Geniza Lab

Letter from a Jewish notable who had previously been minister of finance in Egypt, seeking assistance from the Jewish community in Constantinople. This very long letter begins with many lines of poetry and greetings to the Constantinople community, after which the writer describes his fall from favour and how he has now been supplanted by a new Christian minister of finance. The recently deceased Nagid Mevorakh b. Saadya's elevation by the Vizier al-Afḍal is described, and the very high regard in which he was held at court. The Nagid's death had presumably left the writer and other Jews in high positions exposed to court intrigue. Dated to soon after 1111 CE (when the Nagid died). Information from CUDL. The writer spells out Greek words in vocalized Hebrew script: "το πατριαρχη" (the patriarch) and "εἰστό Ταμίαθι" (in Tamiathi = Damietta = Kaftor).

Letter to Abū ʿAlī Yeḥezqel, the brother of Ḥalfon b. Netanʾel complaining in strong terms about Ibn Khulayf and Buraykh, but praying Bushayr. (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, p. 590, and from Goitein's index cards.) Glued to a report addressed from one Fatimid official to another (see separate entry).

Letter in which the writer announces he has delivered a letter to a third person containing some announcement the writer had mentioned beforehand to the addressee, as well as 'a thousand kinds of greetings.' He also mentions a case involving a partner of the addressee. The letter continues to mention grain deliveries, amongst others to the 'house of the dome' (bayt al-qubba).

Letter of request sent by the head of the yeshiva in Damascus, which was burdened with debts, to a notable in Fustat, who had pledged a donation for the academy, urging him to send his contribution of eight dinars immediately to prevent the whole sum from going for the payment of interest alone. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, pp. 257, 464, and from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Yosef Ibn al-Lukhṭūsh, in Granada, to Ḥalfon b. Netanʾel ha-Levi, in Fustat. Dated: middle of May, 1130 CE. The sender, an Ifrīqiyyan merchant, writes with flowery rhetoric to send condolences on the death of a certain unidentified rosh yeshiva and of Ḥalfon's brother. The handwriting and layout are distinctively Maghribī or Ifrīqiyyan. The letter contains the only nearly explicit evidence thus known that Ḥalfon traveled to al-Andalus before 1130, but Friedman cautions that the reading of the date isn't entirely certain, and it may have been written in 1140. Ibn al-Lukhṭūsh asks Ḥalfon to write to him about his experiences in detail from the time he left al-Andalus until his arrival in Egypt. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV; Hebrew description below.)

Letter of recommendation sent by seven elders of the Jewish community in Minyat Zifta to the Nagid Avraham Maimonides, recommending Moshe, the son of a previous judge named Perahya, for appointment or confirmation, and describing his rival as the very opposite of the proposed candidate in every respect. Dated Tevet1531/ December 1219- January 1220. (Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 44; V, p. 199.) Alternate description: "Ruling from the Bet Din of Minyat Ziftā, addressed to the Nagid Abraham Maimonides, dated Ṭevet 1531 (= 1219-1220 CE). Despite vehement opposition from other parties in the town, Moses b. Peraḥya is cleared of charges against him and his appointment is recommended. Moses is reported to be 'extremely modest, bashful, humble, taciturn, forbearing, and inexperienced in trouble-making'. Signed by Ṣedaqa b. Šela, Solomon b. Benjamin, Solomon b. Yefet, Yefet b. Isaiah ha-Levi, Moses b. Ṭahor ha-Kohen, Moses b. Yefet, Ḥalfon b. Obadiah, and Judah b. [...]." (Information from CUDL)

Letter of congratulation after recovery from an illness, written in rhymed Hebrew prose by the court clerk Mevorakh b. Natan and addressed to ʿAzaryahu b. Efrayim the head physician. Dated: Nisan 1483 Seleucid (March/April 1172 CE). (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, pp. 110, 111)

Letter sent by Shelomo b. Eliyyahu to his cousin Abū l-Barakāt al-Ḥarīrī b. Abū Manṣūr, discussing the marriage of their paternal cousin to Ibn al-ʿAmmānī. (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, p. 5)

Calligraphic letter sent by Yiṣḥaq b. Shemarya to Rabbi Benjamin, containing greetings to his two sons and describing how he fell from his wealth, lost his honor, and is ashamed, but needs help. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter addressed to Yosef ha-Kohen b. Simha, asking for help. In Hebrew. The writer was hit by a crisis that forced him into poverty and then this was complicated by debts. He wants to be on his way and to join Avraham al-Ger (the proselyte) on his journey to Ceuta, intending to make appeals (there). (Information from Goitein's index cards and Goitein, Med. Soc., x C. 1, n.35.) Written bt Berakhot b. Shmuel.

Left side of a calligraphic letter in Hebrew sent by Yosef ha-Kohen b. Gaon Shelomo to Efrayim he-Ḥaver, in the name of a widow, asking for details about the inheritance of her husband Mevasser b. ʿEli. (Information from Bareket)

Letter of appeal for charity. The writer lost his wealth "in an instant" and had to wander in search of help. He received it from people who knew his family and honor (hod) and saw the books and letters (iggerot) he was carrying, which were confirmed,with signatures from various communities in the east (Ṣova, Ashur, Adina). He is in great need, in spite of his "fathers," and seeks help. It is near a holiday and he has expenses and sick people to take care of (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from the tailor Yaʿaqov b. Ṭahor to Yehuda al-Ḥalabī. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: 24 Elul (4800 +) 197 AM = 4997 AM, which is 1237 CE (the numbers for 4800 are implicit in letters from this period). The letter concerns textiles and asks the addressee to give 26 dirhams to R. Ḥananel (the father-in-law of Avraham Maimonides [d. 1237], who is also referred to in the document as 'our lord'). (Information from Mediterranean Society, IV, p. 409, and from Goitein's index cards.)

Responsum in a literary style concerning a dispute between husband and wife, written in the hand of Yeḥiʾel b. Elyaqim (active 1213-1233 CE). (Information from CUDL)

Letter in both Ladino and Spanish.

Letter in a Romance language, probably Spanish.

Pen trials in Latin- and Hebrew-script. The Latin-script words and abbreviations resemble Castilian Spanish but at times demonstrate Italianate linguistic influence. These words are honorific and often appear in addressing letters and on both the recto and verso the name "Antonio" is repeated. On the verso, the surname "Romano" also appears. There is one cluster of Hebrew letters interjected on the verso and below that the square letter aleph is practiced. MCD.

Ledger with many distinct entries in Italian, perhaps copies of letters. Needs examination.

Letter from Mose de Toledo and perhaps one other person, in Gaza. In Spanish. Dating: Probably 15th–16th century, on paleographic grounds (assessment kindly provided by Jesús de Prado Plumed and Michael Waas). Thus the sender cannot be identical with the author of "La Trompeta de Mose de Toledo El Sordo de Hierusalaim," which was published in Venice in 1643. The letter mentions debt and an intention to acquire some fruit (...pueda ganar una poca de fruta de...). Merits further examination.

Letter in a Romance language, perhaps Spanish, signed in Hebrew: Yehuda Maḥriẓ (? יהודה מחריץ). An alternate reading for the surname is "Madin / מאדין".