Geniza Lab

Recto: Legal query with responsum. Dating: First half of the 11th century. Concerning a cantor who took an oath not to lead prayers in the synagogue or to slaughter for the congregation in the market. In order to release him from the vow, the heads of the congregation asked him questions such as, would he have taken this oath if he knew that people would say that he was an idiot? If he knew that his family would get mad at him? If he knew that people would say that he was a melancholic (sawdāwī) and therefore prone to taking many oaths? He responded that he would not have taken the oath. Thus, they released him from his oath. The responsum is damaged but appears to state that the release from the vow is invalid. (Information from Amir Ashur via FGP.)

Letter in Arabic script, in a beautiful hand. Dating: 11th century, based on the reference to the Tustaris. The sender is a professional scribe, probably Jewish (refers to Yom Kippur in v2) and probably a high-placed Qaraite—if the addressee fulfills his request, he will praise him before “the judges, and our elders the government officials (kuttāb), and the Tustarīs” (v9). The addressee might not be Jewish, as a Jew would not have to be told that Yom Kippur is the 10th of Tishrei. The letter contains a detailed update on a court case or some conflict revolving around book copying and book dealing. Mentions an agreement with Abū Isḥāq; liberating some money or goods from "that which they have taken this time," especially two volumes from the owner (or author?) of Dār al-Gharb(?). But the sender has been unsuccessful. Mentions a book called Taṭrīz al-Khiṭāb wa-Sharḥ al-Ṭalab, and refers to a copy in the sender's own hand that occupies five volumes (wa-dhālika awwalan al-nusakh al-mansūkha khams ajzāʾ); the material is parchment, and the value is 15 dinars. Needs further examination. ASE

Notice of oath by Shelomo b. Eliyyahu concerning what he knew about the store of Makin. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Berakha, the wife of Marwān b. Zikrī/Zekharya, to her brother Avraham b. Peraḥya Mahdawī (Ben Yiju). In Judaeo-Arabic. It is unclear if this was written before or after the family's migration from North African to Sicily. She mentions taking an oath in front of her husband (presumably one of the customary oaths of asceticism on behalf of a loved one on a dangerous voyage), but the next few words are damaged and need to be deciphered. It seems that her husband was not pleased; [lam] yarḍā lī baʿali bi-dhālika wa-jawwazahū lī wa-law ashhad fī dhālika l-ṣiyām.... She goes on to describe her loneliness and longing and weeping. The rest is missing. Not included in the India Book. (Information in part from CUDL, Amir Ashur, and Mordechai Akiva Friedman.) ASE

Legal document containing the wording of the vow to be made by Bū Isḥāq Ibn Kathīr. Also mentions ʿOvadya b. Aharon and the wife of the baker. Deals with custom duties (maks), mentioning a shop, money changers and 'The Apple House' (Dār al-Tuffāḥ). Money (dirhams and dinars) are weighed and kept with different men. Among many other things, Bū Isḥāq must vow that he reported all of the profits from the sale of a special kind of watermelon (al-Burullusī) and that he embezzled nothing "except what a mosquito (baʿūẓa) can carry." Join: Alan Elbaum. ASE.