Geniza Lab

Letter from an unknown writer, in Alexandria, to an unknown recipient, presumably in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: written in mahzor 275, which spanned the years 5207–25 (1446–65 CE). The writer greets the addressee as his 'brother', excuses his imposition (al-tahajjum (!) ʿalā faḍlikum) and mourns that the people of Alexandria have lost the science of intercalation, and requests that the addressee send him a calendar, starting with the upcoming Tishrei and extending to the end of mahzor 275. He sends regards to the addressee's wife, to his son Yehuda, and to Elazar Sofer. ASE.

Letter. In Hebrew. Eliyya b. Elyaqim, in Damietta, writes to Moshe b. Yehuda, in Alexandria. The writer signs only his first name on this letter, but his full name on Bodl. MS heb. c 72/14. Dating: Tuesday 24 Kislev (written in the document), probably 1486 CE (the first year in which 24 Kislev fell on a Tuesday after 1484, the date of Eliyya's previous extant letter, Bodl. MS heb. c 72/14.) Subject: shipments of manuscripts. Eliyya reports that he received two letters from the addressee by way of Ibrāhīm Turjiman (טורצימן). Moshe had received the book Torat ha-Adam (by Nachmanides) from Eliyya, but complained in his letter that the writing was inferior. Eliyya apologizes, saying that when he was in Crete giving instructions to the scribe, he ensured that the paper and the writing were of a high quality, even higher than those of the samples he had sent to Moshe. The deterioration must have occurred after he left. Eliyya then reports on the price of the copying: he seems to have promised the scribe either 2 marcellos per volume (per Benayahu) or 12 marcellos for the full set (per David). The Marcello was a silver coin introduced by Nicolò Marcello, doge of Venice 1473–74. The addressee is to calculate the conversion rate between marcellos and Venetian ducats. As for the copy of Sefer Yosippon, the writer does not exactly remember the final price he agreed upon with the scribe. As for the copy of Megillat Esther, the writer urges the addressee to send it to Mordukh in Fustat, who will deliver it to the writer in Damietta. There is a cryptic reference to אלוייזה פיזן: a name? Eloisa Pizan? The writer sends regards to Ṣedaqa, whom Avraham David identifies with Ṣedaqa Nes of Bodl. MS heb. c 72/11. Information from Avraham David's edition and notes on FGP.

Letter. In Hebrew. Ṣedaqa Nes or Nīs (ניס) writes to Moshe b. Yehuda, in Alexandria. Dating: Last quarter of the 15th century, based on the associated fragments. Same writer and addressee: Bodl. MS heb. c 72/14, 72/15, 72/17, and 72/38. The writer may be identical with the Ṣedaqa mentioned in Bodl. MS heb. c 72/10 and 14. Subject: business in books, paper, basbousa, ammonium chloride (nushādir). The writer sends regards to Messer Louis Pizarro (מיסר לויז ביזרו). Mordekhai Ḥefeṣ sends his regards to the addressee. Information from Avraham David's edition and notes. ASE.

Letter. In Hebrew. Eliyya b. Elyaqim, in Crete, writes to Moshe b. Yehuda, in Alexandria. Dating: 1484 CE (written in the document in the Italian portion on verso). Subject: Commissions of a manuscript and shipments of wine and cheese. Regarding the manuscript, Eliyya has been tasked with acquiring a copy of Nachmanides's commentary on the Torah. He first approached the notable Vittore Royge (? השר ויטור רויגע) who knew nothing about how to obtain it. He asked further and found one copy on new paper in an excellent hand for 8 ducats. He has also heard rumors of another one on parchment for 15 ducats. Eliyya asks for instructions on how to proceed. Eliyya sends regards to Ṣedaqa (Nes or Nīs) and Avraham Talmid and Yosef Castro Sefaradi. Verso contains three lines of writing in Italian and the mirror-image imprint of some biblical verses.

Letter. In Hebrew. Ṣedaqa Nes or Nīs (ניס), in Syracuse (שראקוסה), writes to Moshe b. Yehuda, in Alexandria. Dating: Last quarter of the 15th century, based on the associated fragments. Same writer and addressee: Bodl. MS heb. c 72/14, 72/15, 72/17, and 72/38. The writer may be identical with the Ṣedaqa mentioned in Bodl. MS heb. c 72/10 and 14. Subject: Business, including in ammonium chloride (nushādir), soap or soapwort (ṣābūn/borit), and copper (nuḥās/neḥoshet). Ṣedaqa also conveys his concern for Moshe's illness. In a postscript, he writes, "Cut out this small letter and give it to the sister מכ״ת . . the bringing in of the bride, 'And I will bless those who bless you.' And give the other one to Yosef." Information from Avraham David's edition via FGP. ASE.

Letter from anonymous writer, unknown location, to Moshe b. Yehuda, in Alexandria. In Hebrew. Dating: Last quarter of the 15th century, based on the associated fragments. Subject: Thanking the addressee. The writer probably previously wrote a letter of recommendation for a certain Yiṣḥaq. The writer reports that he heard from Yiṣḥaq that Moshe treated him munificently. The writer conveys his gratitude and asks for a letter with information about how everything went with Yiṣḥaq and his sister, whether they are healthy, and whether they left any letter for the writer. Information from Avraham David's edition. There is a stylized "emet" at the top of the letter. ASE.

28 pages from a cookbook in Catalan. The hand is 15th-century according to Eleazar Gutwirth. Many recipes for dishes containing meat and fish. Soups and baked goods, too. It is interesting to note that pork is mentioned several times. Information kindly provided by Ilil Baum via a discussion on Facebook, 01/2021.

There are 32 folios sharing this shelfmark. See individual PGPIDs for more information. Most of it consists of a notebook, probably belonging to a Byzantine merchant, filled with records of various transactions. The language is primarily Hebrew but the months are Julian (אפריל ,דסמבר etc.). Many business partners are named, at least some of whom have Greek names (e.g. Manolis on folio 5). There is a calendar for the year 1430/31 CE (folio 26), written in an interesting ink that has faded to pale silver; the page now looks blank at a glance, but much of the text is legible. There are accounts (folios 1 and 15) with a Hebrew grammatical structure (X של Y) but in which nearly all of the nouns are in a different language, presumably Greek in Hebrew characters, but needs examination by an expert. There are several letters, including folios 2, 9, 11, 16, 17, 21, and 23. The letter on folio 11 is a join with DK 371. The letters on folios 16 and 23 are both addressed to an Avraham b. Yosef ha-Levi. The former at least is signed by a Shabbetay who also gives the name of his city (קרישטו = Karystos, probably). Shabbetay says that he does not spend much time in אגריפון (Negroponte/Chalcis, the capital of Euboea). Another letter (folio 17) mentions "קדיאה," probably =קנדיאה, which would be Crete. Underneath the letter on folio 2 are two lines of Greek in Greek characters.This page, incidentally, is a palimpsest, with a Hebrew-looking subtext. Folio 29 may contain very faded Greek text (in Greek characters) as well. Additionally, there are leaves from the Talmud apparently in a 14th-century Byzantine hand (e.g. folios 6 and 32) and leaves from a book of seliḥot (e.g. folio 31). Information partly from FGP. Merits deeper examination. ASE

Calendar for the year 1430/31 CE, written in an interesting ink that has faded to pale silver; the page now looks blank at a glance, but much of the text is legible.

Condolence and business letter to the brothers Eliyyahu and Leon.

Legal document. Location: Malīj. Dated: Monday, 11 Tevet 1800 Seleucid, which is 1489 CE. Looks like a monetary transaction regarding real estate. Interesting blessing for the nagid: יזכיהו לסעודת לויתן.

Letter (possibly) from Moshe b. Yehuda, addressed to a certain Saʿīd. Dated: 23rd of the ʿOmer מטר, i.e., 5249 AM (probably), which is 1489 CE. Mentions that Yiṣḥaq Sholal (not yet the Nagid) arrived in Rashīd on business. The sender previously sent one letter from Rashīd and another with Ṣedaqa Nes. He orders silk garments to be sent with David Sofer and his son Meir. He orders the Zoharand other books. He conveys instructions for what should be given to the wife of the Shamash for his own wife. Also mentions raisins. (Information in part from Avraham David via FGP.) For more on Moshe b. Yehuda, see Arad and Wagner, "Moses ben Judah – a 15th century bibliophile and gourmand" (FOTM June 2016) and Arad, "The Jews of Alexandria in the 15th Century in Light of New Documents" Peʿamim 156 (2018), 167–84 (Heb).

Deathbed will. In Judaeo-Arabic. Location: Cairo. Dated: Wednesday, 18 Sivan 1806 Seleucid, which is 1495 CE. ʿAzīza bt. Elʿazar Bek leaves some of her possessions (deposited in Alexandria) to the daughter she had with Moshe פרנשי and who is the wife of Shemuel b. Shelomo כראת, and other possessions to her other daughter Milāḥ, and other possessions are to be divided evenly between the two daughters. This is a large and well-preserved document; needs further examination.

Fragment of a letter (written by Ṣedaqa Nes), to the head of the exile, Natan ha-Kohen Sholal (d. 1502) in Cairo (the penultimate Nagid), concerning a fraudulent cheese seller who was fined by Yosef ha-Nagid, a predecessor of Natan, for selling non-kosher cheese as if it was kosher. Also mentions Samuel and his brother Isaac, the Persians, and Moshe Abū Shaʿra. (Information from CUDL; see also Goitein's index cards.) Earlier description for CUL Or.1080 J174: Confidential letter sent from Jerusalem by Yiṣḥaq to his brother in Cairo. In Hebrew. Dating: Late. The writer complains that a certain Yaʿaqov with the help of a certain non-Jew has stolen a portion of his money, which belonged to Yiṣḥaq's brother, and promises to send the remainder of the money by a messenger or bring it to Cairo himself. (Information from Goitein's index cards.)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic from a craftsman to ʿAbd al-Laṭīf, second half of the 15th century.

Letter from David Kohen to the Nagid R. Natan Sholal, the penultimate Nagid of Egypt. Dating: end of the 15th century.

Letter written by [Joseph b.] Elʿazar in Palestine, mentioning various individuals including Abū l-Faraji, Elʿazar the doctor, Joseph the doctor, ʿAbd al-Karam, Sulayman b. ʿAbd al-ʿAziz, and David the Spaniard. The letter also refers to the house of Shemuʾel the prophet. Dated using the phrase ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם, of which the last word is dotted. This equates to 140, i.e. 5140 (= 1380 CE). Assaf (1944:190), however, suggests לי should also be dotted, giving a date 1420 CE. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Avraham Kohen. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Ca. 15th century. Reports on the complaint of a teacher from Ṣafad who had settled in Gaza, to the effect that the local leader had incited the boys of the congregation (sibyan al-yahud) against him, a charge that the leader strongly denied. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 62, Goitein's index cards, and CUDL.)

Ketubba with a valuable dowry listing gold jewellery, pearls, rubies, and turquoise, second half of the 15th century. (Corrected by comparison with photocopy of MS & Goitein's notes) (Z.F.)

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