, and Shemuʾel asking for the issuance of citizenship papers for their father because the Egyptian government acknowledged it in an existing paper it issued to him in 1925CE requesting his fulfillment of military service – July 23 1933CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 259) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 56). MCD.

Letter sent from Aleppo to Egypt whose sender is reporting of the arrival of cargo – 1928CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 26) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 67). MCD.