Geniza Lab

Legal document(s)
s s
the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe (Date: 1100–38 CE). The main text (not in the margins) on both sides may just be formulary. No names seem to be mentioned, and there are many elaborate formulae of release. The marginal text was written with a different pen, one with a smaller tip. Recto: refers to the Gaon (Maṣliaḥ), Naḥman, someone suing his late paternal uncle, and another paternal uncle Yosef ha-Kohen. Verso: Refers to the Gaon Maṣliaḥ (1127–39 CE); a woman making someone take an oath; "the court has no connection to this case, and your paternal uncle until now has been responding to..."; more about an oath and repaying something; it being discovered that someone had no right to anything belonging to his or her paternal uncle's; and then a brief narrative of someone abasing(?) themselves by putting their head between someone's arms and/or legs and begging for forgiveness; but the paternal uncle was ashamed to ask those present to do something. Very cryptic—needs further examination.

Halakhic discussion or responsum concerning a mercantile partnership, citing a barayta. Probably not a partnership contract (as previously catalogued).

Legal document of unknown nature (real estate?), written by halfon b. Mannaseh halevi or Hillel b. Eli. fragmentary and torn.

Legal deed from a qāḍī court, Ayyubid period. Dated: Jumādā I 592 (line 1). Line 2 reads wa-abraʾatuhu min jamīʿ dhālik barāʾa qabḍ wa-stīfāʾ. Lines 4–5: ḥamdala and ṣalwala (wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāh rabb al-ʿalāmīn wa-ṣalawāt ʿalā Muḥammad al-nabī wa-ʾahlihi wa-salam taslīman wa-ḥisbunā llāh wa-niʿm al-wakīl).

Engagement deed by Ḥalfon b. Mannaseh. Very faded and torn

Narrow vertical strip of paper. Instructions to a scribe according to Goitein's index card, but seems more likely to be an inventory of existing documents in someone's possession. "The release of [...] and a document concerning the receipt from Tinnīs. And a document in which he attests about receipt—Hebrew. And a document for the wife of the physician, in which he attests about receipt of 25 dinars.... the question(?) of the warehouse and accompaniment(?) to Syria (al-Shām) and visiting/solicitation of Yiṣḥāq al-ʿAjamī."

Legal document. Partnership agreement. Location: Cairo. Dating: 1204-1237. Partnership agreement in cloth trade between Pinhas b. Elazar ha-Kohen and Moshe ha-Levi. Both partners seem to be active. Profits are to be split evenly, and each of the partners is to be trusted (that is, without requiring the testimony of witnesses) as to partnership accounting, suggesting that the partners did not spend their time together in a single location. The term of the partnership is also specified, though not preserved. The date has not been preserved, but the incomplete titles on lines 23-24 suggest that it falls during the headship of Avraham Maimuni (active between 1204-1237). (Information from Lieberman, "A Partnership Culture", 47-49)

Responsum on biʾur ḥameṣ (the burning of leavened products before Passover). The text is parallel to Otzar ha-Ge’onim, Pesahim, p. 51, 10 lines from the bottom of the page. See also Halper 164.

Official record of some kind in Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: 742 AH ("לישמעאל"), which is 1341/42 CE. Very faded and barely legible. Mentions numerous people including Yosef b. [...], a woman, Nāṣir b. [...]. The Arabic script on verso may be pen trials (the word al-shaykh appears several times).

Engagement deed. Lavishly decorated with yellow and green designs in the margin. Groom: Shelomo Shunino b. Avraham. Bride: Raḥel bt. Avraham Sopral(?). Dating: 16th–19th century. Currencies: medin; real.

See PGP 15849

See PGP 15849

Two responsa by Jacob ben Moshe Beyrav (Constanrinople). Publidhed Glick, Seridei Teshuvot, p. 3-31

See PGP 15849

On recto a commentary responsa to Bavli Zevahim 118a. On verso a responsa on Bavli Nedarim 32b. Probably Geonic. AA

Two responsa: 1. Regarding a liturgy in shemini azereth. 2. Regarding a person who bought a stolen book, and the person whom the book was stole from demand him to return it. Published by Glick, Seridei Teshuvot, pp. 370-399.

See PGP 15855

Query/responsum. Late. Comcenring kabalistic issues.

See PGP 15811

A legal query written and signed by Yehuda Mas'ud The query reagrding a partnership agreement of tax collections in one of the districts of Egypt, that according to one of the partners was forced upon him. Reuven, who was a close associate of the ruler of Egypt, recieved from him an appointment to collect taxes. After a year, the head of the district decided to appoint one of his assistance, Shimon, to the same position held by Reuven. Shimon was affraid that Reuven will cancel his appointement so he offerd him to sign a partnership contract and share half of his revenue with him. Reuven agreed and released himself from the position. The time has come and Reuven asked Shimon for his share in the profits. Shimon alienate himself claiming that he was forced to sign the contract because Reuven treatened him and forced him to sign. Reuven denied he forced him and claimed that the agrrement is valid. Published by Glick, שרידי תשובות מחכמי האימפריה העות'מאנית p. 326-323