Geniza Lab

Letter from Yosef b. Shemarya, the dayyan of Barqa, in Alexandria, to “his brother” Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. Mentioning his pilgrimage to Jerusalem from Egypt and that he is unable to travel by sea. Written ca. 1060. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 2:586, 4:242, 439.) EMS. There is a translation into English in Goitein's attached notes.

Account, private, written by Nahray b. Nissim. Dating: ca. 1061 CE. Nissim b. Ishaq, for whom the account was made, is probably ha-Tahirti. Mentions silk and lacquer and other goods from Sicily, as well as pearls that were exported to Sicily, as well as transactions in Tripoli. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #281 and Shelomo Simonsohn, The Jews in Sicily, 1997, 275.) VMR. EMS.

Account of Nahray b. Nissim for three bales sent from Busir to Fustat, ca. 1045-1096.

Letter from Mardūk b. Mūsā from Alexandria to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. August 10, 1047. Regarding shipments of goods and money. Mentions events related to the Bedouin in Egypt. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, p. 778.)

Letter from the daughter of the head of the Yeshiva to Nahray b. Nissim. Ca. 1060.

Letter from Mardūk b. Mūsā from Alexandria to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. August 10, 1047. Regarding shipments of goods and money. Mentions events related to the Bedouin in Egypt. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, p. 778.)

Letter from Abūn b. Ṣadaqa, Jerusalem, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Abūn conveys a detailed tale of a serious falling-out with another merchant and urges Nahray not to associate with him. Abūn describes his reclusive lifestyle in Jerusalem (v25–30) and mentions in passing that he fell sick (r7–8).

Letter from Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tahirtī, in Trapani, Sicily (Gil prefers to read אטראבנש in line 2 over Goitein's and Ben-Sasson's אטראבלש), to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Ca. 1053 CE. The top line of the recto is partially torn away, as is the writing on more than three quarters of the text of the top margin. The writer spent the winter and the summer in Tripoli (Libya) and and in Sicily. Some of the family members are in the Maghrib, and they are caught up in a mess of an unclear nature. Mentions the textile trade with Sicily; the procurement of flax in Egypt; and other business matters.

Deed, commercial, attesting to Alexandria's importance in international trade. The document mentions traders from Venice and Constantinople, as well as Sicilian coins. Apparently the deed is from the beginning of the twelfth century, to judge by the names, which appear in documents from the circle of Nahray b. Nissim. The document also contains an important report on a dispute between people from the Maghrib and local Alexandrians, headed by the Alexandrian Ben Nahum family. (Information from Frenkel. See also Goitein, Med. Soc. 3:159)

Letter from Yusha` b. Natan to Nahray b. Nissim.

Letter from Nahray b. Natan to Nahray b. Nissim ca. 1055

Letter from Akhlābū Kohen b. Aharon, in Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Around 1045. In the handwriting of Ibrāhīm b. Faraḥ. Regarding one dinar and a quarter that Abu Zikrī needs to get from Abū Yūsuf Yaʿqūb, after he sent it to him by Abu Naṣr, who passed away meanwhile. Mentions many people and sends his greetings to them. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #764) VMR

Business letter from Zekharya b. Yaaqov b. al-Shama, from Tripoli (Libya), to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Around 1065. The writer is about to travel to Sfax to sell textiles. With the money he will receive, he plans to buy oil and needs 100 jugs for that. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #670) VMR

Addendum/postscript of a letter from Yisrael b. Natan, in Jerusalem, to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. He reports that there is demand in Jerusalem for black, sky-colored, and all colors of silk (shēsh) except for crimson. Crimson silk might sell in Ramla or ʿAsqalān. As for coral (marjān), demand is low in Jerusalem. But Nahray can bring some if he wishes, and maybe he will find some Persians to buy it. (NB: this shelfmark was previously known as JTS Geniza Misc. 15.) Gil translates marjān as "small pearls," but see Goitein and Friedman, India Traders, p. 170 note 18 for the argument that it must refer to coral.

Letter from Yisrael b. Natan, Gush-Halab, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. [NB volume number in shelfmark is roman numeral I, not Arabic numeral 1]

Letter from Abūn b. Ṣadaqa, in Jerusalem, to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: August 28 (Elul 24), 1065 CE, based on Gil's assessment. Abūn conveys blessings for male sons to Nahray. "Al-Kabīra" and Nahray's wife are in Jerusalem, and it is possible that their visit is connected to this matter, that is to say, that they came to pray for a male son. The letter contains various details about the Maghrebis who are in Jerusalem. People are worried about a drought, and the price of wheat is rising. Abūn also mentions his books, which he brought from the West and left with Yeshuʿa ha-Kohen b. Yosef in Alexandria. Abūn reports that he has sold most of the quarter dinars which are mentioned in the other letters, and thus it is possible to deduce the year of this letter. Abūn reports that R. Yiṣḥaq has recovered from his illness (v3–4) and that Nahray's paternal uncle Ibn Sahlān is sick and isolated (v9–10). Information from Gil.

Letter from Mardūk b. Mūsā, in Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: January 26, 1048, based on Gil's assessment. The writer confirms receipt of two letters from Nahray and gives directions on business matters, including that when a certain Abu ‘Amr arrives, Nahray should take 16 dinars from him. The writer also requests that Nahray purchase two books with high-quality paper for him, remarking that he has already written to Ḥalfon to buy a cloak (kisā'). Well wishes are sent to Abū Isḥāq Barhūn and Abū ʿAlī Ḥassūn. Information from Gil. EMS.

Letter from Mardūk b. Mūsā (Alexandria) to Nahray b. Nissim; probably 21 July 1046. Talks about sending back sacks and about an inkstand (Gil) that Mardūk asked to be sent to him but that is being delayed in Fustat. Mentions difficulties in selling cotton and linen. Nahray is about to travel to Būṣīr. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, p. 769.)

Business letter from Marduk b. Musa, in Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat. There are details on moneychanging, and the order of various commodities, mainly gems and perfumes and spices, which the writer asks Nahray to get him in Fustat. January 10th 1048 (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #534) LB see also Goitein Nachlass material

Letter from Nahray b. Nissim in Fustat, probably to Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tahirtī in Būsīr, ca. 1053. Nahray sends details of various sales in Fustat and of related payments. A man arrived in Fustat, who fell ill and died within 15 days. During his illness he prepared a will, leaving 10 dinars for charity in Fustat. Some of this money was given to the son of raʾs al-galut instead, whom Gil identifies as David b. Ḥezekiya. The receiver of the letter was appointed as one of the executors of the will. On verso there are illegible accounts in the hand of Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tahirtī. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 744.)