Geniza Lab

Esoteric text in Judaeo-Arabic. May be magical ( "indeed you will be able to do whatever you wish to Khalaf b. Moshe") and/or for treasure-hunting ("indeed, you will find it")

Calendrical notes in Hebrew, a commercial note in Arabic mentioning 5 dinars, and various jottings, possibly accounts. (Information from CUDL)

Hebrew poetry in the hand of Nāṣir al-Adīb al-ʿIbrī. Mentions Yefet Rosh Qehillot, Avraham Sar [...], Yiṣḥaq, Yehuda, and Moshe. Perhaps a poem of gratitude or patronage, but this conjecture is complicated by the phrase המלוך תמלוך, a reference to the story of Joseph.

Magic recipe. Joins with T-S AS 142.6. (data from FGP by Prof. Gidi Bohak). TS 12.102 which is consider to be a join, is probably unconnected directly to this - it contains remains of a kettuba on recto, and a magical text on verso. AA

Magical amulets to protect against scorpions, designed to be worn rolled up in an amulet case around the neck. The magician has repeatedly copied the amulet, drawing a crude scorpion at the bottom of each. Several have evidently been cut off and sold. (Information from CUDL.) See Gideon Bohak, "Some 'mass-produced' Scorpion-amulets from the Cairo Genizah," in A Wandering Galilean (2009), 35–50.

Colophon of a booklet (קוטראסה/קונטרס). Location: Alexandria. Dated: Elul 4959 AM, which is 1199 CE. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Maimonides Misheh Torah, Eruvin, 5, copied by Yosef b. Shemuel Halevi. AA

Magical fragment, probably. In Judaeo-Arabic.

Amulet for Ḥalfōn b. Ghāliya desiring the effect that his wife Sitt al-Ahl Hilāla bt. Malīḥa should keep her love for him. Also that he find favor in the eyes of the judge and all people. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Minute fragment. Calendrical? AA

Recipe for a certain kind of wine ("al-nabīdh al-mudabbir"). On verso there are calendrical calculations mentioning Tishrei 1423 Seleucid, which is 1111 CE.

Drawing of a model for woodwork. Perhaps for a panel for an ark (?). (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Some sort of prayer (יהי רצון מלפני שוכן...).

Two interesting spells for binding demons to obey you. The handwriting is similar to that of the cantor Abu Sahl (Levi), father of Yedutun and Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi (click on the "Abu Sahl Levi" tag for other documents for comparison). Recto: A spell for binding demons by the power of the seal of Solomon. Specific ones conjured include the Cloudy Maymun, the Black Persian Maymun, Shamhorash, and 'Abd al-Rahman. It continues, "O tribe of the Jinn... residents of the wind and the valleys and the deserts and the graves...." Verso: A spell for "tahayyuj." It is to be written Thursday morning in saffron on the parchment of a gazelle and hung up in the wind. "I bind you, o tribe of the Jinn, the Shaytan, the Iblis, the Faqtash, the Zawba'ah... from East and W[e]st and South (Qibliyyan) and North (Bahriyyan)... or from the earth...." Needs further examination together with the join. There is at least one missing line between the two fragments (T-S AS 145.71 + T-S Ar.30.81), but the subject matter of recto and verso are exact matches. Join: Alan Elbaum.

Note in Judaeo-Arabic stating that the amir Timurbugha (תמרבגא) assumed rule on Saturday, 9 Jumādā I 872 AH, which is December 1467 CE. The month is referred to as "Jumādā al-Fard" (גמאדי אלפרד). This is followed by the blessing "may it be a good sign for all Israel. Amen Neṣaḥ Sela.” From other sources, we know that Timurbugha became sultan on Saturday, 5 December 1467 CE and ruled under the name al-Malik al-Ẓāhir before being deposed by Qaitbey two months later. (Information in part from CUDL and Goitein’s index card.) ASE

Probably prognostications or explanations regarding the calendar, mentioning the months Aviv and Nissan. CUDL

Epistle of Rav Sherira Gaon. See Gil, In the Kingdom of Yishmael, I, section 232.

Calendar for the year 1672. AA

Ownership notes from a book: (1) "Came into the possession of Shelomo b. Yiṣḥaq ha-Levi" (2) "Belonging to Sar Shalom b. Shelomo ha-Levi"

Magical text.