Geniza Lab

See MS R1911, fol. 1

Collection of Geonic responsa copied by Menashshe b. Ya'aqov (Date: 1116-1132). Published Wertheimer, קהלת שלמה, p. 42-44; Ginzei Yerushalayim, 42-44. AA

Letter from Ya’aqov b. Isma’il al-Andalusi, from Sicily, to Yoshiyyahu b. Natan, Fustat. Around 1050. The letter mentions “the enemy,” the identity of which is not clear. The letter deals with import and export between Sicily and Egypt. Details a list of goods and their prices in Sicily. Mentions information about books of questions and answers that belonged to Masliah b. Eliyya, the judge of Sicily. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #575) VMR

Fragmentary scrap that contains multiple hands. The recto has been identified as a responsum, whereas the verso is a short note to Abu al-Ḥasan (or Abu-l-Hakan), requesting him to give the bearer wine. There are two hands on the recto: the more fainted one states the problem (line 1-5), a more fresh black ink continues the answer to the query (lines 6-10). The second hand is more cursive and uses more connections. The subject of the responsum on the recto seems to be wine and wine selling, which makes this a interesting case of paper reuse: the main subject of both the older and the newer documents is wine. It is also possible that the shaykh, mentioned in the verso of the document, is the same Abu al-Ḥasan as in fragments Moss. II 135.1 and TS NS J 224.1. See Phukoiava's database "Wine Accross the Geniza" for translation. (Information from Ekaterina Pukhovaia)

Letter from Abū Saʿīd to his son. In Judaeo-Arabic. The son was ill. The letter concerns the forwarding of responsa. The writer is also in difficult straits. (Information in part from CUDL)

Legal query addressed to Maimonides, whose autograph responsum is written underneath the query. The question regards an elderly widow who accused a teacher of asking her to sleep with him. The writer insists that she is merely trying to destroy the reputation of a man who would never do such a thing, and he asks how the man should proclaim his innocence. Maimonides responds that her claim should not be believed without witnesses, that anyone who has been slandered can excommunicate his slanderer by name, but may not obtain a blanket excommunication against all who accuse him. However, still better in this case is to put an end to the gossip and avoid any kind of public discussion or excommunication. The handwriting of the questioner closely resembles that of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi (see also ENA 2808.16 in which Moshe b. Levi asks the recipient to obtain an answer to a fatwa that he had previously sent to Fustat). ASE. Ed. Joshua Blau, R. Moses b. Maimon: Responsa, (Hebrew; 3 vols; Jerusalem, 1957–1986): Vol. 2, pp. 522-3, #274.

Legal queries and responsa.

Legal queries and/or responsa.

Responsum. Small fragment with the opening verses of a Geonic responsa, copied by Yosef Rosh Haseder. AA

Legal query in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi (found by Amir Ashur), with the responsum at the bottom signed by Shelomo b. Natan.

Copy of a Gaon’s responsum (possibly R. Hayya Gaon) that includes details about the house of Bustenai and an answer regarding the status of the family’s children. There are two other versions for this answer (one of them is T-S 13G1). (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 1; joins by Shraga Abramson via FGP.) Ed. Assaf, Teshuvot ha-Geonim, pp. 59–62 (Doc #9).

Recto: Legal query sent to Maimonides along with his autograph responsum. This was published by Goitein as well as Blau, Maimonides Responsa, no. 283. Verso: Draft of a long dirge in Hebrew, in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi, upon the death of three prominent members of the Jewish community: the rabbis Shemuel, Shelomo and Yiṣḥaq. These three figures were identified by M. A. Friedman as the judges in Maimonides’ court, see Friedman, India Book IVA, pp. 36–37. Shemuel is Shemuel b. Seʿadya ha-Levi, who died in 1203. (Information in part from Amir Ashur's Fragments of the Month, April 2011, November 2016.)

Legal query, possibly a draft, in Judaeo-Arabic. There is text at multiple angles, including faint text underlying the text that can be seen on the older layer of the palimpsest. From the image it appears that the document is folded in a curious way and there may be more text discoverable underneath the folds.

Rabbinica, (Responsa); discussion of various topics relevant to BT Bava Batra, ch. 9; with extensive Judaeo-Arabic marginalia, citing Hai Gaon. On the page remnants of an Arabic official document- need examination (Info from FGP. Join by AA)

List of geonic responsa, with references to appropriate talmudic tractates. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentioned in Friedman, Polygyny, p. 30.

Few fragments of rotolus, joined together. written by the scribe who is known to write many such rotolus for the owner known as Ibn al-Baqra (early 11th century). On recto end of responsum on Gittin 32 regarding cancelation of get. On l. 19 a query on cancelation of sale, according to Baba Metzia 57a, numbered as '3'. From l. 28 the responsum. Published by Wertheimer, קהלת שלמה, p. 46-49. The joins identified by Dr. Ezra Shewat. AA

From a volume of Saadya Gaon's responsa in Judaeo-Arabic. Join by Amir Ashur. See FGP for detailed description.