Geniza Lab

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic.

Mysterious document(s) in Judaeo-Arabic. Multiple hands and distinct text blocks. On the far left of recto, there is a text block concerning tax farming in a certain district, "the property of the two dīwāns," the kharājī year 951 (=1544/45 CE plus or minus a couple years), the amir Muḥammad אלדרדכש(?), a qāḍī also named Muḥammad [...], and Isḥaq the Jew. To the right of this text block, there is a letter or draft of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic. On verso there are accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Needs further examination.

Letter in what Goitein identifies as the handwriting and style of well-known India trader Abu Nasr Avraham informing recipient about events, apparently taking place in the Red Sea. On the recto, the author alludes to travel to or from Dahlak, mentions an unspecified group of islands (possibly the Dahlak archipelago itself), a sojourn of 18 days in Dahlak, and the arrival of an unnamed individual from Aden, and wishes for favorable winds and safe arrivals. The verso contains greetings to a number of people (legible among them are Ibn Yaḥyā, Shaykh Yaʿqūb and Abū Naṣr al-Ḥalabi) and gives date as the 6th of month of Av. Abū Naṣr al-Ḥalabī appears as al-tājir, the merchant, in the extant document of his wife's deathbed declaration preserved and dated to 26th of Iyyar 1454/April 13 1143. (Information from R.E. Margariti and S. D. Goitein, 'India Book' VI.40/IB.94; Mediterranean Society 5:151-155)

Part of a letter. Recto mentions "the people of Aden." Verso is greetings, including to Yahya, Musallam, al-Sheikh Ya'qub, and Abu Nasr al-Halabi. See Goitein notes linked below.

Letter from Shelomo Cesana & Company, in Alexandria, to Karo y Frances & Company, in Fustat/Cairo. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: 8 Shevat 5572 AM, which is 22 January 1812 CE. Very brief: 6 lines only.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 18th or 19th century.

Multifragment. Sharing this shelfmark are several distinct documents, including letters and lists, mainly in Judaeo-Arabic, mainly late. Needs examination

Literary, probably. Small fragment in Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew.

Letter drafts in Judaeo-Arabic.

Legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. No names preserved. Release from legal obligations in a business relationship involving a store in which one party was present during the absence of the owner. Verso blank.

Letter from a son to his mother. In Judaeo-Arabic. Urging her to come, and if not, he will neglect the shop and come to her. The handwriting may be known.

Document in Arabic script. Very faded. On verso there is Hebrew literary text.

Document in Judaeo-Arabic. Small fragment. Mentions Qaṣr al-Shamʿ. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe?

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. List of names (e.g. ʿAbd al-Salām) and numbers.

Release from legal obligations in a business relationship, mentioning one Abu Nasr, possibly an India trader, as the epithet is very common in the India Book documents. Likely continued in JRL SeriesA337-2. (Information from S. D. Goitein and M.A. Friedman, India Traders of the Middle Ages, 409-10 note 2). Handwriting of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe?

Release from legal obligations in a business relationship, mentioning one Abu Nasr, possibly an India trader, as the epithet is very common in the India Book documents. Likely continuation of JRL SeriesA337-1. (Information from S. D. Goitein and M.A. Friedman, India Traders of the Middle Ages, 409-10 note 2).

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. What remains is mostly formulaic. Quite deferential.

Legal fragment in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. In which [...] b. Yosef acknowledges receipt of a debt from [...] b. Netanel ha-Levi. Little else remains.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Small fragment.

Letter from Yaʿaqov Yuʿbaṣ to Confrada Khumsa Kharja(?). In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Late 18th or early 19th century.