Geniza Lab

Rhymed text (-kha) in Hebrew. By al-Adīb al-ʿIbrī. On verso there is similar text, perhaps a draft of a poem.

Letter of appeal for charity addressed to a certain Rosh ha-Qehillot. It is written entirely as a Hebrew poem. There are lengthy descriptions of the sufferings of the sender and his children as well as praises for the addressee.

Diwan of the poetry of Yiṣḥaq b Khalfūn (active around 1000). There is a poem addressed to Abū l-Faraj Yehoshuaʿ Ibn al-Qamūdī; a poem addressed to Shemuel Ibn al-Lebdī (hence Goitein's inclusion of this fragment in the 'India Book'); a poem addressed to Abū Sulaymān, complaining about the delay of the response to his panegyric from Menashshe b. Ibrāhīm al-Qazzāz; a poem that he sent together with a Purim present; poems on generic themes (parting, elegy, praise); and a poem that he wrote to a friend who gave him some cheese instead of the wine that he had asked for. The identification of the poet was made by Schirmann. (Information in part from Goitein and Friedman, India Traders.) ASE

The first six leaves of a copy of the Ghurar al-Balāgha of Hilāl al-Ṣābi' — a book of formularies for letter-writing — copied in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. Edited by Gottheil and discussed by Cohen in "Correspondence and Social Control in the Jewish Communities of the Islamic World," Jewish History 1, no. 2 (1986): 39-48.

Tafsīr on Leviticus in Judaeo-Arabic in a beautiful hand. Of documentary value because of the ownership notes (on verso of Bodl. MS heb. e 74/81): Avraham b. Yeshaʿya ha-Ḥaver and Shemuel ha-Levi b. Seʿadya (ZL) (a judge who served in Maimonides' court).

Prayerbook in Spanish or Judaeo-Spanish. In Latin script. Containing the yaʿale ve-yavo prayer for Rosh Hodesh as well as a portion of the liturgy for Shabbat afternoon. Likely 16th century, predating the Ferrara siddur. Edited by Eleazar Gutwirth, "Fragmentos de Siddurim españoles en la Guenizá," Sefarad 1980

Booklet containing Judaeo-Arabic glosses on sections of Genesis and Noah. Of documentary interest because there are a great number of biblical place names given their Judaeo-Arabic equivalents (Kittim = Cyprus(!), Tuval = China, Meshekh = Khorasan, and so forth).

Halakhic works of Yosef b. Yaʿaqov rosh ha-seder. דף טיוטות # יוסף בן יעקב ראש הסדר, נספחות לחיבור # טיוטות של חיבורי הלכה שונים צד ב: שני חלקים, שמאל: מלמעלה למטה פיוט בענייני חיובי פסח. ימין: ביאור הסוגיה בקביעת שעה חמישית. צד א, למטה: פרקים לחיבור הלכתי מתוכנו בהלכות פסח # טיוטות של חיבורי הלכה שונים צד ב: שני חלקים, שמאל: מלמעלה למטה פיוט בענייני חיובי פסח. ימין: ביאור הסוגיה בקביעת שעה חמישית. צד א, למטה: פרקים לחיבור הלכתי מתוכנו בהלכות פסח # טיוטות של חיבורי הלכה שונים

A drash written by Shemuʾel Ben Sid on the occasion of the birth of his son (דרש שדרש החכם השלם מורי ורבי כמחה׳׳ר שמואל ן׳ סיד נר׳׳ו כש נולד לו בן). The fragment continues across eight folios and is dated on f.1r in the year 5375 AM which is 1614/15 CE. Based on the dating this may be the same Shemuʾel Ben Sid listed in a wide variety of other contemporary fragments such as: ENA 1822a.102 and ENA NS 39.14. (Fragment discovered by Prof. Eve Krakowski 08/18/22). MCD.

Owner's note on a codex - the name is hasa[n?] b. Musa.

Poem of friendship written by Shemuʾel the cantor b. Avraham ha-sefaradi. On the back the holiday of sukkot is mentioned, which may have served as the occasion for the reading out of this poem. The writer addresses his friends and lords, declares his love and loyalty to his friends who wished him to be married and beget children. "Take this poem, albeit short, and your love will cover my sin."

poems for a groom. the name Ibn Ma'usa (?) is mentioned.

Panygeric prasing the leaders (negidim) of the Jewish community. Mentioned are Elʿazar, Yefet, and ʿUziel and later also ʿOvadya. There is also a single line of poetry in Arabic script (about tears).

Colophon written by Hillel ha-melammed b. Perahya in Damascus, 5036=1275.

Poems for a groom named Moshe b. Yosef ha-Levi. Dating: Late, based on the hand.

Colophon by Berakhot b. Eliyahu b. Zecharyahu (son of the judge). one the other side of the page are some pen trials.

Poem for(?) Yehuda b. Shemuel mentioning Alexandria. On the back are drafts in a cursive hand, perhaps of poetry.

Colophon (FGP)

On recto a dirge in Hebrew. On verso probably from book of Josiphon. AA

Qaraite-Rabbanite polemic