Geniza Lab

Note, written in the first person and addressing R. Abraham in the second person. It concludes with ושלומך יגדל (probably). The matter of ‘Joseph son of the beadle’ is mentioned. Late 12th-13th century. (Information from CUDL)

Letter (petition) addressed to a certain notable named Perhaya. AA

Letter from Damietta to the Fustat community (קהלת מצר) to collect money for alimony and travel expenses, it seems, to Palestine, for two individuals. David and his father are addressed; Avraham, the judge, and “our teacher Hillel ha-hazzan ha-parnas” (the cantor and leader) are greeted. (Information from Goitein’s index cards) VMR and EMS

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Yemeni hand, according to Goitein. Wide space between the lines. Dealing with various commodities related to the India trade, including ambergris, ʿūd, unpierced pearls, camphor, pepper. Mentions ʿAbd al-Wahhāb b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. Join: Oded Zinger. See also Goitein notes linked below.

Letter of recommendation from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides to be read in "the two synagogues," to help an old man named Yeshuʿa to travel to Jerusalem where his children lived. Bibliography: Mentioned in Goitein, "The Twilight of the House of Maimonides," Tarbiz 54 (1984), 67–104.

Letter of thanks addressed to the Nagid making reference to recommendations granted. The writer uses the phrase “the Mordechai of the age,” a common designation for communal leaders and court physicians. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 5:491, 642; and Elisha Russ-Fishbane, Judaism, Sufism, and the Pietists of Medieval Egypt: A Study of Avraham Maimonides and His times, Oxford University Press: 2015, 18 ) EMS Written by a person named Daud, who is well attested during this period. AA

Large fragment of a letter with accounts, especially of goods brought from Syria. “You have received from Muhammad al-Shami 1-1/6 for the price (‘an qimat) of the 40 dirhams that he borrowed from me.” Also mentions a clay vessel (barniyya) with melted butter; Egypt, twelfth century. (S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 1:381; 4:144, 397) EMS

Beginning of a petition from Yosef b. Moshe asking the addressee, his lord and master (mawla and sayyid) for a favour, describing himself as modest, shy (muhtashim). Address on verso.

Left part of a letter from Nahray b. Nissim, who also wrote the letter enquiring about commercial matters and conveying greetings. Ca. 1055.

Fragment of a letter from Nahray b. Nissim, probably to Busir to an unknown addressee. Around 1055. Mentions several products and sends greetings, including to the people who were involved in buying flax. Verso contains illegible lists in the hand of al-Tahirti (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #259) VMR

Business letter mentioning Ismāʿīl and conveying greetings to him (on recto). The writer informs the addressee that he has sent him some wares and instructs him to purchase some other commodity.

Introduction page for a book of praise ‘originally sung from the Temple’, translated into Arabic (possibly a translation of Psalms). On both sides are jottings in Arabic and Hebrew script. (Information from CUDL)

Letter probably in the hand of Shelomo b. Eliyyahu (d. 1230s) addressed to someone he calls "the great rabbi." In Judaeo-Arabic. The letter consists entirely of expressions of deference, blessings for the holiday, and greetings to various people, including 'the noble lady' (al-sitt al-jalīla), 'the mother,' and Bū Zikrī (probably Shelomo's brother). (Information in part from CUDL and Goitein's notes.) EMS

Letter of appeal for charity from Abū l-Majd to the physician (ḥakīm) Yeshuʿa ha-Levi. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer needs help paying 20 silver dirhams (nuqra) which he still owes on account of his capitation tax. Information from Goitein's note card.

Letter from an unknown writer in Qūṣ to an unknown addressee in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 12th century. The writer reports that the children and their mother arrived safely in Qūṣ after a terrible Nile voyage that lasted 45 days. The writer sends various instructions to be executed in Fustat. He mentions numerous people including Abū Naṣr, Abū Surūr b. al-Amʿaṭ, Abū l-Makārim Ibn Nufayʿ (whose son also arrived safely in Qūṣ), Abū l-Munajjā, and Abū ʿAlī. Information from Goitein's attached transcription.

Letter from Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. Yahaboy, probably in Amalfi, to a partner, in al-Mahdiyya. Dating: ca. 1040. Describes a long sea voyage that lasted about 70 days on board a Christian ship. The journey probably started in Alexandria and went through Constantinople, Crete and Amalfi. Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. Yahaboy asks his partner to sell some flax and indigo and instructs him what to do with the money that he will receive. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, p. 390.)

Letter from Abū Isḥāq. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer is in difficult straits due to a business matter and dealings with the dīwān. Repeatedly mentions a qisṭ (payment due?), Ibn al-Qasṭallānī, and ṣāḥib al-ḥawāla. Needs more examination.

Communal letter(s) or possibly responsa in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Perhaps 13th century. There are two different handwritings. Both the upper and the lower text blocks seem to be issuing instructions and include the wish that God will make the end good (wa-l-Ḥaqq taʿālā yajʿal al-ʿāqiba le-shalom). The lower one refers to "the collector" (al-jābī) collecting payments of 10 dirhams. Needs further examination.

Short letter from Bū l-Majd (Meir b. Yakhin), Fustat, to Bū l-Futūḥ (Yehuda b. al-ʿAmmānī), Alexandria. Meir reports that he received the letter containing the two qawls and apologizes for having sent a letter complaining about not receiving them shortly earlier. He bolsters his apology by saying he was sick when he sent the previous letter. He then addresses the complaint of Yehuda's cousin, Bū l-Maʿālī, that Meir has not been sending him letters. Here the letter is torn off horizontally. The verso is more faded but probably mostly decipherable. Meir inquires whether his cousin ("ibn khali") Manṣūr b. Maʿālī is in Alexandria with Yehuda, because he heard that he had been in Minyat Zifta ("May God guide his perplexity"). ASE.

Letter of recommendation for a poor man with a family from the office of Yehoshua Maimonides.