Geniza Lab

Letter from Yeshuʿa b. Yefet to two brothers, to the dukkān of Bāb al-Futūḥ, which means this was probably sent to Cairo rather than Fustat. In Hebrew (introduction) and Judaeo-Arabic (body) and Arabic script (address). One of the addressees is named Maḥāsin, and the address also contains the name الي אלכהן = Eli[yya?] al-Kohen. Only a couple lines of the body of the letter are preserved.

Form letter from the community of Hebron. In Hebrew. Dated: 5539 AM, which is 1778/79 CE. The name Refa'el Ḥannuka is filled in in big letters; he may be the addressee, and he may be located in Istanbul. The letter describes the machinations of the oppressors of the Jews and how they obtained a firman to impose a taqsīṭ(?). The community has sent Eliyyahu Lahka(?) as their shaliaḥ, and if he does not receive enough money to bring back, they will perish.

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic. The writer complains about lack of news and mentions various modest sums in dirhams.

Letter of appeal for charity addressed to a Nagid. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentions the person known as "the ḥedvat" (אלחדואת).

Business letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Likely late 12th or early 13th century. Mentions al-Rashīd b. al-Dayyān; "the medicines"; walnuts and raisins.

Letter from Safed to Egypt

Letter in Judaeo-Persian.

Letter from a fattore (agent) to his employer.

Letter fragment sent to Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic with the address in Arabic script. Dating: Liikely 11th century. Little of the content remains. A man named Abū ʿAlī Ḥasan b. al-Tarkash(?) is mentioned.

Letter from Yeshuʿa the bookseller to an unknown addressee. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Likely 13th century, but this is a guess. The writer has been endeavoring to sell the manuscript on behalf of Sayyidnā, but it is impossible to find a buyer. It seems that he has an offer of 120 dirhams, so he writes to ask if he should sell it for that price; if not, he is going to return it, because he has worn himself out. The other manuscripts are also not selling well.

Letter from Yosef to Netanel ha-Talmid ha-vatiq ha-ḥakham ve-ha-navon. In Judaeo-Arabic. Only the formulaic introduction and good wishes for the holiday are preserved.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic (FGP). Late. Very faded. Jerusalem may appear in the address.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic (FGP). Little of the content remains.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Handwriting of Avraham Maimonides. Addressed to al-Kohen al-Peqid(?). Giving instructions concerning a visit(?) of Eliyyahu the Judge. Needs further examination.

Letter in Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Mentions the "years(?) of the Christians." Difficult to understand much of the content.

Letter from a widow in Safed regarding her property in Egypt

Recto: Letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. Extremely faded, reddish ink. Verso: Letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. Possibly the response to the original letter. Also quite faded. Mentions a Christian and Alexandria and the government; also mentions someone writing a 'khuṭṭa' or 'khaṭṭuhu' for a total of 6,000 (of what, it is not clear); the numbers 2000-something and 7000 also appear. Needs examination.

Informal note from Yūsuf to a respected person ('sayyidnā'). In Judaeo-Arabic, calligraphic. The writer asks the addressee to do something (ישיל) with the bearer because he does nothing for his mother, who is 'cut off' and whose father is in Cairo.

Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew. Mentions 'the fairness of his honor our prince' (inṣāf ḥaḍrat sarenu). On verso there is a text in Hebrew.

Letter fragment. Sent from Alexandria. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentions Sayyidnā al-Rayyis (probably Avraham Maimonides) several times. Also mentions a person named Abū l-ʿAlā b. Abū l-Rabīʿ. Regards to "the two boys."