Geniza Lab

Probably draft of opening of letters- on recto for Moshe b. Mevorakh (?), and on verso for a person named Yeshu'a. Some Arabic script between the lines the - needs examination. AA

Ledger with many distinct entries in Italian, perhaps copies of letters. Needs examination.

List of 43 notables and their honorific titles (alqāb). Dating: mid-12th century. "The list was certainly jotted down by, or for the use of, a cantor, who had to mention them with their proper designations, when their contributions to public appeals were lauded in the communal prayer. Many of these notables are known from other sources, which enables us to assume 1142 as the approximate date of this important document." Ed. N. Allony, Sefunot 8 (1964), 129–37 (רשימת נכבדים ותאריהם במצרים במאה הי"ב). See also Goitein, Med Soc II, App. C, 26. NB: Goitein and Allony cite this document as T-S NS 246.22.

Legal document. Formula of a Bill of manumission of a slave girl. Recto: Recto: A formula writ (מודע, ‘notification’) for invalidating the manumission of a minor female slave (בת שפחה כנענית). Verso: a specimen deed of manumission, with placeholder names and dates, from Cairo. Verso published by: Friedman, Master and Slave Girl: Two Geniza Documents, Gratz College Annual of Jewish Studies, p. 61-63 (under the number T-S K27.45)

Barely legible, but seems to be some kind of a list

Legal document. In Hebrew. A release/quitclaim given by ʿAmram b. Shelomo. (Information from FGP.)

Autobiographical(?) account. In rhymed Hebrew. Describing an eventful adventure and deliverance from God. This may be a maqāma. (Information in part from FGP.)

Very faded Arabic document - needs examination.

Bill of divorce. Location: Fustat. Husband: Avraham b. [...]. Wife: [...] bt. Shelomo. No documentation of receipt on verso (unless it has been torn away).

Marriage contract (ketubba) possibly from Tyre that includes the list of goods in the dowry: a cloth, a curtain, a lamp, two dyeing vessels, two jugs, a chest, and a house. (Information from CUDL)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. This may have been appended to a letter written on a separate sheet. "After I had already written this letter, your letter arrived... with Abū Isḥāq.... As for what you mentioned that [...] is surprised that I hate living in Alexandria...." The sender then explains his or her reasons for hating Alexandria, which are sadly faded. It seems that the locals are irreligious and "they curse...." On verso, "The only reason I have tarried in Alexandria is because of Sitt [...]."

Typewritten or printed letter addressed to Moshe Pardo, the head rabbi of Alexandria (served 1871–88). In Arabic script, with Hebrew insertions. In which the sender draws on an impressive range of Jewish sources (e.g., Eikha Rabbati) to try to convince the rabbi that Jesus is the Messiah.

Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. 8 lines near the beginning are preserved. Mentions the sending of gold. On verso there are accounts in Judaeo-Arabic.

Pen trial in Judaeo-Arabic ("on the date of the third") and in Arabic script ("on the date of the ninth"). This is in the upper margin of a Talmudic/literary text.

Accounts in Hebrew script. Contributors list? There are names in one column and numbers in another. Dating: Probably 16th century. One of the names is Avraham Castro, another is Avraham Ibn Shanji.

Letter of recommendation for charity. In Hebrew. Late.

Small fragment from a legal deed. There is a refence to the Head of the Jews- probably to Shmuel b. Hannanya, so we can date it to mid. 12th Century. AA

Minute fragment, few words in Arabic - needs examination.

Minute fragment only few fragmentary Arabic words - needs examination.

formulary of legal documents, containing parts of: Bill of emancipation of slave, bill of divorce, ketubah .