Geniza Lab

Letter probably from a woman, in Alexandria, to [...] b. Avraham, in Fustat. In Judaeo-Arabic. (The clue for the gender of the writer is the verb ending with "-ī" in line 28 of recto where she is quoting the addressee's words.) The sender may be the mother-in-law of the addressee's daughter, as the daughter is under her charge, and the addressee has been accusing her of oppressing his daughter. The addressee's sister also lives with or near the sender. Either the sister or the daughter has a son named ʿAyyāsh. This letter is a detailed report on the scandalous behavior of one of the women with a young male neighbor for the last year and the writer's efforts to intervene. At one point, the woman and the man vowed not to see each other for 10 days, but the sender nevertheless found them talking to each other at all hours of the night. At this point, ʿAyyāsh and his mother vowed not to speak to the woman in question any more, which led to a period of peace and quiet. But clearly matters are still tense, as the sender felt the need to send this strongly-worded letter exonerating herself of all misdoings. She urges the addressee to "act with her this time the same way as last time." ASE

Fragment of a mercantile letter, probably from Aden, concerning shipments of textiles, books, spices, and gems. (Information from Goitein notes linked below.)

Letter from Natan b. Nahray, from Alexandria, to Musa b. Abi al-Hayy. Around 1063. The writer informs the addressee about Nahray b. Nissim’s illness. Seems like there is a crises in the Maghreb and therefore no ships are leaving from there, and in Alexandria the situation is not good as well. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #435) VMR

Letter from Natan b. Nahray, from Alexandria, probably to Musa b. Abi al-Hayy, Fustat. Around 1063. Seems like several of the writer’s relatives want to move to Alexandria and need a certificate from the authorities for that. Also mentions a shipment of pearls from Mahdiyya that needs to be traded secretly. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #434) VMR

Recto: Holiday greetings to the Nasi Shelomo. Dating: ca. 1240 according to Goitein.

Letter, possibly a draft, to a certain Sulaymān, inquiring about various business transactions and whether the addressee had taken the two copies of the Halakhot in the writer's possession. Verso is filled with Judaeo-Arabic jottings.

Letter from Meʾir b. Hillel b. Ṣadoq to Netanel b. Ḥalfon. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: second half of the 12th century (this can probably be narrowed). In which Meʾir narrates how 'Zuṭa' (the Gaon Netanel ha-Levi) attempted to force him to accept the post of judge in Alexandria in return for annual payment. The addressee is asked to mediate between the writer and the Gaon Netanel. It seems that the addressee was the Gaon's representative (nāʾib) in Alexandria. (Information from Frenkel; see also Goitein's index card.) Join: Oded Zinger.

Business letter, from Khayyār b. Salmān Raqqāq (the parchment-maker) to [. . . b. Yaʿq]ūb. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Likely 11th-century, but needs further examination for identification of the people named. T-S NS J38 may be in the same hand.

Letter from an unknown writer, in Damascus, to an unknown addressee, in Fustat. The letter is in Judaeo-Arabic and the address is in Arabic (the names of writer and addressee may be legible with further examination). The purpose of the letter is to remind the addressee of the love between them and to remind him of his promise to come stay in Damascus with the writer. On verso, in addition to the address, there are two medical prescriptions.

Letter in which Arus b. Yosef mentions accounts of the export of five qintars of wool worth thirty dinars from Alexandria to Almeria in Spain. The trader had to pay six dinars for freight, half in Alexandria and half on arrival in Spain. (Information from Mediterranean Society, I, pp.105, 344, 419)

Business letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: 11th century, based on the locations (e.g. al-Mahdiyya and Sicily) and people named. Fragment: Right side of recto and right side of verso only. People named include: [...] Makhmūrī, Elḥanan, Abū Ibrahīm b. [...], Shemeul b. Sigla (?) b. Surrī, Khallūf b. al-Sh[...], the writer's brother Yehuda, and the writer's brother-in-law and his son Maṣliāḥ.

Letter from a certain Yūsuf, in an unknown location, to Abū Isḥāq and Abū [Rabī?]ʿ, in Fustat, behind the mosque. The letter is in Judaeo-Arabic and the address in in Arabic. The letter consists entirely of expressions of longing and the "spiritual and physical pains" afflicting Yūsuf ever since the departure of the addressees. He concludes, "Do not rebuke me for writing these letters, for my mind is preoccupied and the messenger was in a hurry." ASE.

Letter from an unknown writer, in an unknown location, to Ibrahīm b. Isḥāq, in Fustat. The letter is in Judaeo-Arabic and the address is in Arabic. Only the beginning of the letter is preserved. The writer received the addressee's letters via Umm Thābit and paid three dinars. Other people mentioned are Ibn Sharjāz (?) and Abū Rāshid. ASE.

Letter from Yefet b. Menashshe to his brother Abū Saʿīd Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. In Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment (upper left corner of recto). Refers to the arrival of two rubāʿīs(?). Mentions gum (ṣamgh). Not much else is preserved here.

Informal note. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer expresses his regret at the addressee's departure, and his distress at what the addressee will soon learn from ʿAfīf al-Dīn. The language is somewhat confusing but may refer to a secretary (kātib) working against the interests of the addressee (al-ʿāmil ʿalayka). The writer urges the addressee not to ignore his legal rights in this matter. Al-Shaykh al-Muwaffaq has also written to the addressee about this. ASE.

Letter. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer reports that he received the letter of Segulat ha-Yeshiva (the addressee?), which contained the news regarding the letter of the Nagid for the addressee which will be delivered by Thābit. The writer reports that in fact he received three letters (from the Nagid?), one for himself, one for the judge, and one for the addressee. Evidently the addressee has been taking too long in dealing with the matter of something (? מראעאה אמר אלגולה—four lines from the bottom). When Thābit departed, he took the two letters (for the judge and the addressee?) with him. "This is what happened." ASE.

Business letter from Abū l-Surūr b. David to Abū l-Afrāḥ ʿArūs b. Yūsuf. Fragment. Mentions the late Abū Saʿīd and the Muslims who claimed they were owed money from his estate. Mentions the daughter of the late Abū l-Faraj. Verso was reused for a few lines of accounts in Judaeo-Arabic.

Letter opening (three lines) in Arabic script. ASE.

Letter from a community to a dignitary. In Judaeo-Arabic. They think the addressee for whatever it is that he sent a Parnas to tell them.

Letter from Shelomo b. Eliyyahu. In Judaeo-Arabic. Fragment, only the end is preserved. He says he will come visit the coming Shabbat. He sends regards to Umm Faḍā'il, Faḍā'il, and his sister, and to Yāqūt and the children. Mufaḍḍal and the Kohen send their regards. ASE.