Geniza Lab

Two lists of contributors, neatly written (by Shelomo b. Eliyyahu?), one above the other. The 12 names in the upper list are repeated in the lower (which has one more), often in abbreviated form (Abu al-Majd: Majd; Najib al-Ma'tuq: Najib). The contributions, ranging from 1/2 to 1 1/2 (dirhams), are almost identical in the two lists, perhaps a collection for two musicians at a minor family affair. Dated ca. 1225 (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 505, App. C 127)

List of contributors of wheat for the poor, ca. 1100. (Information from Goitein index cards)

List of prospective contributors. The persons whose names are crossed out probably already had been approached. Notice that most of the numbers are added above the name or in the space after it and in a different ink color, which means either that someone took the list and then rated those individuals, or their contributions were entered when they were made (M. Cohen). Some names have no numbers at all. A few numbers are in Coptic numerals. Verso: Monetary compensations for those indigent people who had applied for a futa (a sari-like garment). Crossed out: probably had received their share. (Information from Goitein index cards)

List of contributors and payments in which some entries comprise both a name and a sum, whereas others have names only. (Information from Goitein index cards)

Letter addressed to Avraham ha-Dayyan (called ha-Sar ha-Nikhbad). In Judaeo-Arabic. This is a letter of recommendation for charity for the bearer. He was one of the notables of al-Maḥalla but fell into poverty. He owes money (200 dinars?) to the government. No one will accept his promissory notes (this part is tricky to understand, ll. 4–5). The addressee and the congregation and the elders are asked to help him. Greetings to the addressee's son, Abū ʿAlī ha-Talmid. (Information in part from CUDL)

Fragment of a letter of appeal for charity, from Jerusalem, complaining about the heavy taxation. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Important list of beneficiaries, containing names and sums of money. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

List of contributors (end), almost all names known early 11th century. Included: The elders the Tasatira (Tustaris); the rest, mostly bankers. (Information from Goitein index cards)

List of names of contributors, including many physicians. Ca. 1210 (Information from Goitein's index cards)

List of contributors, on verso of page from a siddur: Musaf rosh hodesh. Coptic figures. Headed by 'our lord R. Avraham' (Maimonides?) (Information from Goitein index cards)

Two lists similar to T-S K15, fols. 5, 15, 39, 50, written by the same scribe and having mostly same names; one of the lists dated Friday Marheshvan 14. Has a special section for the Rum (Europeans) (42 persons). The second total at the bottom of col. II represents the addition of 4 loaves resulting from changes in three allocations in the list. Ca. 1107. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 443, App. B 23)

Hastily written list of about 40 contributors, 18 of whom are called Rabbi. An indication of very late origin is that the father's name follows that of son without b. = like a family name. The two elders at top of verso, but without numbers, Elimelech Kohen and Eliezer, probably were in charge of the collections for two weeks. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, 497, App. C 75)

List of 54 contributors, by the scribe of T-S K15.70, ed. Mann, and T-S NS J41 and T-S Misc.8.9, headed by the representative of the merchants Yekutiel b. Moshe, 'al-Hakim'. Second donor, 'The Pride,' = Yefet b. Avraham, 'Pride of the Communities,' (dated docs. 1076-1103). Above most names there is a line, the medieval way of deleting, meaning certainly that payment was made. Similar list from same period (late 11th or early 12th c.) is T-S Ar.51.140. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 477, App. C 16, dated third quarter 11th century)

Long strip of paper, with both head and bottom torn away, containing about 25 names (among them four 'sukkaris,' or sugar makers), contributing to charity 1/2, 1, or 1 1/4, partly in wariq, and partly in nuqra. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 494, App. C 60)

Account, on parchment and much dilapidated, containing weekly revenue and expenditures (small related costs), in the elaborate hand of Aharon 'the expert cantor' b. Efrayim 'the scribe' (1058-1066). 7 persons in charge of collecting the pledges, one al-qammah (not a common Jewish profession). The total of 36 dirhams transferred from another leaf certainly was spent on bread for the poor. This list may refer to a community other than Fustat. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 476, App. C 13)

Distribution of wheat to Europeans, altogether 49 households including households consisting of only one person. First item: 'The proselyte--3; his female slave Mubaraka--1/2 wayba.' (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 444, App. B 26, dated 1100-1140)

Record of a collection containing 22 names with Coptic numerals. On verso 5 names are repeated with the same numerals, the beginning of a final copy, which eventually was drawn up on another sheet. Some specific names, such as Yiṣḥaq b. al-Sharaf (i.e. Sharaf al-Dawla, 'The Honor of the Government') also found in T-S K15.62. The names on verso are crossed out, so perhaps that is the discarded draft of the list. Goitein thinks this may have been a collection taken up at a wedding; he evidently reads 'al-hatan al-Muwaffaq' in line 14 (his line 7). But see below; al-h could stand for al-hazzan (Cohen). (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 495, App. C 63 and Cohen)

Fragment of a list of pledges to charity made at a wedding. The bridegroom, styled "the elder, the scholar Abu al-Baha" (written in larger letters, different from the rest), pledged (Ar. asma) 1/2 dirham, and so did the others. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 495, App. C 65)

Nine entries, names of recipients of alms, on vellum in huge calligraphic letters, such as 'two freed women, two persons from Hijaz, two from Sahrajt [Egypt], the daughter of Mishael,' accompanied by numbers ranging from one to six. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II p. 442, App. B 10, dated 1040-1060)

Accounts for 54 dirhams (not 64 as per Goitein) received by the collector (called Sulayman ha-Levi), plus 30 donated by Avraham the Pious (d. 1223) and spent during the 22nd week. The first 30 lines are in the hand of Shelomo b. Eliyyahu, the remaining 48 lines in that of another scribe whose ways of accounting were very much different. Expenditure for bread: '54 plus 6 at the end of the day through Avraham Dyer.' At the conclusion of the week it had become evident that the allocation had not been sufficient. The total of 60 dirhams is twice as much as the average in Appendixes B 40-42. These were perhaps later, or this payroll reflects a certain state of emergency, for instance, a low Nile with high prices for wheat. Seems to be a leaf from a booklet and not consecutive pages. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p 451, App. B 43, dated 1210-1223)