Geniza Lab

Geonic responsum about the calendar controversy of Ben Meir, dated 994–95 CE. It is attributed to Hayye Gaon. Preserved here is the second of two versions of this responsum, referring to the era of Creation, the epoch of the molad and tequfah, and the 19-year cycle. The first version is preserved in a secondary source, Abraham bar Ḥayya’s monograph on the Jewish calendar known as Sefer ha-'Ibbur (3:7), first published by Herschell Filipowski in 1851. Although these two versions share much in common, there are significant textual variations between them, and extensive passages that are unique to only one or the other version. Thus, this passage refers to the controversy of Ben Meir and is preserved only in the Cairo Geniza version. (Information from Sacha Stern, The Jewish Calendar Controversy)

A very eloquent letter of condolence from Avraham b. Natan Av ha-Yeshivah to someone addressed as "al-Kohen al-Parnas Ne'eman Beit Din," apparently on the occasion of the death of the addressee's father (he expresses condolences for "the mother of the orphan" in line 5). The writer describes his terrible distress that he shares with the addressee and emphasizes the theme of tziduk ha-din and tolerance of trials sent by God. In the last lines he conveys wishes for the longevity of Abu Kathir (the addressee's son?). The right margin is mostly effaced; the upper margin picks up, "they asked me to write a letter of condolence on their behalf, but the bearer was in a hurry, so I sufficed with these lines. Peace." ASE.

Recto: Two legal queries addressed to a certain Efrayim. In the first, Reuven claims that Shimon owes him money but that he has lost the contract. Does Shimon have to swear on pain of the ban that there was no debt and no contract? In the second, Reuven gave Shimon a house but claims that the scribe forgot to include an important condition about Reuven's continued access to the house ("all the days of my l[ife]"?). Does Shimon have to swear that there was never such a condition? Verso: The responsa. The first one is quite effaced but may just say that Shimon has to swear. The second one says to summon the witnesses and ask if they remember that the parties agreed to Reuven's condition. If they don't remember, Shimon must swear that he never agreed to such a condition. ASE.

A page from a literary work on magical medical remedies.

Several pages of mercantile accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic. Lāsīn silk is among the commodities listed. Some people's names are given. The sums are quite high, e.g. 70 dinars and two qirats on the bottom of verso of Stras. 4038/27. One of the sections on verso of Stras. 4038/28 is headed "the account of what arrived from Sicily. . . and what was with R. Yusuf b. [?]." There are writing exercises on the verso of Stras. 4038/29. From a merchant's ledger (daftar) of accounts? Notably, costs of transport and other incidental costs (porters, guards, brokers) are listed. ASE.

Several pages of mercantile accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic. Lāsīn silk is among the commodities listed. Some people's names are given. The sums are quite high, e.g. 70 dinars and two qirats on the bottom of verso of Stras. 4038/27. One of the sections on verso of Stras. 4038/28 is headed "the account of what arrived from Sicily. . . and what was with R. Yusuf b. [?]." There are writing exercises on the verso of Stras. 4038/29. From a merchant's ledger (daftar) of accounts? Notably, costs of transport and other incidental costs (porters, guards, brokers) are listed. ASE.

Several pages of mercantile accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic. Lāsīn silk is among the commodities listed. Some people's names are given. The sums are quite high, e.g. 70 dinars and two qirats on the bottom of verso of Stras. 4038/27. One of the sections on verso of Stras. 4038/28 is headed "the account of what arrived from Sicily. . . and what was with R. Yusuf b. [?]." There are writing exercises on the verso of Stras. 4038/29. From a merchant's ledger (daftar) of accounts? Notably, costs of transport and other incidental costs (porters, guards, brokers) are listed. ASE.

Several pages of mercantile accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic. Lāsīn silk is among the commodities listed. Some people's names are given. The sums are quite high, e.g. 70 dinars and two qirats on the bottom of verso of Stras. 4038/27. One of the sections on verso of Stras. 4038/28 is headed "the account of what arrived from Sicily. . . and what was with R. Yusuf b. [?]." There are writing exercises on the verso of Stras. 4038/29. From a merchant's ledger (daftar) of accounts? Notably, costs of transport and other incidental costs (porters, guards, brokers) are listed. ASE.

Several pages of mercantile accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic. Lāsīn silk is among the commodities listed. Some people's names are given. The sums are quite high, e.g. 70 dinars and two qirats on the bottom of verso of Stras. 4038/27. One of the sections on verso of Stras. 4038/28 is headed "the account of what arrived from Sicily. . . and what was with R. Yusuf b. [?]." There are writing exercises on the verso of Stras. 4038/29. From a merchant's ledger (daftar) of accounts? Notably, costs of transport and other incidental costs (porters, guards, brokers) are listed. ASE.

Complete calligraphic letter of appeal to Yefet ha-Sar, a Levi, begging for money to help pay the capitation tax for the writer and his two sons. The letter contains several interesting features. The writer says that every year Yefet ha-Sar is accustomed to persuading al-Shaykh al-Nafīs to pay the writer's capitation tax. The writer is in debt to the tune of 300 dirhams plus interest, at least partly due to the expense of marrying his son. Everyone is dying of hunger because "I only buy the bread of the market." He then cites the maxim that the poor of your household precede the poor of your city who precede the poor of another city, "So consider me as the poor of your household." He does not want his brother-in-law to hear about this (perhaps he is related to Yefet ha-Sar through his brother-in-law?). ASE.

Judaeo-Arabic commentary (there are more pages than just this shelfmark) on Masekhet Shabbat. ASE.

Formularies for marriage-related legal documents (get, halitzah, yibbum). ASE.

Judaeo-Arabic commentary on the Mishneh Torah. ASE.

From the story of Ya'aqov and Rachel and Leah in Genesis: each verse is followed by an Aramaic and a Judaeo-Arabic translation. ASE.

Descriptions of the contents of a collection of books in two different hands: the first, neater block names Yehudah b. Yahya and the text of the Tāj and Bereshit Rabbah and the Torah and the 5 Megillot and Baer Heitev and the Gemara of Hullin and the laws of Shehitah. The second block in rudimentary handwriting is harder to read. It names 'Ayn Ya'aqov, Pesikta ha-Nasi ha-Gadol, Humash ha-Gadol, and Rav Alfas, and "three excerpts of the Rambam." He signs "I am Men[ah?]em b. Yehudah al-Mujhid (?)." Probably late, at least 16th century. ASE.

Letter from Ḥalfon b. Madmun to Ezekiel b. Natan acknowledging condolences on Madmun's death. Aden, 1152.

Interesting copy of a Judaeo-Arabic letter regarding affairs of a Yeshivah. There is unfortunately a crease covering a word or two from each line, and this could probably be unfolded. The writer read the addressee's letter about the matter of the son of Shemuel Gaon (ZL), who may be 20-something years old (line 7). The writer seems to describe his education and upbringing, perhaps trying to show that they are inadequate for this son to assume an official position. If his learning is so meager, just imagine his ability to compose poetry and have a presentable face and outfit. He copies books without understanding anything of their content. The writer is at a loss for how to better him, and he wishes the addressee could take charge of him, but the elders of the Yeshivah would have to agree. Then the page ends. ASE.

Letter from Binyām b. Hārūn, in Alexandria, to Abū l-Afrāḥ ʿArūs b. Yosef, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: ca. 1080 CE, based on Gil's assessment. Regarding a leather container with goods that the writer sends to ʿArūs and asks him to sell for him. Verso: Reused for accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #714.) VMR. ASE.

Letter, probably a draft as it does not have an address and someone has practiced their Arabic salutations on verso. The recipient is referred to as al-Kohen al-Ḥaver. The writer has been remiss in writing earlier because of the death of Ullah b. Hillel, who left orphans behind. The letter of Abu l-Ḥasan Barakat Bahir ha-Yeshivah has arrived for his cousin Abu l-'Ala, stating that he had met with Abu l-Qasim b. al-Saqqa'. A complicated story ensues involving a sum of 10 dinars that someone (Abu Bishr R. Ya'ir) had given to someone (Abu l-Qasim) to give to a woman who then died. The rest of the letter has to do with making sure the money gets back to its rightful owner. Someone (modern?) has gone through and underlined many of the names. ASE.

Complete letter in the same unmistakeable hand as several others (see the tag). In other letters, he writes to his father in Minyat Qa'id and is treated for a febrile disease by Ibn Habib. In this one: he is upset about a lack of letters in response to his own and to those from his brother Abu l-Ḥasan. He mentions news from al-Mahallah. Much of the letter has to with plans for the holidays, possibly encouraging the recipient (likely his father) to "come out" and spend it with him. Abu l-Faraj b. al-Sammāk (son of the fishmonger) also encourages this. Then there is discussion of transfers of money involving his brother Abu l-Ḥasan. A certain Abu Bakr accompanies the bearer of the letter. The writer has also enclosed a letter to Waḥshī (? a man) and another one to Berakhah to Bilbays. ASE.