Geniza Lab

Deed in which Hiba b. ʿAlī b. […], the carpenter, leases a shop from al-Ḥasan b. Makkī b. Abī al-Ḥadīd, who in turn had been leasing it from his maternal uncle, Ibrahim Ibn al-Fatḥ. Dated Muḥarram 410 AH (= May-June 1019 CE). The verso has the names ‘Isaac and Yefet, sons of Ḥalfon’ in Hebrew script. (Information from CUDL)

Fragment of a letter from Jerusalem to Egypt, beginning of the 16th century. The writer describes a financial/communal crisis that prevented the functioning of the weekly collections of money for the use of the community and for paying the taxes imposed by the rulers. Don Avraham b. ʿUqba attempted to mediate the conflict to no avail. In the margin the name Bū l-Faraj appears. On verso the writer alludes to conflict between the Maghrebi and Sefaradi populations. There is also a writing exercise in a different hand. Information from Avraham David. ASE.

Fragment of a business letter in Judaeo-Arabic, likely 11th century.

Fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic, torn vertically down the middle. It is difficult to extract any information from what remains.

Letter fragment from Daniel b. Azarya (in his handwriting). Expressing his gratitude for a gift he received. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 2 p. 699-700, #382) VMR

Nearly complete family and business letter in Judaeo-Arabic from a father to a son, probably mid-12th-century, as regards are sent to Abū l-ʿAlā' b. Tammām, a well-known physician mentioned in CUL Or.1080 J24 (February 1141 CE) and other documents (India Book IVB, p. 440, n. 94, connection made by Amir Ashur). Needs further examination

Legal document, quite faded, involving Abū Saʿd b. Ṣedaqa the cantor. Needs further examination.

Letter probably sent from Palestine to Egypt. In Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew. There are four pages. On the first page, the writer reports that "not only them, but the Alexandrians (ahl al-thaghr) who remained in Hebron "all fell sick with this fever" It is difficult to make out the subject of the remainder of the letter. Needs further examination.

Small fragment including the beginning of a deferent Judaeo-Arabic letter. May mention "the Qaraites."

Fragment of a Judaeo-Arabic letter mentioning R. Zakariya, Qalyūb, and the holiday.

Fragment of a business letter to Mūsā b. Barhūn al-Tahertī from his 'brother.'

Letter in the hand of the cantor Abū Sahl Levi b. al-Ahuv, to one of his sons, probably Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi in Qalyūb. On recto, he answers a question about whether havdala is recited over a candle on Saturday night—probably the issue is that Tisha b'Av falls on Sunday. He writes that there is no havdala at all on Saturday night, but only Maʿariv and qinnot. Then, on Sunday night, one does havdala with wine and spices "if available; if not, no matter," and one recites the blessing over the candle, bore me'orei ha-esh, and the final blessing, ha-mavdil through ha-mavdil bein qodesh le-hol. He concludes the letter here, but must have subsequently decided to write more on verso. From the damaged top of verso it is only possible to tell that everyone is worried about the addressee. Then: "If you hear anything, come to us quickly, do not delay (אל תתמ{ה}מה). In sum, reliance is on God." Then he tells the addressee not to worry about the writer and his family, "because we do not go out." He concludes by saying, "If something difficult happens, stay where you are, do not endanger yourself." ASE.

Small fragment of a state document, or draft of one. Three different hands. Pious phrases and an ʿalāma, but the upper right text might be something different.

Note in Hebrew requesting that the addressee intervene on behalf of a prisoner in his power (אשר אתה סותם אותו בשבי). It mentions R. Me'ir the cantor, the wise and learned. It invokes the principle of mercy on creations and the middot of Avraham Avinu (the verse cited seems to be Deuteronomy 13:18). Information in part from FGP

Fragment of a letter from Yosef b. Ya’aqov al-Itrabulusi to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal. Mentions transferring money. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #170) VMR

Decree of the caliph al-Ḥākim to the Qaraite community in Fusṭāṭ and elsewhere, granting them administrative independence from the Rabbanites, on the basis of the differences between the two communities regarding law and ritually kosher food. Dating: ca. 386–411 AH, which is 996–1021 CE. (Information from CUDL)

Fragment (right side) of a legal document, perhaps a release, involving [...] al-Ṣabbāgh b. Ṣedaqa.

Informal note from M[...] to Abū Naṣr. In Judaeo-Arabic. The subject matter is unclear. The writer may be unhappy with something or somone the addressee sent, and he urges him to come quickly, and he mentions money.

Receipt relating to the tax farm of Abū l-Ḥasan b. Wahb written by Mīkhāʾīl b. ʿAbd al-Masīḥ, the cashier, and registered by the Office of Accounts on behalf of the Office of Supervision: the warehouse keeper has paid the sum of six and an eighth (dirham?) on behalf of Abū l-Ḥasan b. Wahb for the estates in Al-Fayyūm, under the supervision of the judge Ṯiqat al-Mulk Makīn al-Dawla wa-Amīnuhā, of the protégé of the commander of the faithful Abū l-Ḥasan ʿAlī b. Bahār, and the accountant Abū l-Sarī Theodor b. Yuḥannis. Dated: 3 Dhū l-Ḥijja 403 AH, which is June 1013 CE. (Information from CUDL)

List of accounts in Judeo-Arabic that includes prices "סער" expressed in alphanumerical figures and the unit of volume "irdab/ארדב" (l. 14r) possibly in connection with the measurement of grain. For more information on this term, see Goitein's brief explanation (Goitein, Mediterranean Society I, 361) though it is crucial to note that this unit persisted beyond the medieval period and in Ottoman-era sources is often transliterated as "ardab" yet it indicates a significantly higher volume of liters per ardab (White, Climate of Rebellion, xv). On the verso Ramaẓān "רמצאן" is mentioned in the first entry, as are the names Nūr al-Dīn and Aḥmed in the second entry. MCD.