Geniza Lab

A covenant (כתב אמנה) of the congregation of the Palestinian synagogue in Fustat, drawn up in Adar 1522 (=1211 CE), which enumerates the venerable liturgical rites they inherited from their ancestors and which they refuse to allow anyone to change. The context is the controvery over the prayer reforms that Avraham Maimonides attempted to introduce. There is an extensive literature on this controversy, and this document sheds important light on the practices that the traditionalists wished to preserve. The handwriting is that of the cantor Yedutun ha-Levi, a fact first noted by Fleischer; see 'לסדרי התפילה בבית הכנסת של בני ארץ-ישראל בפוסטאט' in his collected articles, תפילות הקבע בישראל בהתהוותן ובהתגבשותן, vol. 1, p. 827 (p. 245 in the original article); thanks to Shulamit Elizur for this information. Two lines were added in a different hand, reiterating the main point that it is forbidden to change these traditions, signed by [Nissim] b. Seʿadya ha-Kohen. Verso contains a liturgical composition in a different hand. (Ed. Fleischer, Tefilah u-minhage tefilah Erets-Yiśreʼeliyim bi-teḳufat ha-genizah, 1988, 218–57. Trans. Friedman, Teuda, vol. 10 (1996), 251–53.) ASE.

End of two poems, praising and praying to the Lord; poem for a fiancee.

Poem praising the Lord, by Shelomo b. Yehuda nin Berekhya.

Prayerbook in Spanish or Judaeo-Spanish. In Latin script. Containing the yaʿale ve-yavo prayer for Rosh Hodesh as well as a portion of the liturgy for Shabbat afternoon. Likely 16th century, predating the Ferrara siddur. Edited by Eleazar Gutwirth, "Fragmentos de Siddurim españoles en la Guenizá," Sefarad 1980

Recto: Small fragment of a Judaeo-Arabic letter. Verso: Text discussing the calendar and liturgical additions.

Fragment of religious poetry in the hand of Shemuel b. Saadya ha-Levi (1165-1203). (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Fragment of a marriage contract (ketubba). Dating: Likely 10th century, based on handwriting. This fragment begins toward the end of the dowry list. Groom: Saʿīd. Bride: Malīhā, a virgin. The dowry amounts to 456 1/3 dinars. The items are listed in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Hebrew, and the document preserves the complete text of the divorce clause. (Information from Friedman, Jewish Marriage, vol. 2, 53–54.) On verso there is the Hoshaʿnot liturgy for the end of Sukkot. (CUDL)

Marriage contract from Tinnis, Egypt, in the late tenth century; two pieces. A long elaborate poem recited on Passover was written on both sides of one piece, and on the verso of the marriage contract. (Friedman, Jewish Marriage, vol. 2, 339) EMS

Public prayer for Moshe ha-Kohen, representative of the merchants, containing a prayer for his ancestors and other deceased relatives and praising him for his munificence towards the poor, scholars, synagogues and colleges. (Information from Meditterranean Society, II, pp. 162, 554)