Geniza Lab

Letter from Yusuf b. al-Lukhtūsh, probably from Granada, to Ḥalfon, after leaving Granada. After October 1138. The writer writes about his willingness to see Ḥalfon again and to receive a letter from him and mentions some business matters with Yehuda b. Ghiyat. (Information from Goitein and Friedman "Ḥalfon the Traveling Merchant Scholar (India Book 4), pp: 210-213) VMR Probably Granada; After October 1138

Fragment of a business letter, mentioning Abū al-Muna. (Information from Goitein’s index card). EMS

Lower part of a letter, following a complete letter. The writer, in Damira, sends 18 dirhams because the recipient, a relative in Fustat, had sold to him for less than he usually did. The letter discusses business matters, including a torn silk garment. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS Verso: Piyyut, starting על מה יציר תיגע עצמך. (Information from CUDL)

Letter to Abu Yaʿaqov Yosef the Dyer, from Perahya b. Yosef informing him that he arrived in Alexandria and found Yosef’s wife and children to be well. He further describes that he met with the addressee’s cousin and that he should send his wife something because she had to pawn an item to pay rent. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS C. 11th century - but unusually refers to ‘your wife’ as זוגתך (who also seems to be involved in some of the business activities). (Information from CUDL)

Letter addressed to Shelomo Ḥalafta Yerushalmi and Meir Ashkenazi, concerning business, the commodity saffron (זעפראן)" is mentioned. R. Yiṣḥaq Luria (ha-Ari) was a part of this business as well. (Information from David Avraham, Alei Sefer 14, 1987, p. 135, and David Avraham, “The Role of Egyptian Jews in Sixteenth-century International Trade with Europe,” in From a Sacred Source: Genizah Studies in Honour of Professor Stefan C. Reif,” 106 ). VMR and EMS Verso: Jottings of names and accounts, mentioning Rašīd and Nissim Sason. C. 15th-17th century. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Abū l-Faraj al-Kohen known as Ibn Qasāsa to Abū ʿAlī Yeḥezqel b. Isḥāq. In Judaeo-Arabic. (Cf. T-S 13J26.20 for another appearance of the sender.) Concerning business matters; mentions commodities such as a kerchief (‘mandīl’), cushions (‘makhādd’), and cotton; mentions people such as al-Bayrūtī.On verso there is a postscript or draft of a letter in a different hand as well as one line in Arabic script. (Information in part from CUDL.) EMS

Letter from Benaya b. Mūsā to Abū Yiṣḥaq Abraham b. Sulaymān concerning the textile business, particularly an order for a Tustari robe or cloth (al-thawb al-Dasturi) and 'large cut pieces'. The qāḍī Abū al-Faraj, Abū Naṣr b. Shaʿīd (?), Abū al-Surur, Abū al-Maʿalī, and Abū Saʿd are mentioned, along with the town of Bilbays. EMS With Coptic numerals on verso. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from a man troubled with private and public disasters, including business concerns and his wife’s illness, leading him to write that "Could I find death without sin, I would not hesitate" (cf. ENA 1822a.7 for the same expression). Mukhtār the Banker is also mentioned. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 5:245, 574) EMS

Letter from Yeshu‘a b. Ismāʿīl, in Malīj, to Abū Yaʿqūb Yūsuf b. ʿAlī ha-Kohen. Dating: 11th century. Concerning business matters. The sender delivered something on behalf of the addressee to Abū l-Manṣūr b. Shuʿayb, who showed it to Ibn al-Aʿraj, who refused to buy it. Abū l-Manṣūr now awaits instructions. The sender conveys regards to and from various people. Mentions Isḥāq, who had just arrived and settled the addressee’s debt. (Information in part from CUDL and Goitein's index cards.) EMS Written on the back of a document in Arabic script.

Letter from Nissim b. Ḥalfon b. Benaya, in Tinnīs, to Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tāhirtī al-Maghribi, in Fustat, both prominent in the Geniza correspondence of the eleventh century. The writer mentions merchants from the Maghreb, Syria, and Iraq doing business in the busy Mediterranean seaport. He probably alludes to his illnesses in lines r3–6: "You tasked me with buying ladies' caps (maʿājir), but you know what a 'pain' (wajaʿ) it is, especially selling clothing in Tinnīs, from morning to evening. I relapsed only twice due to the burdens I take upon myself (mimmā najūr ʿalā nafsī). But today, praise be to God, I am in every state of well-being." In lines v4–5, Nissim invokes the common trope of assuming a business partner (here Ibn Juhā) is ill if one has not heard from him in a longer-than-usual time. Information from Gil, Kingdom, III, #597, and Goitein, Med Soc, II, p. 520; IV, pp. 176, 406, and V, pp. 110, 536. EMS. ASE.

Letter addressed to Abu al-Fakhr al-Saadya from Zechariah b. Hayyim in Palermo (‘al-madina’) concerning commercial matters; dated September 1172. (S. D. Goitein and Mordechai Friedman, India Book, 97, 99) EMS

Legal document that is a late (16th-17th century) agreement between two businessmen, with a sigla preceding the legal text. It concerns the lending of a sum of money (60,600 medins) and arrangements for repaying the loan (העיסקא) in monthly installments. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Letter to Judge Elijah from Perahyah b. Joseph about a needed release for a business venture. Verso: Arabic jottings. (Information from CUDL)

Letter concerning business affairs in which the writer describes ships that are about to leave port and references ‘al-ṭārma,’ a small cabin on Nile boats, along with garments that the addressee mentioned previously. He reports his intention to leave and asks the addressee for official letters. EMS. Join: Alan Elbaum.

Legal document concerning business matters, particularly the price of wax (thaman al-sham’), and citing various sums of money. Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Fasi, Ibn Ishaq al-Andalusi, al-Farah b. Ishaq al-Muqaddas, and Yusuf b. ‘Ali are all mentioned. EMS

Letter from Berakhot b. Shemarya, in Damietta, to his parents or at least elder relatives or in-laws (ואלדיה). The address is made out to his brother-in-law Abū Saʿid al-Bavli, in Alexandria. Written in vocalized Judaeo-Arabic in a crude hand with rudimentary spellings. Concerned with a number of business issues and future plans of moving to Palestine or Cairo. The writer reports that he is on his way to Acre, and mentions names such as Ibn al-Muqaddasī, Abū Kammūna and Abū Naṣr. Alludes to the dangers of traveling in the Rīf (פאן אלריף כולו חרפה וקלסה) (Information in part from CUDL.) This is a long and detailed letter—merits further examination.

Letter concerning business (very faded) in Judaeo-Arabic, reused for accounts.

Business accounts in Arabic script, with some Hebrew mixed in (e.g. the name of the month Tevet).

Letter from Ḥalfon b. Netanel from ‘Aydhab to his brother Ali b. Netanel, 1132. Ḥalfon is on his way back to Egypt after an unsuccessful journey to India. He writes to his brother, a judge in Fustat, concerning his business and his disappointment that it did not go as expected. He also describes in details an event that happened in Yemen when he was a part of an argument between members of the Jewish community there, about the Gaon's authority (Masliah Gaon from the yeshiva of Palestine), which led to Ḥalfon's humiliation. He writes how hurt he is and asks his brother, that is very close to the Gaon, to talk with him about it. (Information from Gil and Fleischer "Yehuda Ha-Levi and his circle", pp: 348-354). VMR

Letter of business from Yosef Ḥakīm to Mikha'el Yiṣḥaq מייארה. In Judaeo-Arabic. Late. Mentions Tunis (right page, three lines from bottom).