Geniza Lab

Appeal to the Karaite Jewish community for the establishment of a special prayer for keeping away the spirit of the war from Egypt as requested by King Faruk I, and the Muslims will perform the prayer on the 15 of Shaʿbān, and the Jews will establish the prayer on the first day of Tishrei Rosh Hashanah and the day of atonement "Yom Kippur" – September 29 1940CE / 27 Shaʿbān 1358AH / 27 Elul 5700AM – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 281) – in Arabic and Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 42). MCD.

Personal letter for someone named Yosef Ḥirāz – (number 283) – in Judeo-Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 62). MCD.

Announcement prohibiting the purchase of mezuzot other than from trusted individuals – June 26 1954CE – Museum of Islamic Art – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 35). MCD.

Request from the World Zionist Organization to the Zionist Histadrut of Egypt for the revitalization of Herzl's thought – 1921CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 292) – in Hebrew and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 54). MCD.

Invitation from a charitable institution and the Jewish union in Egypt for attending a course of the educational committee and the institute at al-Ẓāhir Square in Cairo – undated, yet it is noticeable that it was written after 1923CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 293) – in French and the title is in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa. ed. Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 30). MCD.

Invitation from the administration of the Paḥad Isḥak Synagogue (Kraïem) for attending the celebration which will be held in the synagogue on Passover between Saturday 29 March and 9 April 1955CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 294) – in Arabic and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 44). The synagogue had the alternate title of Kraïem after its builder Zahi Kraïem. MCD.

The first page from a letter in three languages requesting aid and assistance coming from the compensation of "Raḥov ha-Nahār" in Jerusalem – the second page is an assessment of the rabbis' compensated traveled, and the changes that occurred with it regarding the collectors and the lighting – undated – (number 295) – in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English.

Announcement by the Ashkenazi Jewish community of Cairo for the opening of a public clinic in the neighborhood of the communal synagogue on Rosette Gardens Street in Cairo – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 3) – in Yiddish and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 52). A scan and translation of this document is available in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (p. 157-158). The original text in French reads: "Communauté Israélite Aschkénazi du Caire – Commision de Bienfaisance – Avis – Nous avons l'honneur d'informer l'honorable public du Caire que nous avons installé une clinque gratuite pour malades, sans distinction de nationalité, sons la direction du docteur A. Tonis, diplômé de l'Université de Genève (Suisse). Clinque ouverte tous les jours de 11 a.m. - 12 sauf Samedi et jours fériés, dans le local de la Cour du Temple de la Communauté sis rue Jardin Rosette." MCD.

Letter letting a friend know of the sender's arrival to Jerusalem – 27 September 1923CE– Museum of Islamic Art – (number 32) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 59). MCD.

Invitation to the Jews of Egypt to donate and assist 1200 Torah students in the cities of Palestine in their poverty or because they are orphans and their rising expenses – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 34). (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 53). MCD.

Letter regarding the construction of the tomb of Rabbi Yaʿacov Abu Haṣīra [in Damanhur] – 1935CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 36) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 36). MCD.

Announcement to members of the community about donating to the Egyptian army for the defense of Egypt – May 28 1948CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 38) in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 64). MCD.

Letter requesting correspondence with knowledge of prices for lost packages and also it is asking for the purchase of clothing and a personal gift – 29 September 1929CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 39) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 68). MCD.

Letter sent from father to son on June 6, 1934 CE. Although the sender's name is not listed, nor is his son's, it is clear that the letter was sent from Petah Tikvah to Cairo. The main purpose of the letter is the father requesting that his son emigrate from Cairo in order to reside in Petah Tikvah. Ḥasan and Sarrāj offer an original scan, edition, and analysis of the letter in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (pp. 160-165). Notably this letter is not mentioned in Muḥammad Rabīʿa's catalogue Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda, which confirms Mark Cohen's appraisal that this resource does not portray the full selection of the MIAC's holdings of geniza fragments unearthed from the Bassatine Cemetery (see: Cohen, "Geniza for Islamicists," 139). MCD.

Appeal from the administrative council of the Jews of Egypt to the assembly of the religious group – undated and it appears that it is dating to after the year 1903 the date of the establishment of the synagogue – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 40) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 33). MCD.

Donation request for the Yeshiva Ahava VeAhva in Meydān al-Ẓāhir in Cairo – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 44) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 59). MCD.

Letter sent from the committee of the Jewish community in Jaffa and Tel-Aviv to Rabbi Yaʿacov Meʾīr on the occasion of reaching the age of eighty and signed at the ending by the vice-president and secretary – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 46) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 53). MCD.

Personal letter sent from Jaffa in which the sender, Yaʿīsh Pineḥas ʿIraqī, notifies his correspondent, Shalōm, of the improvement of his health and then sends salutations to the recipient's siblings – 5 Nisan 1932CE – Bassatine Cemetery – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 47) – in Hebrew. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 52). A scan of this letter and a translation to Arabic are available in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (pp. 176-179). MCD.

Letter pledging to pay the rent on agricultural river floodland – 1926CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 48) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 73). MCD.

Letter from the Yeshiva Ahava VeAhva reporting on the increased participation in services – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 49) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 74). MCD.