Geniza Lab

Letter from Avraham b. Yehuda ha-Kohen, in Malīj, to the cantor Elʿazar b. Yehuda, in Fustat (c/o the shop of Ṭarfon ha-Zaqen). In Judaeo-Arabic, with some interesting spellings (e.g., many extraneous alefs, some missing alefs, יתפע for ידפע, and תקתע for תקטע, and אלאלה for God). Dating: Uncertain. The letter was cut up into at least two pendant shapes—one hexagon and one pentagon—and perforated to be hung up. It is difficult to extract much of the content. Mainly dealing with small business transactions, e.g., a kerchief (mandīl) for 20 qirats. On verso, greetings to 'his son Yaʿqūb'; Muʿammar; Abū ʿAlī Muḥsin; Abū l-Ghayth Mufarraj; Hillel; and Yaḥyā.

Letter from Barakāt to Samaw'al. In Judaeo-Arabic. Very deferential. Little of the substance after the introduction remains. The letter has been cut into the shape of a circle.