Geniza Lab

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to a group of people in Alexandria, approximately 1025.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda very early in his public career, when he was Av Bet Din, to a notable in Fustat, ca. 1025. He signs: Shelomo Av ha-Yeshiva birabbi Yehuda, and surrounds his name with tiny letters spelling out ‘And I am a worm and not a man’ (Psalms 22:7). The letter was carried by his son Avraham (לידו מיד חמוד), and he is seeking help for the community of Jerusalem, many of whom have died in a plague (נאספו בדבר אשר נפל בעיר). (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Sahlan b. Avraham, end of 1042.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to the Nasi (?).

Draft of a letter from Efrayim b. Shemarya to Shelomo b. Yehuda. (MR; see also S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 1:399; 2:8, 520, 534)

Fragment of a letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya, approximately 1040.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Sahlan b. Avraham, 1048.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to an unidentified personality. Dating: ca. 1035 CE. Join: Oded Zinger.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya, approximately 1030.

Fragment of a letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda (handwriting of Avraham b. ha-Gaon) with the signature of the Gaon, maybe was addressed to Avraham b. Shalan. Expresses Thanks to Avraham b. Shalan. Mentions his son, Shalan. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 2 p. 183, #97). VMR

Part of a letter written by Shelomo ‘the lesser, Head of the Yeshiva’ (i.e. the Gaʾon Shelomo b. Yehuda), in Jerusalem, to Efrayim b. Shemarya, in Fusṭāṭ. Dated: 1035 CE (per Gil). Regarding the special collection to help restore ‘the cave’ (i.e. the Rabbanite synagogue in Jerusalem, that was damaged in the collapse of part of the Western Wall on the Temple Mount during Passover 1034 CE). The restoration of the synagogue is described, including the removal of rubble, and the use of 62 beams and 600 planks. Also mentions details concerning captives, as well as Yosef b. Yaʿqūb, a prominent member of the Fusṭāṭ Jewish community, who is loyal to the Babylonian academy of Pumbeditha and has the title Alūf. Greetings are sent to the addressee's son-in-law, Yosef. (Information from CUDL.)

Letter from Ramla, from Shelomo b. Yehuda to his son Avraham in Fustat, May 1029, describing in great detail the economic and other calamities which haunted the country. Includes the line, "The nation (al-umma) must be treated gently, as a sick man is treated gently" (v23).

Letter from the Jerusalem community in Fustat, in the hand of ha-Hazan Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya in Tamuz (July) 1028. R. Shlomo b. Yehuda was appointed to be the new head of the Yeshiva in Jerusalem and the Jerusalem community in Fustat are writing to get his re-approval for their leader and judge - Efrayim b. Shemarya. (Information from Goitein, Palestinian Jewry, pp. 83-86). VMR

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya. End of 1025 / 1026. Concerning the Fatimids' army that is coming from Egypt against the bedouins.The letter's main issue is the serious disagreement in Fustat concerning Efrayim b. Shemarya, which some people want to remove from his position, for Shemuel b. Avtalyon. Shelomo suggests Efrayim to restrain his emotions so he will not help his opponents with his actions. (information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 2, pp. 116-119). VMR

Recto: Letter of recommendation written by Shelomo b. Yehuda Gaon on a Friday, late in the afternoon, 4 Sivan, probably 1048. Verso: His son Avraham and (Sahlan) Segan ha-Yeshiva b. Avraham Beḥir ha-Yeshiva testify that this was really written by the Gaon. Information from Goitein's note card.

Letter, fragmentary, from Shelomo b. Yehuda to an unknown addressee. 1033 or 1037. Shelomo b. Yehuda informs that he receives money probably from Fustat. A part of the payment was divided between the Gaon, head of the court, and a third person, it seems like this is an inheritance. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 2, pp. 210-212, #116). VMR

Recto: Letter addressed to Shelomo b. Yehuda, the gaon of the Palestinian yeshiva. Dating: 1025–51 CE. This is a fragment containing 12 lines from the beginning of the letter. In the margins of recto and on verso, there is also a will concerning gold for a man's daughter.

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya.

Letter fragment from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya.

Letter opening from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya, before 1048.