Geniza Lab

Letter draft (beginning only) in Arabic script. From a certain Abū l-Ḥasan to the "distinguished physicians."

Letter from R. Yaʿaqov to Ḥalfon ha-Levi b. Netanʾel, Cordoba. Yaʿaqov, who is otherwise unknown, writes regarding a dispute with Ḥalfon over the sources of a halakhic ruling, whether one should refer back to the talmud directly or to the geʾonim. Also includes ad hominem attacks. Yaʿaqov sought to bring the dispute to arbitration before Ibn Migash and Yehonatan Ben Ghiyat. Faded and difficult to decipher, in addition the usual problems of vagueness on matters well-known to both sender and recipient. (Information from Friedman and Goitein, Ḥalfon [India Book vol. 4]) Probably Lucena

Communal letter in Hebrew, from a city in Palestine (per Goitein and Mann) or Damascus (per Gil) to the yeshiva in Jerusalem (per Gil) or Fustat (based on the accounts on verso). Dating: 1050–55 CE, based on the likely identifications of Ḥaydara and Khaṭīr al-Mulk. "The extortion of payments of the capitation tax in advance is thus far known from Geniza records only for Palestine and for the second quarter of the eleventh century, a period of anarchy and misrule. According to one report, payment was asked a full five months before the Muslim New Year on which it was due." (Goitein, Med Soc II, p. 389.) The story in the document is very interesting. The sender describes that the Bedouins (הערביים) gained control over the city and collaborated with a judge, the nephew of Abū l-Sayyār(?), to cut off the water supply of the Jews. Whenever the Jews succeeded in swaying a ruler (כל מושל ושליט) to restore the water supply, their enemies united and denied that the Jews had any right to the water. Another ruler (shaliṭ) came to power this year, named Ḥaydara Dhakhīrat al-Dawla (appears also in T-S K25.249 in 1031 CE). The community sent emissaries to Egypt to obtain "a document (ketav) and a decree (nishtevan)" with three requests: (1) to restore the water supply, (2) to restore the right of slaughtering in the market, and (3) to prohibit collection of the (capitation) tax before the year has begun. The requests were accepted and the decree was issued by Khatīr al-Mulk (=the son of al-Yāzūrī, or possibly al-Yāzūrī himself; see Yaacov Lev, Administration of Justice in Medieval Egypt, p. 145)\. However, the ruler "read (the documents and the decree) and cast them from his hand" and demanded hefty bribes before fulfilling any of the injunctions. The Jews' enemies were outraged and protested, but gave up in disgrace when the ruler said that they would have to obtain a counter-decree annulling the first one. Nevertheless, the judge of the city persisted in demanding the capitation tax 5 months ahead of time, 250 gold coins from the community. On verso there are communal accounts in Arabic script—see separate record. For further analysis and identifications of the state officials involved, see Gil, History of Palestine, sec. 599, and Rustow, Lost Archive, p. 255.

Hebrew letter of congratulation addressed to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. Awkal, containing Purim wishes and blessings for his sons, Hillel and Benjamin. (Information form Mediterranean Society, V, 618)

Letter from Yoshiyyahu Gaon to the community of Damietta, approximately 1015.

Letter from Daniel b. Azarya to a Jerusalemite staying in Fustat (Gil, Palestine, II, pp. 655-662)

Letter sent by the manager of a farm far away from the capital, named Abu al-Faraj b. Hillel, to the landlord, the Nagid Mevorakh (in office 1078-1082; 1094-1111), urging him to replenish his stock of bees. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, p. 118, and from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Daniel b. Azarya regarding several trading issues included the purchase of different merchandise and payments. The writer's distress is shown from the letter. Was probably written in Damascus. (Information from Gil, Palestine). VMR

Letter from an unknown writer to an unknown addressee. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer rebukes the addressee for failing to write with his news. Everyone has been worried about him. The writer himself has been distressed and sick ever since leaving the addressee, but he finally feeling better. The writer found a certain item with him (second word of line 7) that evidently had to be sent to the addressee, but it was the eve of Passover, and Abū l-Barakāt b. al-Ṣabbāgh had traveled, so the writer had to send it with the bearer of the present letter, Abū l-Faraj al-Kohen known as Ibn Qasāsa. There are also a few lines of Arabic script at the bottom, oriented 180 degrees to the main text. Includes a basmala and the word "mablagh" (amount/sum). (Information in part from CUDL and from Goitein's index cards.) ASE

Petition from the early Ayyubid period from Yehuda ha-Kohen to Eliyyahu requesting a meeting with the head of a government office regarding taxes for the transport of animals. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, pp. 270, 271, 467, and from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Abū l-Manṣūr b. Ṭāhir al-Kohen, in Alexandria, to the Abū ʿAlī Manṣūr b. Yiṣḥaq al-Dimashqī, in Fustat. Dating: 1170s CE. The addressee was just then beginning his commercial career. The letter reports on an decree of Saladin that was proclaimed in Alexandria, halving the customs dues (maks) that had been incumbent on local and foreign Jews and Christians. The ṣāḥib al-dīwān authenticated and registered the decree (athbatahū), and the amir Fakhr al-Dīn ordered for it to be implemented. The local Jews took out the Torah scroll and prostrated themselves and prayed for the government. Also mentions various business dealings, including in sugar, and people including Hibatallāh the trader from Tripoli and Abū l-ʿIzz b. Bishr. (Information in part from CUDL and Frenkel.)

Letter from Shelomo b. Yehuda to the Nasi (?).

Draft of a letter from Efrayim b. Shemarya to Shelomo b. Yehuda. (MR; see also S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 1:399; 2:8, 520, 534)

Letter from Shemuel b. Moshe, Tyre, to Eli b. Amram, Fustat, approximately 1050.

Letter from Yisrael b. Natan, Jerusalem, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat. Dating: March 1062 CE. Among other matters, Yisrael reports that he is in bad shape: he was sick with congestion (nazla), a cough (suʿāl), and eye pain (wajaʿ al-ʿaynayn), although now he is feeling somewhat better. He asks Nahray to obtain bitumen (qifār) from Abū l-Faraj Yeshuʿa, and send it to him, "for this is the most helpful (drug) for me." ASE

Letter/petition in Arabic script. Seems like a letter of appeal for charity. Reused for a Hebrew literary text by the same scribe with crude handwriting who reused many Arabic-script documents (see FGP join finder). Needs further examination.

Letter from Abū l-Majd, in Qūṣ, to Abū l-Mufaḍḍal the judge, in Fustat. Mentions Egypt, Abū l-Riḍā, Ibn Ibrahim al-ʿArīf, Abū l-ʿAlā b. Ḥassūn, Abū l-Ḥasan and Abū l-Khayr. Dated: Wednesday, 23 Tammuz (1400+)145 = 1545 Seleucid, which is 21 June 1234 CE. (Information in part from CUDL.)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic from a craftsman to ʿAbd al-Laṭīf, second half of the 15th century.

Letter sent from Alexandria by Ibrahim b. Farah to Yehuda b. Musa b. Sighmar in Fustat, dealing with merchandise sent to Sicily, describing the itineraries of ships and mentioning some letters. (Information from Gil)

Letter from Yahya b. Eli Kohen Fasi, from Qayrawan, to his brother Yosef, in Alexandria. August 9, 1052. The writer defenses himself against his brother’s accusation and describes the difficult situation in the Maghreb, which prevents him from sending goods, especially because of the attacks in the sea (probably by the Byzantines). Also mentions that the goods are getting more expensive. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #404) VMR