Geniza Lab

Letter to Simha from Eliyyahu in which he notes that he left from Fustat and arrived in Alexandria on Friday, and further states that “our hearts are anxious about the girl (sabiya) and her daughter.” 13th century. EMS

Abu Said b. Abu al-Razi writes to his mother in profuse terms but addresses the letter to his brother Abu al-Barakat. (Information from Goitein's index cards) VMR On verso are also jottings in a different ink. (Information from CUDL)

Letter, possibly from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides, recommending a man who is “poor but from a good family.” The community of Fustat is asked to help by taking up a collection in the synagogue, referred to as a ‘pesiqa.’ (Mark Cohen, The Voice of the Poor in the Middle Ages: An Anthology of Documents from the Cairo Geniza, Princeton University Press, 2005, 197) EMS. Bibliography: Mentioned in Goitein, "The Twilight of the House of Maimonides," Tarbiz 54 (1984), 67–104.

Letter to the doctor Abu Zikri b. Eliyyahu to his brother Shelomo b. Eliyyahu (early 13th century). EMS (Information from CUDL)

Fragment of a letter in which the writer describes a business affair in which he was under threat (taḥta al-tahdīd) and also involved the sultan. (Information from Goiten's notes) EMS

Letter fragment written in a largish hand with widely-spaced lines. It is addressed to an individual (ואנשי ביתך). The extant text consists mostly of blessings (לחזות המשיח בן דויד; לראות שכינת יוי). Blessings and greetings are also bestowed on El'azar and Shelomo. It is dated תשרי [...]ז and closes with the 'alama ישע רב. Probably 12th-13th century. (Information from the Cambridge Genizah Research Unit via FGP).

Recto: note from Khalīfa Ḥasan. Verso: letter by Meʿir Naʿīm (cf. CUL Or.1080.4.40) to Khalīfa Ḥasan concerning business matters. 18th-19th century. (Information from CUDL)

Letter fragment in the hand of Yiṣḥaq ha-Levi Nisaburi about his cost in an affair concerning Abu Sa‘id Makhlūf al-Nafusi. (Information from Goitein's index cards; and Mediterranean Society, 4:413.) EMS. The writer also wants more bibles sent and warns him of any more business with Makhlūf. He mentions further matters regarding Abu l-Faraj and Abū Tahir, and sends greeting to a number of people, including Abu Sahl, Abu l-Rida and Abū l-ʿAla who are admonished for not writing for a long time. (Information from CUDL.) He also describes a prolonged illness (60 days) this winter and asks Abū l-Munā to try to obtain a drug called Abū Zīdān for him; the physicians tell him there is no alternative. Join: Oded Zinger. ASE.

Letter from a foreigner who was formerly "among the givers," a benefactor, but lost his wealth. He asks for assistance from the addressee. (Mark Cohen, Voice of the Poor) VMR Interestingly, the writer blesses the recipient with ויכפיל ממונך (rather than the usual שכר, ‘reward’). (Information from CUDL)

Letter from a certain Maḥāsin, in ʿAydhāb, to his "brother" the cantor Abū Isḥāq b. al-Mumḥe, in Fustat. Sent to the shop of Abū l-Munajjā the druggist to be forwarded to the addressee. In Judaeo-Arabic. Begins: "What happened to me would take too long to explain. You will hear it from Abū ʿAlī b. Faḍāʾīl al-Ṣāʾigh (the goldsmith). . . . I am still sitting here in ʿAydhāb, sad and weeping over. . . ." (Information in part from CUDL and Goitein's attached notes.)

Recto: Note from a certain ʿUzziel. In Judaeo-Arabic. Explaining that the collection of pledges (pesiqa) has been delayed because it was mismanaged from the outset. The sender says he is always trying to expedite it, and he will deal with the matter as soon as he is free. Dating: ca. 12th–13th century. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society 2:544) EMS. Verso: Business accounting in Judaeo-Arabic and in Arabic script. (Information from CUDL)

Complete calligraphic letter without names or details, reminding some persons to induce the jamā‘a (community) to contribute to the collection (מן מאלהם במא אלהמהם אללה). (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS and VMR

Letter/petition. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 12th century, during the tenure of the Nagid Shemuel b. Ḥananya. The sender asks the addressee to assist him with ‘tadbīr’ (management, regimen) so that he can petition or something similar. He offers blessings for the recovery of the Nagid Shemuel. (Goitein’s index cards). EMS

Recto: letter to Moses ha-Kohen השר האדיר, whose name appears in the opening of the letter and in the address on verso. Also mentions Mordechai השר הנכבד. It is prefaced with two lines of biblical quotations, marked with supralinear dots in a triangle. The extant text consists of opening blessings; the content (not preserved) is introduced by [אלו הטורים להו[דיע. There is an additional greeting in the top margin, ושלמה יגדל. Verso: address. Probably late 11th-12th century. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from a man who travelled from Alexandria and stayed in Fustat only for the Sabbath. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 5:12, 506) EMS Verso: Jottings in Arabic script. (Information from CUDL)

Letter requesting (probably financial) help from someone addressed as ‘my lord': the writer asks for something to be sent to him through his sister's husband. He complains that his expenditure is increasing and makes reference to ‘more than an Egyptian dinar'. A number of names and titles are given, including ‘the son of the Ga'on זצ״ל', Shemuel ha-Kohen and Nataniel he-haver. (Information from the Cambridge Genizah Research Unit via FGP).

Letter from Yeshuʿa b. Elʿazar Shammāʿ (candle maker or seller) to Abū l-Fakhr b. Abū l-Maʿālī. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Only the opening and the address are preserved, along with a note in the upper margin requesting a speedy response, together with the fatwas (responsa) of Bū l-Maʿālī. EMS. (Information in part from CUDL)

Fragment of letter containing polite formulae and mentioning the fast day of Yom Kippur. EMS

Letter from Yosef b. Aharon the cantor to a certain Abū l-Faraj. Mentions the Nasi; his brother-in-law Abū ʿAlī; the gloating of enemies; then, "by God and by the bones of your father! Do not lift your hand from (supporting) me; they have cut off my living(?). The Rayyis cried out and said everything, but it didn't help at all. You promised me that you would be on my side." The letter concludes with blessings in Hebrew. EMS

Letter from a member of the nasi family of Mosul addressed to Shelomo b. Yishay describing a visit of the writer when he was a young boy to the house of Moses Maimonides. He mentions a servant of Maimonides, describing him as the “keeper of the curtain,” a duty similar to that of an usher. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 4:381, 454; 5:65, 522) EMS