Geniza Lab

Two letters, one in Ladino and one in Judaeo-Arabic. The remainder of the pages are filled with sums, accounts, a couple Arabic signatures, and geomancy markings. ASE.

List of accounts for the bread distribution. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentions the paternal aunt of the judge, the Shaykh Abū l-Faraj al-Dimyāṭī, and Maḥfūẓ the khādim in the synagogue.

Account for a sale of flax, probably in Tripoli (Libya), 1025. The flax is sold by bale, of unequal weight. The bales arrived to Tripoli by sea, and some got wet. The flax belongs to members of the Al-Tahirtī family. Accounts in the same hand and possibly from the same book are also found in CUL Or.1080 J291, T-S J1.54, Moss. VIII,476.1-2. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 370.)

Verso: Four (?) interesting accounts in Arabic script, one mentioning "wāṣil al-ḍamān". Dated: Jumādā II 513 AH, which is September 1119 CE. (Information from Goitein's note card.) Ed. Rabie.

Account of building operations ca. 1216. Expenditures for construction materials and labor, as recorded in the course of several days. The work is done at compounds of the qodesh and the Synagogue of the Palestinians. Some other expenditures, as for captives, are also included. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 412 #113)

Verso: Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 1200–1240 CE, based on Goitein's assessment. "[Received on account of the] Food for the Poor—101 1/2 [dirhems]." Accounts for one week, headed by 115 pounds of bread costing 33 1/2 dirhems, twice as much as in B 77. A similar situation in B 43. The salaries, however, remained exactly the same. On Friday, the Nagid made special distributions in cash and wheat to a foreign scholar and to the Rūm, here meaning persons from Byzantium, "male and female." After the conquest of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204 and countless other disasters befalling the Byzantine realm, it is not surprising to again find refugees from there in the capital of Egypt. See B 85." (Goitein, Med Soc II, Appendix B, #79 pp. 462))

Accounts in the hand of Nissim b. Ḥalfon, presented to Nahray b. Nissim; 1066 CE. Lists payments for various goods, made either directly or through others, and gives details of various shipments, some of them to Tripoli, Libya. Mentions skins, textiles, beads, sugar, red wood, ammonia, furs, lead, baked goods, wine, meat, camphor, wax, tin, cloves, pearls and laque. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, p. 986.)

Account of the Qodesh: computation of total yearly revenue from rent, ca. 1041. A draft, written in Arabic characters apparently by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya on the verso, probably after the recto had been display in the synagogue for several months. The parnas records the total yearly revenues, in gold and wariq (cash/silver). The revenue in gold was smaller than expected, and that in wariq bigger. Several additional revenue items and debts are listed. The account ended on 30 August 1041. (Gil, Documents, 179 #13) VMR

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1041. Most items in this account refer to building operations at the synagogue. Some other synagogue expenditures, such as oil, are also listed. Further details refer to a number of compounds belonging to the qodesh. It is written in a calligraphic handwriting and the account was probably intended ofr public display in the synagogue. The handwriting of Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya can be recognized. Since the document refers to oil used in the synagogue to the end of Elul 1351 Sel. (10 Sept. 1040), it was probably written in 1041. The verso of the document was used at the end of 1041 for an account written in Arabic characters. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 175 #12)

Account of building operations ca. 1215. A list of expenditures made at Dar b. Pinhas in the course of several days in the month of Marheshwan, using Coptic numerals. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 408 #110)

Account of building operations ca. 1240. Written on a sheet of paper made into a booklet of four leaves, it is a record of current payments for building materials and labor. The works going on are financed from huge sums of rent deposited with the banker al-As'ad in the course of two years. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 453 #136)

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic mentioning items that were sent with Abū Surūr and others with [. . .] al-Nafūsī and others with [. . .] b. Hilāl. There may be notes from Goitein that are not yet attached. ASE.

Accounts in Arabic script. (Information from Goitein's note card)

Detailed commercial accounts for the year 1526/1215 of a silk merchant who served also as Parnas. His business correspondent was charged with collecting a yearly pledge for Rabbi Jophthan, wherefore this detail of communal finance appears in the private account of these two merchants. The sums collected are debited to the business correspondent, the monthly payments of four dirhams to Rabbi Jophthan are credited to him. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, 465)

Account and agreement between the Qodesh and a partner, ca. 1156. A certain al-Nadiv, otherwise known as the perfume maker, tenant of a compound partly owned by the qodesh known as al-Burj, carried out repairs (probably in that compound) for which the qodesh owes him 19.5 dinars. He had previously received 9.75 dinars from the qodesh and owes 3 dinars representing his rent for four months. Thus, the qodesh still owes him 6.75 dinars. His expenditure of an additional sum of 10.5 dinars is approved, for repairs to be made in his brewery. As the qodesh will pay half of this, its total debt will come to 12 dinars. Also, some minor improvements in the compound will be made jointly. The debt of 12 dinars will be returned to him by counting it as his rent for 16 months. For this purpose, a deed of lease will be written in a Muslim court also. This arrangement is made toward the end of January 1156, one month before the former lease expires on the 24th of February. The new lease will start on the 25th. Coptic numerals are used. Mentions a wind catcher (bādhanj). (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 287 #59)

Account of Abu al-Maʿālī(?), specifying weight and prices of goods. On verso there are further accounts, involving ward murabbā (rose petal jam). Someone with the title "al-Segulat" (אלסגלאת) appears in the header. There is one line in Arabic script at the bottom, probably part of the same reckoning.

List of expenses on food and crockery made on a journey. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

List, incomplete and partly defective, of about 33 contributions in gold. Late 11th or early 12th century. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, pp. 476-477, App. C 15)

Detailed accounts, written by Nahray b. Nissim, specifying private expenses as well as expenses of business done by the writer for Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Ishaq Tahirti. Dated 1046. (Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, 811)

Account of goods sent to Abu Ishaq Barhun b. Ishaq on the ships in (4)806 A.M. (1045-1046), beginning with an account of the balance of what remained the previous year.