Geniza Lab

Letter from Bū l-Faraj b. Aharon Levi to Abū Zikrī Yehuda b. Yosef ha-Kohen (d. ca. 1149). In Judaeo-Arabic. None of the substance is preserved, only the formulaic opening.

Letter to Elʿazar ha-Zaqen. The introduction is written in formal Hebrew, with wide space between the lines. What remains of the content is written in Judaeo-Arabic in the margin (narrow space between the lines).

Small fragment of a letter in Hebrew. Wide space between the lines. "I arrived safely in Sambūṭya (=Sunbāṭ)... may His blessing fall on him and his son for good, and with heaven's aid, I plan to travel to Damietta and from there to Tinnīs.... his seat... not as warning but only as reminding...." Interestingly, both Damietta and Tinnīs have glosses written above them (אי כפתור and אי חנס respectively).

Pastoral letter with widely-spaced lines, from a Nasi, possibly David b. Daniel. Announcing that Meʾir ha-Sar and Yiṣḥaq ha-Dayyan will appoint all ritual slaughterers (טבחים) and guards in the community addressed and look after their religious needs. "Elsewhere in the same letter the writer announces another of the prerogatives he plans to exercise over the community and, at the same time, justifies his authority: 'We shall select ten elders out of your notables and strengthen their arms so that they may lead the people, as it is incumbent on us to appoint elders, judges, and magistrates. This is our inheritance and that of our forefather King Jehosaphat, as it is written in Scripture: 'And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah' (II Chronicles 19:5)." Cohen, Jewish Self-Government, 208–09. On the other side, there is an astronomical piyyuṭ. In the bottom and left margins, there is a "narrative of the dreadful calamities that occurred in Lucena (אליסאנה), may God protect it." (Information in part from Goitein's index card.)

Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. What remains is deferential greetings and praises. Verso: Jottings including the name Shelomo (probably Shelomo b. Eliyyahu) and Yūsuf b. Moshe.

Recto: Draft of letter from Efrayim b. Shemarya to the Nasi, mentioning the elder Abū Saʿīd.

On recto beginning of a letter to Avraham Maimuni from Abu Sa'id (identification according to BL 5542.14. He also wrote T-S 8 j 21.12). On verso a letter written by Avraham Maimuni to Elya b. Zekharya asking him to go with Yosef and bring meat from the butcher. AA

Beginning of a letter to Avraham Maimuni

A letter in Hebrew, containing blessings, from El'azar b, Yair to his teacher Aharon. AA

Small fragment of a beginning of a letter in Maghrebi hand. Few words from the address in Judeo Arabic and Arabic are preserved. AA

Opening of a letter from Ya'aqov b. Elazar al-Dijwar (דגואר) to Avraham Maimuni. Same person also appears in TS 8J23.2- a letter from Perahya b. Yosef. AA

Business letter from a father, probably in Alexandria, to a son, probably in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment. Dating: Looks 12th century, but this is a guess. The writer explains that he cannot come because he is very ill (wajiʿ wajaʿin ṣaʿb) and has no energy (nahḍa) to 'enter' (Fustat). He has therefore sent Sulaymān on his behalf to collect his indigo that is with Abū l-Ḥasan. The son is to make sure that this happens, and if he wants to travel back with Sulaymān, all the better. After all, it is the end of the year, and the son has to pay his capitation tax in Alexandria. If the son does come, there is a list of items that he should bring with him. ASE.

A small fragment, probably of a letter.

Recto: Letter from Mūsā, probably addressed to Shelomo. Asking the addressee's help in doing something on Sunday. Verso: Letter from Shelomo (likely Shelomo b. Eliyyahu). Perhaps the response to the letter on recto. He tells the addressee that he can come to his house and read/study there.

Letter addressed to the Jewish community (probably Fustat) about an evildoer named ben Qayyuma and the troublesome things he did and said, and how the Nagid intervened with the government to put a stop to this. The story reminds the attempt of Sar Shalom Halevi to 'correct' inappropriate customs. he was also called 'The evil one', had a Messianic ambitions (e.g the name Qayyuma- a Messianic name) and the sultan tried to put an end to this. AA

Draft or copy of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic, with biblical citations in Hebrew. Concerning a communal conflict.

Letter (khidma) in Judaeo-Arabic, complete, handwriting resembles that of Berakhot b. Shemuel. He begs for a small loan in preparation for the upcoming holiday. See also ENA NS 2.8 addressed to the same recipient who is given the title al-Mansuri in each letter. ASE.

Letter to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat. It seems that there was a deep argument between the writer and a group of merchants after some money did not get to its destination. During the argument, there was a document from an Islamic court that was presented. This document had to do with cinnamon and other spices. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #203) VMR

Letter fragment by Shelomo b. Yehuda.

Recto: Letter fragment. In Judaeo-Arabic. May be the handwriting of Berakhot b. Shemuel. Mentions "the period of his dwelling in the qāʿa where Umm al-Futūḥ lives." The letter is very deferential and the writer is asking the addressee (al-majlis) for some kind of help or guidance. Verso: Probably list of medical substances in Judaeo-Arabic.