Geniza Lab

Fragment of a family letter in Judaeo-Arabic, probably late. Torn vertically down the middle. Many people are named. Needs further examination.

Late document in Judaeo-Arabic, probably accounts. Needs further examination.

Business letter in Judaeo-Arabic, dated 1811/12 CE (5572), from Sayyid Aḥmad Abū l-ʿAṭā' to Avraham Ḥakīm & Co. It is followed by accounts and another note, signed, "from me, Yisrael Maṣliaḥ"—who li scribed the original letter as well. Verso contains more accounts and the address.

Late accounts in Judaeo-Arabic, very neat, laid out in a grid according to parshiyot, probably donations collected from the people named. Dozens of names appear here; see tags for other documents mentioning the same surnames.

Recto: Partnership agreement dated Purim 5365 = 1605 CE, Fustat, between Shemuel Mosseri of Damascus and [...], which is to last for a period of 10 years. Verso: Three columns of text, probably literary, in Hebrew and Aramaic and possibly some Judaeo-Arabic; the three columns seem to be versions of each other. There is also, scribbled out, a note in Arabic: "what was received from al-Muʿallim Ibrāhīm ʿAlī. . . ." ASE.

Note in Hebrew to some sort of dignitary that consists of nothing more than a string of flattering titles and blessings for prosperity and victory over his enemies.

Late accounts in Judaeo-Arabic and eastern Arabic numerals, extremely neat on one side, less neat on the other. The few words include "the price of silk," "Yaʿaqov Khalīfa," and "Karo."

Accounts in Arabic dated June/July 1824 (Dhū l-Qaʿda 1239).

Fragment of an 11th-century legal document in Judaeo-Arabic, involving a Manṣūr and an ʿAmram.

Recto: Bottom part of a letter in Arabic script, from a man to his 'brother.' He spells والساعة as والسعا numerous times. He mentions people including Sulaymān b. al-[...]āmī and the poor man (al-faqīr) Ibn Faraḥ and sends regards to Umm Yūsuf. Needs further examination. Verso: Judaeo-Arabic letter from ʿEli b. Shelomo to his father. The writer is in terrible straits and full of regret. The issue seems to be that a group of Alexandrians have banded together to have the writer fired from his position as slaughterer, cantor, and teacher. "Woe is he who can only depend on God. I have already entered with my qumāsh (garments? furnishings? wife's dowry?)." He then mentions the diwan catching him and having to sell a garment. His intention is to come to Qalyub with his wife. His heart is preoccupied on behalf of [...]. ASE.

Recto and verso are both late family letters in Judaeo-Arabic by the same writer, perhaps to different recipients. The writer goes into great detail about ongoing court cases regarding a certain building, some of which involved Muslim courts and a Shāfiʿī judge. The city Nāblus is mentioned (the "dear boy" Naṣr Allāh traveled there). Other names mentioned include the son of Abū Qays; Mūsā; Farjūn; the son of Abū Sharīf. The ashrafi is the currency used.The writer states several times that he is worn out. ASE.

Piyyuṭ for Rosh ha-Shana. Signed on verso by Yedutun ha-Levi.

Judaeo-Arabic fragment in very rudimentary handwriting, naming sums of money held by various people (Dawud has 5.5 dinars, al-Shaykh Abū [...] has 1.75 dinars. . .). Likely 19th-century, since the first line says, "al-qiṭāra alladhī (!) dakhalat ilā l-Minya," and what would this mean if not a train?

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic.

Printed treatise in Ladino. On sheḥita and kashrut. Bifolium, with two columns per page.

Printed treatise in Ladino and Hebrew. Glosses on the book of Job.

Ladino version, printed, of Micael de Carvajal's Tragedia Josephina (Salamanca 1535 ?). The Tragedia Josephina, written in Spain decades after the expulsion, was being read in Hebrew characters by the Jews of Cairo; hence its survival in the Genizah. Information from http://www.investigacion.cchs.csic.es/judeo-arabe/sites/investigacion.cchs.csic.es.judeo-arabe/files/Genizah-Al-Andalus.pdf.

Printed treatise in Ladino and Hebrew. Commentary on Genesis.

Printed treatise in Ladino and Hebrew. Translation of Mishna Avot.

Printed Haggada in Ladino and Hebrew.