Geniza Lab

Literary work in Latin. Canon law gloss or commentary that is preoccupied with wives and the theme of divorce. “Matrimonium non consumatum separatur propter religione…” and goes on to cite [the summa of Hostiensis?] “de divortiis [book] quarto” and Innocent III’s 1201 decretal “Gaudemus.” Information kindly provided by Jennifer Speed.

Probably documentary. Written in very cursive Latin script.

Literary text. In a Romance language, written in Latin script.

Letter in Hebrew dated 1735/36 CE (496 = קרן לעמו), from the Jewish community of Safed to the Jewish community of Pisa, begging for financial aid on account of a heavy tax of 10,000 גרושו׳ that has been imposed on them. Their sheliḥim are Ḥayyim Yaʿaqov and Me'ir de Segura (named 6 lines from the bottom). The Latin script on the final page (Zafed 5496 K. K.) may actually be original. ASE.

Letter. In Hebrew. Eliyya b. Elyaqim, in Crete, writes to Moshe b. Yehuda, in Alexandria. Dating: 1484 CE (written in the document in the Italian portion on verso). Subject: Commissions of a manuscript and shipments of wine and cheese. Regarding the manuscript, Eliyya has been tasked with acquiring a copy of Nachmanides's commentary on the Torah. He first approached the notable Vittore Royge (? השר ויטור רויגע) who knew nothing about how to obtain it. He asked further and found one copy on new paper in an excellent hand for 8 ducats. He has also heard rumors of another one on parchment for 15 ducats. Eliyya asks for instructions on how to proceed. Eliyya sends regards to Ṣedaqa (Nes or Nīs) and Avraham Talmid and Yosef Castro Sefaradi. Verso contains three lines of writing in Italian and the mirror-image imprint of some biblical verses.

Document that is probably in stylized Latin script, but difficult to tell. Needs examination.

Fragment with an elaborate illustration, perhaps for the frontispiece of a book. Above it there is a line in Aramaic from the beginning of a piyyut: ברשותא דמרי עלמא הוא אלהא רבא וגברא. On verso there are doodles and pen trials in Hebrew ("ערוך מקור") and in Spanish ("hun homen a poder en mançebos" = "a man has power over boys"). There is also the name Rodrigues Perez. (Information in part from Avi Kallenbach, Amir Ashur, Ramon Sarobe, and Daniel Duran Duelt.) ASE

From a ledger containing several different types of writing: (1) accounts and fragments of letters in Hebrew script, at least partially in Ladino; (2) underlying printed text in Hebrew; (3) sections in Latin script, some of which are signed by a certain Johan.

Fragment in Latin script. Needs examination.

Fragment in Latin script. Needs examination.

Fragment in Latin script. Needs examination.

Fragment (very faint) in Latin script (unless all we are seeing is the impression of the facing fragment).

Document in Latin script. Needs examination.

Pen trials in Latin- and Hebrew-script. The Latin-script words and abbreviations resemble Castilian Spanish but at times demonstrate Italianate linguistic influence. These words are honorific and often appear in addressing letters and on both the recto and verso the name "Antonio" is repeated. On the verso, the surname "Romano" also appears. There is one cluster of Hebrew letters interjected on the verso and below that the square letter aleph is practiced. MCD.

Letter in a Romance language, perhaps Spanish, signed in Hebrew: Yehuda Maḥriẓ (? יהודה מחריץ). An alternate reading for the surname is "Madin / מאדין".

Accounts in Latin script.

Letter in difficult Latin script, possibly Portuguese. The address on verso is in Hebrew: to David Ṣarfati, from R. Yiṣḥaq Alpa[...], from צאפט to Fustat.

28 pages from a cookbook in Catalan. The hand is 15th-century according to Eleazar Gutwirth. Many recipes for dishes containing meat and fish. Soups and baked goods, too. It is interesting to note that pork is mentioned several times. Information kindly provided by Ilil Baum via a discussion on Facebook, 01/2021.

Mysterious page with various jottings in Hebrew script in a late hand (possibly including ownership or purchase notes with names). There are also a few Latin characters (m, ma, mua).

One or two words in cursive Latin script: P Nicolas(?).