Geniza Lab

Draft of a poetical Hebrew letter to a head of a community

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic (recto) and Hebrew (verso). From the well-known scribe Abū l-Mufaḍḍal Shelomo b. Shemuel b. Seʿadya ha-Levi (titled al-Dayyān al-Maskil); Shelomo was active until ca. 1231 CE. He has made copies (nusakh) of certain books. He is extremely grateful for the addressee's role in selling books. He has sent several more books with the bearer, including some in Hebrew (perushim wa-baʿḍ lughawāt [...]) and some in Arabic on logic and medicine. Among the latter: (1) al-Kāfī fī l-Ṭibb by Abū Naṣr Ibn al-ʿAyn Zarbī (d. 1153/54 CE) in the hand of Rabbenu Shelomo ha-Dayyan (ZL); (2) A volume in the hand of Abū Naṣr Ibn al-ʿAyn Zarbī himself(!), comprising 3 books: (2a) al-Kawn wa-l-Fasād (by Ibn Bājja?), (2b) Kitāb al-Maḍnūn bihi ʿalā ghayr Ahlihi by al-Ghazālī, (2c) Masʾala fī l-Nafs wa-mā Taṣīru Ilayhi by Ibn Sīnā; (3) two booklets (juzʾ) containing "The Eight" by Abū Naṣr al-Fārābī, missing one section; (4) three booklets containing Sharḥ al-Burhān in the hand(!) of Ibn Fātik. This portion of the letter is torn away around here. Verso may contain the continuation and ending, but it is quite faded and more difficult to understand. ASE

A case in which an abused woman tried to activate a condition written in her ketubba as well as a document she had from the Nagid allowing her to live on the property of the Qodesh (Info from Zinger, Women, gender and law. p. 251).

Letter addressed to Yiṣḥaq Yaʿaqov. In Hebrew. Dating: Probably 16th century. Mentions the trade in raisins. Mentions various worries about 'the house' and the need to clean it and keep an eye on it, lest thieves enter. Also mentions some of the sender's debtors who have died, including Matteo "the uncircumcised." On verso there are some cryptic jottings in Hebrew script. (Information from Avraham David via FGP.)

Letter addressed to Simḥa the physician (al-ḥakīm). In Judaeo-Arabic. In the hand of Shelomo b. Eliyyahu? Only the conventional expressions of longing at the beginning and the very end of the letter (in the right margin) are preserved. The letter text is surrounded by jottings in Hebrew and Arabic script.

Fragment of a Judaeo-Arabic letter. No identifying information remains. "If it were not for the cold weather, I would have already sent it. May God make everything good and prosperous. You write to me again and again but do not tell me what is with her [or it]. I ask my lord. . . My regards to everyone in your care. . . My cousin sends his regards."

Recto: A theological/philosophical discourse (transcribed by Zachy Ben Hamo on FGP). Verso: Possibly a fragment of a late Hebrew letter.

Small fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic. "I read your [letter] and understood all you mentioned. . . As for what you mentioned about the Qaraite (? al-qara) with you. . . " Nothing more remains.

Small fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic (upper margin only on recto, address only on verso), from Ḥasan b. ʿAmram to Abū l-Mufaḍḍal Netanel b. al-Ḥaver. The remaining section of the letter is a phiosophical consolation for some sort of suffering, namely that corruption is inherent in the existence of bodies. There is then a magic square with Arabic letters.

Fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic to be delivered to the Square of the Perfumers, probably to R. Elazar ha-Dayyan who is named three lines from the bottom (and again on verso in a crossed-out line). The writer mentions the bearer of the letter, orders commercial goods, and tells the recipient not to delay.

Letter from Yedutun ha-Levi, likely to his brother Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi. Little of the content remains apart from blessings and formulae. He reports that he already sent the tutty (zinc oxide) and that they "used them" and payed their price. On verso he says that the girl Fakhr (perhaps their sister or Moshe's wife) has strengthened knowing that Moshe is near. ASE.

Fragment of a late letter in Hebrew signed by Seʿadya b. Moshe ha-Dayyan. See Arad, D. (2008). Syria’s links with the Jews of Cairo in the 15th and 16th centuries. [Genizah Research Unit, Fragment of the Month, August 2009]. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.48227

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic to an important person (yeḥid ha-dor, sayyidnā), possibly named al-Shaykh Yaʿīsh (unless that is merely a blessing), from someone reporting on developments in the community after the addressee departed. The protagonists are al-Shaykh Bannā (?) and Abū l-Faraj. Bannā seems to be the troublemaker. He told Abū l-Faraj, "You shut up!" And he won't let anyone say a word to him. He is also going between the two factions in the community and making up stories about the other faction. There is not a day without people coming to blows ("to death"). The writer asks the addressee to please advise. Verso contains Hebrew writing practice.

Fragment of a Judaeo-Arabic letter preserving a tale about dramatic events at the synagogue in the week of Parashat Vayera. The story invovles Abū l-Thanā' b. Abū Saʿd b. Ṭayyib and the Rayyis and the Judge Yeḥiel and the son of the judge ("al-rashīd") and Abū l-ʿAlā b. [...]. Someone began reciting a rahaṭ but made an apparently embarrassing error and his face changed color. The story becomes harder to read at this point as there is Arabic text at a right angle overlying the text of the letter. Verso contains jottings in Hebrew and Arabic.

Ladino letter reclaiming a debt signed Ḥayyim Abraham Boṭon s[iman] ṭ[ov]; Boṭon had lent the money in Argel; he owes money which he borrowed in Jerusalem. Information from http://www.investigacion.cchs.csic.es/judeo-arabe/sites/investigacion.cchs.csic.es.judeo-arabe/files/Genizah-Al-Andalus.pdf. The document is dated 1706 CE (8 Elul 5466).

Ladino letter.

Late Hebrew letter mentioning the consul of Venice.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic from Baqā' (or perhaps Abū l-Baqā') to a certain teacher (melammed). The writer conveys his sympathies for some bad news and asks the addressee to purchase five raṭls of high-quality chicken for him.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment. Probably in the hand of Yefet b. Menashshe.

Letter in Hebrew. Fragment, only the first few lines are preserved. Calligraphic and formal style. Probably the beginning of a letter of appeal.