Geniza Lab

Several lines of accounting, giving somebody's name (a faqīh? Abū l-Ḥassan b. Ṣāliḥ Muḥammad al-Q[...]?), then several figures in Greek/Coptic numerals, with a grand total written at the bottom. On recto there is Hebrew piyyut.

Responsum regarding qiyyum of legal documents

Account in Arabic script, Ottoman period.

List of alphanumerical "expenses / מצרופ" where the Ottoman silver "guruş / גרוש" may be in use. Unless "גרוש" is a shorthand for a European silver coin, the likelihood that it indicates Ottoman "guruş / גרוש" could help estimate this fragment as eighteenth- or nineteenth-century. The "guruş/kuruş" was not minted in the Ottoman empire until 1690CE or 1703CE (Pamuk, A Monetary History of the Ottoman Empire, 160). MCD.

Calendar (moladot).

Accounts (and pen trials) in Ladino and western Arabic numerals. The shelfmarks ENA 3077.8–13 all appear to be related, including pen trials, accounts, and poetry in Ladino. On ENA 3077.13, there is an ownership note by Eliyya Toko (? טוקו). Needs further examination.

Letter from a student to his teacher. In Hebrew. Sefaradi hand. Dating: Probably 15th–17th century. Looks like it came from a book binding. The sender expresses his desire to study with the addressee (כי בחרתי ללמוד בחברת אדוני, l. 8). The shelfmarks ENA 3077.8–13 all appear to be related, including pen trials, accounts, and poetry in Ladino. On ENA 3077.13, there is an ownership note by Eliyya Toko (? טוקו). Needs further examination. (Information in part from Shmuel Glick via FGP.)

Legal query written by Halfon b. Netanʾel ha-Levi sent to Elʿazar al-Qasabi. Addendum to India Book IV. AA

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Um Surur is mentioned, and also various shipments.

List of expenditures of the Qodesh ca. 1169-70. An accounting written in the hand of Judge Shemuel b. Saadya ha-Levi, on both parts of a leaf from a notebook, mentioning several houses of the qodesh. Most items refer to building operations, but there are also sums spent on nightwatch and gifts to Muslim officials. The Synagogue of the Babylonians is one of the main beneficiaries in this accounting. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 309 #72)

Letter (FGP). May actually be literary. Very faded

Legal document. Probably a bill of release connected to a will. The deceased is Moshe b. Yefet, and he left behind a minor son Hibatallāh. Someone had intended or intends to travel with a sum of money. Mentions: involving the parnasim before the death; the executor (waṣiyy) Moshe b. Seʿadya ha-Kohen and Abū l-Makārim b. Ṭayyib. Moshe b. Seʿadya is released from the 'risk' of the money. On verso there is a dirge in Hebrew. AA

Letter of condolence

Letter fragment. Written in Judaeo-Arabic. Quite damaged. The writer seems to be complaining about something; mentions sūq al-ṣarf.

Poem in Hebrew ending with a couplet in Arabic (written once in Hebrew script and again in Arabic script). There is an additional note in Arabic scrip on verso.

Letter from a woman, probably in Damascus, to her distant husband. Written in Judaeo-Arabic and some Hebrew. She chastises him for abandoning her for the last 15 months, in violation of the oath he swore over a Torah in front of the judge of Damascus. "I thought you were a religious, praying man. . . ." She also mentions that her mother died. Needs further examination. ASE

Magical text written in a striking melange of Hebrew script, Arabic script, and nonsense script. The main instructions are in Judaeo-Arabic. The practitioner is to light a wick with pure violet oil inside of a human skull. A black raven is also involved, and three pegs are to be driven into the skull-lamp. When the desired aim is achieved, the lamp should not be extinguished. ASE.

Memorial list for Abū l-Karam b. al-Dayyān. Verso is a memorial list for the Muzaghlil family. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Memorial lists for al-ʿAṣṣār and the judge (al-Dayyān) Shelomo. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Rent receipt(s) for Yūsuf al-ʿAṭṭār. In Arabic script. Reused on recto for Hebrew poetry/piyyut.