Geniza Lab

A letter sent to the head of the community R. Yehuda, in the second half of the 16th century. The writer is complaining about Yehuda al-Hami with whom he had a quarrel over monetary issue. This al-Hami forged a bill of debt and sue the writer in a Muslim court. He was arrested and released thanks to Moshe al-Damohi (from Dammuh) who was able to make an arrangement between the two parties. Nut this did not stop the case, and a week later Yehuda al-Hami informed the authorizes that the writer's daughter converted to Islam, went to the Upper Galilee and return to Egypt as a Jew. The writer brought to court in front of the judge al-Malafi and was able to be rescued also thanks to Moshe Damohi. The writer is asking for financial assistance and inform that he is going soon to the land of Israel. (Info from FGP by A. David) .

Fragment of a late ketubah. The groom is Nissim and the bride Najma.

Letter sent by Moshe Agura from Rhodes to his family in Egypt. Published by J. Krivoruchko in https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/taylor-schechter-genizah-research-unit/fragment-month/fotm-2021/fragment-6.

Damaged fragment from the bottom of a bill of compensation, from the daughter of Yahya to Abu Nasr b. Sa'adya and Shelomo b. Sa'adya. Signed by 'Eli Halevi b. 'Amar and Shemaryah Halevi b. Aharon. AA

See PGP 18645

Part of the heading for a highly decorated ketubba (in Hebrew, although the ketubba text would likely have been in Aramaic). All of the main text has been lost but the heading refers to Sar Shalom ha-Levi, leader of the Jewish community in 1170 and 1177-1195 CE (brother of Gaʾon Nathaniel ha-Levi). (Information from CUDL)

descriptions of houses and gates, maybe for legal purposes, including the `eighth house belonging to Michael, `the commander of the army who is amputee' seems to be written by Natan b. Avraham Av

Liturgical text. A decorated colophon 'This is what was made to Farah the good and pleasant son of our greatness our minister ....' AA

Letter of epitaph by Shelomo b. Yehuda.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to the community of Fustat. Dating: ca. 1025 CE. On verso there is a fable about a king and a woman in Arabic script.

udaeo-Arabic: astronomical work; Arabic: note, including the name Abu al-Fadail- needs examination. (info from FGP)

Beginning of a ketubah dated 133[.] Era of documents = 1020's.

Strip from the left side of an official poetic Hebrew letter. AA

Letter in the hand of the clerk of Yehoshua Maimonides, it seems conveying greetings for the holidays.

Calendar calculations

Recto: Letter from Hayya Gaʾon to Neḥemya b. Avraham, in Fustat. Dated: Nisan 1348 Seleucid, which is April 1037 CE. Neḥemya had had a fight with members of his community and he took an oath not to slaughter an animal or pray. He then changed his mind and asked Hayya Gaon to annul his vow. This letter is the Gaon’s response, annulling of the vow. The letter closes with Hayya's motto "yeshaʿ rav" (ישע רב) and the date. Verso: Two distinct text blocks in Arabic script. (1) The names of the months of the Coptic calendar. (2) Accounts, recording credits and debits and mentioning a paternal aunt and her son. Gil understands these as the private accounts of one of Nehemya’s sons, mentioning the name of two sons, Yoshiyyahu and Avraham. List of monthly rental payments, for one third of Sahlān’s house that was probably inherited to the writer. (Information from CUDL and Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #40, and E. Bareket, Shafrir misrayim, pp. 167, 169, 174.) VMR

Business letter in Arabic script from Natan b. Yehoshuaʿ b. Natan in Alexandria to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat.

Letter from Yosef b. Avraham to Avraham b. Yiju. The whereabouts of Yosef and Ibn Yiju are unclear. Goitein thought that Ibn Yiju was in Mangalore while Yosef was somewhere in India. Friedman suggests that Yosef was in Mangalore and Ibn Yiju was somewhere in Yemen. Friedman dates the letter to 1140-1144. The letter contains details of their various business dealings.

Avraham Ibn Yiju's inventory of baggage for journey from India to the west. Written in India, probably in 1140 or 1149. Elizabeth Lambourn's book Abraham's Luggage is centered on this document.

Letter from Yosef b. Yiṣḥaq. In Hebrew and Aramaic. Perhaps a responsum. The text seems to be entirely a discussion of talmudic matters, including condolences.