Geniza Lab

Probably a fragment of a court ledger from Fustat, including three records dated November 1719 (Kislev 5480). The first is marriage-related; the second is a betrothal document; the third is some sort of financial arrangement. (1) Names Shemuel Neḥemias the acquaintance of Avraham and the widow Confrada (?) bt. Avraham Mizraḥī. (2) The groom-to-be is Yiṣḥaq Afiya (?) and the bride-to-be is Kabīra (?) bt. Gabriel Amarillo of Crete (Candia). (3) Names Yaʿaqov Yo'av and Ḥava the wife of David ha-Levi Ṭorina (?).

Recto: A very formal letter (resembling a legal document or legal query) to an authority in Fustat, regarding the daughter of [...] ha-Levi, known as Ghazāl, who is betrothed to Eliyya Marṭūb. A certain Moshe has been maligning the reputation of Eliyya's fiancee. The writers of the letter are very upset and wish the addressee to investigate the situation and to punish Moshe as necessary. Dated "vihi ka-zayiT hoDo" (Hosea 14:7), which likely means 1643/4 CE (5404). Verso: An account or donation list using western Arabic numerals. A Hayyim Vital appears, but the date excludes the famous one.

Draft of a letter from Ishaq Sholal (d. 1524) to the yeshiva in Jerusalem. In Hebrew. Published by Avraham David in Cathedra 68, pp. 43–48. He has received their letters and has heard about the renewal of a certain controversy, and opines that the controversy remains groundless.

Fragment of a letter from Jerusalem to Egypt, beginning of the 16th century. The writer describes a financial/communal crisis that prevented the functioning of the weekly collections of money for the use of the community and for paying the taxes imposed by the rulers. Don Avraham b. ʿUqba attempted to mediate the conflict to no avail. In the margin the name Bū l-Faraj appears. On verso the writer alludes to conflict between the Maghrebi and Sefaradi populations. There is also a writing exercise in a different hand. Information from Avraham David. ASE.

Business letter, first half of the 16th century. The subject matter is a dispute between merchants who dealth in skins, pepper, and tin. An Avraham b. Hayyim is named. Information from Avraham David's edition.

Business letter addressed to Yiṣḥaq Sholal ha-Kohen. Dating: Beofre 1502 CE, because Yiṣḥaq Sholal was not yet the Nagid at the time this letter was written. The letter mentions Hebron and Gaza (the sender had previously sent letters from those locations). The specific business partnership has to do with wheat. (Information from A. David's edition on FGP)

Business letter in Hebrew. Late. Dating: Second half of the 16th century, based on Avraham David's assessment. Mentions currencies such as coronas and peraḥim. Most of the letter consists of detailed business accounts.

Letter from a father to a son. In Hebrew. Sent from an unknown location to Fustat/Cairo. Dating: Late, probably no earlier than 16th century. People mentioned: Shalom b. Pinḥas; Avraham Dayyan; Yoḥanan; Sulaymān b. Qamra; "Doña Gemalya our neighbor"; Ḥayyim Bibas; Yiṣḥaq Neḥemias. The letter contains updates on various items of clothing, a commentary on the book of Job, and 500 levanim (white silver dirham, eventually known as akçe). In the postscript there is a message for the writer's wife (he bought her a shuqqa). This is a long and well-preserved letter; needs further examination.

Recto: Draft contract. Dated: 1845(?) CE. In which ʿAfīf and Avraham Abū Aharon receive an ʿisqa investment of 40,000 arayot from Yaʿaqov Raḥamim known as Bunduqī. Verso: Another draft document involving the gabbay Moshe Mosseri, mentioning a sum of 19,250 arayot. There is also the draft of a beginning of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic and sundry other jottings.

specimen letters for various occasions, in a late hand. (Data from FGP)

On verso a letter in late Hebrew, asking about the welfare of family members. The letter might been written by a wife or on her behalf. Addressed to Yosef (T-S NS 176.37 verso)

A faded letter in a late, cursive Spanish hand

Late Hebrew letter in a cursive hand. On verso a drawing and few words

Letter from Yaʿaqov Daminshi (דמינשי) to his brother-in-law Shemuel. In Hebrew. Dating: Late. Mentions a matter of money and "סידיקי ההרגז" (is this a person?) and something that was put in a vessel and stored in the house of Aharon. Asking for urgent advice on a somewhat cryptic matter. Needs further examination. Reused for a halakhic text.

Rental Deed issued in Alexandria, 1595. Ya'aqov Casrto is renting to Yosef Lohmit. Signed by Moshe Ajiman and Hayyim al-Ashkar. (Info from FGP)

Fragment of a Hebrew legal document from Fustat/dated 1771/2 CE (5532) certifying that Yaʿaqov Katāḥ (?) b. Avraham and Me'ir Shapurti (?) b. Afidah (?) have completely settled their accounts with each other.

Fragment of a late letter in Hebrew signed by Seʿadya b. Moshe ha-Dayyan. See Arad, D. (2008). Syria’s links with the Jews of Cairo in the 15th and 16th centuries. [Genizah Research Unit, Fragment of the Month, August 2009]. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.48227

Late Hebrew letter mentioning the consul of Venice.

fol. 1r: partnership agreement; fols 1v-2r: related accounts; From the year 1792. (info FGP). Names: Rahamim Navaro, Moshe's Mar widow and his son Shemuel, Avraham Serano, Shelomo Zerahya, Avraham Sigura, Ishaq Menahem.

Fragment of a responsum dealing with a quarrel between 4 congregations in one town in Morea, Patras: the Romaniotes, two Sicilian, and the Castilian. The congregations mentioned here is the Castilian. A Greek rabbi from Patras excommunicated some of his rivals. In the middle of the 16th century the Romaniotes separated themselves from the other three and his leader ignored the decisions made by them. When R. Yosef Formon elected as the rabbi in Petras (between 1560-1570) he demanded that the Romaniotes will accept his ruling. It seems that the responsum was written by one of his supporters. For more information see Glick, Responsa of the Sages of the Ottoman Empire, III, 1153-1157 (info from FGP)