Geniza Lab

Legal document, concerning Abū ʿAlī b. [...], a debt of 100 dirhams, and possibly the appointing of an agent. At the bottom the names: Ḥalfon b. ʿEli(?) and Meʾir. On verso there are pen trials in Hebrew script. (Information in part from CUDL)

Beautiful fragment of a legal document from Alexandria in the hand of the court clerk Mawhub. A father gives an entire house to his son Yaʿaqov, who was borne to him by his wife Rafi'a. No doubt the lost part of the document contained a declaration by Rafi'a granting her husband free access to her property. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, pp. 243, 479)

End of a legal document; no names preserved. (Information from CUDL)

Legal notes for the preparation of documents. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. The first contains details for the wedding contract for a particularly poor couple. The groom is [...] al-Iṭrābulsī (from Tripoli). The wedding (dukhūl) is set for Sivan 1438 Seleucid, which is 1127 CE. The early marriage payment is 12.5 dirhams and the late marriage payment is 25 dirhams, altogether worth about 1 gold dinar. The second note may or may not refer to the same couple. The bride is […]hdiyya bt. Aharon ha-Kohen. She is the widow of Hillel ha-Levi b. Seʿadya, and has a child from this previous marriage (or rather, Hillel ha-Levi seems to be her son, and Seʿadya is her late husband). A "son of the spindlemaker" (Ibn al-Maghāzilī) is mentioned. (Information in part from CUDL and Weiss's edition. See also Goitein's index card.)

Only a small amount of text is legible, but what little remains, and the fact it is written on vellum, suggests a legal document rather than a letter. The name Sahlān occurs. (Information from CUDL)

Awaiting description - see Goitein's index card.

Marriage contract in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe, dated October 1116 (Thursday, 11 Marḥershvan, 142...). The marriage gift consists of 16 dinars. The bride is a divorcee on whose earning the husband will have no right, but who will provide her clothing by herself. Verso is blank. (Information from Goitein notes and index card linked below and Goitein, MedSoc, Vol. 3, p. 380.)

Barely legible, probably a legal document. (Information from CUDL)

Digest of a partnership contract for a period of one year between Abū ʿAlī b. David and Netanʾel b. Nadiv. Written mainly in Judaeo-Arabic, but with some Arabic script mixed in. Each of the partners may take one dirham each day from the shop. The sums 150 (or rather 500-something?) and 500 wariq (dirhams) are mentioned in relation to each of the partners. On verso there are pen trials. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Awaiting description - see Goitein's index card.

Part of a ketubba for Judah ha-Levi (groom), witnessed by Saʿadya b. Shemarya and Hillel b. Joseph. (Information from CUDL)

Part of a ketubba mentioning the sum of 100 dinars. (Information from CUDL)

Part of a legal document in which the parties Mawhūb and ʿAllūn make a declaration. (Information from CUDL)

Awaiting description - see Goitein's index card.

Part of a ketubba from Egypt with no names preserved. (Information from CUDL)

Letter sent to Abū ʿImrān al-Kohen b. Abū l-Faraj al-Kohen, from the time of Maimonides (it refers to ‘our Rabbi Moses’). The letter also mentions Makārim Ibn al-Amshātị̄. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Letter of recommendation written by Shelomo b. Yehuda Gaon on a Friday, late in the afternoon, 4 Sivan, probably 1048. Verso: His son Avraham and (Sahlan) Segan ha-Yeshiva b. Avraham Beḥir ha-Yeshiva testify that this was really written by the Gaon. Information from Goitein's note card.

Short commentary on monetary issues. On verso there is a formula for a deed of loan and a short discussion on treatment of the poor by the community. (Information from CUDL)

Part of a ketubba for Yefet b. Joseph (groom). (Information from CUDL)

Awaiting description - see Goitein's index card.