Geniza Lab

Letter of condolence from a woman (name unknown) to Ṣedaqa b. Ṣemaḥ, the son of her late brother. Opens with four lines of biblical verses in Hebrew commonly referred to as צידוק הדין, then continues in Judaeo-Arabic. The deceased seems to be female family member named ʿAzīza, who left orphaned girls behind (ll. 10–11). The sender says that the pain of her bereavement is equal to the pain that she experienced when her brother (Ṣedaqa's father) died (ll. 5–6). She invokes the trope that it is best not to grieve for too long, "because it does no good, all I have gained from sorrow and weeping is blindness." If God sends health to the addressee and his family, they should inform her (the nature of their ailment is not clear, whether it is an organic disease, or illness on account of grief, or something in between). Greetings to Mūsā and to all the addressee's sisters again. Abū ʿAlī, Hiba, and Surūr send their condolences. One of them (likely Surūr) is "sick and ruined" ever since he came from Ṣedaqa with the news. Greetings to Faḍāʾil and Abū Saʿd. On the identity of the addressee: Sedaqa b. Semah (sometimes called "the poet," ha-Meshorer) appears in numerous Geniza documents, including Bodl. MS heb. b 11/3 (dated 1130 CE), Bodl. MS heb. d 66/7 (dated 1132 CE), Bodl. MS heb. d 66/96 (a letter from the silk weaver Abū Saʿd Seʿadya b. Avraham, perhaps the same cousin mentioned here), and DK 230.2 (likewise a letter from Abū Saʿd Seʿadya). (Information in part from Ezra Chwat.)

Letter in Arabic script. There is a very polite opening with expressions of love for the addressee, it seems leading into a request (which is lost). On verso there is a dirge in Hebrew (which appears to be the theme of the T-S K8 binder.)

Recto: Letter in Arabic script, with the last line in Hebrew. The addressee is Abū Faḍl and his ghulām Bū ʿAdl (?) is mentioned. The rest is neatly written but rather faded. Verso: Apart from a few words in Arabic, appears to be an account in Judaeo-Arabic organized by the parshiyot. Sitt Kāfūr is named.

Letter fragment. Late. In Hebrew. "In this city, nothing is cheap except for bread. . . . 3 ounces of "Ẓefat" are here worth two silver coins. It is not possible to sell wine in this city. I thought, after I leave this place, what will I do in the villages? I do not want to go to the villages, for as you have seen, I returned sick several times because I am not accustomed to walking outside. I said to myself that I will remain here for some time until I raise some [money] (?). . . ."

The bulk of the text is Hebrew, possibly a letter. It praises somebody and describes "a scent superior to qaneh and cinnamon. . . like a section of pomegranate." The original text is in Arabic, probably a portion of a letter.

Recto: Fragment of a document in Arabic script, probably a letter. The last line reads والحمد لله وحده وصلوات على سيدنا محمد وصحبته. In different ink and handwriting, there is what may be an address: to al-muʿallim D[...] from his servant [Bek?] Muḥammad. Verso (and a few words on recto): Hebrew piyyut.

Recto: A very formal letter (resembling a legal document or legal query) to an authority in Fustat, regarding the daughter of [...] ha-Levi, known as Ghazāl, who is betrothed to Eliyya Marṭūb. A certain Moshe has been maligning the reputation of Eliyya's fiancee. The writers of the letter are very upset and wish the addressee to investigate the situation and to punish Moshe as necessary. Dated "vihi ka-zayiT hoDo" (Hosea 14:7), which likely means 1643/4 CE (5404). Verso: An account or donation list using western Arabic numerals. A Hayyim Vital appears, but the date excludes the famous one.

Draft of a letter from Ishaq Sholal (d. 1524) to the yeshiva in Jerusalem. In Hebrew. Published by Avraham David in Cathedra 68, pp. 43–48. He has received their letters and has heard about the renewal of a certain controversy, and opines that the controversy remains groundless.

Letters of recommendation for an unnamed man, drawn up by the Sephardic community of Vienna in 1861. This man was from Mosul (Nineveh) and brought with him his own letters of recommendation, for which this is a replacement. He suffers from poverty and illness, and he was robbed in his lodging when he entered the borders of Hungary. There are three different notes sharing the page; the first two urge all who meet him to extend charity to him. (The third note is somewhat obscure and needs further examination.) The first note is signed by Aharon b. Eliyyahu, Yehuda b. Yaʿaqov, and [...] b. Shimʿon. The second note was written by the Sephardic rabbi, Reuven Barukh (served 1846–74). He signed in Hebrew and Latin script, and stamped the document with his seal. ASE.

Fragment of a family letter in Judaeo-Arabic, probably late. Torn vertically down the middle. Many people are named. Needs further examination.

Business letter in Judaeo-Arabic, dated 1811/12 CE (5572), from Sayyid Aḥmad Abū l-ʿAṭā' to Avraham Ḥakīm & Co. It is followed by accounts and another note, signed, "from me, Yisrael Maṣliaḥ"—who li scribed the original letter as well. Verso contains more accounts and the address.

Note in Hebrew to some sort of dignitary that consists of nothing more than a string of flattering titles and blessings for prosperity and victory over his enemies.

Recto: Bottom part of a letter in Arabic script, from a man to his 'brother.' He spells والساعة as والسعا numerous times. He mentions people including Sulaymān b. al-[...]āmī and the poor man (al-faqīr) Ibn Faraḥ and sends regards to Umm Yūsuf. Needs further examination. Verso: Judaeo-Arabic letter from ʿEli b. Shelomo to his father. The writer is in terrible straits and full of regret. The issue seems to be that a group of Alexandrians have banded together to have the writer fired from his position as slaughterer, cantor, and teacher. "Woe is he who can only depend on God. I have already entered with my qumāsh (garments? furnishings? wife's dowry?)." He then mentions the diwan catching him and having to sell a garment. His intention is to come to Qalyub with his wife. His heart is preoccupied on behalf of [...]. ASE.

Recto and verso are both late family letters in Judaeo-Arabic by the same writer, perhaps to different recipients. The writer goes into great detail about ongoing court cases regarding a certain building, some of which involved Muslim courts and a Shāfiʿī judge. The city Nāblus is mentioned (the "dear boy" Naṣr Allāh traveled there). Other names mentioned include the son of Abū Qays; Mūsā; Farjūn; the son of Abū Sharīf. The ashrafi is the currency used.The writer states several times that he is worn out. ASE.

Three fragments of a letter from Mukram(?) to Abū l-Bahā' reminding him that he promised to send him a chessboard (? naṭʿ). He urges him to deliver it to his house in Fustat before Shabbat and to select the best one that he has. ASE.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic, no earlier than 1425 CE because it mentions gold Ashrafī coins, to a certain Yiṣḥaq addressed as ha-Sar. The addressee's letter arrived with al-Ḥajj Ḥasan al-Bābā. The writer went together with al-Bābā to the amir, the deputy of the citadel, and read to him the decrees (marāsīm) and some sort of declaration of allegiance (? אעטא אלסמע ואלטאעה). A Genoese Frank was summoned (an ambassador, per Goitein, Med Soc, I, 43) and the decree was read to him as well. The decree is in two versions (maktūbayn), one according to sharʿī law and one according to Genoese. The remainder of the letter is damaged and difficult to follow; the "masṭūr" of the decree is mentioned; 100 Ashrafīs; and a consultation of a qāḍī. Merits further examination.

Fragment of a letter from Jerusalem to Egypt, beginning of the 16th century. The writer describes a financial/communal crisis that prevented the functioning of the weekly collections of money for the use of the community and for paying the taxes imposed by the rulers. Don Avraham b. ʿUqba attempted to mediate the conflict to no avail. In the margin the name Bū l-Faraj appears. On verso the writer alludes to conflict between the Maghrebi and Sefaradi populations. There is also a writing exercise in a different hand. Information from Avraham David. ASE.

Fragment of a business letter in Judaeo-Arabic, likely 11th century.

Fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic, torn vertically down the middle. It is difficult to extract any information from what remains.

Letter fragment from Daniel b. Azarya (in his handwriting). Expressing his gratitude for a gift he received. (Information from Gil, Palestine, vol. 2 p. 699-700, #382) VMR