Geniza Lab

Beginning of a letter to Shelomo ha-Sar. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Moshe ha-Loʿez (or ha-Loʿaz[i]?) to his 'brother' David. In Hebrew. Dating: ca. 14th–16th century. Asking for help on behalf of a man who had been captured by pirates (שוללי הים) along with other Jews. (Information from CUDL)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Addressed to Fusṭāṭ, al-Muṣāṣa, the shop of Abū l-Thanāʾ the wine merchant (al-sharābī), to be delivered to Abū Naṣr known as Sabīkh (?) al-Sharābī. There is also a second address on verso: "to al-Rashīd to give it to his friend/partner." The sender is informing the addressee about items (ʿulayqāt, ḥuwayjāt) that he previously sent with Abū l-Riḍā. He asks for confirmation of receipt. "If I'd known they'd be delayed so long, I wouldn't have sent them." (Information in part from CUDL)

An halakhic discussion, might be from a responsum, written by Samuel b. Yaaqov, the French Rabbi who was active during Abraham Maimonudes' period. It appears to address ‘my lord’ and the verso is written upside down in relation to the recto. It seems to discuss halakhic or legal issues. It mentions various rabbis, including Moses (Maimonides), Hai Gaon, Joseph Halevi (Ibn Migash) and Yeḥiel (probably Yehiel b Elyaqim.) (AA)

Letter from ʿAzarya b. [...] to a Kohen (both the individual and his father’s name were in the piece now missing from the right side of the fragment). In Judaeo-Arabic. The sender's son Rajā had given 5 dinars to the addressee. The addressee is now asked to immediately give something—it seems a repayment of the 5 dinars—to the bearer Mufarraj b. [...] (Information in part from CUDL.)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Concerning various business matters. The sender reports that 32 3/4 dirhams remain out of the original 60. He mentions a merchant, "one of the acquaintances of Rabbenu Ḥananel ha-[...] ha-Maskil," who kindly offered to take (the money?) and deliver it quickly. He greets 'the father' and 'the brother al-Rashīd.' The letter was written on the 22nd of Tammuz. He repeats a request that the addressee intervene (yuqīm jāhah) with Ḥananel concerning the Muslim (al-Yishmaʿel) who loaned something to the sender.... (the fragment cuts off here). (Information in part from CUDL)

Letter in a crude hand to a woman (Sitt […]), describing the writer’s safe arrival in Fusṭāṭ. (Information from CUDL.) Also in his handwriting: T-S 12.257 + T-S AS 145.278 + T-S K25.209 and T-S 13J14.22. ASE.

Letter mentioning 20 irdabb of wheat that the writer has stored at his house. (Information from CUDL)

Letter, asking for a swift reply and mentioning a certain Ibrahim. (Information from CUDL)

Letter, referring to the Nagid, a certain Menaḥem, Dammūh, the cloth trade, the death of a woman’s child and the desire of the writer to see Zakkay again, possibly the addressee of the letter. Dated Shabbat ba-Midbar 1651 of the Seleucid Era (= 1340-1341 CE). (Information from CUDL)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Ca. 13th–14th century. Recommends the bearer for assistance, something to do with the charitable collection (jibāya) which was done for him by the congregation of Cairo. Uses the colloquial word 'bāriḥ' for 'yesterday.' (Information from CUDL)

Hebrew Bible, Nehemiah 13:21-28. (Information from CUDL)

Informal note from a certain Avraham. In Judaeo-Arabic. He sent the note accompanying אלסדר (perhaps a prayerbook, but it is apparently a collective noun—could be lote leaves for medicinal purposes). He apologizes for the delay, explaining that they were in a place that he was unable to access. The addressee must have sent the note back or anticipated that Avraham would see it again, because he crossed out all of Avraham's phrases of abasement (ʿabd, mamlūk) and wrote above them "rather, his lord" (bal mawlāhu). Cf. Bodl. MS heb. f 101/43, where the addressee did the same trick. (Information in part from CUDL.) ASE

Letter from a son to his father, concerned with travelling issues, sending greetings to many family members, and mentioning the sender’s uncle Abū l-Faraj Ibn al-Tawwazī. (Information from CUDL)

Rhymed poetry. In the margin on verso the name Nissim b. [...] is mentioned. (Information from CUDL)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Perhaps ca. 13th century. Mentions [Kāti]b al-ʿArab; a matter that was only resolved by bribing one of the eunuchs; the Nagid's owing 20 dirhams to al-ʿAmīd; business in various garments including a turban; Muwaffaq the Qaraite; a shipment that came with a detailed account written down on its 'qirtās'; R. Eliyya; and Abū l-Najm who wanted two blankets. ASE

Beginning of a letter to Ibrahim ha-Talmid, perhaps from a certain Shemuʾel. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Lower part of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic. The sender heard that his brother Yosef died in India, and he asks the addressee to enquire with a certain Ibn al-Dajjājī as to exactly how it happened. Apart from simply wanting to know, he is on the hook for paying his brother's capitation tax—maybe he will be exempted if he can prove his brother's death. Verso: accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals. (Information in part from CUDL)

Recto: pen trials and drafts of letters in Judaeo-Arabic, Hebrew and Arabic. Verso: illegibly rubbed, faded and stained Arabic and jottings in Hebrew script. (Information from CUDL)

Commercial letter in Judaeo-Arabic. The sender received Frankish kohl (kuḥl ifrānjī) from the addressee but does not know its price. There are also standard expressions of yearning for the address (מא נעדם מן אללה סוי אלנצר אלי טלעתהם אלרשידה). On verso there is Hebrew poetry in a rudimentary hand, with biblical citations such as Psalms 104:1. (Information in part from CUDL)