Geniza Lab

Letters or groups of letters written by an apprentice who trained in the basics of the alphabet

Letters or groups of letters written by an apprentice who trained in the basics of the alphabet

Letters or groups of letters written by an apprentice who trained in the basics of the Arabic alphabet. This Arabic-script letter is dated 29 Rajab 1187 AH, which is 1773 CE. The Judaeo-Arabic account on verso is dated 5558 AM, which is 1797/98 CE.

Several words written in a thick pen a trial of the pen. Among others one reads the words šayʾ, ḍāʿaf Allāh

Pen trial consisting of three basmala

Dedication inscription, draft: "He dedicated this case with the book inside it, to the memory of his brother, Elazar [b. ?] Netanel, year 1528=1216/7."

Amulet in Arabic script with a humanoid figure, magic squares, and seals.

Illegible. Hebrew script, extremely faded. One word is והוציאם, and at least some words are vocalized.

Jottings and writing exercises signed by a certain Barakāt b. Nissim in a nice square Judaeo-Arabic hand.

Note in Judaeo-Arabic explaining the vocalization of the shewaʾ in Hebrew grammar.

Collection of biblical verses about the triumphs of David, then in Judaeo-Arabic, “the composition (תאלפיה seems to be an error for תאליפה) was completed at the time of his ascendancy/rule over the sects in Nisan 1563 (=1252 CE)." The occasion might have been a political victory of David I Maimonides, but this is hard to prove. Cf. Halper 329.

Magical fragment in Hebrew and Aramaic calling down eternal fire.*

Bifolium. Two of the pages contain rhyming and/or poetic Hebrew text, calligraphically written. Apparently the colophon to the book this used to belong to. It praises the man who composed the work for illuminating difficulties. Then gives the scribe's name: Yiṣḥaq b. Avraham (b. Me'ir b. ʿEzra?). Location: Baghdad. Dated: 1454 Seleucid, which is 1143/44 CE. Mentions Rabbi Netan'el "who from his mouth will read it, and he understands, and he writes it in his books" (?). On the facing page, in a different hand, and in Judaeo-Arabic, there is a recipe for good ink and a recipe for gilded līqa (the tuft of threads that lives in the inkwell). ASE. Go back to this*

Magical fragment

Magical fragment

Palimpsest. The earlier text is extremely faded; it is in Judaeo-Arabic and at least partially deals with recipes or prescriptions. The later text is also Judaeo-Arabic, in a late hand. It is an elaborate recipe/prescription followed by a magical invocation ("I bind you, O Maymūn. . . Ehyeh bar Ehyeh. . .") ASE.

Magical fragment. In Arabic script, with pious Islamic phrases (incl. lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwa illā billāhi al-ʿaliyy al-ʿaẓīm). With stars of David.

Medical prescription. In Arabic script. Reused for accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Likely 11th century.

Prescription in Judaeo-Arabic.

Recipe in Judaeo-Arabic involving iron, sal ammoniac, cotton, silver, and other items. Alchemical?