Geniza Lab

Recto: Letter in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi, presumably from Qalyub to his father in Fustat. He had just been in Fustat, advocating for himself with the Nagid Sar Shalom (Abu Zikri) against the machinations of Ibn al-Taffal against him. He has now arrived safely in Qalyub, and he informed the community of what happened, and they rejoiced. Apparently Sar Shalom had given verbal confirmation that Moshe would be appointed (as muqaddam) but had not yet provided a letter of installment. Moshe now asks the recipient to go to Abu 'Ali, who is to go to Sar Shalom and get the letter. Moshe is also worried about what Bu l-Khayr told him, namely that his brother Abu Ishaq has been beating the wife of his paternal uncle. Verso: The response, probably from Abu Sahl Levi to his son Moshe. He informs him that no one has been beating anyone, there are simply wicked people who try to cause trouble between husband and wife. He confirms that he will try to get hold of the letter of appointment. He concludes, "As for Ibn al-Taffal, may God sort him." ASE.

Brief note from Abu l-Rida to Abu Zikri. The writer will send what belongs to Abu Zikri with the shaykh Abu Ali. Salutations on verso and address (in Arabic script) awaiting transcription.

Short letter to Joseph and his daughter Esther, in a crude hand and extremely colloquial language. C. 15th-16th century CE. On verso it states ‘(to the) house of Maʿtūq al-Miṣratī’. (Information from CUDL)

The judge (dayyan) Moshe is asked to approve Sheikh Ashaq (Issac) as a butcher (Shohet). VMR

Letter mentioning R. Hananel he-Hasid, written in the time of David Maimonides I. (Information from Paul Fenton, Tarbiz 55 [1956], p. 78) VMR

Letter from Jerusalem written on recto and verso to someone addressed as 'my son and master' (probably Avraham ha-Kohen b. Yiṣḥaq b. Furat). First half of the eleventh century.

Note from Ibn al-Maṣmūdī to Abū l-Barakāt (Shelomo b. Eliyyahu?), inviting him to be present in the Palestinian synagogue tomorrow morning לתמאם סנה אלטפלה (a minor fiancee's coming-of-age?), to come to the house together with the Dayyanim, and to prepare for the occasion something for which the writer would be grateful (perhaps a poem). Information from Goitein's note card.

Letter requesting to buy through “Ibrahim, the slave merchant” a female slave for the Nezer (Diadem [an honorifc]). (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 1:452; and Goiten’s index cards) EMS

Letter from Yefet b. Menashshe ha-Levi to his brother the court clerk Ḥalfon (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 5:422, 626; EMS). Join by Oded Zinger.

Recto: fundraising letter carried by emissaries from Hebron to Egypt. Verso: stamp impression and ink transfer with the name ‘Jacob’. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Letter, written on red paper by Daniel b. Azarya's assistant (According to Goitein). Verso: Draft of poetry, with a citation from Psalms 33:11. VMR

Letter on the topic of friendship between two educated young men. In Judaeo-Arabic, possibly with influence from Judaeo-Persian in the iḍāfa constructions, as ציק אלצדר is spelled ציק יצדר and גמיע אלצביאן is spelled גמיע יצביאן. Goitein's translation: "I do not enjoy life without you. By God! Have compassion with my loneliness, weakness, and constrained heart, and, by God, satiate me with looks at you before I die. So, do not absent yourself longer than you have done. For things between you and me have not been like this before. Of all the young men who have been with you, not one of them has mentioned a word you might have said about me, which saddened my heart. So, as soon as you have read this letter, send me one, telling me how you are. And Peace." It is also entirely possible that this is a parent writing to a son. The tone is more admonitory than Goitein's discussion implies. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 5:285, 586, and CUDL) EMS. ASE.

Polite but firm note to a scholar to send two dirhams, which he owes for the price of a book. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS

Letter from Yaʿaqov b. Shela to Yaʿīsh al-Ḥaddād (the smith). In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Possibly 11th century. The addressee is asked to pay the money he owes for the price of the clothes to the carrier of the note. Yaʿaqov excuses himself for not being able to come in person. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS

Letter from Abu Mansur al-Kohen b. Yefet ha-Kohen Abu Qasasa with orders for ‘mahmuda’ (scammony plant) and camphor. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS On the verso is a postscript from Abu l-Ḥusayn (Abu l-Ḥasan is written above in the margin) concerning the silk trade. He also sends greeting to the addressee’s brother Abu l-Faraj. (Information from CUDL)

Recto: Beginning of the opening of a letter. Verso: Address in Arabic script, to al-Nasi Shelomo in Cairo (most likely Shelomo b. Yishay, 13th century. AA) (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS

Recto: Letter of condolence from [...] b. [...] ha-Dayyan (ZL) to Shemuel the physician (peʾer ha-rofʾim). In Hebrew. Dating: Early 13th century, per Cohen. (Information from Goitein's index card.)

Calligraphic invitation to the elder Suwayd and his son from Aharon ha-Kohen av bet din to come to a lecture on Saturday. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, 158, 553)

Letter (draft?). Jottings on verso mention Mūsā b. Levi and sums of money. (Information from CUDL)

Letter in which the writer gives various instructions to the addressee, including that he reply to the letter and inform him of the news of whether or not Abu al-Ghayth made a profit; he also twice assures the addressee that he (and presumably his correspondence) have not been cut off. The writer states that he has been versed on the state of everything (hal kul min) in the addresse’s house, the house of […] Hananel, and the house of the ra’is. The writer’s uncle Menachem and his son, along with the midrash of R. Shemuel, are mentioned. EMS and VMR