Geniza Lab

Legal formulary. An ancient fragment from a book of legal formulas, contains few types of deeds, among them a bill of release of a slave גט שחרור. Was published and discussed in: מרגליות, הלכות ארץ ישראל מן הגניזה, עמ' 1-3, 9-10, 14, 18-19, 27-31. On verso a broken date, only the number 88 is preserved. It seems that the first publisher had a more complete fragment, because he reads : ארבעת אלפים וחמש מאות ושמונים ושמונה שנה לבריית עולם, that is the year 828. Indeed, the other part of the document, in Which the date appears is TS NS 211.1 (fgp). On bill of release of slaves see יחזקאל דוד, הגט ונוסחאותיו על פי תעודות מהגניזה ומקורות אחרים, עמ' 172-175, where this document is mentioned. AA

A page from a volume of the Mishneh Torah, with a note of sale (intaqala... [...] b. Seʿadya ha-Kohen..."

Legal formulary. In Hebrew.

See join

Model letter commending a worthy scholar to a benefactors notice (all names are given as פל[וני]). (Info from FGP)

Letter. In Hebrew. Appeal for help, possibly from Eliyyahu ha-Kohen, the Palestinian Gaon, to the community of Alexandria. It includes a description of a dire situation (לא ישתייר בירושלים מן הרבנים איש חס ושלום בשנה הבאה) and appeals specifically to החסיד בדורו ז"ל(?) ורבנ(ו) מבורך חכם הישיבה... בני כג"ק מרנו ורבנו (?) סעדיה כג"ק מרנו ורבנו יהודה נגיד עם יו"י וכג"ק מרנו. (Information from Brody catalog)

A ketubah written by Yosef b. Shmuel Halevi from the year 1195. The bride's name Sitt al-Furs. Only the groom's father's name is preserved- Yosef. The bride is described as 'his divorcée' and as 'virgin' so this couple was betrothed, got divorce and finally got married. A long list of items are written in the dowry list. The ketubah is fragmentary. AA

Text in Judaeo-Persian. See FGP for numerous joins and further information.

Commercial accounts that seem to be in Portuguese (vinegar, pepper, and other commidities). Identified by Eleazar Gutwirth.

Literary text in Spanish.

Letter fragment addressed to a Kohen. In Hebrew. Information from Brody catalog.

Spain; Probably Tamuz or Av, 1138 This is a large remnant of the epistle written in Ḥalfon’s handwriting and the addressee is Rabbi Yosef ha-Levi b. Meir, that is Rabbi b. Migash. Although it is not the original letter, as we learned from two matters: the very fact that it is in the Genizah and the fact that it is written on invalid government paper, a sheet on which there are remains of monumental Arabic writing, and it is unlikely that Ḥalfon would have sent his letter to the rabbi on used paper. However, the writing is neat and beautiful and has no erasures or corrections, and it turns out to be a clean copy after the completion of the letter. Less than half the width of page A survived. The first lines of page B survive intact, but a large part is torn and missing later. Yes, the last lines of the entire manuscript are missing, however, based on the surviving text, Goitein assume that the number of lines that are completely missing at the end of the page is only small. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV)

Formulary for legal document or documents. Concerning disposition of property in contemplation of death, described as פיצוי זה. Information from Brody catalog.

Legal documents, drafts or records. In Hebrew. Dating: Late. The year is given on the righthand page, line 8, but is tricky to read. Perhaps 5471 AM, which is 1710/11 CE. David Bibas attests that he has received 250(?) peraḥim from Doña קלדרה(?). The קושלו of קטלאן is mentioned three times, but this is obscure. The document on the left is distinct but probably related (at least also includes David BIbas). Needs further examination.

Document in Arabic script. Reused for a midrash on Bereshit. Doesn't look like a chancery hand, but a tremendous amount of space was left in the margins. Needs examination.

Document in Arabic script. Accounts? Reused for Hebrew literary text mentioning Ben Sira.

Letter from Yaʿaqov Daminshi (דמינשי) to his brother-in-law Shemuel. In Hebrew. Dating: Late. Mentions a matter of money and "סידיקי ההרגז" (is this a person?) and something that was put in a vessel and stored in the house of Aharon. Asking for urgent advice on a somewhat cryptic matter. Needs further examination. Reused for a halakhic text.

New discovery of a copy of the Book of the Calendar Controversy. About the disagreement between Jewish leaders of Palestine and Babylonia on how to calculate the calendar year in 921/2. This led the Jews of the entire Near East to celebrate Passover and the other festivals on different dates over the course of two years. Fragmentary and partially reconstruction by other text witness of the book. See Stern for detailed overview of reconstruction.

Document in Arabic script. Small fragment.

Document in Arabic script. Small fragment.