Geniza Lab

Long letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 11th or 12th century, perhaps 11th based on the format. The sender compares his being honored by the addressee to a peasant being honored by a noble aristocrat, the head of an estate. Needs further examination.

India Book 4 A letter from Ibn al-Fakhar to Halfon b. Nethanel Halevi, asking for assistance and sending regards to R. Yosef Ibn Migash and relatives. Probably Granada summer 1138-spring 1139. AA

Letter from Ḥalfon b. Netanel, in Alexandria, to his brother Yeḥezqel b. Netanel, probably in Qalyūb. Dating: Prior to 21 February 1140 CE. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV; Hebrew description below.)

One side: Testimony of Efrayim b. Ṣibyān ha-Kohen. Dating: 11th century. Describing how Yaʿqūb b. Yaʿīsh traveled in the time of the unrest and famine (צרות ורעב) to the country of Aleppo and from there to Raḥba, and took with him his daughter Jalīla bt. Menashshe. He apparently died. The other side: Unclear how it is related. Includes phrases such as "all that in the court... neither you nor your mother... everything that you (pl.) left, that is what remains...," then describes several valuable garments. (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic with many biblical quotations. Asks the addressee to 'kiss the head of Rabbenu.'

Letter of appeal for charity. From Jerusalem. Written in monumental calligraphy. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Fragment of a Maghribī business letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 11th-century. The handwriting looks like that of Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tahertī. Mentions obtaining 'ḥashīsha' from the warehouse. Needs further examination. (Information in part from CUDL)

Letter from Isma’il b. Farah from Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Probably September 25, 1056. The letter contains details about shipments of goods, probably linen. )Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #492) VMR

Fragment of a letter from Nathan ha-Kohen b. Shemuʾel to Mubḥar b. Yefet. (Information from CUDL)

Part of a letter, mentioning debts. It probably addresses a community, since the plural address is used. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Makhlūf b. Mūsā. Dealing with the India trade. Dating: Mid-12th century. Mentions names such as Zikrī b. Sar Shalom; Maḥrūz; Ben Yiju; Ibn al-Nafūsī; Yiṣḥaq; the Jews who were living in India; the son of Khalaf b. Yiṣḥaq. (Information from Goitein notes linked below.)

Letter from Bū l-Khayr to the teacher Sulaymān b. Yehuda, in Minyat Zifta. In Judaeo-Arabic. He has sent the raḥamim with Mūsā Ibn Sabra and apologizes for the delay, it is just that he rarely can find someone who is traveling to Minyat Zifta. He reports that the old woman who was in the house of Bū Isḥāq died and that she was buried on Wednesday the 15th of Av.

Recto: fragment of a letter, mentioning a woman’s death, מתה וערסה על השלחן. Verso: letter of consolation, mentioning Safed. (Information from CUDL)

Fragment of a 'magnificent' letter of recommendation. In Hebrew. Refers to the bearer's release from prison, and how he is appropriately abashed. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Letter addressed to Abū l-Makārim Ibn al-Amshāṭī, in Fustat, in Qaysāriyyat al-ʿAṭṭārīn. In Judaeo-Arabic. The sender purchased עוד רטב from the addressee and took it to Alexandria and was unable to [...]. (The continuation is missing.) (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter from Ḥayyim b. Imanuel b. Kayoma, probably from Mahdiyya, to an unknown addressee. Around 1055. The addressee might be one of the Tahirti family. Regarding selling oil, crocus, pearls, and Tustari clothing. The writer mentions a problem with dinars and the request for “Nisari” dinars. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #686) VMR

Hannanel b. Samuel ספר המצוות, autograph. AA

Recto: late letter prefaced by בס''ד and concluding with an elaborate (and illegible) signature. It politely addresses a friend, Jacob al-Tilimseni, (from Tlamcen, Algeria), asking him to come for Shavuʿot. It refers to ‘your brother, Abraham Cosalio (כושליו)’. Verso: address (upside-down in relation to recto) and a signed postscript, in which the recipient is exhorted to send money to Shemuʾel who is in Egypt. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from a certain Shemuel to a dignitary called Thiqat al-Dawla. In Hebrew. Consisting entirely of blessings and flattery for the addressee and his son Saniyy al-Dawla (perhaps an effort to obtain private charity). (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Small fragment of a legal document. It seems signed by Avraham b. Sahlān. Dating: No later than 1032 CE. Involves someone giving something to his wife. (Information from Goitein's index card.)