Geniza Lab

Beginning of a letter of Neḥemya ha-Kohen b. Kohen Ṣedeq, a self-proclaimed gaon of Pumbedita, written before August 960. The letter is a polemic against Aharon ha-Kohen b. Yosef (Khalaf b. Sarjādo), gaon of Pumbedita since 943. Mentions the son of Neḥemya, Ṭov. Includes Neḥemya ha-Kohen’s bulla. Verso is blank. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 53.)

4 pages of Geonic responsa. Most of ot was published by Wertheimer, pp. 16-20. Contains translations of of various Talmudic terms, all by R. Sherira and his son R. Hiyya Gaon. Also published in Otzar ha-Geonim, Gittin, p. 195, no. 454. Joins with ENA 1491.6. AA

Letter from Daniel b. Azarya (in his handwriting), 1051. He is worried for his status and thinks that people will prefer Yosef ha-Kohen b. Shelomo Gaon. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 2 p. 643-645, #353) VMR

Letter from Daniel b. Azarya to Avraham ha- Kohen b. Yiṣḥaq b. Furat.

Legal document. Court record. Location: Fustat. Dated: 17 July 1162. This document is an incomplete record of proceedings of the court of Nathaniel ha-Levi (Gaon b. Moses the sixth) concerning a silk trading partnership between Samuel b. Solomon and (Abū) Manṣūr Eleazar b. Isaac al-Dimashqī. Samuel attests to the existence of a partnership agreement, which stipulated that profits were to be split 1/3 to 2/3, the bulk going to Eleazar. This roughly corresponded with their investment in the partnership capital, Samuel bringing 55 dinars and Eleazar bringing 95. Each of the partners has the right of disposal of partnership assets. The funds are invested with local workers in various towns in the Nile Delta (Sammanūd and al-Maḥalla) as well as in longer-distance investments (such as in Tyre). The record does not discuss any dispute between the partners, but is instead largely concerned with the details of sales, investments, and profits of the partnership. Each attests to transactions and deposits; apparently, the partners did not trust one another "as two proper witnesses", and they required direct testimony of the partnership accounting. (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture," 190)

Bottom part from a legal deed. Only signatures preserved. From Fustat, at the period of Masliah Gaon, for the term יעקב - probably Geon Ya'aqov Yeshiva is intended. Signed by Yehezkel b. Nathan, and Nathan Hakohen b. Shlomo. This Nathan used to add tiny letters above and below his name, to mark the date. here we find חא[...]תמג which means: חדש אדר [...]תמג- Month of Adar (or Elul), [1]443 = 1132. AA

Almost poetic letter of a Gaon, perhaps Shelomo b. Yehuda. A woman deserted by her husband for many years had brought up her only son and when he was old enough had sent him out to find his father, but the boy perished on his way. Along with attempts at consolation the Gaon refers to a debt of 300 dinars and losses incurred by the recipient of his letter. On microfilm the verso appears before the recto. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, p. 199)