Geniza Lab

Lease of an apartment to a parnas as settlement of a debt, AD 1029-1031. The qodesh owes Yaʿaqov b. Mevasser (whom we shall find six years later in charge of the properties of the qodesh) 10 dinars, apparently the balance of money borrowes from him to carry out repairs in the arba, the estates, belonging to the qodesh. The parnasim do not find any way to pay him this sum, and therefore it is decided to lease him the compound of the qodesh in the b. Khabisa lane for two years, for 5 dinars a year. The four parnasim receive permission to do this from Isaac ha-Kohen b. Haggay, who was apparently a member of the court, the whole community being witness to the act of lease. The compound seems to be Dar Sumana. Some special stipulation was added regarding the hikr, probably stating which of the two parties had to pay it. The verso, which was probably written two years later, includes a declaration, which apparently definitively absolves the qodesh from payment of the last five dinars still due to Yaʿaqov b. Mevasser. The recipient of the declaration, Isaac ha-Kohen b. Haggay, transfers the deed to Husayn b. Hillel (probably identical with Husayn al-Dhahabi). Samuel ha-Kohen b. Avtalyon, one of the leaders of the Palestinian congregation, is the signatory at the bottom of the deed. Written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 144 #4)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1041. Most items in this account refer to building operations at the synagogue. Some other synagogue expenditures, such as oil, are also listed. Further details refer to a number of compounds belonging to the qodesh. It is written in a calligraphic handwriting and the account was probably intended ofr public display in the synagogue. The handwriting of Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya can be recognized. Since the document refers to oil used in the synagogue to the end of Elul 1351 Sel. (10 Sept. 1040), it was probably written in 1041. The verso of the document was used at the end of 1041 for an account written in Arabic characters. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 175 #12)

Account of the Qodesh: computation of total yearly revenue from rent, ca. 1041. A draft, written in Arabic characters apparently by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya on the verso, probably after the recto had been display in the synagogue for several months. The parnas records the total yearly revenues, in gold and wariq (cash/silver). The revenue in gold was smaller than expected, and that in wariq bigger. Several additional revenue items and debts are listed. The account ended on 30 August 1041. (Gil, Documents, 179 #13) VMR

Account of the Qodesh: payments to building workers, ca. 1045. Two fragments written in Arabic script, on vellum, the verso of a letter. Apparently, this was an intiial record of the names of the people and the itemized list for the day on which work was done, to serve as a basis for payment and the final recording. The names seem to be of both Muslims and Copts. The record covers a period of about five months, from the beginning of July to the end of November, 1045. Gil's interpretation is that the work was done at the compound of al-rayis, by which a notable of the congregation was mean. The sums due aare not mentioned since there were set rates according to professional grade. Some of the workers are sani'in, which seems to mean here the more skilled masons; some banna'in masons; there is also a sabi, an apprentice. The only payment recorded is of one dinar, which was probably an advance. The handwriting seems to be of Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp.208 #30)

Account of the Qodesh: personal account of a parnas, ca. 1040. Small fragment, the right part of a leaf, in which Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya listed his current pecuniary operations, on the 24th day of Tammuz. Revenues and expenditures were listed together as they developed. (Informtion from Gil, Documents, pp. 189 #19)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1040. List of expenses, beautifully written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya. Materials for the construction of a ceiling are being prepared. Work on a "wind catcher," plastering, supplies of clay, and sewage work are also among the items listed. Clay is paid for after having been weighed by "the Christian," obviously a Copt, the Copts being much involved in building work. Mentions a wind catcher (bādhanj). (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 187 #18)

Ishaq b. Avraham appoints Furat b. Yosef as a power-of-attorney against neighbors who had taken possession of the house he had inherited in the village of Manda in the Galilee. Dated ca. 1030 and written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya (Goitein) or by Efrayim b. Shemarya (Bareket). (Information from from Bareket, p. 147, and from Goitein's attached notes.)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1037-38. The parnasim Husayn (Yefet) b. Da'ud (David) b. Shekhanya and Yaʿaqov b. Bishr al-Arjawani list the expenditures made by them during A.H. 429. The building operations refer to the synagogue and to the "new compound," which is most probably Dar Qutayt. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 164 #10)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1037. A very damaged record, mentioning the supply of different materials, such as oakum, straw, reeds, bricks, lime, twigs, clay, nails, water. Also, payments to sawyers, masons, carpenters, plasterers, and helpers. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp.161 #9)

Account of the Qodesh: list of arrears in rent owed by different tenants in the synagogue compound, from December 1042 CE to April 1043 CE. The rent was collected and the document written by the scribe Yefet the cantor b. David b. Shekanya. He then lists the current payments for one month, Jumada'l-ula; some apartments are said to have been vacant. The list is large in size, written in big characters, and was probably intended for public display. (Information from CUDL and Gil, Documents, pp. 193 #22)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1044 SH [11-12-86] Fragment of a leaf written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya, torn at its upper and right edges. Materials for carpentry work are mentioned, acacia and sesbania, nails, locks, and doors. The grapes bought for the sum of one dinar were apparently for the synagogue, where they were probably made into wine to be used in the synagogue services, and stored in jugs. August, the month in which this took place, was the vintage month in Egypt. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 207 #29)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures and revenue from rent, ca. 1039. This record contains details about sums of rent collected from "the Estate of the Synagogue of the Palestinians" for A.H. 429 and 430. It was written at the end of 1039. The revenue list mentions the first period during which Dar Qutayt was inhabited whereas before it had been empty. The building expenditures refer in part to the synagogue. The three parts of the document have found their way into three different boxes of the Taylor-Schechter Collection. Written in the hand of Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 167 #11)

Record of the activities of the qodesh at the end of the 10th and the first half of the 11th century, up to 1034 CE. Written ca. 1040 CE. This record which was intended for public display, lists the achievements of the qodesh, as far as the properties dedicated to the Synagogue of the Palestinians are concerned. For each stage the names of the parnasim who were in charge of the qodesh are listed. At the end of the 10th century apparently only two or three compounds comprised the real estate dedicated to the Synagogue of the Palestinians. During the seven administrations of parnasim listed in this record, new compounds, apartments, and shops were added either by purchase or by construction, made possible by the revenue from the earlier ones. Several major repairs of the extant buildings and also repairs and improvements in the synagogue are listed. The main part of the document deals with the period of the persecuations under al-Hakim. The synagogues were destroyed and the materials they were made of sold by the Muslim authorities. Later, the period of reconstruction is recorded. The concluding part stresses the custom of giving full publicity to the accounts of the qodesh; also, the duty of any dissatisfied person to file his claims before the court, otherwise risking excommunication. Gil includes ENA 2738.1 as part of this join, even though it is a distinct manuscript containing a draft of the document, of which T-S Ar.18(1).35 + T-S 20.96 is an improved copy. The first word in line 1 of ENA 2738.1 is the last one in line 19 of T-S 20.96. All three fragments are in the hand of hazzan Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya (according to Gil). ENA 2738.1 may actually be in the hand of Efrayim b. Shemarya. (Information from CUDL and Gil, Documents, pp. 136-137 #3)

Account of the Qodesh: revenue from rent, ca. probably 1043. This record written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya still refers to "the four months" mentioned in T-S 20.168, and seems therefore to be a continuation of it. It refers mainly to the collection of the arrears that were enumerated in the former part. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 195 #23.) See also Goitein's note card.

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1040. Written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya, listing a series of items connected with the reconstruction work of that period. Clay and gypsum are being prepared for plastering. The removal of debris of ruined buildings also figures here, old pillars and an old pipe being demolished and old ceilings uncovered. The wall, apparently of the synagogue, is still under construction. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 185 #17)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures, ca. 1040. Mainly materials for ceilings and roofs, palm branches, ropes, reeds, etc. Treesare also listed and the supply of doors. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 189 #20)

Account of the Qodesh: revenue from rent and building expenditures, probably ca. 1043. The recto of this leaf is a continuation of the two preceding accountings of revenue from rent (T-S NS 99.49 and T-S K25.84), mostly from the same names of houses and tenants being listed. The first part of the account, as preserved, lists some revenue for the month of Dhu'l-qa'da and the second, some for Dhu'l-hija. The verso lists expenditures in building operations, mainly for wood work, repairs for locks and doors, but also for sewage and other work materials. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 200 #26)

Account of the Qodesh: building expenditures and revenues from rent, ca. 1037. The expenditures listed are for clay work, carpentry, sewage work. In this early period, the qodesh is already in charge of cleaning operations and removal of garbage. Some of the expentitures, such as the candlesticks, are probably related to the synagogue, but the majority pertain to the compounds of the qodesh. The revenues are mostly for longer periods, in some cases even a whole year. Several occupations are listed, of people who had their businesses in shops of the qodesh: a jeweler, a donkey driver, a spindle-maker, and a shoemaker. Written in the hand of Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 154 #8)

Account of the Qodesh: revenue from rent, ca. 1040. A fragment seemingly belonging to the same record as T-S NS J264a and also written by Yefet b. David b. Shekhanya. It contains a partial accounting of rent collected for (probably) Dhu'l-qa'da and Dhu'l-hijja, i.e. the accounts for five months, between T-S NS J264a and this one, are lost. Almost all the tenants are identical with those of T-S NS J264a. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 184 #16)

Account of the Qodesh. Revenue from rent. Dating: probably ca. 1043. The right margin of the leaf is missing; however, we have in it an almost complete list of revenue for one month, Rabīʿ I, and fragmentary details on the preceding one, i.e. Ṣafar, and the following one, i.e. Rabīʿ II. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 203 #27.) Previous description for T-S AS 145.18 (old PGPID 8612): List of rents collected from premises belonging to the Shāmī synagogue. Written by David b. Shekhanya. Dating: No later than 1025 CE. See Med Soc II, p. 436. (Information from Goitein's index card.) Join: Oded Zinger.