Geniza Lab

Recto (secondary use): Lower part of list of male persons, mostly craftsmen or foreigners (Goitein surmises that they are people for whom the capitation tax was [to be] paid). Several names are preceded by sahh, 'paid.' Each name also ends with a line extended to the end of the column, possibly signifying that it has been paid. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, pp. 466-467, App. B 106.) Many of the people listed bear surnames indicating their place of origin, including Baghdad, Amid (in Iraq), Aleppo, Damascus, Tiberias, ?Azza, Sicily, or indicating their profession, including porter, packer, night watchman, dyer, soap maker, mosaic craftsman.

Letter to a traveling companion, who was accompanied by his wife or a servant, stating that he is sending him chickens and quails as provisions on his way. Script of early thirteenth century. (Information from Goitein.) There are the remnants of a few words in Arabic script on verso, from a prior document that the writer reused.

Letter in the hand of Avraham Maimonides (d. 1237) or his son David asking a cantor to arrange a collection in the synagogue on a Thursday morning for two chickens and bread for a poor, old, sick man. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 463, and from Amir Ashur; cf. T-S Misc.8.18, written in a similar hand and layout.) Dating: 13th century

Note (ruqʿa) reminding recipient to fulfil his promise (of which no details are provided). On verso there is another text block in Arabic script as well as a rhymed Hebrew poem about the buying, stuffing, and marinating in wine of the greatest chicken in all the land. See Khan, Documents, p. 316 (note 48). (Information from Baker/Polliack catalog)