Geniza Lab

Letter: draft(s) in the hand of Efrayim b. Shemarya (11th century), in Fusṭāṭ, probably to the Gaʾon Shelomo b. Yehuda, in Jerusalem. One draft contains a report, in Hebrew, on a joint Karaite-Rabbanite collection made in the capital of Egypt on behalf of the Jews of Jerusalem to assist them with their taxes. Ezra b. Yishmael b. Ezra is mentioned, and the document refers to Yusuf ibn ‘Awkal with his honorific title ‘Rosh Kalla’ (‘head of the assembly’ of students at the biannual scholarly convention in Baghdad). (Marina Rustow, Heresy and the Politics of Community, 196, 278; From a Sacred Source, 309-10; S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 2:472) Another draft explains that, contrary to the malicious and false accusations made against him to the gaʾon by some members of the Jewish community in Fusṭāṭ, he will indeed be sending a generous donation for the Jerusalem academy in response to a fundraising mission by the gaʾon’s son Avraham. Efrayim also mentions that he retains the support of an influential Fatimid official, the Qaraite David ha-Levi b. Yiṣḥaq, who will also be sending a donation. Written on the verso of an Arabic -script letter discussing philosophical theology and mentioning the raʾs al-mathība (see PGPID 33676).

Letter from Efrayim b. Isma'il al-Jawhari, probably in Alexandria, to Yosef b. 'Awkal, in Fustat, ca. 1030. Mentions Palermo and Mahdiyya; ships of Ibn Daysūr (?), ships of the amīr, the ship of ּḤusayn al-Lakkī (?), the ship of Yaḥyā b. al-Sāḥilī, and the ship of Ḥassūn.

Letter of Avraham b. Simhon, Ifrīqiya, to Yosef b. ʿAwkal. (A large hole from line 11 to line 22 has obliterated much of the letter.)

Letter from Musa b. Barhun al-Tahirti to Yosef b. Awkal and to his sons Hillel and Benjamin.

Letter of the Berekhya brothers to Ibn 'Awkal concerning loss of friendship between them and concerning the inheritance of an emancipated slave.

Letter from Mūsā b. al-Mughanī to Yosef Raʾs al-kull b. ʿAwkal, spring 1011.

Letter from Yosef b. Yaʿaqov al-Atrablusi, Qayrawan, to Yosef b. 'Awkal.

Letter from Mūsā b. Yiṣḥaq b. Ḥisda, in a city in middle Egypt, to Yosef b. ʿAwkal. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Early 11th century. The covering that the addressee sent for Avraham (who is sick) is too light and cheap. He is asked to send another one, but heavy this time (v11–13).

Letter from Avraham b. Yosef al-Sabbāgh, Alexandria, to Yosef b. 'Awkal, Fustat. Dating: ca. 1020. Written by a copyist, Daniel ibn al-Shama. Includes details on government officials and commodities. Written on parchment.

Letter from Yiṣḥaq b. Ganun to Yaʿaqov b. Yosef b. Awkal and his son Yosef.

Letter from Harun b. Yosef al-Ghazzal, Qayrawan, to Yosef b. 'Awkal.

Letter from Isma'il al-Tahirti to Abu al-Bishr Yaʿaqov b. Yosef b. Awkal (from Ifrīqiya to Egypt). Mentions "the remnants of an illness" (athar al-ʿilla) in l. 4

Instructions to an agent (in Alexandria) of Abi Ya'aqov (Yosef b. 'Awkal), May, 1038.

Letter from Harun b. Yosef [al-Ghazal?], Alexandria, to Abū l-Faraj Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. Awkal and to his sons. CUDL description: Fragment of a letter from the brothers Yosef and Nissim, sons of Berekhya, in Qayrawān, to Yosef b. Yaʿqub Ibn ʿAwkal in Fustat, ca. 1015-1017 CE. Similar letters are found at T-S 13J29.9, T-S 16.42, T-S 16.64, T-S NS J388, and Mosseri IV.10(?).