Geniza Lab

Letter of recommendation from the office of Yehoshua Mamonides, to be read in the synagogue, on behalf of an elderly, poor man Yiṣḥaq who wishes to travel to Jerusalem. Whatever money comes from the pesiqa is to be forwarded to the Nagid. Bibliography: Mentioned in Goitein, "The Twilight of the House of Maimonides," Tarbiz 54 (1984), 67–104.

Letter from the office of Yehoshuaʿ Nagid (d. 1355) (in Cairo) to the community of Fustat about a conflict between two butchers who had caused trouble for the complainant, one Muwaffaq, and ordering them to return to the customary arrangement whereby one worked three days and the other, the other three days. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, p. 424)

Letter fragment in the hand of the clerk of Yehoshuaʿ Hanagid regarding taxation, including the fee for the police (tarsīm). Mentioned in Goitein, "The Twilight of the House of Maimonides," Tarbiz 54 (1984), 92.

Letter from the office of Yehoshuaʿ Nagid (d. 1355) seeking to bring peace to the community and also urging them to be charitable and especially urging them not to resort to Muslim courts without permission of bet din shel mutahaddithin. (Information from Cohen)

Letter from the office of the Nagid Yehoshuaʿ Maimonides (d. 1355), bearing his motto and in the hand of his clerk. Regarding a certain Avraham, Yosef, and Shemuel, a payment of 8 [...], and the community's fund for food distribution (mezonot).

Letter fragment in the hand of the clerk of Yehoshua Maimonides. An instruction to a cantor to warn a woman that her husband had submitted a complaint to the court. He should try to arrange a settlement or to bring her to court. Information from Goitein's note card.

Letter from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides (d. 1355) to Fustat against improper competition in the making of cheese. Information from Goitein's index card.

Petition in Judaeo-Arabic to the Nagid. Mentioning real estate and rent. The handwriting is likely that of the clerk of Yehoshua Maimonides.

Deathbed declaration dated Tevet 1665 / December 1353, in which Yehuda b. Hananya assigns to his wife, Wazira daughter of the elder called al-Udi, the contents of his house in payment of the money promised her in their marriage contract and sets aside money with the Nagid Yehoshuaʿ to cover the costs of his burial and the 'shiva' (seven-day mourning period).

Letter from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides dealing with the capitation tax and with the kashrut of meat, first half of the 14th c.

Letter from the office of the Nagid Yehoshua Maimonides (d. 1355), regarding evasion of the capitation tax in the community. The previous year they had paid in full and everyone had in addition contributed 10–15 to the mezonot (food) for the poor. (Information from Goitein, Tarbiz 54 (1984), 90–91.) Join: Oded Zinger.

Letter addressed to Farajallāh the cantor. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Probably ca. 14th century. Bears a motto at the top usually seen in the documents of the latter day Maimonideses, e.g., Yehoshua Maimonides. But the handwriting is not that of the clerk of Yehoshua Maimonides. The addressee is to inform Surūr al-Iskandarānī al-Kohen and his son that the two mandīls that the cantor sent from Alexandria have received an offer of 40 dirhams. If they wish to sell them, they should make a declaration before witnesses. If not, they must report immediately to the court. The matter is urgent, because "[fines?] are heavy upon us" concerning "the house of Moshe Rabbenu" (the shrine at Dammūh?). "The remainder of the 4 dinars" is mentioned in the margin.

Letter from the office of Yehoshuaʿ Maimonides asking the holy congregation of Egypt to pay the tax to the Muslim Amir. Paying this tax is considered by God like giving charity.

A letter of recommendation from the office of the Nagid Yehoshua Maimonides, for a poor man Shelomo to be read in the synagogue in Fustat. It is very similar to his letter T-S NS J258 for a poor man Moshe. There is an interesting marginal note in which the writer seems to admit that he has not actually met Shelomo. There is a header added after the letter was complete, similar to those found in T-S Misc.8.18, T-S NS J201, and Bodl. MS heb. b 13/44, of which the second word is probably אמת.

Letter addressed to Sulaymān the beadle. In Judaeo-Arabic. Regarding fundraising for captives, asking the addressee to take charge of it, and also "to collect something from the women." There is some sort of registration mark at the top of the page, which resembles those used by the offices of Yehoshua Maimonides (d. 1355) and David II Maimonides (d. 1410). The handwriting resembles that of the clerk of Yehoshua Maimonides. Needs examination

Letter from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides to Avraham ha-Sar (for the same addressee, see T-S Misc.28.64 and T-S 8J40.2). He reports that he met with ʿAbd al-Karīm and that they 'parted ways in peace.' The addressee is to take the 'awrāq and ḥujaj' from Ibrāhīm and give them to ʿAbd al-Karīm. The upshot of the meeting is that if ʿAbd al-Karīm insults or beats his wife again, he will be excommunicated. Also, the Nagid learned that the synagogue was without a cantor for Minha and Maariv of Shabbat. The cantors Faraj Allāh and ʿAbd al-Karīm are to report to the addressee and declare a ban of excommunication against themselves (!) if they miss the prayer service without an urgent reason, and even then, the other one should substitute. If either one refuses to accept this condition, he will be fired, and if either one gives trouble, he is to be brought before the Nagid. Join by Oded Zinger. ASE.

Letter to Yehoshua Maimonides (1310–55) reminding him of somebody who was excommunicated when his father Avraham II Maimonides (1245–1313) was Nagid. The letter is rather faded and difficult to follow. Needs further examination.

Letter from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides (d. 1355) warning against a traveling preacher, popular in the community, who "speaks of secrets whose meanings he does not understand, like a parrot who speaks and does not know what he says. Moreover, he does not know what is forbidden and what is permissible." Goitein suggests that the reference is to a Jewish preacher with Sufi inclinations, whose influence at this time is also evident in the well known letter published as "A Jewish Addict to Sufism in the time of David II Maimonides."

Letter from the office of the Nagid Yehoshua Maimonides (d. 1355), to the Jewish community in Cairo. He is ordering them to pay back to the public collection for the money (150 dirhams) that was taken from it to the capitation tax, for the poor that could not pay. This amount of money was taken from the "food for the poor" section in the collection. Mid 14th century (Ashtor estimation). VMR

Letter from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides regarding a collection (jibaya), ordering that the addressee's 'wife' (bayt) and the wife of the beadle Sulayman collect from the women. (Information from Goitein's index cards)