Geniza Lab

Letter in Hebrew from Azarya Zeevi, Jerusalem, to Yiṣḥaq Castro, Cairo/Fusṭāṭ. Dating: mid-seventeenth century. Should be read together with T-S 20.67—same writer and addressee. The first page is very effaced and difficult to read. ʿAzarya opens with praise for the addressee (r1–4), reports that he received two of his letters (r5–6) and mentioned earlier letters (r9). He mentions the loss of certain "items" (r11). He mentions הר״י אפמדו י״א (r17), who is also mentioned in a negative light in the preceding letter. He discusses the trade in precious stones (r12) and jewelry (r15, 18, 25), apparently with traders from קושנדי, i.e., Istanbul (r19). He then expands on his request for donations for the community of Hevron by way of R. Zerahya [Gota] (v2). Information entirely from Avraham David's edition on FGP.

Page from register of Hebrew-language legal documents dating from Tishrei 5491AM which is 1730CE. The first document on the recto references the inheritance of a deceased man named Yehuda whose surviving relatives are mentioned, at least one of whom resides in Istanbul/Constantinople. The second document on the recto is related to the dowry of Sarah bt. Moshe Minyan[?] and also mentions her husband Shemuʾel Giyati[?], Shemuʾel Franko, and Shimʿon Franko. The third document mentions the spouses Masʿuda and Moshe Paredes who appeared before R. Yeshuʿa ___in[?]. The verso is more damaged but the middle entry records the betrothal of Yaʿacov ʿAlush and Qamr bt. Yaʿacov Zānī. The witnesses to the betrothal were "the brother of the groom Raḥamim ʿAlush and Avraham Barakha. The entry below that records the marriage of Yosef Metita[?] and Ḥanūna bt. Yaʿacov Dasa as well as a dowry list including: sandals, silk, embroidery[?] (מטרז), and many other items. MCD.

Letter (fragment) of which only the bottom section of the body and marginal portion of the text remains. In l. 15r one S[eñor] Curiel is mentioned and on several occasions there is reference to Istanbul, for example: "the ships travel every day from Istanbul / אל מראכיב כול יום בסאפרו מין קוסטה" (l. 21-22r). Perhaps collectively indicating "Egypt" or, alternatively, "Cairo" the locational term "מציר" (l. 10r, 12r) is also in use, which although it does not reflect common Judeo-Arabic orthography may demonstrate influence of the Ottoman Turkish term "Misir." There is much discussion of prices rendered in eastern Arabic numerals and, for example, in "רייל דהבי" (l. 10r). In the margin's final line there is also mention of one S[eñor] Yisrael Silmon [?] "ס יסראל שילמון". The fragment's verso is blank. MCD.

Arabic business letter sent from Istanbul (or written by someone named Constantine??), with the format closely resembling the Judaeo-Arabic letters ca.1800 CE. Needs further examination.

Letter in Hebrew dated 1726/27 CE (487 = לך לאות), begging for charity from the Jewish community of Pisa. The writers, in Istanbul, call themselves פקידי א״י, and indeed it seems they are writing on behalf of the community in Jerusalem. Their shaliaḥ is Moshe Yisra'el. ASE

Letter mostly consisting of praises for the addressee, then a request for personal assistance. The writer is Avraham ha-Yakhini (f.3, l.12), in Istanbul, to ʿAzarya Ze'evi, Jerusalem (f.3, ll.14–15). First half of he 17th century. The writer asks the addressee's help with relocating his father to Jerusalem (f.2, ll.25–26). The writer too prays that he will be able to come to Jerusalem. The writer also mentioned R. Zeraḥya [Gota] (f.3, l.9). Information from FGP.

Letter mostly consisting of praises for the addressee, then a request for personal assistance. The writer is Avraham ha-Yakhini (f.3, l.12), in Istanbul, to ʿAzarya Ze'evi, Jerusalem (f.3, ll.14–15). First half of he 17th century. The writer asks the addressee's help with relocating his father to Jerusalem (f.2, ll.25–26). The writer too prays that he will be able to come to Jerusalem. The writer also mentioned R. Zeraḥya [Gota] (f.3, l.9). Information from FGP.

Letter of recommendation, likely a draft, from Fustat. Dated: 5735 (מעֿשֿהֿ) AM, which is 1614/15 CE. The bearer, Avraham b. Shemuel Ashkenazi, fell into Ottoman captivity eight years ago. His captors brought him to Istanbul, but he refused to convert to Islam, managed to escape, "and took shelter in the Beit Midrash of Shem and ʿEver." He has been living in Fustat for the last two years, exerting himself in service of the community. He now wishes to return to his native land, and the anonymous addressee is asked to help him. (Information from FGP)

Beginning of a late Judaeo-Arabic business letter (abandoned after 6 lines), listing a number of goods the writer has to sent to his "brother."

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic mentioning Salonica and Constantinople.

Perhaps three letters of recommendation for Yaʿaqov b. Yehuda. The first was written in Istanbul and signed by Nissim Yaʿaqov [...]. The second is difficult to read; the writer's name may be Gavriel. The third was written by Hayyim David Hazzan, the Hakham Bashi of Jerusalem, 1861–69. His large blue seal in Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin characters is preserved next to his signature. Underneath one of the other two entries (it seems the second one) is a different Hakham Bashi seal in Arabic and Hebrew characters. The date is 1864 according to the Worman catalog. ASE.

Letter in Ottoman Turkish addressed to Maʿallim Salmūn in Alexandria from Sulaymān Bostancı[?] dating from the sixteenth-eighteenth centuries. There is some damage to the sender's signature but if this reading of his title is correct, this may be a letter sent from Istanbul by a member of the Imperial Guard / Bostancı corps. This seems plausible given that the letter mentions at least four other members of the Ottoman military– Sinān Ağa, Qāsim Ağa, ʿİssa Ağa, and Meḥmed Aǧa. These state functionaries, are occasionally referenced as such i.e. "Sinān Ağa ṣaḥib-i devlet / protector of the state" (l. 8). One other business partner is mentioned in line four, a certain Maʿallam İsḥāk. Much of the letter's contents are related to payments and other correspondence between those referenced. The verso bears two ink stamps and an address on the upper fold, which suggests that this letter was likely sent and received by the recipient Muʿallim Salmūn. MCD.

Letter from Avraham b. Yaʿish, in Constantinople/Istanbul. Dating: Probably Ottoman era; Avraham David suggests 16th century. He refers numerous times to the holy congregation(s) and their duties and good deeds and refers to 'the troubles (הטרדות).

Letter from Binyamin de Curiel and Avraham Krispin to Avraham Dayyan. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: the date is probably too faded to read, but these men are known from other fragments. Mentions Istanbul and a Venetia. Well-preserved: merits further attention

Court record. Location: Istanbul (קושטנדינה). Dated: Nisan 5401 AM, which is March/April 1641 CE. David b. Avraham Levi and his brother Yosef b. Avraham Levi and their wives Irinia (אירינייא) bt. Kalev Cuchino (? קוגינו) and Senyerola (? שיניירולה) bt. Yiṣḥaq Mazal Ṭov attest that they are giving to their sister Rika bt. Avraham Levi all their rights to the shop inherited from their late father in Ankara (מדינת אנגורה) in the market of Mahmut Pasha in the section of the jewelers (לצד הקויימגיש). Unsigned. This document was folded in half, and one one of the halves on verso (at 90 degrees to the text on recto) there is a draft of a legal document in the same handwriting, concerning the marriage conditions of Rika and Moshe, with the dowry and payments adding up to 500 gurush.

Legal document, Qaraite. Conditional divorce. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated Sivan 5503 AM, which is 1743 CE. It is a detailed record of how David b. Reuven Nāqish wished to travel to Istanbul for business, and how he agrees that if he is absent for longer than 2 years, his wife Masʿūda bt. Avraham Fayrūz may receive a bill of divorce from the court. There appears to be only one witness, a certain Yaʿaqov. Merits further examination. Cf. Yevr.-Arab. II 1573 (another conditional divorce).

Letter draft in Judaeo-Arabic. Perhaps intended to be sent from Fustat/Cairo to Jerusalem. Dating: Unknown, catalogued as 18th century. The writer reports on the money that was with the addressee's brother (? karīmak) Yaʿaqov Ḥazzan and his maternal uncle Yehuda Rofe. He recounts how the addressee traveled to Jerusalem, then to Istanbul and "the lands above it," then Damascus where he married, then Jerusalem. Also mentions the Dār Simḥa synagogue in Cairo.