Geniza Lab

See Bodl. MS heb. d 36/13–16bis (PGPID 19355).

Diwan of the poetry of Yiṣḥaq b Khalfūn (active around 1000). There is a poem addressed to Abū l-Faraj Yehoshuaʿ Ibn al-Qamūdī; a poem addressed to Shemuel Ibn al-Lebdī (hence Goitein's inclusion of this fragment in the 'India Book'); a poem addressed to Abū Sulaymān, complaining about the delay of the response to his panegyric from Menashshe b. Ibrāhīm al-Qazzāz; a poem that he sent together with a Purim present; poems on generic themes (parting, elegy, praise); and a poem that he wrote to a friend who gave him some cheese instead of the wine that he had asked for. The identification of the poet was made by Schirmann. (Information in part from Goitein and Friedman, India Traders.) ASE

"The notes prove that love between parents and children is strongest where both are committed to a love greater than themselves." (Goitein, Med. Soc., vi, 2, n. 29)

Copy of a portion of Ezekiel, vocalized. Concludes with a dedication or colophon of sorts: "the dear teacher Yehuda b. Shemuel wrote this for Petaḥya and Yosef the Leviim." (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Letter from Efrayim b. 'Isma'il al-Jawhari to Yosef b. 'Awkal.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Hebrew poetry.

Legal document. Dated: Sivan 1411 Seleucid, which is May/June 1100 CE. Ghanya bt. Ḥusayn and her divorced husband Hillel b. Faraj agree that their little boy will stay with his mother for four months. He shall pay a total of 1 dinar of maintenance for that period. Signed by: Yiṣḥaq b. Shemuel and Yosef b. Ṣedaqa.

Literary text. Biblical glosses in Judaeo-Arabic?

Legal document of the court of Fustat, dated Nisan 1411/March 1100. Yosef, the son of Yosef, the milkman (labban), receives from 'the money of the poor' one dinar as a loan to be paid back in weekly installments of two dirhams. A term is set for the beginning of the repayment, but not for its end. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, p. 383)

Legal query addressed to Yiṣḥaq b. Sasson ha-Dayyan, with his responsum and signature. Concerning an upstanding man whose only trade is teaching Torah but who is a bachelor. If someone objects to his teaching Torah because he is unmarried, what is the law? The responsum cites the Mishna and Gemara of Qiddushin 82a and explains that he may continue teaching children but that he may not go to their houses to teach them, because there are usually women around. ASE

Marriage contract (ketubba). Left upper part. Dated: Nisan 1380 Seleucid, which is 1069 CE. (10 +) 20 = 30. As far as preserved, the dowry is worth at least 70 dinars. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Letter from Nissim b. Ya’aqov from Qayrawan (Ifrīqiya) to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat, May 19, 1027. The writer asks Ibn Awkal to hurry with the shipments and answers to and from Rav Hayya Gaon. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #162) VMR

Legal document. Fragment of a beautifully written ketubba. Early style. Ca. 1080. (Information from Goitein’s index card)