Geniza Lab

Letter from the Yeshiva in Pumbedita addressed to two people from Qayrawan, around 850. The Yeshiva members complain about the economic support that they get from the west, which is much lower than the support for The Yeshiva in Sura. The writer was probably Hai, who became a Gaon later. (Information from Gil, Kingdom. Vol. 2, #4) VMR

Formulary (Palestinian-Rabbanite) for a bill of divorce, copied from a bill dated 872/73 CE, in Jerusalem. (Information from Goitein's index card.) See Krakowski and Stern, "The 'oldest dated document of the Cairo Genizah' (Halper 331)," p. 3 note 6.

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Talmud commentary written between the lines of an Arabic official document- only few lines are preserved- needs examination. Joins with T-S Ar.47.55

On verso part of a letter addressed to Moshe Halevi, The Head of Geon Ya'aqov yeshiva. He was appointed as Gaon already ariund 1140, when Judah Halevi arrived to Egypt., and was titled Nagid for short period after the death of Shemuel b. Hananya. Moshe was Sar Shalom's father (See Friedman in Zion, 70, p. 482). AA

Arabic text in between Judaeo Arabic commentary - needs examination.

Copy of a the opening of a letter from the head of the Gola (Rosh ha-Gola), ca. 915. Mentions the Gaon of Sura’s Yeshiva, Ya’aqov b. Natronai, and the Yeshiva judge (Av Beit-Din) Semah b. Kafnai. The letter might contain details about David b. Zakai’s appointing and the head of the Pumbedita Yeshiva’s refusal to acknowledge it. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #10) VMR

Document that tells the story of Aharon ha-Levi and Ḥalfon, who collected money on behalf of the Rambam (Maimonides) for ransom of captives. They sent the Rambam a list of names and amounts of money which people agreed to pay, from the Jewish community in al-Mahalla. One of the community members sold his female slave and gave nine dinars of the payment to the Rambam's messenger. On the other side Moses Maimonides declares that he received the money. Av-Elul 1170. (Goitein, Palestinian Jewry, 316-318) VMR

Documentary; recto: end of a document in Arabic script followed by two lines of faded Judaeo-Arabic, approving that it was copied words by word by Hananel b, Halfon - needs examination. On verso Maimonides' autograph of Mishne Torah, Ma'aseh ha-Qorbanot 15:2

Letter from Shemuel b. Eli gaʾon, Baghdad, addressing community members and asking them to welcome Shemuel b. Shelomo ha-Kohen from Ashkenaz, who was forced to leave his home and needs their help. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #83) VMR

A letter from Mevorakh b. Shelomo to Abu Bishr Mevasser b. 'Eli. The writer did not send the cloths he promised to send because a child was born to him named Yehuda. Ishaq b. Sasson is mentioned, a known dayyan from Maimonides' circle. He is sending regards from his brothers Zakay and Yehuda and from his sister. The letter is dated Sivan 1487 Era of documents = 1177. AA

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Part of a rhymed Hebrew letter, probably by a Palestinian Gaon (info from FGP)

On recto a poem. On verso dedication (mostly in Judaeo-Arabic) from Shemaryahu Hakohen b. Aharon Hakohen to Aharon Hakohen b. Ya'aqov.

Sefer Josippon (see Flusser I, pp. 466-468). (Information from Shivtiel/Niessen.)

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Very rich in details of commodities and people and transactions. Mentions names such as Abū Zikrī al-Ṭabīb; Abū Zikrī Ibn Sughmār; and Makhlūf. The hand may be known.

An order from Abū Zikrī Kohen. Khalīl is to give the bearer 1 raṭl of linseed oil (zayt ḥār). On the other side, there are business accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Abū Zikrī Kohen evidently tore up the accounts to get scrap paper for the order.

Accounts in the hand of Abū Zikrī Kohen. Mentions the purchase of two silk cushions for 364 dinars (!?). On verso there is an order of payment (see separate record).

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic

Letter from a certain Yiṣḥaq to a certain Avraham. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Late, likely 18th or 19th century. Reused for extensive accounts in Judaeo-Arabic, mentioning raisins.