Geniza Lab

Fragment from a letter, possibly mentioning a deed(?) and the Talmud. Approximately 5 lines are preserved. Wide space between the lines. It is not clear if the paper originally extended farther to the left. If it did not and this was a narrow vertical rotulus, the format resembles formal letters such as T-S 20.145 + T-S AS 153.176 + T-S AS 153.177. This was written on a reused Arabic-script document, probably a state document, of which less than one word is still preserved. (Information in part from CUDL.)

A begging letter addressed to Yeshuʿa. The writer hasn’t eaten and requests bread. (Information from CUDL)

Letter to a traveling companion, who was accompanied by his wife or a servant, stating that he is sending him chickens and quails as provisions on his way. Script of early thirteenth century. (Information from Goitein.) There are the remnants of a few words in Arabic script on verso, from a prior document that the writer reused.

Family letter addressed to a certain Ibrāhīm. In Judaeo-Arabic. Rudimentary handwriting and orthography. The spellings are so unusual that the letter is hard to understand. It seems that the addressee is being chastised for his prolonged absence and the meager sums of money he sends home to support his wife ("even if you earned a dinar a day in your absence, the money wouldn't be enough"). The addressee is greeted by his wife and by Rivqa {and?} Abū Saʿīd. On verso the addressee is told to send a number of items for Passover, especially wheat. May mention "the one who beat your son." (Information in part from CUDL.)

Letter fragment (upper right corner). In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. He says that the Nagid had issued a letter/document probably addressed to the judge Avraham b. Shabbetay (of Minyat Ziftā, active ca. 1091–1135). It concerned Ḥasan al-Qudsī and another man, the legal opponents of Abu l-[...]. Someone (Avraham?) should report to Fustat quickly. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Part of the address from a letter to Shemuʾel b. Sid (probably 16th or 17th century). (Information from CUDL)

Verso (original use): Fragment of official/state correspondence, probably. The ends of 3 lines are preserved and parts of 2 more lines. Mentions a village/estate (ḍayʿa) known as المخرقة (in the Fayyūm) and 'the farmers there' (al-muzāriʿīn fīhā). (Information in part from Naïm Vantieghem.) Recto (secondary use): Targum Yonatan on Isaiah 49:10–11 and probably nearby verses.

Responsum. In Hebrew: Dating: ca. 16th century. Concerning two partners who sue a third ex-partner. Currency: Mentions 1700 grossos (silver coins).

Halakhic text, late.

Literary text in Hebrew.

Literary text in Hebrew and Judaeo-arabic.

Draft openings of letters in different hands and different directions, numerals, jottings and an elaborately decorated שין. (Information from CUDL)

Poem, of documentary interest. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentioning al-Sayyid Musa b. al-Mumajjid, and the communities of Alexandria, Malij, Damayir and Jawjar. Information from GRU via FGP.

Four responsa of Gershom b. Judah (the Ragma), on the subject of borrowing money from gentiles, selling property, interest on a loan, and business deals with non-Jews made on the Sabbath. This is the oldest known Ashkenazi manuscript to be discovered in the Genizah. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Ṣemaḥ b. Yiṣḥaq, gaon of Sura, to Elḥanan b. Shemarya, ca. 990. Contains information about Ṣemaḥ b. Yiṣḥaq and about the academy of Sura. The gaon expresses his wish that Elḥanan b. Shemarya would come to Baghdad, the new location of the academy of Sura. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 133.)

Letter from Ṣemaḥ b. Yiṣḥaq, gaon of Sura, to Elḥanan b. Shemarya, ca. 990. Contains information about Ṣemaḥ b. Yiṣḥaq and about the academy of Sura. The gaon expresses his wish that Elḥanan b. Shemarya would come to Baghdad, the new location of the academy of Sura. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 133.)

Accounts. (Information from CUDL)

Literary text in Latin script. Spanish?

New Testament in Coptic (1 Cor. 16:2, 5-7). Identification kindly provided by Matthew Boutilier.

Letter fragment in Arabic script in the margin of a Coptic New Testament. "اعملوا/تعملوا معروفكم الى اورشليم وان كان ينبغي ان امضي انا ايضا الى ها هناك اذهبوا معي فاني . . . عليكم." Planning a trip to Jerusalem? Needs further examination.