Geniza Lab

Recto: widely-spaced letter (3.5cm between lines) with only a few words preserved. Begins with ליקירנו ואהובנו ובעל בריתנו. Verso: address in a different hand, stating it is from ‘David [...] son of the Nasi’. Probably from the first half of the 11th century. (Information from CUDL)

Letter sent to a Nasi in Acre, 13th century. The writer is in straitened circumstances, having been attacked by camel drivers. He asks for help. The writer refers to a judge Peraḥya and someone called Yefet (perhaps Peraḥya b. Shemuʾel and Yefet b. Elijah, two officials known to have been based in Acre). A postscript in a different hand and ink refers to Moses ‘at the synagogue’ and Yeḥiʾel. (Information from CUDL)

Legal document in the hand of Abraham b. Nathan, concerning financial matters. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Document in Arabic script, possibly a state administrative memorandum, possibly a letter. Verso: Letter concerning business matters in Judaeo-Arabic. Continues on recto. (Information from CUDL and from Marina Rustow)

Betrothal contract between Abraham ha-Kohen and Sitt al-Ḥasan bat Arye b. Judah. Arye is the ex-husband of Karima al-Wuḥsha and Sitt al-Ḥasan may be the daughter of Karima al-Wuḥsha, as Sitt al-Ahl bint Ibrahim (presumably the daughter of Abraham and Sitt al-Ḥasan) is described as the granddaughter of al-Wuḥsha (see T-S 13J1.21, dated 1150 CE). Dated Thursday 19th [month and year are lost], in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe (1104-1138 CE). (Information from CUDL)

Legal document concerning a house, apparently in the quarter of Qaṣr al-Rūm, which includes a lengthy description of the location and conditions of the house. Mentions Abū l-Mufaḍḍal Saʿadya ha-Kohen and ʿOvadya b. Shemuʾel, as well as Christians and Muslims. (Information from CUDL)

Legal document concerning payments of large sums of money, mentioning precious objects of pearls and gold. Mentions Shemuʾel ha-Kohen b. Yaḥyā and Isaac b. Shemuʾel. (Information from CUDL)

Legal document from Fusṭāṭ in the hand of Shelomo b. Elijah, written under the authority of Abraham Maimonides and dated Tammuz 1531 of the Seleucid Era (= 1220 CE), concerning Abū l-ʿAzz b. Abū ʿImrān, known as al-Sharābī. (Information from CUDL)

Legal document with testimony from Abraham b. Shemuʾel (known as Ibn al-Nabāt) concerning financial matters involving [...] bat Jacob. (Information from CUDL)

Part of a pre-nuptial agreement written under the authority of David b. Abraham (David Maimonides) concerning the groom Aaron and the bride Shamsiyya. (Information from CUDL)

Beginning of a legal document from Fusṭāṭ, written under the authority of Abraham Maimonides and dated Iyyar 1531 of the Seleucid Era (= 1220 CE). Probably in the hand of Shelomo b. Elijah. (Information from CUDL)

Legal document from Fusṭāṭ in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe, concerning financial arrangements after a divorce. Written under the authority of Maṣliaḥ ha-Kohen and dated Ṭevet 1444 of the Seleucid Era (= 1133 CE). Signed by Nathan ha-Kohen b. Shelomo. Verso: list of monthly payments, also mentioning Abū l-Riḍā b. Faraj b. ʿAzarya and Hillel b. Nathan. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: accounts submitted by Abū l-Barakāt Shelomo b. Eliyyahu to al-Talmid Abu l-Faraj, headed by مملوكه שלמה אמת. In Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals. The first row is a list of names (e.g., Sulaymān, Hilāl, Bū l-ʿIzz) with numbers underneath. In the next section, mentions a copper worker (naḥḥās) and a Jewish silk dealer (al-ḥarīrī al-yahūdī) and various goods. At the bottom, فكتب بو البركات للتلميذ ابو الفرج اليهودي وصلولات الله علا سيدنا(؟) والحمد لله. On verso there are four more lines of commodities' names in Arabic script accompanied by Greek/Coptic numerals. Finally, there are legal jottings in Judaeo-Arabic written by Shelomo b. Eliyyahu. In the upper left corner: the name Seʿadya b. Shelomo. At the bottom, "Before us, the court, the above witnesses signed and sealed and witnessed for the groom and the bride. Written by Shelomo b. Eliyya. Ḥalfon ha-M[...] b. [...] ha-Ḥazzan. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Recto: legal document concerning ʿArūs b. Joseph and Sibāʿ al-Lādiqī. In the margin is a draft of a legal deed in another hand. Verso: draft of a power of attorney, mentioning Abū l-Mufaḍḍal. (Information from CUDL.) See also Goitein's note card.

Legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe, mentioning Tamīm ha-Kohen. (Information from CUDL)

Acknowledgement of debt between Elʿazar Kondiote (קאנדייוטי) and Shabbetay ʿAdda (עדה). Dated Kislev 5527 of the Era of Creation (= 1766 CE) and signed by Ezekiel Ḥefeṣ, David b. Elʿazar Kondiote and Saʿadya Maʿālī ha-Kohen. (Information from CUDL)

Ethical work discussing the world to come and evil inclinations. Late. (Information from CUDL.)

Fragment from the Babylonian Jewish magical text Pišra de-Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa. (Information from CUDL.)

Recto: family letter, ca. 11th century, from Abraham to his son-in-law Elijah and his daughter אתוכלי, Itwakkilī (Arabic, but unattested as a name). There are many greetings and good wishes from various family members. The writer states that Elijah’s brother wanted to visit him, but had been prevented by the grape harvest (הבציר). He wants the couple to send a letter at the next opportunity. Also mentioned is a debt and ‘the time that the river rises’, probably a reference to the flooding of the Nile. A number of different names are mentioned: Elijah’s sister is Sitt al-Rūmī (שטירומי); also mentioned are Irini (אריני), Leon (לאון) and his wife Sitt al-Bayt (שטילבית), another son-in-law Kalev, a wife Mershini (מרשיני, vocalised) and a son Shemarya. Verso: address and several lines of unrelated Arabic. (Information from CUDL)

Verso: complete letter prefaced by two biblical quotations (Psalms 120:1; 130:1). The writer is commiserating with the addressee’s disgrace, יסמו עינים שיראו קלונך ויחרשו אזנים שישמעו מקצת כלמתך, but puts his faith in divine justice, אבל נקבל דין השם. It is signed by ‘the insulted servant Joseph’ (העבד הנעלב יוסף). Recto: unrelated Arabic text (the Arabic text is incomplete, and thus earlier than the Hebrew letter). (Information from CUDL)