Geniza Lab

Sale of 1/2 house to the wife of a brother of Rabbenu Ḥayyim for 250 (dirhams or dinars, probably the former). A lane known by the name of Rabbenu Ḥananel is named. Almost certainly in the hand of Imanuel b. Yeḥiel. Information from Goitein's note card.

Barely legible legal document concerning marriage. It may be a ketubba, but the legal formulae that remain are not unique to ketubbot. (Information from CUDL)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Middle part of a long letter concerning the rent of one-fourth of a house belonging to a woman. The sender explains that it is not worthwhile going to court, as it would only lead to fines and financial ruin, and the 'ruler' (Heb. shaliṭ, corresponding to Arabic qāḍī? or perhaps wālī?) might turn out to be wicked, and in these parts there is a lot of ḥamas (oppression by the government). There follows a convoluted discussion of the rent of this property. The sender asked the landlady to come, but she said that she couldn't come, and the female slave couldn't come, and they would split the losses. In the closing greetings, the sender reports that the children are all well. Abū l-Mufaḍḍal intends to travel but delayed his departure until after the holidays. The sender conveys his congratulations to Abū l-Maʿālī and perhaps a woman and her son (or father?) Abū l-Najm. In the margin there is the beginning of a report about something that the wife of Abu l-Barakāt heard from the wife of Zikrī. Potentially the same handwriting as T-S 12.417, JRL SERIES B 2601, and/or ENA NS 2.40. (Information in part from Goitein’s index card.) ASE

Only a small piece remains, containing the ends of two signatures (followed by 'נ'נ). (Information from CUDL)

Agreement between a husband (Abū Manṣūr Ibn Qasāsā) and wife. In the hand of Halfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi. Ibn Qasāsā divests himself of responsibility for his wife’s possessions, and the wife is granted the right to dispose of her dowry (excluding silverware and jewellery) as she sees fit and to purchase real estate, because of insecure times, and because she is ‘trustworthy’. The other conditions of the marriage contract remain in force. Dating: ca. 1120s CE. Also mentions Abū l-Khayr b. Ḥaffāṭ. The wife (Sitt al-Ḥusn) is also known from another later manuscript (Bodl. MS Heb. e 98, f. 63, dated 1138 CE), in which she is described as the widow of Ibn Qasāsā upon her remarriage. By this time (apparently soon after the death of Ibn Qasāsā) Sitt al-Ḥusn had a minor son and the ownership of a store near her house. (Information from CUDL. See also Goitein's index card and Weiss's edition.)

Fragment of a settlement with a widow. Dated: Nisan 1456 Seleucid, which is 1145 CE, under the authority of Shemuel b. Ḥananya. In the hand of Natan b. Shemuel. The widow acknowledges that she had already received the immediate installments from the marriage gift, as well as copper and other items. The total still due to her was one third, and she has now received it. Her brother releases the heirs in her name from any future claims. Witnesses: Natan b. Shelomo ha-Kohen; Natan b. Shemuel ha-Ḥaver. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, 387.) Join: Oded Zinger.

End of a ketubba with very little text preserved, signed by the scribe, Hillel b. ʿEli (1066-1108 CE). (Information from CUDL)

Fragment of a letter from Natan b. Nahray, from Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Probably 1063. Mentions several types of goods as almonds and gems. Mentions “ha-Nasi” (the leader) and his letter. Also mentions the disagreement with Abu Zikri b. Menashshe as well as the illness of Nissim, the son of Nahray b. Nissim. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #427) VMR

Beginning of a legal document written under the jurisdiction of David Maimonides, dated Nisan 1576 (= 1265 CE) in Fusṭāṭ. (Information from CUDL)

Legal deed concerning the sale of a house. The parties are Shelomo ha-Kohen and Yaḥyā. (Information from CUDL)

Fragment of an incomplete legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi (1100–1138 CE). There are two lines, mentioning the late Abū l-Faraj Hibatallāh Netanʾel. On verso, in a different hand, it says "qiyām: 47. to his mother: 21." (Information in part from CUDL)

Small fragment of a marriage contract (ketubba). Likely in the hand of Yefet b. David. Dating: ca. 1030 CE. The delayed marriage payment is 20 dinars. The dowry amounts to 50 dinars. (Information from Goitein’s index card.)

Fragment of a legal document concerning the ketubba of Karīma and her husband Nadiv. Also mentions a certain Shelomo. In the hand of Nathan b. Shemuʾel (early-mid 12th century). (Information from CUDL)

Part of the beginning of a ketubba, dated 13[..] (10th-11th century CE) in Fusṭāṭ. (Information from CUDL)

Bill of release. Fragment (upper right corner). In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi (1100–38 CE). Mentions Sitt al-Kull and her mother Sirwa, one of whom acknowledges receipt of something. Also mentions Abū [...] Elʿāzar ha-Kohen. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Letter from Nissim b. Ḥalfon, from Tinnis, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. 1046. The writer describes his conflict with an Iraqi named Ibn al-Wasiti. The writer asks that Sahlan b. Avraham, the leader of the Iraqi community in Fustat, will intervene. Mentions details about selling goods that Nahray had sent: flax and lacquer. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #582) VMR

Bill of divorce. Incomplete. Location: Fustat. Dated: Monday, 9 Ṭevet 1562 Seleucid, which is December 1250 CE. Husband: Avraham b. David ha-Kohen of the city of מדכסר(?).

Strip cut from the dowry list of a ketubba. (Information from CUDL)

Part of a legal document, possibly a deed of sale. No names mentioned, only [...] אלשיך אבו [א]ל. (Information from CUDL)

Small fragment from a court record. Regarding a the settlement of a debt. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi (1100–38 CE), under the jurisdiction of Maṣliaḥ Gaon (1127–39 CE). (Information from CUDL.)