Geniza Lab

Court record. In Hebrew. Location: Crete (Candia). Dated: Monday, 1 Tevet 5275 AM, which is 1514/15 CE. Certifying that the bearer of this document, Ahmet b. Umar (אחמט בן אומר), purchased two barrels of kosher wine and 32 wheels(?) of cheese, and that any Jew may purchase and eat these items.

Legal document. Location: Fustat. Dated: Elul 5372 AM, which is 1612 CE. Only the last two lines and the witness signatures are preserved. "We decree by the strength of נח״ש(?) that nobody except for the aforementioned scribes will. . . " On verso there is a halakhic text in Hebrew.

Legal document. Location: Cairo. Date: Tuesday, 12 Sivan 1814 Seleucid, which is 1503 CE. Under the reshut of the Nagid Yiṣḥaq (Sholal). Likely a release between two parties. Not included in the settlement are 4 dirhams and two qirats of pearls. But the coral and carnelian and syrups will go entirely to one of the partners. Witnesses: ʿOvadya [...]; Shelomo b. Binyamin.

Recto: Legal document (iqrār). In Judaeo-Arabic. Location: Fustat/Cairo. Dated: 5 Adar 5588 AM, which is 1828 CE. Involving Raḥamim Bibas, Yaʿaqov Bibas, and Yosef Bialobos. Needs further examination. On verso there is a commentary on the 10 plagues.

Partnership agreement. In Hebrew. Dated: Before Passover of 5565 AM, which is 1805 CE. Partners: Moshe ha-Levi ʿAjamī and David ha-Levi ʿAjamī and Ḥayyim Ẓanuaʿ. The business had to do with clothing.

4 pages of Geonic responsa. Most of ot was published by Wertheimer, pp. 16-20. Contains translations of of various Talmudic terms, all by R. Sherira and his son R. Hiyya Gaon. Also published in Otzar ha-Geonim, Gittin, p. 195, no. 454. Joins with ENA 1491.6. AA

Responsum (FGP)

Responsum (FGP)

Responsum (FGP)

4 pages contains four legal queries and their responsa all by the RIF. Published in Wertheimer, קהלת שלמה, p. 92-94 [Ginzei Yerushalyim, p. 68-71. The responsa are not found in the published collection of RIF responsa. Another page is found in Mosseri VIII.407. On page four letters from the end of a resonsum. The first query is numbered '34' and was sent from Cordoba, about two brothers arguing about their share in an inheritance. The first born is claiming a double share. After this query another one, numbered 35, regarding the same issue: if one of the brothers will want to sell his share, how should they divide it. The query is ending in verso, l. 5, where the responsum begins. It's end is missing. Fol 2, recto: end of a query and responsum, numbered 40. About an argument between a wife, ptobably a widow, and the heirs of a piece of land which they holding in their possession. The woman is demanding the land for herself. The RIF reply that the heirs should produce a legal deed proving the land has been given to them, and if not it should be returned to the woman. On l. 17 another query about a wife who gave a house to her husband as a dowry. After his death the house was sold without her consent to a third person and they are now demanding the rent. He is demanding the rent from the son who sold him the house. The reponsum starts on verso, l. 9, but most of the text is missing. AA

See PGP 15902

Query from Gabes to Hayya Gaon (FGP)

Three pages containing Geoncc legal queries. Published by ורטהיימר, קהלת שלמה, עמ' עה-עט (תרגום בעמ' ב-יד) [= גנזי ירושלים תשמ"ב, עמ' ט-כא]. A new version of the query on the appointed death based on this MS and on another MS from Firkovitch collection publisged by וייל, ספר היובל לאסף, עמ' 261-267. On top of fol. 1 a title 'מן מסאיל מדינה'' קאבס לרבינו האיי ז'ק'ל' ' [= queries from Qabis to R. Hayya). Below a responsum on the 'appointed death', which continues on fol. 2, recto. Another versions of this responsum is found in TS Ar. 50.154 and BL Or. 5554B. Below another query on Jonah and the reason for his escape. In l. 13 another query on forbidden sex partner. L. 26 another one regardong the boy from the story on the king of Moab. The responsum is starting on l. 28 and continues on verso. Berso, l. 13 another query about Eve and the snake. AA

See PGP 15831

See PGP 15831

Collection of responsa by R. Hayya Gaon. The first about Deutronomy 18:8, published by Wertheimer, ' קהלת שלמה עמ' פ-פא (תרגום בעמ' כא-כח). The 2nd responsum about cantor in Rosh ha-Shana published ibid, p. 24 (Otzar ha-Geonim, Rosh ha-Shana, p.54, no, 96). Publihsed again by פרידמן, 'השני מתקיע', סידרא – כרך יובל לכבוד פרופ' צ"א שטיינפלד כד–כה (תשס"ט–תש"ע). The 3rd responsum publuished by Wertheimer, ibid. p. 25-26 (Otzar ha-Geonim, Rosh ha-Shana, p.56, no, 101; Teshuvot ha-Geonim [Imanuel] no. 252) All the responsa published again by Wertheimer, Ginzei Yerushalayim, p. 27-32. AA

See PGP 15834

See PGP 15834

Responsum (FGP)

6 leaves containing Geonic responsa on Sukka followed by a long responsum about giving a herd of sheeps to a shepherd on Shabbat. The first one was published by Wertheimer, קהלת שלמה, p. 50-51, the second ibid, p. 82-89. Fol 1, recto. end of responsum regarding Bavli Sukka 17a. Published in full from TS G2 in Otzar ha-Geonim, Sukka. p. 23-24. In l. 10 another responsum about Sukka 14a. Published ibid, p. 21, no. 40. In l. 12 a new subject within the save responsum citing Sukka 12b, published ibid. p. 20-21, no. 36. On verso another responsum by Sa'adya Gaon, probably by a different scribe, sent to Meir hakohen b. 'Eli, whether it is permitted to a Jew to give is herd to a gentile shepherd in Shabbat. On fol. 2 recto continuation of another responsa on the same subject. Verso l. 7 responsum by R. Nahshon, which we have in a shorter version in Geonei Mizrah u-ma'arav, no. 54. Fol. 4, l. 18 responsum by R. Hayya Gaon. .