Geniza Lab

Letter fragment in Aramaic, concerning a power of attorney. (Information from Goitein's index cards and CUDL)

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to one of the personalities in Fustat, concerning the fate of Rabbanite prisoners and the future of the Rabbanite community in Jerusalem. Approximately 1033. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Abū Naṣr b. Avraham, in Alexandria, to Ḥalfon b. Netanʾel ha-Levi, probably in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: 12 Elul 1451 Seleucid = August 27, 1140. In the letter there are various items of news. The first and certainly the one for which he wrote the letter is the arrival of a Genoese ship that was in the same convoy of ships as the ship of the Sultan, which had not yet arrived. This caused anxiety among the people, because they probably already knew that Yehuda ha-Levi had to arrive on that ship. The letter also contains information about silk prices and the priority of the government authorities in buying the goods that arrived. Abū Naṣr hopes that Ḥalfon’s mood has improved and that he has no further reason to complain about him (Abū Naṣr). At the end, greetings from family members and those close to Ḥalfon (such as Abū l-Najm and Abū Mūsā Hārūn), to Ḥalfon, his family, and to people in Fustat. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, IB IV; Hebrew description below.)

Letter from Yisrael b. Natan in Jerusalem to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat. November 29, 1061. Concerning copying books and family matters. Mentions Zakkai ha-Nasi, Daniel b. Azarya's brother, and his son, who were about to arrive in Fustat. Also mentions a few people that were coming from Byzantium, traveled through Jerusalem, and some of them stayed there. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 3, pp. 160-164, #479). VMR

Letter from Mevorakh b. Yisrael Januni in Palermo to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat. July 31, 1052. The writer tries to take care of shipments of goods that belong to Nahray, and therefore traveled to Sfax and then to Palermo. He informs Nahray about the tasks that he could not do. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #755) VMR

Notice from Eli 'Keton ha-Ḥaverim' to Josiah ha-Nasi b. Shelomo ha-Nasi. Informing Josiah ha-Nasi that his opponent Abu al-'Ala had not appeared in the synagogue. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from ʿIwāḍ b. Ḥananel, in Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. Around 1060. The letter is in the hand of Benāya b. Mūsā and switches to the voice of Benāya starting in line v1. The letter discusses goods and shipments as well as books that ʿIwāḍ is buying for Nahray. ʿIwāḍ has been suffering a serious illness (wajaʿ) ever since Adar Rishon (this passage begins in line r16). People despaired of him; he recovered from the illness; but then he developed a swollen abdomen ("and I am frightened from it"). Now he does not travel unless absolutely necessary. He asks Nahray to obtain for him sugar and good-quality rhubarb. Information in part from Gil and Gotein's note card (#27102). VMR. ASE.

Letter from Yehuda b. Moshe referring to the addressee's fame and stature, expressing a wish to see him, and promising to pronounce the prayer for him on Sabbath and holidays in the congregations. The addressee might be a Gaon, perhaps Daniel b. Azarya. The additional address on verso (from Nissim b. David b. Sighmar to Abu al-Faraj Yosef b. David) is seemingly unrelated. (Information from Goitein's index cards with comments my Mark Cohen)

Letter from Nissim b. Ḥalfon, probably in Tinnis, to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat. Around 1046. The writer is about to travel to Palestine. Mentions Sahln b. Avraham (Abu Amar). The letter deals with shipments of goods and money, including cloth packaging, raisins, house products, and “Lasin” silk. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #584) VMR

Letter from Efrayim b. Ya'aqov. A man named Ibn al-Qābisī, who was banned from the Jewish community in four different cities in Iberia, arrived in Alexandria, and his relatives in the city demand that the local judge also apply the ban against him; the judge hesitates to do so, since he was informed that the man had threatened to embrace Islam if he was excommunicated again. The judge turned to Masliaḥ, the Head of the Yeshiva (probably Masliah ha-Kohen Gaon b. Shelomo, head of the Jews 1127–1139), in Fustat and asked him to place the ban on al-Qābisī. The writers of the letter ask other relatives to hurry and collect incriminating evidence again the newcomer so that the ban can be declared. (Information from Frenkel).

Letter from Nissim b. Ḥalfon in Tyre to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat, ca. 1055.

Letter from Shemuʾel b. Yaʿaqov b. Shemuʾel to his teacher Avraham. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Sadoq Ha-Levi b. Levi, Head of the Court of the Yeshiva of the Land of Israel, in Ramla to Efrayim b. Shemarya, probably 1029.

Letter from Hassun b. Yiṣḥaq to a partner. Business letter discussing payments and shipments, apparently of flax and textiles. Dated ca. 1050. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #807)

Letter from Shabbetay b. Avraham to a notable, mentioning prayers made in his name. Identification of the writer based on handwriting. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Barakat b. Hibat Allah al-Ja'fari to Abu al-'Ala Sa'id b. Munajja ('Ulla b. Yosef ha-Levi, the parnas in Fustat). Complete letter containing personal and business matters. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Mūsā Ibn al-Lakhtūsh to Ḥalfon b. Nathaniel, mentioning Yehuda ha-Levi. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Mūsā b. al-Lukhtūsh, Granada, to Ḥalfon b. Netanel, 1120s (?). Mentions among other things that he has sent him a copy of a poem (muwashshaḥa) by Yehuda ha-Levi. Probably from Granada; Maybe from the 20s of the 12th century

Letter in which the writer asks not to be removed from the addressee's service or friendship. Very effaced. Dated to the late 12th century. (Information from Goitein's index cards). Written by Shelomo b. Eliyyahu, with many biblical quotations. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from a brother admonishing Sitt Ikhtiṣār and Sitt al-Wasṭāniyya to take good care of their mother and younger sister (by pawning something to send them money to buy grain). Note that he addresses the women in one part of the letter but switches to addressing a man in the remainder. The sender has sent two sleeping carpets (waṭāwayn), one for the girl (al-ṣabiyya) and the other for Misk ("Musk"), the girl's female slave (jāriya). The handwriting of this letter looks very similar or identical with that of T-S NS J3, and some of the same names appear in each letter, including Abū l-Surūr, Abū ʿAlī, and Sitt Ikhtiṣār. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards.) ASE