Geniza Lab

India Book II, 22a (T-S NS J240). See PGPID 5479.

Letter from Abū Zikrī Kohen to Sulaymān. In Judaeo-Arabic. Less a letter—there are no opening or closing pleasantries—and more an order of various items with instructions for how to send them. (Information from CUDL)

Order of payment signed by Abū Zikrī Kohen. (Information from CUDL)

Order of payment signed by Abū Zikrī Kohen. (Information from CUDL)

Letter on the forced conversion of Yemenite Jews, but business as usual. Aden, August 1199.

Letter from Yosef ha-Kohen, in Alexandria, to the well-known merchant Abū Zikrī Yehuda b. Yosef ha-Kohen, probably in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: early to mid-12th century. Most of the substance of the letter is missing, but it opens (after the eloquent greetings) with a reference to the "inflation and famine" that occurred the previous year. Writing exercises have been added on verso. (Information in part from CUDL.)

The testimony of Arus b. Yosef about Lebdi's partnership with his brother Shelomo Lebdi. After Shelomo Lebdi drowned in the spring of 1099 on his way from Tunis to Spain, his son David had to secure his rights as heir. The first step was the testimony of Arus b. Yosef, a travel companion of Lebdi, who testified in the court of Fustat on the nature of partnership between the two Lebdi brothers. The document is dated to June 10, 1099.

Tiny fragment containing an order for an ounce of ʿaqīd (a dense sugar syrup). In Judaeo-Arabic. From Abū Zikrī Kohen? There is also some text in Arabic script.

Recto, with the address on verso: Business letter addressed to Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi. In Arabic script. Dating: Before the beginning of 1136 CE. Concerning business in goods such as sal ammoniac and turpeth, and mentions a public auction (ḥalqa) several times. (Information in part from Aodeh; see also Hebrew description from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV) Ḥalfon reused verso for a draft of a legal document (see separate record).

Verso: Draft of a legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi. Partnership agreement. In this unsigned and undated draft, an unnamed active partner receives 200 dinars from Sibāʿ, with which he is to travel to Alexandria and transact in unnamed commodities. Sibāʿ agrees to share equally in all losses to the partnership as a whole (e.g. losses due to work stoppage or broken merchandise). Lines 12-16 indicate that if commodities may end up traveling for sale in Alexandria escorted by someone other than the active partner, the active partner should inform Sibāʿ. The risk of loss is wholly carried by Sibāʿ. The active partner’s testimony concerning profits and losses does not require the support of witness testimony. The active partner seems to be entitled to all profits except for the maintenance of Sibāʿ(excluding Sibāʿ's rent and education costs for his son). Sibāʿ's share of the profits – a fixed amount unrelated to the success of partnership assets – might contravene the rabbinic prohibition of usury, but he does bear responsibility for losses. The use of the first person throughout the document suggests that it was prepared and notarized for the active partner, as with powers of attorney. The active partner could then present it as supporting documentation in the event of a dispute concerning distribution of partnership profits. (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture", 97–98.) See also Hebrew description from India Book IV, below. On recto there is a business letter in Arabic script; see PGPID 9140.

Letter from Bū Naṣr to Abū Zikrī Yehuda ha-Kohen b. Yosef. Fragment: only the upper margin and the address are preserved. Mentions Abū Saʿd b. Ṣaghīr and Abū ʿUmar. Mentions various business matters. Conveys good wishes for the holidays.

An Abū Zikrī Kohen order of payment.

Letter fragment, preserving only the opening line, seven lines from the top margin and, on verso, the address. The letter is addressed to Abū Zikrī Yehuda ha-Kohen b. Yosef ha-Kohen descendant of Yehosef ha-Kohen Bet Din. Greetings are sent to Ibrāhīm b. Yaḥyā and his brothers Abū l-[...] and Abū l-Maʿālī. Verso contains the address in Arabic script and in Judaeo-Arabic. (Information from CUDL)

Inventory of what was found in the house of a certain Yiṣḥaq. Written in Judaeo-Arabic. Written on textile (cotton?). Scribed by Avraham b. Ismāʿīl al-Maghribī. Also signed by Mevorakh b. Yehuda. Information from Goitein's attached notes.

Legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Involving Abū l-Baqā' and the late Abū l-Riḍā, who had business dealings in Yemen. Needs further examination.

Order of payment for 5 dinars signed by Abū Zikrī Kohen, dated Nisan 1455 (= 1144 CE). The banker’s name is Abū l-Faraj al-Kohen and Abū Zikrī writes וכתב before his signature, which is atypical. The cheque is crossed through with vertical lines. Arabic jottings on verso. (Information from CUDL)

Dirge by Avraham Ibn Yiju on Madmun b. Ḥasan's death. Yemen, 1151.

Letter from the court to the community of Dhū Jibla in defense of Maḍmūn. Aden, ca. 1135.

Letter from Khalaf b. Yiṣḥaq in Aden to Avraham Ibn Yiju in Mangalore, dated July-August 1148. The letter contains information about their commercial dealings and some personal matters.

Memorandum from Khalaf b. Isḥāq al-Yamanī. In Arabic script, with additional notes in Judaeo-Arabic. Ordering pharmaceuticals from Egypt. There is an entire short book devoted to this document (Albert Dietrich, Zum Drogenhandel im islamischen Ägypten, 1954). This document is summarized in Goitein and Friedman, India Book 2, ב50, but Goitein and Friedman did not edit it. NB: The images of this document may be accessed on FGP under the shelfmark p. Heid. Hebr. 12. However, it is more often cited as p. Heid. Arab. 912.