Geniza Lab

Letter sent by Musa b. Abu Ali b. Salah to Abu al-Faraj Yeshua b. Hananya. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Fragment of a letter by a very unhappy man describing his state as 'drunk, but not with wine', asking for legal help. (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, p. 242 and from Goitein's index cards)

Legal document in which Ishaq b. Avraham acknowledges that he has no claims against Shemuel.

Fragment of a letter mentioning various Muslim officials.

Letter from Natan b. Nahray, from Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Around 1062. The writer mentions his difficulties with a person named Abu Zikri Menashshe. Mentions several goods as beads, red dresses, and kosher oil. Natan needs oil for light. He shows his interest in ruby. Natan was very frightened on account of his father, Nahray b. Natan, who was very ill but recovered. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #415) VMR

Calligraphic letter sent by Yefet to his brother Ḥalfon b. Menashshe, confirming the arrival of 10 dirhams and sending him some fuller's earth used in households. (Information from Mediterranean Society, IV, p. 407 and from Goitein's index cards)

Letter sent from Alexandria by Nissim to Abu al-Karam Marwan in Cairo, ordering 50 zabdiyas (vessels) with decorations in color. (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, p. 145 and from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from an unidentified sender, in Rashīd, to Abū Saʿīd al-ʿAfṣī ("the gallnut dealer"), probably in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic with the address in both Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script. Containing over 30 orders for materia medica in small quantities. (Information from Mediterranean Society, IV, p. 442.)

Letter sent from al-Mahdiyya (Gil)/ al-Maghrib (Ben-Sasson) to Fustat (Gil)/Sicily (Ben-Sasson), by Ishaq b. Ali al-Majjani to Abu al-Fadl, dealing with a debt of Banu al-Majjani to one named al-Shiraji (Gil) and mentioning legal opinion of Rabbi Hananel b. Hushiel and Masliah b. Eliyyahu. Dated ca. 1039 (Gil). (Information from M. Gil, Kingdom, Vol. IV, p. 109 and from M. Ben-Sasson, Yehudei sitziliya, p.116)

Letter to [... b.] Ḥalfon. In Judaeo-Arabic. Concerning business issues, mentioning commodities such as gum and walnuts. Containing an order of Abbadani mats, which were stronger and more durable than regular mats. The writer expresses his preoccupation for the addressee's illness (r4–5). (Information from CUDL; Mediterranean Society, IV, p. 128; and from Goitein's index cards.)

Letter from a certain Shaqrūn to his family members. The address is made out to Barhūn. In Judaeo-Arabic, very colloquial. Dating: Late, perhaps 15th–17th century. The sender addresses himself in turn to his brother Yiṣḥaq (ll.1–11), to his paternal uncle Shāshī(?) (ll.12–13), and to his maternal aunt (ll.13–17). He concludes with greetings to several other family members. The substance of the letter consists of reporting on small business transactions and family affairs. The sender plans to come to שושון or שישין, and once he is there, he will send for his maternal aunt to see her. ASE

Letter from Isma’il b. Ishaq al-Andalusi, Aleppo, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Dating: mid-11th century. Details about sending letters. The writer is about to travel to Tyre. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #707) VMR

Letter concerning business affairs in which the writer describes ships that are about to leave port and references ‘al-ṭārma,’ a small cabin on Nile boats, along with garments that the addressee mentioned previously. He reports his intention to leave and asks the addressee for official letters. EMS. Join: Alan Elbaum.

Letter possibly sent to an aunt named Sitt al-Jamal. The writer complains about not hearing from the addressee for a long time and expresses yearnings.

Letter, expressing yearnings. Abu al-'Aziz and his brother Nasr are mentioned.

Secondary use: Note to Abū l-Faḍl b. Elʿazar. In Judaeo-Arabic. "You are neither a scholar nor a relative nor a friend of mine because of what you did!" Specifically, the sender is upset that the addressee did not come to see him off before he traveled, and he now invites him again in belligerent terms. (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, 34, where there is a full translation.)

Verso (original use): Small fragment of an account in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.

Letter from Hayyim b. Immanuel b. Qayoma from Mahdiyya, probably to Yehuda b. Ismail al-Andalusi. Around 1055. Concerning a shipment of boswellia and clothes. The clothes got wet during the sailing. Also mentions pearls. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, vol. 4, pp. 274-276, #687). VMR

Letter fragment in the hand of Shelomo b. Eliyyahu.

Letter mentioning the recipient's deliverance from some disaster.