Geniza Lab

Draft of a letter from Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi, perhaps in Damascus, to R. Ḥiyya. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Ca. 1145–46 CE. India Book 4 (Hebrew description below; full English to come)

Legal testimony. Location: Aden. Dating: ca. summer 1131 CE. Fragment (upper right corner). The handwriting is very similar to that of the North African trader Yosef b. ʿEzra (cf. T-S 20.37 and BL OR 5566D.24 + T-S 10J16.8). This document alludes to controversies and confusion in Aden; the details of the story are almost entirely missing. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV.)

Perhaps Aden, the last third of Tishrei 1441, which is October 6-15, 1129 This is an excerpt from the terminal memory of a witness that a certain person made some kind of business commitment to Ḥalfon. The date of the certificate, Tishrei 1441, which is October 1129, is the earliest date found in Ḥalfon’s archival certificates. In the inscription section, the last lines of the form of the note, with more or less routine wording, mostly in Hebrew and Aramaic. From the name of the place on the shore of the Great Sea ('דעל כיף ימה רבה') only the first letter, עי"ן, survived, and it is also not complete. Goitein assumes it means the city of Aden. But it is not impossible that 'Aidab' must be completed; See the note to line 12. In any case, it is appropriate to pay attention to the mention of the 'authority' of the head of the Yeshiva, Maṣliaḥ, apparently outside the borders of Egypt and on his way to India. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV)

Betrothal (erusin) contract. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Location: Fustat. Dating: Probably before 1120 CE. Groom: Abū ʿAlī (Yeḥezqel), the brother of Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi, who agrees to pay a fine of 15 dinars if Abū ʿAlī should cancel the betrothal.

Probably Fustat; Maybe 1132 Hillel b. Ṣadoq Av Bet Din, one of the dignitaries of Egypt in the middle of the twelfth century, wrote Ḥalfon ('Ḥalfon b. Netanʾel). The very connection between the writer and the recipient is noteworthy. But we have before us only a small section from the beginning and the end of the letter, and until another section is found to join it, no essential details can be saved from it. (Information from Goitein and Friedman)

Deed of release. Written and signed by Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Location: Fustat. Dated: Middle third of Shevaṭ 1447 Seleucid, which is 15–25 January 1136 CE. Abū Zikrī Yehuda (b. Yosef) ha-Kohen releases Abū Saʿīd Ḥalfon (b. Netanel) ha-Levi from all claims. (Information from India Book 4, Hebrew description below.)

India Book 4 (Hebrew description below; English to come)

Probably Qalyūb; Iyar; May 1140 Yeḥezqel wrote this letter to his brother Ḥalfon who is staying in Alexandria. The letter is complete, but it has no address. The writer probably knew that the messenger would personally bring the letter to the recipient. The names of the writer and the addressee, whom he addresses as his brother, are therefore missing. Nevertheless, Goitein's assertion that it was Yeḥezqel who wrote this letter to Ḥalfon is certain based on the writing and the content. Some of the things that Yeḥezqel wrote about here are clearly related to the content of his other letters, especially Certificate ח64, ח68, ח69. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV)

Alexandria; Probably about 1143-1145 ʿAmram b. Yiṣḥaq sends Ḥalfon a short greeting for Purim. Abu Al-Ma'ali wanted to help Abu Al-Fakhr, the son of Ḥalfon’s brother, Abu Ali Yeḥezqel, to do what he had not succeeded in doing. As it appears from his words, the intention is probably to get married, and it is possible that Abu al-Ma'ali wanted to offer him a match. Amram asked for Ḥalfon’s help in the matter and expressed his sorrow that Ḥalfon also failed to reach the implied goal, which was to marry a wife. According to Amram, Abu Al-Fakhr was like one of his sons, an expression that alludes to the familial closeness between them. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV; Hebrew description below.)

Letter from the trader Salmān, in Spain, to Abū Saʿīd (likely Ḥalfon b. Netanel ha-Levi). Dating: Perhaps Fall 1138 CE. Sent from Spain. Some of the names mentioned are known from the circle of Yehuda ha-Levi. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV.) NB: this fragment was previously known as Antonin 1105 (similar to all the other Yevr. III B shelfmarks).