Geniza Lab

Letter (or petition?) in Arabic script. 7 lines, seems complete. Needs examination. Reused for Hebrew piyyuṭ.

Letter from a man to his father. In Arabic script. Mainly the opening and the closing greetings are preserved. The sender asks the addressee to help the bearer with something. Reused for Hebrew piyyuṭ.

Letter addressed to a certain Yehuda. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. "If we could share in your pain, we would do so." Mentions Ṣadaqa and Abū Murajjā and someone who was very distressed and took 1000 oaths. Also mentions 10 dirhams and ʿAlī and Yehuda. Same handwriting as Moss. IV,62.2. Join: Oded Zinger.

Bifolio containing multiple documents. On two pages, there are accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals. On one page, there is a portion of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic, mentioning the holiday prayers and the synagogue. On another page there is Hebrew poetry/piyyuṭ.

Letter from Avraham b. Moshe b. Ṣalḥūn to Abū l-Bayān(?) Moshe b. Yishmaʿel al-Kātib fī Dīwān al-Jaysh (i.e., a military administrator). In Hebrew (for the long opening and one address), Judaeo-Arabic (for the body of the letter), and also Arabic script (for the other address). There was probably once a lower portion of the letter that was glued on but which subsequently got torn off. Nothing is preserved of the body of the letter except for greetings.

Letter addressed to the Jewish community of Tilimsān (Tlemcen). In Judaeo-Arabic. The upper part is in a very stylized (Spanish or North African) script, and it is faded in key spots and difficult to understand. Underneath there is a different section written in a more standard (Egyptian) script which again addresses the community and refers to "this man." Most or all of the phrases from the section underneath also appear in the section above, so it might be a copy. The upper section, too, might be a copy or a writing exercise—it repeats itself in ways that a typical letter would not, and it does not seem to reach a conclusion. On verso there are piyyuṭim.

Probably two different Arabic-script documents glued together. On verso there is piyyut. (1) List of notables' names. E.g., the amir Shahīr al-Mulk; the ustādh Murtajā; the amir Naṣr al-Dawla; the amir ʿIzz al-Dawla; Falak al-Mulk (or Fulk al-Mulk?); and the ustādh Ṣubrūḥ(?). (2) Letter or legal fragment. Mentions "from the night to its morning, Monday with 5 days remaining in Dhū l-Ḥijja... and a group of people was ??? and ???." The upside down strip (from a different letter?) describes somebody's distress at hearing some news.

Probably draft of opening of letters- on recto for Moshe b. Mevorakh (?), and on verso for a person named Yeshu'a. Some Arabic script between the lines the - needs examination. AA

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. This may have been appended to a letter written on a separate sheet. "After I had already written this letter, your letter arrived... with Abū Isḥāq.... As for what you mentioned that [...] is surprised that I hate living in Alexandria...." The sender then explains his or her reasons for hating Alexandria, which are sadly faded. It seems that the locals are irreligious and "they curse...." On verso, "The only reason I have tarried in Alexandria is because of Sitt [...]."

Typewritten or printed letter addressed to Moshe Pardo, the head rabbi of Alexandria (served 1871–88). In Arabic script, with Hebrew insertions. In which the sender draws on an impressive range of Jewish sources (e.g., Eikha Rabbati) to try to convince the rabbi that Jesus is the Messiah.

Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. 8 lines near the beginning are preserved. Mentions the sending of gold. On verso there are accounts in Judaeo-Arabic.

Letter of recommendation for charity. In Hebrew. Late.

Letter fragment concerning disbursement of funds to members of the Yeshiva.

Documentary; probably from a letter addressed to one of the academies, including praises and blessings for such prominent personages as ראש היש׳, אב בית דין, but the actual names are almost completely effaced. (Info from FGP)

Letter fragment from Saʿīd b. Marḥab, in Aden, to Abū l-ʿAlā b. Abū Naṣr ha-Kohen, probably in Fustat. In Hebrew (for the introduction) and Judaeo-Arabic (for the body). Dating: mid-12th century. Abū l-ʿAlā’s father is dead, indicated not only by the usual post-mortem blessing after his name (זכ׳׳ל) but also the Hebrew חיי before his name. The address is on verso. Blank spaces on both sides contain Arabic script, seemingly practice for the beginnings of letters. (Information from CUDL.)

Letter of appeal for charity. From Abū l-Majd to al-Shaykh al-Rashīd. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Perhaps 13th or 14th century. The sender is in difficult straits on account of the capitation tax. He cannot hide in his house any longer, because he needs to earn a living. On verso there are pen trials or writing exercises.

Letter from Tripoli or possibly Tyre to the Nagid Mevorakh b. Saʿadya. Dating: 1094–1111, based on Mevorakh's titles. The handwriting resembles that of ʿAmram b. Aharon ha-Kohen. Gil claims that the sender's son is in Crusader captivity but does not explain why he thinks so (the phrase "the little boy who remains" in l. 10 is clearly insufficient). The sender complains of his poverty and dependents and asks for help settling in Fustat. (Information in part from Gil.)

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Probably from Yehuda Ibn al-ʿAmmānī, in Alexandria, to Abū l-Majd Meir b. Yakhin, in Fustat. (Identification based on handwriting, typical layout, and references to family members; cf. T-S 12.299 and T-S 8J22.31.) Dating: Early 13th century. On one side, mentions Abū Saʿīd Khalaf the cantor; Ibn Bū l-Zakkār; Umm Bū l-Ḥusayn; and the mother of the addressee. On the other side, reports that the addressee's brothers Saʿīd and Hil[āl] are in good health. If Yehuda manages to find his copy of Ḥullin, he will send it. As for Abū l-[...] the Shammash, he has a very difficult character. They arranged a public charity collection (pesiqa) as requested. But apparently he only received 3 3/4 dirhams. Yehuda asks Meir to meet with R. Yeḥiel. ASE

On verso beginning of a draft of a poetical Hebrew letter to 'Amram followed by prn trials. AA

Draft of a letter written either by Avraham Maimuni or his son David b. Avraham Maimuni (their hands are almost identical). Addressed to al-Shaykh al-Thiqa Hibat[allāh b. Abū] l-Faraj.The draft is repeated on verso. AA