Geniza Lab

Letter from a woman named Qamr, in Jerusalem, to her brother Moshe Farikh (פריך), in Fustat/Cairo. Dating: Likely early 17th century, based on A. David's identifications of some of the names.

Letter from Yeḥezqel b. Netanel ha-Levi, probably in Qalyūb, to his brother Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi, in Alexandria. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: Sunday, 2 Shevaṭ (1451 Seleucid) = 24 December 1139 CE. Written nine days after Yeḥezqel's preceding letter (IV, 59). He reports that he arrived safely, probably to Qalyub, and that he took care of the things mentioned in certificate IV, 59 and also in the subsequent documents, such as his sale of khazz silk and a payment to Abū Yiṣḥaq. At the end of the letter he greets his son Abū l-Fakhr, who was staying with Ḥalfon in Alexandria. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV; Hebrew description below.)

On recto there is a list of medical books in Judaeo-Arabic. Respectively on the non-naturals, colic, and diet (אלאשיא אלכארגה ען אלטביעיה, רסאלה פי אלקולנג, אלאגדיה). There are numbers underneath each, perhaps prices. There is then a poem (qaṣīd) in Hebrew. On verso there is a different book list in different handwriting, this one clearly business accounts. It *may* be in the handwriting of Abū l-Bayān Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi, and Abū l-Faḍl Ibn Bayān who appears in line 2 *may* be his son. Other people mentioned are Ibn al-Dayyān, Abū l-Thanā', Ibn al-Mashmiaʿ(?), Abū Saʿīd al-Ṭabīb, and Abū l-Faraj b. Abū l-Riḍā.

Legal query involving Sitt al-Ḥusn and the property of an orphan. With responsa from Moshe Maimonides, Sason ha-Dayyan, and Shelomo b. Natan. There is another legal query with responsum on verso. This document has been published by both M. A. Friedman and Joshua Blau. (Information in part from Goitein’s index card.)

Deed of gift to an engaged woman. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi. Dated: 1440 Seleucid, which is 1128/29 CE. This gift was given in addition to the payment of the ketubba and the 'added to the ketubba',and the women could do with it as she pleases. Edited also at Weiss, Ḥalfon, Doc. #9.

Court record. Location: Fustat/Cairo. Dated: 5307 AM, which is 1546/47 CE. The case involves the payment of the ketubba for Esther, the widow of Moshe Castro, and a debt that the late Moshe was owed by the well-known merchant Avraham b. Shānjī, also dead. The story begins in Jerusalem when the widow demanded payment from Shemuel b. Avraham Ibn Shānjī that he repay the debt of his father (80 Venetian ducats). Later, in Fustat/Cairo, the case came before the judge David Ibn Abi Zimra. See A. David's edition on FGP for further information.

Legal query addressed to Avraham Maimonides. Concerning a certain Kohen who is seeking a restraining order against his divorcee and to prohibit her from entering the alley where he lives, because he is scared of her and her witchcraft (כישוף). She keeps visiting her female friends who live the same alley as he. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards.) ASE

Fragment of a marriage contract between the bridegroom X b. Yosef [the great Rav] and the bride Sitt al-Adab daughter of Yehuda b. Nissim the sar b. Masliah the haver, the judge. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, p. 103)

Copy of a copy of a ketubba from Ashkelon, 1100.

Legal document in Hebrew. Very faded. Dated, but only the number 4 or 40 is readily legible. The hand looks late and/or Sefaradi-influenced. Mentions a financial loss (ההפסד שהפסיד...). Signed: Yeshaʿya b. Ḥiyya; [...] b. ʿOvadya; Yosef Seruji; Shelomo al-Maghribī.

Legal document in Hebrew. Very faded. A woman named ʿAzīza makes a declaration. "My husband Yaʿaqov ha-Kohen" is mentioned three lines from the bottom. On verso there is a faṣl or note in Judaeo-Arabic describing the contents of the legal document: "iqrār of the wife of [.......]."

List of names with numbers. The list includes three Ṣabbāghs (dyers), a Ṣā'igh (goldsmith), and a Khabbāz (baker).

Legal document. Partnership agreement. Dating: 1122-1153. A one-year partnership in an apothecary between Sayyid al-Ahl and his partner Faraḥ b. Abū al-‘Alā. The relationship may have been an apprenticeship; both parties are entitled to 1.5 dirhams a day, but profits from the sale of some commodities within the shop will accrue only to Sayyid al-Ahl, who seems to be the primary partner. However, Faraḥ’s investment is significant; the pharmacy inventory was only 7 dinars, but Faraḥ brings a total of 20 dinars, 16 of which are invested immediately. This document lacks most of the formulae seen in partnership agreements (including stock qinyan phrases, which effect the contract) – it may have been simply the personal outline of a scribe who would later add in the framework from a formulary, as it also lacks signatures. Goitein identifies the handwriting as that of Natan b. Shemuel ha-Ḥaver (active 1122-1153). (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture", 38-39)

Account of goods sent by Nahray b. Nissim to Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Ishaq ha-Tahirti, ca. 1046. It begins with an account of the balance of what remained from the previous year, and then summarizes Nahray's business activities and the shipments he sent to Abu Ishaq in the last two years, including goods like pearls, beads, clothes, and fabrics. It seems like Nahray partnered with ha-Tahiriti in addition to working independently. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #273) VMR

Detailed accounts, written by Nahray b. Nissim, specifying private expenses as well as expenses of business done by the writer for Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Ishaq Tahirti. Dated 1046. (Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, 811)

Account of goods sent to Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Ishaq on the ships in (4)806 A.M. (1045-1046), beginning with an account of the balance of what remained the previous year.

An account submitted to Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Ishaq. Dating: 1045–46 CE.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and some Arabic script. The hand may be known. Dating: 11th or 12th century.

Letter from Khalaf b. Yiṣḥaq to Egypt. Aden, ca. 1130-39.

Letter from the office of Yehoshuaʿ Nagid (d. 1355) (in Cairo) to the community of Fustat about a conflict between two butchers who had caused trouble for the complainant, one Muwaffaq, and ordering them to return to the customary arrangement whereby one worked three days and the other, the other three days. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, p. 424)