Geniza Lab

Fragment, middle part of orderly accounts in the hand of Shelomo b. Eliyyahu. In addition to items known from previous accounts, many new ones appear, for example, 'myrtles [for the Sukkot Feast]--2 1/2 dirhams; a shoe for the halisa...--1 1/2; to the Muezzin...who lives near the synagogue of the Palestinians as per a memo by R. Ḥalfon--2; from the Yemenite for Dammuh--6.' (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 452, App. B 46 [dated 1210-1225])

Two pages of a large account written for a partner, divided into sections. The account mentions sales of linen, lacquer, precious stones, ammonia, clothing and shoes. Different individuals, such as Ibn al-Majjānī, the prominent Qayrawani merchant, are also mentioned to whom debts should be paid. At the beginning of section C the year 49/ A.H. 449/ 1057 is mentioned. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, 373-4; Gil, Kingdom, vol. 4, 701)

List of daily building operations/expenditures, ca. probably 1092. Three days are accounted for, in one week of Elul, from Monday the 11th, to Friday the 15th. The parnas who recorded the list probably advanced money of his own, or even resorted to loans, since he lists the sum collected each day and the deficit, which is called salaf (also dawn). 52 dirhams are due on the first, 21 on the second, and 21 on the third day. Then the total weekly deficit of 94 dir. is listed. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 224 #37)

List of payments made by tenants of the Qodesh, ca. 1059. Revenue from rent written in the awkward hand of the parnas Eli ha-Kohen b. Yahya-Hayim. A hajj, i.e. a Muslim who has performed the pilgrimmage to Mecca, is among the tenants. The document is a double sheet taken from a notebook, written only on recto. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 222 #36)

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic, also on remaining space of the recto.

Accounts, probably. In Arabic script. Each entry is headed with a day of the week.

See PGP 20645

Letter from Mūsā b. Abī al-Ḥay (Tinnīs) to Nahray b. Nissim (Fustat), ca. 1062. Mūsā reached Tinnīs by land because he was scared to travel by ship while carrying money. The letter contains a detailed account of wares that he sold or bought, especially pellitory (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) and flax. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, p. 509 and Goitein notes linked below.)

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. The name Barakāt ha-Levi appears.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic, giving names and how much each person owes. The naems include Ḥannā b. Najjār, Manṣūr al-ʿAbasni (?), ʿAlī al-Anṭālī (?), and Abū l-Manṣūr b. al-Baghdādī.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic.

See PGP 20645

List of the houses owned by the Qodesh ca. 1160. (SH [1-29-87]) The beadle Maḥfūẓ presents a list of houses belonging to the qodesh which he is responsible for collecting the rent of. The list is written in Arabic characters and contains 26 items. Four of the compounds have the added notation that the sums owed by their tenants have been paid. The houses are said to be aḥbās, i.e. waqf dedications, of the Jews for their masākīn (poor). The list may have been compiled for the purpose of showing the sum due for ground rent (ḥikr). (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 295 #65)

Verso: Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures and supplies for the Synagogue. Dating: ca. 1042 – Nov. 1043. In the hand of Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya (according to Goitein). Only the left part of the leaf is preserved. The work of a carpenter and his helpers is noted as is the supply of plastering materials, including red and white gypsum, probably for some decorative work. There is mention of stones, an item seldom met in these accounts. Candlesticks and chains are supplied to the synagogue. The record also contains some bigger money matters between the leading officials of the congregation, such as the return to one of them of a sum he had advanced for the needs of the synagogue. It must have been a huge sum, since besides dinars, the total amount of which is not preserved, 669 dir. are mentioned. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 204 #28)

Account of payments received.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Listing mainly foodstuffs such as sumac and ṭaḥīna and salt, as well as firewood.

Receipt on behalf of the elders of Jerusalem. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Money order of the Qodesh. Dated: 1477 Seleucid, which is 1165/66 CE. Issued by Shemuel b. Seʿadya, for 9.5 dirhams, from the collection of the compound of the Jerusalemites, to Abū Manṣūr b. Avraham al-Dimashqī. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 309 #71.) See also Goitein, Med Soc II, App. A, 136. NB: Goitein cites this document as T-S NS 320.32.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Revenue from rent. Dated: Dhū l-Qaʿda [644 AH] = Nisan 1558 Seleucid, which is March/April 1247 CE. Small fragment, recording payments for one month, and containing the names of 13 tenants. (Information in part from Gil, Documents, doc. #141, pp.470f.)

Fiscal account? A once-gigantic piece of paper, missing top and bottom and some of left side but still 34cm wide. Fa-qāla, fa-qālat, etc, yā Abū l-Malik. Verso: accounts in three columns, including an amount of money in dinars.