Geniza Lab

Recto contains Hebrew poetry, likely in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi. Verso contains a Judaeo-Arabic letter, likely from Yedutun ha-Levi, in Fustat, to his brother Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi, in Qalyūb. Identifications are based mainly on handwriting. The sender comments on either these or other poems (there are several letters in which Moshe writes that he is enclosing poems and wants feedback on them). There is also something about "mukhāṭabat al-faqīh" here. Yedutun says he might come out and visit on Friday. ASE

List of books in four columns, including biblical books, talmudic tractates, a ‘prayer’ by Saʿadya, the Siddur of al-Sijilmāsī, works by Abū l-Faraj אבן שחתל, commentaries on Genesis and Numbers, and Midrash Tanḥuma. With occasional descriptions of the type of script (e.g., ‘tiny script’, ‘red ink’). Information from CUDL. The handwriting is that of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi (who incidentally is known to have worked briefly as a book dealer or copyist, see T-S Misc.28.140 and T-S 6J10.9, ed. Scheiber). Many of the books in the present list are described as "in my own handwriting" or "in the handwriting of my brother—I took it from our house." The brother is identified as Abu l-Ḥasan (i.e. Yedutun ha-Levi) in the last two lines of the left column of verso. See T-S NS 226.167 for a similar booklist in his hand (possibly but not clearly a join). ASE.

Three words of a decree probably: fa-lammā intahā ilayhi. Reused for copious jottings in Arabic script and Hebrew script, including elaborate designs with micrography, including a wheel with spokes (the text in the wheel is also found in T-S H5.95 according to Maagarim: במוסף בהוסיפי תחן תמור נתח גם כי בער אנכי ולא כמפותח.... One of the jottings says "Yedutun ha-Levi" (a cantor active in Fustat 1190s–1230s), but this does not appear to be his handwriting.

Piyyuṭ for Rosh ha-Shana. Signed on verso by Yedutun ha-Levi.

Elegy by Yedutun ha-Levi for his father Abu Sahl Levi, ed. Elizur.

Letter from Yedutun ha-Levi, likely to his brother Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi. Little of the content remains apart from blessings and formulae. He reports that he already sent the tutty (zinc oxide) and that they "used them" and payed their price. On verso he says that the girl Fakhr (perhaps their sister or Moshe's wife) has strengthened knowing that Moshe is near. ASE.

Three drafts of a testimony concerning the qualifications and good conduct of the physician Abū l-Ḥasan b. Abū Sahl b. Ibrāhīm (=Yedutun ha-Levi?). The witnesses confirm his trustworthiness, good health and moral values, religious devotion, reliability, probity, charitableness, and integrity. No witness statements are present in the document. Ca. 13th century. (Information in part from CUDL and Khan.)

Elegy by Yedutun ha-Levi for his brother Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi, ed. Shulamit Elizur.

Letter from Yedutun ha-Levi to his brother Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi. Identification based on handwriting and the mention of "your brother Abū Isḥāq." In Judaeo-Arabic. Fragmentary (left half of recto). The sender reports that he conveyed some information to al-Shaykh al-Sadīd. Then: "... he will take it, and I will hopefully be with him... on a day when he is in town... the dīwān... [and we do not know] if he has arrived in Fustat or Cairo... he did not do it. And your brother Abū Isḥāq... they did not say much about you... and you will hear everything that the people said... with the Rayyis, and he did not do it...the congregation... [and do not cut] off your news from me." On verso there are a couple words in Hebrew script. ASE.

Recto: The last few lines of an Arabic letter. Needs further examination. Verso: The lower part of a letter of appeal signed by the cantor Yedutun ha-Levi who had fallen on hard times and needs money to support and feed himself. He also alludes to the pains of an illness. The upper half probably had a poem in praise of the recipient, a Levi. In the margin, the writer's name is spelled out in more detail: Abū l-Ḥasan b. Abū Sahl the cantor of the Palestinian synagogue, may it last forever. ASE.