Geniza Lab

Legal document. Dated: Thursday, 17 Nisan 1483 Seleucid (1172 CE). Inventory of the estate of the physician Abū l-Riḍā al-Levi, which was designated for the benefit of the orphan daughter of ʿImrān by order of "the great Rav Moshe," that is, Maimonides, who had recently been appointed head of the Jews. Also mentions the dead man's female slave named Musk. Join by S. D. Goitein. Join awaiting transcription. Goitein's notes say that Westminster Frag. Cairens. 25+ is another copy of this document, but the shelfmark must have changed (this should correspond to L-G Misc. 25, and nothing in the L-G Misc. folder appears to be related to this document).

Letter in Arabic script. Possibly from a mother to a son. Handwriting and spelling are dreadful. There are many greetings as well as instructions about transactions involving Fakhr. Also, "Take your wife and come visit Dammūh." On verso, the addressee writes back in Judaeo-Arabic: "May whoever wrote such a letter never enjoy health! Next time you send me a letter, don't let anyone write it except someone who knows how to write and read, like Bū Ṭayyib or someone from the kuttāb of the teacher."

Letter from an unknown man. In Judaeo-Arabic, in a blocky hand and with אללה spelled אלי. He alludes to a terrible misfortune afflicting him. "If it were not for the dream which I had on the eve of the day of the betrayal—for I had lain down in [...] as God knows, and I saw a man telling me, 'Cast/throw yourself onto [...], by God and by the Torah, do not exceed what I tell you....' And if it were not for that, I would not have had the courage in it...." The continuation is too faded to read. Toward the bottom, 'the affair of Abū l-Maymūn' is mentioned. On verso there are accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.

Short letter sent from Yosef b Avraham to Ismail b. Yaʿaqov al-Andalusi, mentioning that the writer sent textiles marked with his name, and asking Ismail to buy sandals and a scarf for the writer's son. Dating: ca. 1055. (Information from Gil, Kingdom)

Letter from a Qaraite probably of Persian origin. His location is unknown (perhaps Ramla or Fustat), as are the identity of the addressee and his location (perhaps Jerusalem). In Hebrew. Dating: First half of the 11th century. The letter opens with extensive good wishes for the addressee, including for his recovery from an illness. The sender is writing on Tuesday the 20th of Sivan "according to the observation of the new moon." Several months earlier, the addressee had asked him to go up to Jerusalem and meet with the (now deceased) Nasi.The sender had excused himself at that time by citing his difficult circumstances. He is writing the present letter to report on recent developments: Abū Naṣr David b. Yiṣḥaq ha-Levi (active ca. 1020–55) arrived; Mikhaʾel went to greet him, but the two of them quarreled. Someone said something about the sender being in Egypt (or Fustat), and someone said something about Abū Sulaymān David b. Bapshād. The continuation of the letter is missing. On verso there are seliḥot. (Information in part from Rustow, Heresy and the Politics of Community, p. 154.)

Literary work in Judaeo-Arabic. Perhaps al-Faraj baʿd al-Shidda of Rabbenu Nissim. This page discusses Naḥum of Gamzu and Rabbenu ha-Qodesh when he was afflicted by illness (and toothache?). Needs further examination for proper identification.

Prayer for the current incumbent of a distinguished family of Kohanim, Moshe ha-Kohen (lived around 1200), opening with a prayer for his ancestors and other deceased relatives (called tarhim) (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, pp. 162, 554)

Genealogical lists. See Goitein's note card for more information.

Letter from Yisrael b. Natan from Jerusalem to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. September 8, 1060. Several financial issues between Israel and Nahray. Also mentions copying books and the writer asks for a shipment of cinnamon. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 3, pp. 139-143, #470). VMR

Literary. Rhymed maxims in Judaeo-Arabic, organized alphabetically. Cf. T-S Ar.13.13, discussed in the November 2019 Fragment of the Month by Mohamed A. H. Ahmed. Information in part from Goitein's note card.

Verso (earlier side): Letter from Yaḥyā to a qāḍī. In Arabic script. Opens "aṣghar al-mamālīk [...] Yaḥyā yujaddidu khidmata sayyidinā l-qāḍī al-ajall al-awḥad al-qāʾim al-mutafakkir(?)...." Needs examination.

Verso: Narrative in Judaeo-Arabic. Perhaps notes for a sermon. It starts by describing a stroll on the Sabbath following Pentecost to 'the observatory' (al-raṣad) to get some fresh air (natanashshaq). One of the members of the party, Elʿazar b. Shelomo asked the writer "What is the mountain of God?" The writer then expounds on the nature of the mountain of God. Dating: A previous PGP description listed this as 11th century, but it is not clear on what basis. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards.) ASE

Legal fragment (right half). Deed of sale of a house, probably from Qayrawān. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Legal fragment. End of a marriage contract, signed by Efrayim b. Sadoq, Shelomo b. Mevorakh and Yosef b. Nissin.

Letter from Salah b. Barhun al-Tahirti to Yosef b. Awkal and his sons Hillel and Binyamin (written 8.21.1008, received 11.1.1008), upper fragment only.

Letter from Shelomo b. Eliyyahu to his father Eliyyahu the Judge. In Arabic script, with isolated words and part of the address in Hebrew. Very little is preserved: only the first line, the address, and the last word in the right margin (al-ḍurūra / "distress" / "need").

Fragment of a court testimony in which Bishr b. Ibrahim sues Zayn concerning items in the estate of his deceased paternal uncle, Sadaqa b. Khalaf. Dated Tevet 1453/ December 1141. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Ketubba fragment. Calligraphic.

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic. Mnetions Abū l-Ṭāhir. Deals with business matters and mentions an exchange rate.

Page from a bookseller's ledger, containing many names. (Information from Goitein's index cards)