Geniza Lab

Letter fragment from Daniel b. Azarya to a man in Fustat. Daniel b. Azarya shows his joy that the man recovered from his illness. Daniel b. Azarya describes how he prayed for his recovery in front of Temple Mount and David's tomb. He mentions that he knows about his recovery from a letter he received from Yefet b. David. VMR

Letter from Yosef b. ʿEli ha- Kohen al-Fāsī, Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Around 1057. In the handwriting of Salmān b. Hārūn. Yūsuf b. ʿAlī Kohen al-Fāsī writes of his intention to come to Fustat and meet with Abū ʿAbdallah (Ibn al-Baʿbāʿ) to see if he had kept his goods safe for him, and asks to send him his greetings. Contains information about movement of ships and goods. The situation in Alexandria is not good and merchants that were supposed to arrive there did not. Also mentions Nahray’s eye disease. Goitein's note card #27112: "Just as we do, one reacted to the news that a relative or friend was restored to health. One used for the occasion the same phrase 'I congratulate you' as one did with good wishes for holy days or a marriage or a safe return from a journey. T-S 13J17.2 is characteristic in this respect. The copyist of the letter had expressed his good wishes for Nahray's recovery from his serious eye disease. His boss had forgotten to do so but obviously read what the scribe had added. Thus the scribe adds, 'My lord Abu Ya'qub al-Kohen wishes to congratulate you on your recovery.'"

Letter from Natan b. Nahray, from Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Around 1062. The writer mentions his difficulties with a person named Abu Zikri Menashshe. Mentions several goods as beads, red dresses, and kosher oil. Natan needs oil for light. He shows his interest in ruby. Natan was very frightened on account of his father, Nahray b. Natan, who was very ill but recovered. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #415) VMR

Piyyut by Gamliel b. Moshe on the occasion of Avraham Maimonides's recovery from illness. Goitein: "As was customary at such banquets, poems in honor of the event were recited. We have one in the Geniza written on the occasion of the recovery of Abraham Maimonides from a grave illness (the Geniza contains several references to his poor health). The poem is jubilant, and praises, of course, also Abraham's illustrious late father, other ancestors, his two sons (who must have been mere boys at that time), and the happy community, for which he had been spared" Med Soc V, 111.