Geniza Lab

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic. Dated (v2–3): 16th of the ʿOmer '195, meaning 4800+195=4935 AM, which corresponds to 15 May 1235 CE. (Not 1595 Seleucid, corresponding to 1284 CE, as Ashtor thought.) Mentions a sea-voyage from Marseilles that lasted 25 days (verso, ll.3–8). Same sender as T-S Ar.53.67, which may even be the last folio of the same letter.

Fragment of a petition addressed to the Nagid (Avraham Maimonides). In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: 1544 Seleucid, which is 1232/33 CE. The names of four senders appear at the top: Elʿazar b. Yosef; Nadiv b. Yosef; Yefet b. David; and the last is difficult to read. The senders are objecting to the appointment of Abū Naṣr (as the shammash of the synagogue of Dammūh) on account of his filthiness (qadhāratuh) and impurity (ʿadm ṭahāratih). (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Settlement made before the divorce between Abu al-Faraj b. Abu Ishaq and 'Alam bint Abu Ishaq al-Hazzan. Abu al-Faraj renounces his rights to 3/5 of a mill in his possession and all his furniture, clothing and books in favor of his wife, 'Alam bint Abu Ishaq al-Hazzan, in order to be permitted to divorce her. Dated Sivan 1514/ May 1203. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, p. 485)

Letter of business from Yosef Ḥakīm to Mikha'el Yiṣḥaq מייארה. In Judaeo-Arabic. Late. Mentions Tunis (right page, three lines from bottom).

Accounts in Latin script (unidentified language, perhaps Spanish) and western Arabic numerals.

Document(s) in Arabic script. There are four fragments under this shelfmark; all appear to be damaged and faded. Needs examination.

Record of the birth of a child in May 1197 CE. Dated according to two Jewish calendars, the Coptic calendar, and the Muslim calendar. (Information from Goitein’s index card.) Anno mundi: Friday night, 20 Iyar 4957 (the 17th year of Maḥzor 261). Seleucid: 20 Iyar 1508 Seleucid Coptic: 15 Pashons 913 Hijrī: 21 Jumādā II 593

Letter(s). The first 9 lines are in Arabic script (the hand is practiced), followed by 9 lines in Judaeo-Arabic (the hand is crude). It may be one and the same sender/scribe. The Arabic portion mentions congratulations; possibly sesame oil (sīraj, l. 3); that the sender sent something to the Rayyis, who is asked for a favor; that Abū l-Ḥasan b. al-[...] was also present at the time this letter was written and kisses the addressee's hands and serves him. The Judaeo-Arabic portion mentions "a Hebrew letter"; urges the addressee to respond quickly before the holiday; asks for "a separate ruqʿa in my name and in the name of Sulaymān"; and may allude to a legal case between himself and Sulaymān in the countryside (al-Rīf). He reports that "they have begun" with the addressee's silk and asks if they should start dyeing the 10 ruṭaylāt of silk. Needs further examination (especially the Arabic portion). ASE

Engagement contract between Ḥusayn b. Faraj and his prospective father-in-law Fuḍayl b. ʿAllūn, for the hand of Fuḍayl's elder daughter Mufaddāt. Dating: Ca. 1000, per Goitein. Conditions: 1) Muqaddam is 25 dinars, of which 5 are paid immediately and 20 in Tishrei. 2) The fiancée receives the entire trousseau of her late mother except for the silver. 3) The silver will be divided equally between the two daughters, but Mufaddāt will receive not less than 40–50 dinars. 4) Likewise copper 40–50 dinars. 5) If Ḥusayn is not satisfied, the engagement is nullified without formalities. The text on verso is unrelated. (Information from Goitein’s index card.)

An account from Sicily listing 63 ox hides from Syracuse and 76 buck skins. The sums are mentioned in rubaiyat (quarters of dinars). Dated to the mid 11th century. Written by Yeshua b. Ismail al-Makhmuri (Gil). (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, p. 111; Gil, Kingdom, vol. 3, p. 69, and Ben-Sasson, Yehudei Sitzilya, p. 337)

Family letter written by Abū l-Faraj to Abu ʿImran in Fustat at the time of R. Ḥananel (early 13th century). The writer reports that he inquired about Muhadhdhab from two Jews who arrived from Minyat Zifta and learned that he has recovered from his illness. He is now well (fī ʿāfiya) & left his house (kharaj al-ṭarīq) & returned to work (taṣarraf). The writer also inquires four times after al-ṣaghīra, 'the little one,' referring to the recipient's wife. This urgent request for information can be explained by the fact that the plague was then raging in Cairo in 1216. Hananel will forward an answer together with his letter to Abu al-Tahir. (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, p. 113.) Note that this dating is tentative; Goitein writes that this document is dated Kislev 1528 = November/December 1216 (Med Soc V, p. 538, n. 375). But he almost certainly meant to cite T-S 6J6.20. By contrast, T-S Ar.54.91 is not dated and does not refer to a 'great plague' but rather to 'the wakham.' ASE.

Bifolio from the account book of a real estate broker who also kept some agricultural property. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: 1233–36 CE. Names mentioned: the children of Maḍmūn, Abū l-Ḥasan's mother, Abū l-Bahā. (Information from Goitein’s index cards.)

Recto, with the address on verso: Mercantile letter from Yehuda b. Moshe to Abū l-ʿAlāʾ Yūsuf b. Dāʾūd Ibn Shaʿyā, in Fustat. In Arabic script, elegantly written. Dating: mid-11th century, as the addressee is known from other Geniza letters from this time. Mainly dealing with business in flax, it seems. Mentions the names of other merchants. Needs further examination. Verso: Mercantile letter in Judaeo-Arabic, in an unusual, somewhat crude hand. Might be an addendum to the Arabic-script letter, as it does not appear to be a complete letter in its own right, and it concerns the same issues (reports on flax production from the Rīf). Mentions Abū Yaḥyā (Nahray b. Nissim?) several times.

Letter from Natan b. Avraham, Fustat, to Abu Yusuf Elazar b. Isma'il, Qus, approximately 1035.

Chronicle about the Jews’ resettlement in Jerusalem following the Islamic conquest of Palestine. Written in highly calligraphic script, presumably by a professional scribe.

Account in Judaeo-Arabic. Sums of quantities of grain (waybāt) given as a loan, partially against security. Muslim names. One tailor (khayyāṭ), one carpenter (najjār). 26 who receive wheat and 1 who receives barley. 7 women. For 3, others stand security.(Information from Goitein’s index card)

Outline for drawing up a marriage contract. Ca. 1100 CE. Groom: Barakāt/Berakhot b. Seʿadya ha-Kohen. Bride: Khulla bt. ʿAmram. Early marriage payment (muqaddam): 20 dinars. Delayed marriage payment (muʾakhkhar): 20 dinars. Trousseau: Approximately 35 items listed; total value 455 dinars. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

List of names, the context is unclear. On verso passage from Passover Haggadah. AA Dating: 13th century

Business letter in Arabic script, top only; continues on verso. Reused for a Judaeo-Arabic text on recto and verso, according to Baker and Polliack about Alexander the Great; mentions China (al-Ṣīn) several times.

Recto: 1. Judaeo-Arabic, Hebrew jottings and pen trials2. Draft of an opening formula to a halakhic question addressed to Rabbi Isaac ha-dayyan: מא יקול הדרת כבוד גדולת קדשת מרינו ורבינו יצחק הדיין המשכיל probably refer to Ishaq b. Sasson. AA Verso: Arabic letter