Geniza Lab

Letter from Binyām b. Hārūn, in Alexandria, to Abū l-Afrāḥ ʿArūs b. Yosef, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: ca. 1080 CE, based on Gil's assessment. Regarding a leather container with goods that the writer sends to ʿArūs and asks him to sell for him. Verso: Reused for accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #714.) VMR. ASE.

Letter from Yisrael b. Natan in Jerusalem to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat. November 29, 1061. Concerning copying books and family matters. Mentions Zakkai ha-Nasi, Daniel b. Azarya's brother, and his son, who were about to arrive in Fustat. Also mentions a few people that were coming from Byzantium, traveled through Jerusalem, and some of them stayed there. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 3, pp. 160-164, #479). VMR

Letter from ʿIwāḍ b. Ḥananel, in Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. Around 1060. The letter is in the hand of Benāya b. Mūsā and switches to the voice of Benāya starting in line v1. The letter discusses goods and shipments as well as books that ʿIwāḍ is buying for Nahray. ʿIwāḍ has been suffering a serious illness (wajaʿ) ever since Adar Rishon (this passage begins in line r16). People despaired of him; he recovered from the illness; but then he developed a swollen abdomen ("and I am frightened from it"). Now he does not travel unless absolutely necessary. He asks Nahray to obtain for him sugar and good-quality rhubarb. Information in part from Gil and Gotein's note card (#27102). VMR. ASE.

Letter from Nissim b. Ḥalfon in Tyre to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat, ca. 1055.

Letter from Hassun b. Yiṣḥaq to a partner. Business letter discussing payments and shipments, apparently of flax and textiles. Dated ca. 1050. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #807)

Letter from Alexandria to Abū l-Maʿānī. Business letter fragment concerning various transactions, some of which are taking place in Alexandria, and mentioning the purchase of poppy seed and rice and a codex apparently used as surety. Some text on the verso seems to belong to the same letter. The rest of the verso is a different (but potentially related) document in Arabic script. (Information from Goitein's index cards and CUDL)

Letter fragment to [...] b. Ḥayyīm. In this note, the writer states that he had previously sent with the letter-bearer two books, one containing Talmud Rosh ha-Shana and Taanit and the second, a work by Hayya Gaon to be sold. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter fragment in the hand of Avraham b. Farah al-Iskandarani, in Alexandria, to one of the merchants in Fustat, regarding shipments being forwarded to the addressee. Dated 1056 CE. (Information from Gil)

Letter from Masliah b. Yehuda of Alexandria to Nahray b. Nissim in which he asks for help retrieving some money that his associates in Fustat still owed him. EMS

Letter from Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat to Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Musa in Busir. Contains multiple references to jahbadh fees, as well as mention of a rūznāma (variant of rūznāmaj).

Letter concerning business matters. Deals with the forwarding of 15 dinars and an order for three ounces of ink and other smaller items. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from the teacher Abū l-Khayr, in Minyat Zifta to his brother Abū Naṣr Maḥfūẓ, the brother-in-law of Abū l-Bishr(?) Ibn al-Abzārī(?), in Darb al-Dahhān, Ḥārat Zuwayla, Cairo. In Judaeo-Arabic, with the address in Arabic script. The sender has partnered with Abū l-Munā b. Ḥiyya in teaching, but they are earning only 6 dirhams each every week. They wish to know if there are better prospects in Cairo. The addressee is urged to come quickly and to bring wheat with him. If he cannot find passage from his location, he should walk to Banhā and catch a boat to Minyat Zifta for 1/2 dirham. The sender asks about the prices of fleawort, purslane seed, and caraway. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards and CUDL)

Letter from Avraham b. Natan in Tyre to Nahray b. Nissim. Dating: ca. 1090–93. During these years, Avraham b. Natan had to flee Tyre due to Munir al-Dawla's revolt. It was during these years that Avraham b. Natan tried to establish his position in Alexandria and al-Mahalla, an attempt reflected in this letter. On Avraham b. Natan's residence in Alexandria see M. Gil, 'Scroll of Evyatar,' p. 89 lines 29-30. See also Goitein, Med. Soc. Vol. 5, p. 596 no. 19. (Information from Frenkel).

Letter from Bū l-Karam to his brother Abū Naṣr. In Judaeo-Arabic. Rudimentary handwriting and spelling. Business letter in which the writer informs his brother about business matter but also inserts family news, notably about the health of his wife, who apparently had previously lost her little girl but had just given birth to a baby-boy. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, pp. 228, 474)

Recto: Letter sent to al-Mahalla concerning various business matters and dealing with the sale of sugar, chewing gum (mastaka) and rice. Dated 1165. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, pp. 605-606, and Goitein's index cards). Verso: Recipes in Arabic script. (Information from CUDL).

Letter from Ḥalfon ha-Kohen b. Yehuda ha-Kohen to Abu al-Farah Arus b. Yosef about the troubles he underwent after leaving for a business trip. On the way by boat his wares were drenched and spoiled. He also reports about a business dispute with a third person which was solved by way of a settlement out of court. (Information and translation from Goitein, Letters)

Letter concerning business matters containing many greetings. The sender writes that pieces of parchment have arrived from North Africa. The rest of the parchments will be sent to the recipient with Ishaq b. Abu Munajja.

Rect: Letter concerning an order for pieces of clothing which the writer had sent but the addressee had not confirmed receiving. (Information from Mediterranean Society, IV, p. 408). Verso: Arabic jottings. (Information from CUDL)

Letter. Left lower side of a letter perhaps to Nahray b. Nissim. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat to Abu al-Faraj Daniel b. Allan ha-Kohen in Alexandria, discussing the problem of the ransom of captives and noting that owing to the lack of funds prisoners have to be redeemed one by one, ca. 1045-1096.