Geniza Lab

Letter (possibly a halakhic question) by Shelomo b. Elijah, with jottings on verso. (Information from CUDL)

Letter dated 1560 CE, from Abraham Sholel in Jerusalem, to his brother-in-law in Egypt. (Information from CUDL)

The end of a late letter, signed with elaborate sigla (c. 16th century). (Information from CUDL)

Letter (late, 15th century onwards), in tiny handwriting, dealing with the silk trade. (Information from CUDL)

Letter to Rafael Mammon חרוק from Shabbetay Skandarī, mentioning Ḥayyim Barukh and Abraham Ḥefeṣ. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from an unidentified sender, probably somewhere in the Rīf, to Abū l-Ḥasan Yefet al-Khāzin. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentioning people such as the tax farmer Abū Sulaymān and Abū l-Faḍl Ibn Fakhr. (Information from CUDL.) Needs further examination.

The text is almost completely vocalised and rhymes in -akh. It seems to be more of a poem than a letter; it breaks off mid-sentence, but there is no continuation on verso. However, it does address someone in the 2nd person singular and requests him to pass on his regards to Mevorakh when he reaches the ‘fortified city’, ועת תגע לעיר מבצ[ר] בחסדך קרא נא את שלומ[י] על מבורך. (Information from CUDL)

Letter to Shemuʾel, mentioning Jacob Sonso (שנשו) (c. 15th-16th century). (Information from CUDL)

Part of the body of a letter, probably 11th century. Only a few lines are legible, which complain about a threat to the community, ולא דיינו עוצם צערנו וכובד טרחנו עד אשר קם עלנו סטן להסטיננו, and refer to giving false testimony, שנעמוד לו עדות שקר. (Information from CUDL)

Letter fragment addressed to a communal leader, a ḥaver. In Hebrew. Regarding a matter of inheritance (‘they are orphans and a widow’) and the writing of a document for Hillel. Hillel’s late brother, Menaḥem, is also mentioned. Greetings are sent to ‘his community, his friends and the elders of his court’ (זקני בית דין). (Information from CUDL)

Stern letter from the office of Yehoshuaʿ Maimonides, requesting the addressee’s quick appearance together with money he owes. An Arabic basmala (or perhaps authentication mark, see Yehoshua's other letters to the community) is written over Yehoshuaʿ’s motto. (Information from CUDL.) Bibliography: Goitein, "The Twilight of the House of Maimonides," Tarbiz 54 (1984), 92.

Accounts in Hebrew and Arabic script, recording profits. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Letter of appeal from Mahfūẓ b. Mūsā and his brother Musallam/Muslim. In calligraphic Judaeo-Arabic. The writer describes the humiliation his family (or wife?) has experienced at the hands of the authorities (al-sulṭān) because he is delinquent in paying the capitation tax (here called kharāj) for the last two years ('years 8 and 9'). He asks for help. Verso: Document in Arabic script, which looks like it mentions various quantities and saffron. Information in part from CUDL. ASE.

Recto: probably a letter, mentioning Mevorakh. There is a commentary on the Shemaʿ in the margin. Verso: commentary on the Shemaʿ (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), with citations such as 1 Shemuʾel 7:3. (Information from CUDL)

Blessings in Hebrew, which are possibly part of a letter. At the top of the page are 2 lines in Arabic script, also possibly part of a letter. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Judaeo-Arabic introduction to a treatise (or possibly a letter). Verso: mirrored text from a Hebrew document. Information from CUDL.

Letter to Abū l-Makārim b. Salāma from his father Salāma b. Joseph (11th century). (Information from CUDL)

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)

Letter from an unidentified sender, in Hebron, to his 'brother' Yeḥezqel Ḥefeṣ, in Cairo. In Hebrew. Dated: Sunday, 17 Av [5]529 AM, which is 1769 CE. It is a reply stating that it is possible that the writer will return to Egypt. Reference is made to documents and a security (polisa / פוליסה). The verso is on the back page of the bifolium. Both middle pages are blank. (Information in part from CUDL and Dotan Arad.)

Legal document concerning financial matters, signed by Joseph Benjamin, and mentioning Judah Bunan and Joseph’s son Nissim. Dated 5579 of the Era of Creation (= 1819 CE). (Information from CUDL)