Geniza Lab

State document, fragment, in Arabic script, probably a petition (or a draft?). There are also a few lines of Arabic interspersed between the wide spacings of the petition, probably from later reuse or annotations, however, both the hands look fairly similar. The petition is regarding a matter concerning agriculture "al-zirāʿ", also mentions a canal ''al-fatḥ". The last line indicates a course of action "dhālika wa-sharaʿ fī ʿamalihi wa-injāzihi". The first interspersed line bears a date - Thursday 19th Muḥarram 550. Needs examination.

Closing of a state document containing words of gratitude, ḥamdala, ṣalwla, and ḥasbala. "fa'-ūqābil bi-l-shukr ʿalaihi inshāʾ Allah".

Prayer in Judaeo-Arabic

Prayer in Judaeo-Arabic

Ledger of accounts, late, of a Venetian merchant.

Legal document (shetar) mentioning a partnership and a certain Berakhot ha-Kohen. Dating: Early 12th century. The deed was written in two copies. Signatories: Yiṣḥaq b. Shemuʾel ha-Sefaradi (probably the scribe), Yosef b. Saʿadya and Avraham b. Shemaʿya descendant of Shemaʿyahu Gaon

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment (lower right corner of recto). Written on parchment. Likely a Maghribī mercantile letter of the 11th century. Twice refers to "my master the Third (al-shelishi)." Refers to a bundle (ruzma) containing something with "the Seventh (al-sheviʿi)" written on it. On verso there is a list of names in a different hand: Saʿīd b. Mevorakh; ʿUlla b. [...]; Avraham b. Fahd; Yefet b. [...]; Maʿālī b. Yiṣḥaq Kohen; Yosef b. Ibrāhīm; Abū l-Ḥasan.

Ketubba fragment (perhaps Palestinian) mentioning a payment of 12 zuz (in keeping with the Palestinian tradition). Signed by Elʿazar b. Yosef. Not mentioned in the literature.

Bill of divorce. Dating: 13th century? Signed and probably written by Shemuel b. Yaʿaqov (ha-Ṣarfati?) and Ṣadoq b. [...]

Ketubba fragment. In the hand of Yosef b. Shemuel b. Seʿadya (ca. 1181–1209).

Legal jottings. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Account of what is left from or has been done with a ketubba. Mentions a remaining sum of 11[..] of something.

Business letter from a Maghribī merchant. Addressed to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov and Hilāl (or at least these names appear in the address) In Judaeo-Arabic, with one line of Arabic script in the address. Dating: Likely 11th century. Mentions silk and Abū l-Khayr Mūsā b. Barhūn. Unpublished.

Business letter from a Maghribi merchant. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Probably 11th century. Not mentioned in the literature. Avraham b. Yamān is mentioned. The sickness of Abu Zikri is mentioned. Written on parchment. Needs to be unfolded and conserved.

Maghribī mercantile letter. Dating: Probably 11th century. From Ibrāhīm b. [...], likely in Tripoli (Libya), to an unidentified addressee, likely in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. The addressee is asked to go to Mukhtār and frighten him over the 2.75 dinars, since the sender has had to pay this sum to Ibn al-Tāhertī. He mentions appointing an agent and the name Ibn Ṭalyūn and "to collect it from him, a little bit every week." Greetings to many people: the addressee's son Abū l-Faḍl; Ḥasan and his children; Ṣadaqa and his children; Abū Naṣr; Abū [...]; Sulaymān; Samīḥ; Mūsā. Written on parchment. Needs to be unfolded and conserved. Uncited in the literature.

Arabic script (Naïm Vanthieghem; description to come). (This seems erroneous - the fragment only has a Hebrew liturgical text on it.)

Letter addressed to a woman. In Judaeo-Arabic. The letter contains instructions about money to be received and/or paid; mentions the army (al-ʿaskar); mentions Abū l-Maḥāsin and Abū Isḥāq. Toward the end of verso, the writer explains that he (or she?) will travel with another man and the little girl (al-ṣughayyira), while the addressee(s) should remain in Egypt. Then: "If you wish to marry your daughter to al-Raḍiyy and stay in Egypt--then stay! And if you do not wish, do not marry her to anyone." This reading is not certain, as the letter is quite damaged. ASE.

Accounts (?) in Arabic script

Letter in Judaeo-Persian. נדאשתם דיגר בה דל אז . . . . נמיתואנסתם ברדאשתן . . .

Judaeo-Persian. Not sure what it is. Containing the year 1912 Seleucid, which is 1600/01 CE. The page is divided into different sections with a grid of red ink.

Literary work in the form of question and answer. Yemeni hand.