Geniza Lab

Hebrew letter from Yiṣḥaq b. Zeraḥya known as Faryol (?), a physician, to Avraham Talmid (known from other letters, fl. ca.1600). The first part of the letter deals with business matters. The writer mentions that he wished to examine some books, but the bookseller refused to untie them. He then asks the addressee to look after and mentor R. David ha-Kohen who is visiting Damascus with 200 gold pieces to exchange them for other gold and silver. The second part of the letter conveys information for al-Shaykh Ghāzī who left his wife in the hands of the writer to cure her from her illness. Thanks to the medicines sent by the husband and others that the writer gathered, the cure has been successful—her face has completely healed, and her legs, thank God. "Please remind him to send me a suitable gift, something suitable. In truth it has been nine months since I have seen my home (or: wife). Now, for Purim, they have begged me to come, but the sick woman, his wife, did not wish to let me go, and I could not go against her will. Copy out these words for him. . ." Information from Avraham David's edition. ASE.

Replacement for a lost ketubba (אירכסא). Location: Baalbek, according to both Goitein and Ashtor, although the remaining portion of the document only specifies the Biqāʿ Valley of Lebanon (בקעת הלבנון תחת הר חרמון). The name of the locale appears to end with לת—could it be Zaḥla instead? Dated: 21 Av 1564 Seleucid, which is 1253 CE, under the authority of the Nasi [...] b. Yeḥizqiyahu b. Yishai. Husband: Ismāʿīl b. Ṣemaḥ ha-Levi. Wife: Majdiyya bt. Mufaḍḍal. NB: An earlier version of the PGP record for this document linked it (erroneously?) to T-S Misc.27.4.23 and was credited "D.B. 3-20-89."

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Names of writer and addressee are not immediately apparent. Their locations are also not explicit but it should be possible to deduce them; Jerusalem and Damascus are mentioned several times; Homs and Baalbek are mentioned as well. Dating: Probably 15th century or later, based on comparison with the other letters from this stratum. The writer's son Avraham recently died. On verso he describes a controversy over when the new moon of Tishrei appeared, spurred by the moon failing to appear at night but then appearing during the daytime before the next sunset. Needs further examination.