Geniza Lab

Letter from Yiṣḥaq (Izak) b. Avraham, in Safed, to a certain Moshe, in Fustat/Cairo. In Hebrew. Dated: 13 Heshvan 5333, which is 1572 CE. The hand is Ashkenazi, which is consistent with the writer's name אייזק. The letter has to do with the book trade. It seems that the writer has sent some books to the addressee and wants him to try to sell them rapidly, because he is in need of the proceeds. Information from Avraham David's edition via FGP. This shelfmark also includes a tiny fragment of another letter.

Receipt from the association of the Ashkenazi Jews in Cairo in the amount of one hunded qirsh – December 3 1950CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 133) – in French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 69). MCD.

Report of the general association of the Ashkenazi Community in Cairo – 1943CE and concerning the accounts of income and expenses in 1942CE and the budget for the year of 1943CE and the account of the committee of leaders between 1942-1943 – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 136) – in French and the cover is in French and Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 75). MCD.

Receipt from a synagogue of the Ashkenazi Jews in Cairo – 1943CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 158) – in Hebrew and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 69). MCD.

Receipt from the association of the Ashkenazi Jews in Cairo – December 3 1950CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 202) – in French and to the margin Arabic and Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 66). MCD.

Receipt from the association of the Ashkenazi Jews in Cairo in the amount of one hunded qirsh – December 3 1950CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 251) – in French and Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 68). MCD.

Announcement by the Ashkenazi Jewish community of Cairo for the opening of a public clinic in the neighborhood of the communal synagogue on Rosette Gardens Street in Cairo – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 3) – in Yiddish and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 52). A scan and translation of this document is available in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (p. 157-158). The original text in French reads: "Communauté Israélite Aschkénazi du Caire – Commision de Bienfaisance – Avis – Nous avons l'honneur d'informer l'honorable public du Caire que nous avons installé une clinque gratuite pour malades, sans distinction de nationalité, sons la direction du docteur A. Tonis, diplômé de l'Université de Genève (Suisse). Clinque ouverte tous les jours de 11 a.m. - 12 sauf Samedi et jours fériés, dans le local de la Cour du Temple de la Communauté sis rue Jardin Rosette." MCD.

Letter from Mordechai b. Yizhaq Shraga Feivish, perhaps in Rafah, to R. Yom Tov the Av Beit Din of Cairo, probably Yom Tov Israel Cherezli who served as chief rabbi in Cairo from 1866–84. Written in Hebrew. He writes to inform the rabbinic authorities that the bill of divorce he gave his wife is illegitimate, because he was under duress by wicked people. He expands on the wickedness of the locals and how "underneath justice (mishpat) there is perversion of justice (mispaḥ), and underneath righteousness (ẓedaqa) there are screams (ẓeʿaqa)." Mordechai's wife, Royze bt. Hayyim Yizhaq, "screamed" at him day and night and said that if he refused her a get she would prostitute herself. Thus he was forced to give her a get. He came up with the trick (perhaps she was illiterate) to give her a get under a bogus name, and here in this letter he gives his true name (twice) to R. Yom Tov. He then pleads with R. Yom Tov ("I scream because such evil should be done in Israel") to side with him and presumably to declare the divorce null. He adds a postscript, "The true ketubba that I gave her on the wedding day is entrusted with the Consul in Port Said." ASE.

Letter from Shemuel b. Eli gaʾon, Baghdad, addressing community members and asking them to welcome Shemuel b. Shelomo ha-Kohen from Ashkenaz, who was forced to leave his home and needs their help. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #83) VMR

Late letter draft (fragment) in Judaeo-Arabic that is probably 18th or 19th c. The contents of the draft include the common opening phrase that appears in the body of correspondence "בעד מזיד אלסלאם עליכום" (l. 1r). Further down the draft mentions "the Ashkenazim" or "אלאשכנזים". MCD.