Geniza Lab

Small fragment from a letter, mostly related to business issues. On recto a reference is made for Jews and Muslims, but the context is unclear. Mentions the price of salt.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Probably 11th or 12th century. Torn and damaged. Recto is difficult to read, while verso contains mostly greetings. Mentions people such as Abū l-Bishr, Abū ʿUmar, and Ibn Shaul. There are few Shauls in Goitein's name cards, all of them from 11th- to early 12th-century North Africa. AA

Letter from Abū l-Munā b. Yaʿaqov al-Isrāʾīlī al-Ḥāfiẓ al-[...], unknown location, to Abū ʿAlī b. ʿAṭāʾ al-Isrāʾīlī, presumably in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic with the address in both Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script. Dating: Probably 11th or 12th century. Same writer as T-S AS 166.174; may be an indirect join. Discusses various business matters, including a report on a price negotiation involving the figure of 15 dirhams, then a report on some codices (maṣāḥif). The boy Avraham is mentioned. AA. ASE.

Small fragment from a letter. The writer is informing about Bilbays, and refer to the order of 'our master'. Also referring to the Haver may his memory be blessed. On verso few words in vocalized Hebrew script.

Fragment of a business letter in Judaeo-Arabic. "When he arrived in al-Maḥalla, I inquired from him, and he said that he went to you many times, but your excellence said that they were not ready. I ask that you please give them to the bearer of this letter, Abū l-Thanāʾ al-Kohen, and do not delay at all. . . . they arrived ruined (mufsida), on account of their bad craftsmanship (fasād ṣanʿatihā). . . ."

Much damage fragment. On recto a letter, very hard to read. On verso fragment from another letter. The writer informing that people have arrived from Damascus, and he didn't receive any reply from the addressee. The French (אפרנג) are mentioned in the margins.

Might be a communal letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Faded and damaged. Mentions 'al-Shāmiyyīn' and various numbers and Sayyidnā Moshe. Could also be literary or prognostications. Needs further examination.

Business letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment (upper left corner). Dealing with the silk trade.

Letter fragment in Judaeo-Arabic. Might be written by Shelomo b. Eliyyahu. Refers to a young woman (al-ṣabiyya); someone who intended to travel to Syria (al-Shām) in (or for?) two months; "her mother"; "her husband"; entering Alexandria; al-Shaykh al-Thiqa; "the sultan intended to...."

Letter addressed to Abū l-F[araj Yosef] b. Yaʿaqov al-Andalusī Ibn ʿAwqal. Written on parchment. Small fragment. Dating: 11th century. In Judaeo-Arabic, with the address partially in Arabic script. The portion of the letter preserved here refers once to Avraham Ibn al-Zarbī (cf. T-S 12.251 for this family name) and twice to "Avraham," probably the same person. Mentions "[the ship] on which he is traveling" and good wishes for everything to turn out well. AA. ASE.

Family and/or business letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Probably no earlier than 13th century based on the abbreviations used (e.g., al-wālid al-makh[dūm]). Refers to a weight of 190 mithqāls and a rent of 20 something. Faded.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Looks late. Needs examination.

Letter from Pinḥas al-Ṣāʾigh to R. Shūʿa. In Judaeo-Arabic. Late. The sender opens with a complaint about his arthritis and a request for medicine. Mentions Sulaymān; the sender's arrival in his present location from Miṣr (Fustat/Cairo or Egypt); and various reports and instructions that are difficult to understand. Regards to the sender's paternal aunt; the addressee's wife and children; the sender's cousin (bint khāl); and another cousin (bint ʿamma) and her husband. There is more unidentified text on verso. Needs further examination.

Fragment of a letter addressing an 'elder of the congregations' with many honorifics and mentioning some gossip (rekhilut).

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. In a Sefaradi hand, laid out almost like a literary text. Not very much is preserved. On the other side there is Ezekiel 48:32–34 in a different hand. (Information in part from CUDL)

Part of a letter. The writer mentions Tahir al-Kohen; he tells the addressee to tell him that the only reason his brother Abu l-Ḥasan didn't go out to see him is that he was suffering from ophthalmia; mentions 'Imran. ASE.

Family letter in Judaeo-Arabic. The sender may be Zekharya (the name appears at the bottom of verso). The words are very faded. The tone is urgent. Mentions "the government" (al-sulṭān), Qalyūb, documents (? אלכתבאת), something to be obtained from 'the mother,' and the sender's plan to go wait in Qalyūb.

Note probably from one judge or court clerk to another. In Judaeo-Arabic. “I have checked everything with me, even the house of the rayyis. It must be with you. If not, we’ll write a new one. But check with you. And peace.” (Presumably referring to a legal deed or court record.) Written on verso of an Arabic document.

Much damage, content unclear

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Probably a mercantile letter of the 11th century. The name "Yūsuf" appears in the address, but the rest is very faded. Needs further examination.