Geniza Lab

Genealogy. Dating: 11th century. "A genealogical list of Exilarchs from Zakai ben 'Azariah to David and Adam. Zakai ben 'Azariah is the brother of the better-known Daniel, the Gaon of the Erets Israeli Yeshivah between 1051 and 1062. The list starts with almost four lines of honorifics applied to Zakai, followed by 13 lines of Exilarchs and their biblical antecedents. The last eight lines, filling to the end of the page, is an explanation in Judeo-Arabic in the importance of recording the Davidic decent of the Exilarchs." Information from Penn catalog.

Signature of the Exilarch David. "A signature on an otherwise blank piece of paper, possibly an ex libris inscribed on the first page of a codex. It reads, in rough cursive script: הודו לי'י כי טוב \ מרשות אדוננו \ דוד הנשיא הגדול \ ראש גליות כל ישראל \ יעזרהם אלהים על כלל. Possibly referring to David ben Zakai, who reigned as the Exilarch between 917 and 940, but more likely the later, 12th century Exilarch mentioned by Abraham Maimonides. See Gil, Be-malkhut Yishmaʹel bi-teḳufat ha-geʹonim / Mosheh Gil. Tel Aviv : University of Tel Aviv, 1997, vol. 1, p. 437 n. 255; sporadically vocalized." Information from Penn catalog.

A hastily written list of 37 contributors whose names are provided in abbreviated form. Perhaps a collection for a singer at a minor family event; 37 persons, including Abu al-Fadl b. Qata’if and the cantor Yakhin senior. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society 2:507) EMS

Recto (secondary use): Lower part of list of male persons, mostly craftsmen or foreigners (Goitein surmises that they are people for whom the capitation tax was [to be] paid). Several names are preceded by sahh, 'paid.' Each name also ends with a line extended to the end of the column, possibly signifying that it has been paid. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, pp. 466-467, App. B 106.) Many of the people listed bear surnames indicating their place of origin, including Baghdad, Amid (in Iraq), Aleppo, Damascus, Tiberias, ?Azza, Sicily, or indicating their profession, including porter, packer, night watchman, dyer, soap maker, mosaic craftsman.

Verso (original use): Bottom of a petition to a vizier (ḥaḍrat al-wizāra). In Arabic script, with ḥamdala and ḥasbala at end. Layout: landscape mode, eastern-style. A group of petitioners ask for help against a group of people who are wronging them. None of the specifics of the conflict are preserved.

Pledges for ransom of captives. A pledge-drive (pesiqa) for the man from Antioch for the ransom of his children. In four columns divided further into six sections. The sums are astoundingly small. The total, which must have been less than 10 dinars, was far less than the amount. needed to ransom one captive. The man from Antioch, which was taken by the Crusaders in 1098, might have been ransomed by money given by a notable, partly to be restituted by the community. Our list might have been drawn up for such a purpose. There are other possibilities, too (see Goitein). The Hebrew term ransom of captives was also applied to many different states of hardship, e.g. a man in prison for failure of paying taxes. [Abu] Sa'd the katib (government official) pledges a quarter gold dinar. Around 1100. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 507, App. C 135.) There are numerous fragments in the hand of the same scribe, e.g., T-S Ar.34.186; see Penn catalog (https://openn.library.upenn.edu/Data/0002/html/h466.html) for the list.

List of about 95 prospective contributors, consisting of 4 columns on recto and one on verso. Col. I is superscribed Massasiyyin, the is, people living in the Massasa quarter. Likewise 'Attarin in col. III must be understood as an abbreviated form of 'Square of the Perfumers,' for many persons listed had professions other than 'attarin. Col. V Physicians, 13 names, mostly known. From the time of the Nagid Avraham Maimonides (1205-1237). (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 508, App. C 136)

List of persons for whom the capitation tax was to be paid. Late eleventh century. (Information from Halper, Catalogue and Goitein, Med. Soc. II:467)

List of accounts from a bookseller, mentioning a number of titles of known works. (Information from Halper, Catalogue)

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script and Coptic numerals.

Account book. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: Early 18th century. See Penn catalog for further information; merits further examination.

Legal document in Arabic script. The last four lines are preserved as well as the witness statements. Needs examination. Later reused for a complicated set of notes by Avraham Ibn Yiju (see separate record).

List of Ibn Yiju's deposits and expenditures after arriving in the Egyptian capital.

List of commodities and amounts in Judaeo-Arabic. The hand is probably known. Items include coffee, saffron and pepper. Information in part from Penn catalog.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. 12 items have bars above them, possibly signifying payment. Among the items are fish and saffron. Information in part from Penn catalog.

Petition, Fatimid(?). In Arabic script. Last 9 lines. With hamdala and hasbala at end. Needs further examination.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Probably late.

Calendar in Judaeo-Arabic. Including the date 1429 Seleucid, which is 1117/18 CE.

Calendar in Judaeo-Arabic. Including the date 4924 AM, which is 1163/64 CE.

Genealogical list from Ezra to Adam. On verso there are pen trials, including the beginning of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic and a basmala in Arabic script.