Geniza Lab

Letter addressed to the Jewish community (probably Fustat) about an evildoer named ben Qayyuma and the troublesome things he did and said, and how the Nagid intervened with the government to put a stop to this. The story reminds the attempt of Sar Shalom Halevi to 'correct' inappropriate customs. he was also called 'The evil one', had a Messianic ambitions (e.g the name Qayyuma- a Messianic name) and the sultan tried to put an end to this. AA

Draft or copy of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic, with biblical citations in Hebrew. Concerning a communal conflict.

Letter (khidma) in Judaeo-Arabic, complete, handwriting resembles that of Berakhot b. Shemuel. He begs for a small loan in preparation for the upcoming holiday. See also ENA NS 2.8 addressed to the same recipient who is given the title al-Mansuri in each letter. ASE.

Map of the Temple in Jerusalem. On verso there is Judaeo-Arabic literary text.

Letter to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat. It seems that there was a deep argument between the writer and a group of merchants after some money did not get to its destination. During the argument, there was a document from an Islamic court that was presented. This document had to do with cinnamon and other spices. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #203) VMR

Magical recipes in Judaeo-Arabic (with some Arabic script and magical symbols). One recipe is for nosebleed and involves writing a spell with the blood on the forehead.

Letter fragment by Shelomo b. Yehuda.

Recto: Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. May be the handwriting of Berakhot b. Shemuel. Mentions "the period of his dwelling in the qāʿa where Umm al-Futūḥ lives." The letter is very deferential and the writer is asking the addressee (al-majlis) for some kind of help or guidance. Verso: Probably list of medical substances in Judaeo-Arabic.

Magical recipes to release someone from prison, heal a sick person, make a barren woman pregnant, etc. Information from Gideon Bohak via FGP.

Marriage contract (ketubba). Small fragment. Contains part of the dowry list. Written by the cantor Yefet b. David. AA

Legal fragment. Dating: ca. 1100 CE. This section contains only the witness signatures: Yefet ha-Ḥazzan b. ʿAmram ha-Ḥazzan; Yosef ha-Levi b. Yefet; ʿOvadya b. Aharon ha-Ḥaver; Yeḥezqel b. Natan; Shemaʿya ha-Ḥaver nin Shemaʿyahu Ga'on.

Literary. In Hebrew, with calendrical diagrams.

Account in Judaeo-Arabic. On verso there are piyyutim.

Fragment of a legal document.

One side: Judaeo-Arabic poetry on ʿishq al-maghānī (see T-S Misc.25.44). The other side: Instructions for the reading of the Shema before sleep.

Selihot.

Memorial list. Some of the names: Yefet ha-Melammed b. Shela; Elʿazar ha-Dayyan; Elishaʿ ha-Levi Raẓuy ha-Yeshiva.

Letter from Yūsuf b. Hārūn. In Judaeo-Arabic, with idiosyncratic spellings. Addressed to Qayrawān, it seems. Dating: Likely 11th century. Dealing with trade in ṭabarī cloth, embroidered garments, and beads.

Literary. Recto: catena of verses from Psalms 119, quoting the first verse of each alphabetical acrostic (including Psalms 119:1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 41, 49, qof is missing). Verso: Judaeo-Arabic: philosophical treatise. Information from Shivtiel/Niessen Catalog.

Literary. On benedictions, quoting biblical sources (1 Samuel 25:33; Genesis 14:20) (recto); on the `amidah and personal prayers quoting BT Berakhot 34a (verso). Information from Shivtiel/Niessen catalog.