Geniza Lab

Letter from Natan Ha-Kohen b, Mevorakh, Ascalon, to Eli Ha-Kohen b. Hayyim, Fustat, approximately 1090.

Complaint of a damin (tax farmer) in al-Minya about competitors, submitted to the Nagid Mevorakh around 1096. The writer claimed to receive one of his appointments as tax-farmer from the father and predecessor of al-Malik al-Afdal. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 2:361, 605-6) EMS See also Cohen, Jewish Self-Government, p. 149; Mann, Jews in Egypt, II, p. 249; Mediterranean Society, I, pp. 85, 411; II, pp. 359, 361, 606; V, p. 367

Draft, written in two hands, of a letter of congratulations to Mevorakh’s “only son” for Passover. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to the congregation of Alexandria from around the year 1025. The letter deals with complaints from the Palestinian congregation in Alexandria against Yehoshuaʿ ha-Kohen ha-Ḥaver b. Yosef and reprimands him for degrading the title 'Ḥaver'. The letter informs him of a negative decision in regard to the suggestion of Sahlan b. Avraham that the cantor of Alexandria, Sela b. Moshe will be granted the title of 'Ḥaver'. The Hebrew opening of the letter was published by Jacob Mann, The Jews of Egypt and Palestine, 2:116, (he misread the cantor's name as Shelomo rather than Sela). See also Goitein, Med. Soc. 2:56 and 2:213-214. (Information from Frenkel).

Letter from Mūsā b. Yaʿqūb, Ṣūr (Tyre), to Abū l-Aʿlāʾ Yūsuf b. Dāwūd b. Shaʿyā, Fustat.

Letter from Yisrael b. Natan from Jerusalem to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. September 8, 1060 (per Gil). Several financial issues between Yisrael and Nahray. Also mentions copying books and the writer asks for a shipment of cinnamon. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 3, pp. 139-143, #470). VMR

Letter from Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat, to Yeshuʿa b. Ismāʿīl al-Makhmūrī, probably in Qayrawān. Dating: around 1045. The letter mentions correspondence with the Maghrib, the anxiety in Fustat about the Nile flood, and items such as iron, wool, textiles, resin and spices. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #241)

Letter dealing with the ransom of prisoners and mentioning the liberality of Nethaneel ha-Kohen and David Hallewi.

Letter from Ibn Barukh, in Almeria, to Ḥalfon b. Netanel. Dating: Probably end of summer 1138 CE. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book 4; full Hebrew description below.)

Letter in Hebrew to all congregations, mentioning David, “Head of the Captivity.” Directions on verso in Arabic script, mostly lost. (Information from Goitein's index cards.) Also in his handwriting (or part of the same letter?): T-S 12.257 + T-S AS 145.278 + T-S K25.209. And T-S 6J5.1 EMS. ASE.

Message from Avraham, son of the Gaon, to Sahlan b. Avraham, probably 1030.

Letter from Aharon b. Yeshua ibn al-Ammani written from Alexandria to Abu Sa'id al-'Attar (the perfumer) in Fustat. (Information from Frenkel; Goitein adds that the letter was written in Aharon's hand. Aharon asked the perfume seller about seven manuscripts written on parchment in Arabic and Hebrew which were probably to be sold. The list consists of a biblical commentary, a volume by the 10th century Jewish poet Yosef b. Abitur, three volumes containing an Arabic translation of the Greek pharmaceutical handbook of Dioscorus, and two volumes on Jewish law entitled Halakhot Gedolot, by Simon Qayara. Dated ca. 1140; See Med. Soc. 2:258 and 2:580).

Letter in which a father imposes on a friend to immediately go see “the cursed matchmaker Mother of the Black” and ask her to tell everyone that her story about the writer’s son was untrue. The girl to whom his son was betrothed had lied, and her mother (“the dear lady”) possibly lied as well. The writer expresses that his son did not wish at all to conclude the marriage. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 3:73, 442) EMS

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Avraham Ha-Kohen, Sar Ha-Eda b. Yiṣḥaq.

Letter containing a note of congratulations for a marriage contract and wishing the new husband a fertile union, citing the biblical blessing conferred on Ruth upon her marriage. (Eve Krakowski, “Female adolescence in the Cairo Geniza documents,” PhD diss., The University of Chicago, 2012, 163) EMS. Names of addressee and sender are visible (but faded) on verso.

Beautifully written letter sent to the Nagid Mevorakh at an early point in his career, probably by a person who had formerly been employed by him. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda, probably to Sahlan b. Avraham, Fustat, approximately 1030.

Note from Barhun b. Yishaq al-Tahirti, probably from Mahdiyya, to Nahray b. Nissim, Alexandria. Around 1045. Nahray is in his early days in Egypt, and his cousin Barhun writes him instructions about buying flax, managing the goods that will arrive by ships, and dealing with the money that he will get from sales. Mentions the connections with the Tustaris and with Abu al-Kasim Abed al-Rahman. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #378) VMR

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to Efrayim b. Shemarya, approximately 1029.

Letter to the judge Yiṣḥaq b. Shemuel the Spaniard of Fustat asking him to induce the Nagid to approach the wali (head of police) and the qadi (Muslim judge). (Information from Goitein's index cards)