Geniza Lab

Enormous bill of release. Written and signed by Halfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi. Dated: last 10 days of the month of Shevat 1445 Seleucid, which is 1134 CE, under the jurisdiction of Masliah Gaon. A woman named Ḥisān bt. Yakhin/Thābit acknowledges receipt of something (probably a substantial sum of money) from Yehuda/Shibl b. Natan. There follow several dozen lines of elaborate release formulae. Also signed by Natan b. Shelomo ha-Kohen. AA

Blessings on the Fatimid caliph al-Āmir bi-aḥkām Allāh (1101-31 CE) and on the Gaon Masliah b. Shelomo ha-Kohen, head of the Jerusalem Yeshiva, which then had its seat in Cairo. The postscript includes Masliah’s cousin Eliyyahu the Fourth and his three sons, which the writer indicates should be inserted right before the blessing for Masliah; the date of composition was likely between 1127 and 1131 CE. (“Prayers from the Geniza for Fatimid Caliphs, the Head of Jerusalem Yeshiva, the Jewish community and the Local Congregation,'' in Studies in Judaica, Karaitica and Islamica, Presented to Leon Nemoy...Bar-Ilan University, 1982, 49-57) EMS See also Moss. L.62

Letter of a woman, telling about her marital problems, written by Ḥalfon Ha-Levi b. Menashshe to the Gaon Masliah Ha-Kohen in Egypt. (Date: 1127-1138)

Damaged legal deed written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi, during Masliah Gaon period (1127-1138). Regarding the ketubah late instalment of Sitt al-Jamal d. Yefet valued at 100 dinars.

Legal deed in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi. Fragment from the lower left corner. Dated: First decade of either Adar I or Adar II [14]35 Seleucid, which is 1134 CE, under the authority of Maṣliaḥ Gaon. A declaration is made in favor of a certain Abū l-Ḥasan. A parnas is also mentioned.

Deed of betrothal (erusin). In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Location: Fustat. Dated: [13]45 Seleucid, which is 1133/34 CE, under the authority of Maṣliaḥ Gaon. The right half of recto and the left half of verso are missing. The families are eminent, as nearly everyone's name is followed by the honorific "ha-Sar ha-Nikhbad." The fiancé: Avraham. Another man mentioned: Netanʾel b. Ahuv (perhaps the same as Netanʾel b. Ahuv ha-Kohen in T-S 12.567). There is an agent named Abū l-Fakhr. The fiancé gives a silver ring. (Information from Amir Ashur's edition, where there are more potential identifications of the parties.)

Legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Fragment (lower right corner). Concerning a divorce. Mentions something (the bill of divorce? the ketubba payment?) given to Elʿazar (her agent?). Dated 1127-1138. under the authority of Masliah Gaon.

Deed of betrothal (erusin). In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe (dates: 1100–38). Drawn up under the authority of Maṣliaḥ Gaon (dates: 1127–39). Fiancée: Malka, a divorcee. Her brother is her agent. Possibly witnessed by [Natan b. Shelom]o ha-Kohen. (Information from Ashur's edition.)

Fragment from a bill of release. In the hand of Halfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi. Drawn up under the authority of Maṣliaḥ Gaon. Dating: 1127–38 CE. Abū l-Makārim Ṣedaqa ha-Kohen releases Berakhot ha-Levi from claims.

Fragment from the bottom part of a legal deed written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi under the authority of Masliah Gaon/ Only part of the year is preserved 144[.] = 1130-1138.

Fragment from the left part of a bill of release written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi from 1127-1138. The parties are Abū l-Faḍl Yosef and Elʿazar ha-Levi. The nature of the dispute is specified in l. 4, but it is tricky to read (אלרפאת?).

Bottom part of a legal deed, probably bill of release given to Nissim b. Levi, written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi under the authority of Masliah Gaon from the year 1130. AA

Damaged fragment of a legal deed, written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi, under Masliah Gaon authority, dated Adar II, so the correspondence years can be 1129, 1131, 1134, 1137.

Strip from the left part of a court record. The reconstruction is not clear but it seems that Mufadal son of Mevorakh Halevi Appeared before the court showing a legal deed issued in Damascus regarding a debt of 30 dinars by Abu Imran. The debtor claimed that he already paid it and asked for a bill of release. Written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi under the authority of Masliah Gaon at the year [1]440 era of document= 1129.

Small fragment from the bottom of a legal deed from the year [144]5 under the authority of Masliah Gaon, and written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi. AA

Legal document. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Location: Fustat. Dated: Thursday, 18 Shevaṭ(?) 1444 Seleucid, which is 1132/33 CE, under the reshut of Maṣliaḥ Gaon. Seems like a bill of release of 20 dinars and a half by Abū Zikrī b. Yosef and Abu Kathīr and his wife Maḥfūẓa. Involves Umm Ṣabīḥ and another woman named Mudallala (based on the summary of contents - ikhtiṣār - to be found on verso). Signed by [...] b. Yosef. The join was made by Moshe Yagur in FGP

Minute fragment from the bottom of a legal deed written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi under the reshut of Masliah Gaon (1127-1138). Might be connected with T-S NS 225.41

Minute fragment from the bottom of a legal deed written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi under the reshut of Masliah Gaon (1127-1138). Might belong with T-S NS 225.39

Minute fragment from the bottom part of a legal deed written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi under the authority of Masliah Gaon (date: 1127-1138)

Court record. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi, under the authority of Masliah Gaon. Dating: 1127–38 CE. Abū l-Surūr Peraḥya b. Yeshuʿa (probably identical with Faraḥ b. Yeshu'a, see India traders, p. 385, l. 15), is going to Yemen to deal with buying and selling pepper. A lady called Ḥasana is mentioned together with her husband Abū Saʿīd. Also mentions Maḥfūẓ b. Sahlān, Yaʿqūb b. Kawjakh (mentioned also in T-S NS 184.97. On this name, from the Persian word for "small," see India Book IV/A, p. 355, n. 115) and Ibrāhīm b. al-Ḥayfī (from Haifa). AA