Geniza Lab

Fragment of a letter, probably from a son to his father in Fusṭāṭ. He mainly discusses the flax business and sends regards to numerous people. He concludes, "The amir intends to come in [to Fusṭāṭ], and you must go to him and welcome him and thank him. Likewise Muwaffaq al-Dawla al-Ustādh. By God, I have the utmost gratitude for him." Possibly by the same writer: T-S 12.31.

Fragment of a letter from Avraham b. Natan Av (identification on the basis of handwriting), Tyre, to Yehuda ha-Kohen ha-Rav ve-Rosh ha-Seder b. Yosef regarding opposition to the writer and his resultant inability to carry out his communal tasks as judge. Information from FGP.

Short note in Judaeo-Arabic: "Let it be known to Mūsā that Avraham al-Shammāʿ agreed with us that he live in the house that his sister used to live in, and no one may prevent him from living there. Peace."

Recto: Small fragment of a Judaeo-Arabic letter. Verso: Text discussing the calendar and liturgical additions.

Fragment of a letter from Abū l-Thanāʾ to his "father," possibly named Abū Saʿd Ibn [...]. In Judaeo-Arabic, with the address in Arabic script (note that the bottom line of the address was originally the top line; it appears where it is now because of how the letter was glued shut and cut open). Dating: Probably late 12th or 13th century, based on handwriting. The sender says that the holiday was no holiday at all due to the addressee's absence. He reports that there is no longer any need (wajh, spelled וש) for the addressee to stay away (fī bilād al-ghurba), because the diwan has received in full (istawfā) whatever was owed to it (the capitation tax?), and "al-Ḥazzāzī has taken for us its writ/document (or even receipt? ḥujja)." Join by Amir Ashur.

Letter fragment from Salāma b. Yūsuf al-Gazal, in al-Mahdiyya or Qayrawan, to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov Ibn ʿAwkal. Dating: shortly before 18 October 1030 CE (there is a note in Arabic script stating that the letter was received on that date). Give sinformation about shipments of merchandise to the Maghreb during the summer. It seems that Ibn ʿAwkal complained to the writer, and the latter answers his complaints. (Information from Gil.) VMR.

Letter from Mardūk b. Mūsā (Alexandria) to Yosef b. ʿEli Kohen Fāsī (Fustat), ca. 1065. In the hand of the sender’s son, Mūsā b. Mardūk. Mentions various wares, including rice, sugar, camphor water and regrets that previous letters by Yosef b. ʿEli Kohen Fāsī did not include more information about himself and the state of affairs in town. The recipient is requested to urge Nahray b. Nissim to conclude a purchase. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, p. 803.)

Fragment of a business letter in Judaeo-Arabic, mentioning Abū Yaʿqūb Yosef b. Nissim, the arrival of the Kohen, and [Isḥā?]q al-Qābisī.

Recto: letter in Judaeo-Arabic with some missing lines. Verso: an order from Shelomo (b. Elijah the judge) for groceries. (Information from CUDL)

Begging letter, probably, in elegant script informing the addressee that his brother Abū l-Baqā al-Tājir used to give charity to the writer and help his family with the capitation tax, but he has now died without a will. The remainder of the letter is missing the ends of the lines; it involves the late Abū l-Baqā's daughters and niece. ASE.

Note in rudimentary script and spelling to a woman, asking her "on the life of al-Shaykh Abū l-Makārim" to do a certain kindness for the writer (al-ḥajr b-rasmi ʿarḍī?).

Fragment of a letter mentioning Abū l-Munajjā and Abū Naṣr and financial transactions. The handwriting is probably that of Berakhot b. Shemuel; cf. T-S 13J9.11 (published by Friedman), and T-S AS 150.126 (same dimensions and format as this fragment, possibly a join).

Verso: order of payment by Abū Zikrī Kohen for one half raṭl of soap and the same of perfume. Information from CUDL.

Fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic, including the sentence, "If he is in Cairo, he will/should work in qirā'a (teaching?)."

Note in rudimentary script and spelling to a certain Ḥaver. Quite faded. "I did not bring with me to this [...] more than this of [...] and myrobalan (halīlaj?)." Then mentions Alexandria and a boat. Needs further examination.

Letter from Khiyār b. Yaʿaqov to Netanel b. Yefet (aka Abū l-Mufaḍḍal Hibat Allāh b. Ḥusayn). In Judaeo-Arabic. The letter concerns a consignment of mercury (zaybaq), which he was unable to sell in Alexandria, since the price was not yet fixed, while in the bourse of Qāḍī Rajā' (in Fustat) it went for 14 dinars per qintar. No merchandise and no letter in the ship from the Maghrib. In the postscript, mentions traders returning from India and alludes to the concern about the disappearance of Abū l-Faraj Nissim. (Information from Goitein's index card and from India Book)

Letter from Elʿazar b. Avner to Abū l-Rabīʿ Sulaymān b. ʿImrān. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: No later than 1237 CE. The sender chastises the addressee for his inappropriate behavior and speech, somehow concerning Avraham Maimonides and the pietist movement. Verso contains the address and, inverted in relation to recto, a list of names. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Nearly complete letter in Judaeo-Arabic regarding dealings with the government. The writer inquires if Ibn al-Rifʿa is home, and if so, he should take the tawqīʿ (signed decision) and bring it to a certain official named al-Sayfī. Then, people should gather together and call for help (yaghūthū) at al-Sayfī's gate. The remainder is rather obscure and mentions the governor (wālī) of Fustat, who may have refused to talk to anybody until he had personally met with al-Sayfī. Needs further examination. ASE.

Letter from a woman to a female family member. In Judaeo-Arabic. Mentions: Ibn al-Rayyis Abū l-B[arakāt] (=Shelomo b. Eliyyahu); the addressee's sister; "he does not read and does not pray..."; "I am at a loss..."; someone going up to the dīwān by foot; someone wasting his days in idleness; "yā sittī, here I am stuck with him..."; "the inflamed eye, and I have remained..."; "from al-Rayyis Eliyya (=Eliyyahu the Judge) all that we need..."; "my greatest need... for the cough and the syrup..."; expenses; a blanket; "I found that they had purchased wheat..."; regards to everyone in the family. ASE

Begging letter to a cantor together with the refusal in reply, mentioning Abū l-Faḍāʾil. (Information from CUDL.) (This is not quite clear; it appears that everything here was written by the same scribe, albeit with different pens. The request has to do with prayers rather than money, or at least it is not overtly about money. Needs further examination.)