Geniza Lab

Recto: fragment of a letter, mentioning a woman’s death, מתה וערסה על השלחן. Verso: letter of consolation, mentioning Safed. (Information from CUDL)

Fragment of a 'magnificent' letter of recommendation. In Hebrew. Refers to the bearer's release from prison, and how he is appropriately abashed. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Letter addressed to Abū l-Makārim Ibn al-Amshāṭī, in Fustat, in Qaysāriyyat al-ʿAṭṭārīn. In Judaeo-Arabic. The sender purchased עוד רטב from the addressee and took it to Alexandria and was unable to [...]. (The continuation is missing.) (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter from Ḥayyim b. Imanuel b. Kayoma, probably from Mahdiyya, to an unknown addressee. Around 1055. The addressee might be one of the Tahirti family. Regarding selling oil, crocus, pearls, and Tustari clothing. The writer mentions a problem with dinars and the request for “Nisari” dinars. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #686) VMR

Recto: late letter prefaced by בס''ד and concluding with an elaborate (and illegible) signature. It politely addresses a friend, Jacob al-Tilimseni, (from Tlamcen, Algeria), asking him to come for Shavuʿot. It refers to ‘your brother, Abraham Cosalio (כושליו)’. Verso: address (upside-down in relation to recto) and a signed postscript, in which the recipient is exhorted to send money to Shemuʾel who is in Egypt. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from a certain Shemuel to a dignitary called Thiqat al-Dawla. In Hebrew. Consisting entirely of blessings and flattery for the addressee and his son Saniyy al-Dawla (perhaps an effort to obtain private charity). (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Letter fragment in the hand of Natan b. Shemuel he-Ḥaver at his best. Wide space between the lines. Addressed to ha-Ḥazzan ha-Meʿulle. Someone had borrowed from Zakkay ha-Talmid the book Tiqqun Sofrim and traveled. Now, Zakkay needs it and the sender asks for it to be returned. On verso there is poetry by Yehuda ha-Levi. (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter from Natan b. Shelomo the hazzan b. Ya'ir to the Nagid. Fragment mentions conflict over prerogative to circumcise.

Recto: letter addressing a Nagid (Negid ha-Gola) with many titles and flattering epithets. The opening is extensive and rhymed, and only the letter’s oratory remains. Verso: address, similarly flattering. (Information from CUDL.)

Recto: Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment (lower right corner). Asking a dignitary for help on behalf of a group of people, by loaning them money or sending them a small quantity of wheat or grain. Verso: Poetical Hebrew text, possibly intended for the beginning of a letter. At 180 degrees, a rhymed Arabic letter that consists entirely of flattery and good wishes ("may God guard your shoulders(?) and protect your middle and your flanks(?)"). Underneath there are some additional jottings in Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script (al-raʾīs al-[...]). (Information in part from CUDL)

Business letter from Mūsā b. Isḥāq b. Nissim al-ʿĀbid. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 11th century. Mentions merchants such as אבן אלטבני, Mūsā Ibn al-M[ajjānī?], and ʿAmmār b. Mevasser. The commodities mentioned include two bowls (qaṣʿa) and pearls. The sender's brother Abū Isḥāq sends regards. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards)

Recto: Letter from a certain Daniel and his friends to a certain Yeshuʿa. In Judaeo-Arabic with the introduction in Hebrew. Dating: Probably no earlier than 13th century. Asking the addressee to "continue his favors as he has done in the two preceding nights." Verso: Letter from Yeshuʿa to al-Muhadhdhab. Possibly the response. Quotes a verse of poetry (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter from a merchant addressed at least in part to his mother ('wa-yā ummī'). In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Perhaps 12th century. He complains about the wretched quality of his food and drink and sleep and how 'nobody suffers what I suffer from [long]ing.' He mentions the towns of Minya and Qūṣ and repeatedly mentions the price of wheat and bread. The mother should borrow the money she needs to purchase wheat, and he will pay it off when he can. (Information in part from CUDL)

"A scribe informs his father that a piece of parchment which he acquired was sufficient for four quires less one leaf. But the ink with which he had written one quire was bad, he either had to "cook" another one or to buy one. He asks his father to meet Manṣūr the agent of the judge in an urgent matter connected with a partnership. (Information from Goitein's note card)

Letter sent from Sicily by a widow to her son, Abu Sulayman Dawud b. Na'aman in Barqa, asking him to take care of his brother who is staying with him. The mother mentions friends asking about her son and others who criticize his behavior in public. (Information from M. Ben-Sasson, Yehudei sitziliya, p. 189)

Part of a letter in Arabic. Recto: ketubba (see separate entry). (Information from CUDL)

Letter. Recto: ketubba (see separate entry). (Information from CUDL)

Letter from the head of the Gola concerning the calendar. Describes his opinion about the need to shorten two months (to 29 days) and explains that the head of the Gola and the heads of the Yeshiva are going after the Gaon of Palestine and his decision in this matter. (Information from Gil, Kingdom. Vol. 2, #3) VMR

Letter written on recto and verso, requesting something from the addressee and mentioning five dinars.

Recto: Letter in which the writer discusses a visit to the qadi and business matters; mentions Ibn Abu al-‘Aysh. Verso: Letter discussing business matters concerning perfumes, mentioning cassia, rose, almond, and oil. Ibn Abu al-‘Aysh and Abu al-Dajjaja are also referenced. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS