Geniza Lab

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Unusual handwriting: blocky, calligraphic. The writer bemoans that he has lost all his money and merchandise. "The reason for the debt is that my work is with ... the Shaykh Abū Saʿd known as Abū [...]." The fragment ends around here. Probably he is going to ask for help.

Letter of appeal in Judaeo-Arabic. The writer asks for something to cover himself with (ilā l-ghulām yataghaṭṭā bi-hi).

Letter of appeal from Yefet, a foreigner, to R. Shela. In calligraphic Hebrew.

Letter of appeal for charity. In Judaeo-Arabic, with a long Hebrew introduction. Asking for assistance in the petitioner’s difficult times of poverty and illness, mentioning his benefactor Abū l-Rabīʿ Sulaymān. Dating: ca. 13th century. This is the handwriting of Berakhot b. Shemuel, who wrote numerous such letters (presumably on behalf of other people.) (Information in part from CUDL.)

Letter of appeal for charity. A needy man from Qayrawan had applied for assistance from his relative, the esteemed Ifrīqiyyan merchant and scholar, Nahray b. Nissim (active in Fustat, 1060–97 CE). Before turning to Nahray he had already received donations from another prominent Ifrīqiyan merchant, Abū Zikri (Yehuda b. Moshe ibn Sughmār). Nahray had become annoyed. It is not clear whether he was angry because he felt that people might have thought he was neglecting his relative or became peeved for some other reason, such as competition over patronage--or perhaps both (Cohen). In any case, the writer promised henceforth to rely only on Nahray. But since then Nahray has only paid him the insufficient sum of 15 dirhams over the course of eight months. Now the writer is too ashamed to address Abū Zikrī, and he has therefore written this note to a third potential patron to solicit support. (Information from Cohen and Gil and CUDL.)

Letter from a certain Yiṣḥaq to the Gaʾon Sar Shalom ha-Levi b. Moshe (active 1171–95 CE) and his deputy Shelomo. In Hebrew. The sender is a newcomer in the city (presumably Fustat) and complains about the lack of hospitality. He has been traveling for 3 years and left a wife and children suffering under the rule of the Christians (ערלים). He asks for money so that he can go and retrieve his family and from there go to Jerusalem. Verso contains three lines of text, probably the address of the note (it mentions Sar Shalom), crossed out. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Letter of appeal for charity. In a mixture of Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew, in a crude hand. (Information from CUDL.)

Recto: Upper part of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic written in a scribal hand to ha-Nasi ha-Gadol, reporting on the writer's troubles while traveling with Rabbi Avraham. "I hadn't known that his only care is making money. He cares nothing for peace in the community. He has killed me with his [cowardly deeds?]. When I was the muqaddam of al-Maḥalla and slaughtered and circumcised, whenever. . ." Verso: The address of the letter on recto, to Sayyidnā al-Nasi ha-Gadol Yarum Hodo. And, in a different ink and different hand, a formulary of a Hebrew letter of appeal ("I am so-and-so the lowly and despised."). The same person wrote on recto "crown of peace and truth" several times. ASE.

Recto: Very brief letter of appeal. "May [God] except you, my lord, last year you gave us a dinar, the price of two robes (maqṭaʿayn). This year please do the same. The children need a blanket for sleep, and she who raises them needs [it ends here]." Verso: pen trials.

Begging letter, probably, in elegant script informing the addressee that his brother Abū l-Baqā al-Tājir used to give charity to the writer and help his family with the capitation tax, but he has now died without a will. The remainder of the letter is missing the ends of the lines; it involves the late Abū l-Baqā's daughters and niece. ASE.

Letter in Hebrew written on an irregular piece of vellum from prison. David appeals to Avraham ha-Sar to try to bring about his release from prison. David admits that he is not treated harshly by the jailers ("ha-goyim") but complains that his freedom of movement is restricted and that his diet is meager. The language is in an elevated register and full of learned references. Information from Mann, who suggests that the letter is no later than the 13th century and more likely the 12th.

Recto: A Hebrew letter begging for charity on Purim, invoking the tropes of hunger and nakedness. The writer suggests that the addressee himself 'or one of the gabbais' bring him the money. He sends wishes for the addressee's recovery from an illness. Verso: Another letter, in Judaeo-Arabic and in a different hand and extremely faded.

Recto: Fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic to Rabbenu Meshullam, congratulating him on the holidays, and it seems begging for help with travel expenses. The writer alludes to his bereavement. Verso: Drafts of the opening of a letter to a distinguished person.

Fragment from the opening of a deferential letter. On verso the writer mentions 'the tax' (? al-mās) and 'your promise'—perhaps he is requesting charity.

Letter from Saʿdān to ʿEli. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. The sender reports that he is prostrated in his house (maṭrūḥ fī l-bayt) and the doctor comes twice a day and "cuts his flesh with scissors" (wa-yaqṣuṣ laḥmahu bi-l-miqaṣṣ). Even worse is the poverty. The sender seems to be asking for money -- perhaps some of the money owed him by Abū Saʿīd -- in order to pay the doctor's fees. ASE

Letter of appeal for charity. Dating: Possibly 16th century.

Letter of appeal for charity. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Interesting format: the opening praises are written in large blocky Hebrew, with the remaining content in smaller letters in Judaeo-Arabic in the margin. The writer initially left large space between the lines but crammed them together by the end. He is perishing on account of the tax collectors demanding the kharāj (probably capitation tax in this context) and needs help.

Letter of appeal from Yeshuʿa b. Yosef to an unknown addressee. The first 2/3 consists of rhymed Hebrew praises for the addressee. In the body of the letter, in Judaeo-Arabic, he explains his (conjunctural) poverty and asks for help. On verso are also piyyutim/qinot.

Letter of appeal for charity addressed to Rabbenu Ḥananel. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. The writer has been paralyzed (marīḍ bi-l-fālij) for two and a half years. On verso is another note in Judaeo-Arabic mentioning ha-Zaqen ha-Yaqar, but too faded to read much else.

Letter of appeal for charity. Addressed to someone titled al-Amīniyya. Probably from a cantor, although theoretically al-Ḥazzān could be part of the addressee's name. In Judaeo-Arabic. Recto is entirely greetings and good wishes for the holiday. Verso presents the writer's case and his pressing need for money for the holidays. He sends regards to Abū l-Ṭāhir Amīn al-Dawla.