Geniza Lab

Letter from Yeshuʿa b. Mevorakh the Alexandrian, in Malīj, to an unidentified addressee. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment (upper right corner of recto). The hand of the scribe may be known. (Information from Goitein’s index card.)

Letter from Simḥa ha-Kohen, in Alexandria, to Abu ʿImrān Moshe "The Pride of the Priests" (Tifʾeret ha-Kohanim). In Judaeo-Arabic, with the address in both Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script. Dating: Probably early 13th century. Reporting the arrival of two Venetian ships with wood, the anticipated arrival of a Venetian ship with no merchandise but with an ambassador (? rasūl), and a ship from Trapani (אטראבנש) with a Jewish proselyte. Some personal requests. (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter from a man to his father-in-law. Fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. He offers an update on mercantile transactions, mainly in garments, each transaction on the order of tens of dinars. Evidently he is complaining about not receiving as much money/goods as he was anticipating. Mentions Salmān, Ḥassūn b. Farrāj (who is dead), Ḥassūn, Ibn Faḍl, and Ibn Mardūk. The addressee had previously cursed the sender (תסובני ותקול הדא קביח), who insists that he has done everything his wife (whom he calls "your daughter" or "the girl") demanded, though she and her paternal aunt are crying day and night. The addressee should send her money/goods. The fragment ends with an update on Ibn Maḥbūb; it seems that the sender wants to send letters to various destinations (kutub ilā l-buldān) with him. (Information in part from Goitein’s index card and CUDL.)

Letter fragment. In Arabic script. 6 lines well preserved, with portions of 2 more lines. Mentions ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and the arrival of Sayyidnā al-Ajall (l. 5). Needs further examination.

Letter of instruction to ʿEli ha-Kohen ha-Parnas to cash from Abū l-Faḍl Netanel Ibn ha-Shofeṭ 18 dinars due to one Seʿadya and to prepare 'the necessary papers.' Signed "ישועה" (most probably in the name of David b. Daniel). (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Subsequent use: Draft of a mercantile letter in Judaeo-Arabic, intended to be sent to Tunisia. Mentions payments for responsa; a complaint about the handling of a shipment of flax destined for Abū Naṣr Yehuda al-Dimashqī and Abū l-Barakāt (acting for Abū Zikrī b. Qayyoma). Also mentions people and places including Abū l-ʿAlā b. Shaʿyā, Abū l-Ḥasan, the late Rabbenu Nissim and al-Mahdiyya. Written over an official Arabic document (see separate record). Dating: 11th century. (Information from CUDL and Goitein's index card.)

Original use: A few words from a decree: في ديواني الخاصة والخاص وينبغي ان.

Letter to Abū Saʿd Yaḥyā b. ʿEzra from his cousin (ibn ʿamm). In Judaeo-Arabic. Reminding the addressee that al-Ḥemdat had sent with him אלדרקה (probably not shield or coat of mail but rather a leaf of a door), but had not received the price. The קעדה מכפיה (cf. קעדה מגלפה in T-S K15.9) sent by the addressee arrived, but was not yet taken by al-Ḥemdat. When the latter's brother Abū Naṣr arrives, Yaḥyā should pay him immediately the price of אלדרקה. (Information from Goitein's index card and CUDL.)

Letter sent in the sixties of the twelfth century from Alexandria. The recipient is the writer's brother, who he had not seen for a long time. The writer reports the arrival of R. Hiyya b. Yiṣḥaq and his entourage to Alexandria. This is the latest mention of this important Spanish Rabbi, who was apparently very old at the writing of the letter. (Information from Frenkel).

Letter mentioning Muḥsin b. Saʿīd, Yosef b. [...] and (Abū) l-Faraj b. Barakāt. The sender addresses a woman with some instructions. (Information from CUDL and Goitein's index card.)

Fragment of a letter from Avraham b. Farah from Alexandria, to an unknown person. Mentions shipments of linen, silk, and cotton. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #559) VMR

Letter from the judge Natan b. Eliyya ha-Kohen. Mainly in Judaeo-Arabic (often rhymed), with biblical verses at the top. A request for help, it seems in a public affair. The request is in lines 11–13, but the substance is missing. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Letter 1 of 4 of Letters Miscellany, a collection of letters representing both sides of the calendar controversy. Letters 1 and 2 are pro-Babylonian. Both respond to a polemic on the calendar by the Palestinian Head of Academy (or one of his disciples), and both refute systematically each of his polemical argument. Addressee suspected, with his disciples, to be an ally of Palestinian camp. Author claims not to suspect him, but calls on him nevertheless to denounce this rumour publicly, and to join in the campaign against the Palestinians (fol.3r:18-3v:19). The addressee appears to be a Palestinian resident, as the author of our letter claims that the majority of Israel are on the Babylonian side, whereas ben Meir’s followers are localised and only ‘in a few places that are around you’ (fol.3v:7-8). Author writes from a position of authority, and appears to know recipient personally. Polemic responding to a text that was written by ben Meir or his disciple. One line (fol.3v:6-7) suggests that our letter may have been written between Passover and the New Year of 922 CE. T-S 10J32.1 is almost completely preserved in a single piece, and contains uniquely the entire text of the folio, although its bottom margin is torn off and lost; its measurements are thus informative, even if the folio’s full dimensions (its bottom margin, and its total height) remain unknown.

Letter from Yosef b. Eli Kohen Fasi, from Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. June 27, 1057. Mentions ships, shipment of dates, coins and trades, as well as family matters. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #396) VMR

End of a letter. Dated: Iyyar 1338 of the Seleucid Era (= 1027 CE).

Circular letter, written in the hand of Mevorakh b. Natan. Admonishing the community/communities to contribute toward the upkeep of the synagogue at Dammūh. On verso there is a midrashic discussion with many citations such as Psalms 106:2 and 145:4 and Job 5:9, and with quotations from BT Horayot 13b. (Information from CUDL and Goitein's index card)

Letter fragment in Hebrew, with an elaborate, learned introduction. Mentions [...] b. Peraḥya (ZL) "who was righteous in his generation." (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Halakhic discussion concerning the laws of debts. In Hebrew. Information from CUDL.

Business letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Poorly preserved, top and bottom missing. 16 lines. Mentions Abū Isḥāq b. ʿAllūn(?) and a certain al-Shaykh al-Fāḍil. On verso there are pen trials. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Letter fragment from the Nagid Shemuel b. Ḥananya to Sasson the judge, mentioning Mūsā b. ʿIwāḍ. In the hand of Mevorakh b. Natan b. Shemuel. On verso there is a commentary on Isaiah, with citations such as 51:4-5. (Information from CUDL and Goitein's index card.) Cf. T-S 10J9.22