Geniza Lab

Legal query probably addressed to a Muslim jurisconsult. In Arabic script. Concerning a Jewish woman whose husband converted to Islam and later traveled to India, where he seems to have disappeared. "Concerning a Jewish [man] who converted to Islam (aslama) and was attached to a Jewish woman, after he had converted, for a year. Then he wished to travel, and the aforementioned wife said to him, “You will not leave without giving me my bill of divorce,” to which he replied, “I won’t be gone but for a little while.” And he left and has now been missing for ten years. And she requests to [re]marry, seeing her dire economic condition, for she lacks support due to the hardships of the hour and the difficulties of the time. Is it possible that she will marry after all this time, and no news were heard from him, since he is in India (fī bilād alHind)?" Information from Yagur, "Several Documents from the Cairo Geniza Concerning Conversion to Islam" (2020). Verso contains piyyutim; Goitein's attached edition suggests that they may be in the hand of Ben Yijū.

Legal query addressed to a Muslim jurisconsult concerning the changes in synagogue ritual introduced by Avraham Maimonides. The senders of the query object to the innovations and hope that the Muslim government will also disapprove. See also AIU XI.258, one of the draft versions of this query. On verso there is a Hebrew liturgical text, possibly in the hand of Yedutun ha-Levi (compare Bodl. MS heb. b 13/41, written in his hand, one of the key documents of the prayer reform controversy). (Information in part from Goitein’s index card and Khan.)

Legal query addressed to Avraham Maimonides. Concerning the estate of a deceased man and a transaction carried out by his widow. Information from Baker/Polliack catalog.

Legal query addressed to Great Rav Elʿazar of Alexandria (ha-Gaon, ha-Nasi). Concerning two men who had an argument over chess. "The two spread out the chessboard and played in accordance with the rules, play after play, and move after move, when a checkmate (shēh mēt) came in sight to A, without B noticing it." The remaining script indicates that one party was not agreeable. (Information from Goitein's index card and Med Soc V, p. 44.)

Small fragment from a legal query in Hebrew regarding partnership, but too little remains. AA

Small fragment from a legal query sent to Hai Gaon from Qabis, copied by Yosef Rosh Haseder. Parallel to Levin, Ginzei Qedem, 1, p. 1 (from Bodl. MS Heb. d.46, fol. 6). AA

Minute fragment from a legal query to Hai Gaon, parallel to Harkavi, number 200. Only few broken lines preserved. Hebrew and Aramaic. AA

Legal query in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi regarding a man who married a widow, then found in her a "hidden defect" from which he contracted an illness. He is a poor man without even enough money for food and has no source of livelihood except public charity. He is in bad straits because whenever he demands a divorce, she insists on receiving her ketubba payment in full. Does the law permit him to pay it in installments? He insists that he is unable to pay one lump sum because of his illness and poverty. On verso there is a fragment of a page of piyyutim in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi. ASE.

Legal query. In Judaeo-Arabic. Fragmentary. Mentions that a shimmush (court record? or simply a contract?) was drawn up between Reuven and Shemuel.

Legal query sent to the Judge Anaṭoli about a debt. In the hand of Berakhot b. Shemuel. See Mordechai Akiva Friedman, "Responsa of Abraham Maimonides on a Debtor's Travails," in Genizah Research after Ninety Years – The Case of Judaeo-Arabic, ed. J. Blau & S. C. Reif, Cambridge 1992, pp. 82–92. (AA)

Legal query to Muslim jurisconsults regarding the practice of prostration (sujūd) and genuflection (rukūʿ), during the synagogue liturgy. The said practice was customary for the previous 20 years, and there are concerns regarding its recent abrogation. Dating: ca. 638 AH, which is 1240/41 CE. This was written after the death of Avraham Maimonides, who had innovated these practices. Writing exercises are found on the upper margin of recto and on verso. (Information from CUDL)

Legal query to the jurisconsult Shihāb al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī Muḥammad b. Maḥmūd Abū l-Fatḥ regarding liability for damaged property. The house of a Muslim had collapsed onto the house of a Jew, damaging walls, ceilings, timber, marble, columns and household vessels and pots. The question is followed by the legal opinion by al-Ṭūsī (possibly an autograph). Dating: ca. 12th century. On verso there is 1 Kings 7:51-8:11, most of the hafṭara for Pequde (Exodus 38:21-40:38). The title כי אפטרה is written at the top of the extant leaf. (Information from CUDL and Khan.)

Rough draft of a question probably sent to a Gaon in Palestine.

Query to Avraham Maimonides.

Legal query, draft. In Judaeo-Arabic. Concerning the purchase of half of a house in Muslim courts. On a reused Aramaic Targum.

Legal query in Judaeo-Arabic, concerning a dispute over who had the right to lead the congregation in prayer.

Legal queries addressed to Shemarya b. Elḥanan regarding marital laws. One in Hebrew and one in Judaeo-Arabic (this one crossed out)

Legal query addressed to Rabbenu Ḥananʾel (b. Shemuel). In Judaeo-Arabic. Concerning a man who became sick and had some mental confusion (ikhtibāl al-ʿaql wa-shughl al-dhihn) and something happened with a geṭ. Fragmentary (left side only).

Small fragment in Judaeo-Arabic. Probably a legal query ("mā yaqūl sayyidunā. . . ").

Minute fragment from the end of a legal query written by Halfon b. Menashshe Halevi (Dating: 1100-1138). AA