Geniza Lab

Letter from Yosef and Nissim b. Berakhya (Qayrawan) to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. ʿAwkal (Fustat), ca. 1020, on the death of the Nagid, Avraham b. ʿAṭā. According to the sender’s words, the Maghreb is in a state of decline. The situation is difficult in Gabès as well as in the western parts around Sijilmāssa. A famine and a drought are mentioned. Refers to financial matters, some involving the academies, others involving the people of Gabès who had sent 100 dinars to Fustat some years ago but the money was lost track of. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 435.)

Entry in court notebook (#38). Note stating that a letter shall be written to 'our lord' to Amīn al-Dawla (and) to Ben Naḥman telling them that 26.5 dinars and 13 qirats have arrived and that the writer yearns for them. NB: Goitein referred to this document as folio 16 (Firk. II NS 1700.16AII, with the A indicating recto and the II indicating text block) in accordance with the foliation written in pen; but the correct folio is 17, as written in pencil (the librarian with the pen gave two folios the number 8). ASE.

The main documentary item under this shelfmark is a copy of a letter from Rav Hayya Gaon to Avraham b. ʿAṭā' the Nagid of Qayrawān. Needs examination.

Letter from an unknown writer in Egypt to Moshe Kohen in an unknown location. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Late, probably 16th century at the earliest. Mentions the currency sharīfī. The writer reports that the community gave 400 qirsh to a person who came bearing letters of recommendation, of which 240 are intended for the children of Namir. There is a blank where the person's name ought to be--it was never filled in, and the letter was perhaps never sent. The writer reports on the financial affairs of the community on Egypt and all the money that goes toward interest payments. Needs further examination.

Letter "to the Sulṭān regarding. . ." written in calligraphic and vocalized Judaeo-Arabic. The header is too faded to be easily read from the microfilm. The text is filled with expressions glorifying the sultan.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic, late. From Moshe Ḥayyim Ḥayyūn (?) to Mordekhai Hannān (?) and another person whose name is effaced. Dating: Probably 18th or 19th century. There is no address and no folding, so possibly a draft. Deals with business matters. Mentions Damietta and a certain Nissim. Regards to various people at the end.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Late. Dealing with business matters. Neither writer nor addressee appear to be named; the latter is addressed as 'my brother.'

Letter draft from an unknown man in Egypt to Marzūq Chelebi (? גלבי) in Damascus. Both writer and addressee are Qaraites. The latter is greeted as someone who is renowned for his charity "among Muslims, Christians, and Rabbanites." Recto is written in Judaeo-Arabic, and verso is in Arabic script; both sides appear to belong to the same letter. The letter mentions a figure named Isaac Navarro several times as well as "the Pasha." It tells the tale of persecution and imprisonment; it seems that the captive Rabbanites had the wherewithal to advocate with the Pasha for their release, but not so the Qaraites, and the Rabbanites gloated tremendously (wa-yā shamātat al-rabbānīn!). Needs further examination.

Letter from Shemuel ha-Levi b. Avraham ha-Levi, in Jerusalem, to ʿOvadya Kohen and his son Nissim Kohen, presumably in Fustat/Cairo. They are Qaraites. Written in Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew. Dated: Sunday, 23 Elul 5522 AM (תאבד מכהן), which is 1762 CE. But catalogued as 1770 CE. Needs further examination for the content.

Letter from Moshe ha-Levi to a group of unknown individuals. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: Thursday, 8 Elul 1743 Seleucid = 1432 CE. The letter discusses the matter of ʿAbd al-Karīm and his wife and how they were asked to report to Cairo. Needs further examination.

Letter from Mordekhai ha-Levi b. Shemuel, Moshe Levi b. Shemuel, and the Qaraite community of Jerusalem to Shelomo Kohen, his son Yosef Kohen, Aharon Levi, Yosef Gabbai, and Yeshuʿa Ẓaʿir, in Fustat/Cairo. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dated: Tuesday, 3 Iyyar 5550 AM (רחש לבי), which is 1790 CE. The writers report that the addressees departed without the letters of Muṣṭafā al-Ṣabbāgh regarding the "bolsa" of 247.5 of a certain currency that they have with them. They are to give this money to the partners of Muṣṭafā, Ḥannā Ṣāṣī and Mikha'īl al-Kuḥayl(?). Needs further examination.

Letter from Shemuel ha-Levi b. Avraham, in Jerusalem, to ʿUzziel Fayrūz, presumably in Fustat/Cairo. The writer's son Avraham Levi b. Shemuel added his own signature as well. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Catalogued as 18th century. The writer emphasizes his continual prayers for the addressee and abashedly makes a request of a financial nature. Needs further examination.

Letter to Aharon Rofe and Avraham Rofe. The address reads "to the teacher ʿAbd al-Wāḥid al-Yahūdī al-Ṭabīb in the Wikāla of K[...]." Unknown writer, unknown locations. Written in Judaeo-Arabic with the address in Arabic script. Apart from the greetings, the contents are cryptic. The writer reports that "The matter of Ibn Haman has resolved." Avraham Ṣaghīr sends his regards. Needs further examination.

Letter from Yosef ha-Rofe b. Moshe ha-Rofe in Damascus to Avraham Fayrūz b. Moshe ha-Rofe, in Fustat/Cairo. The writer complains about the lack of letters and orders a number of foodstuffs to be sent back to him with the bearer of the letter, including sugar.

Letter drafts. See join for preliminary description. Needs further examination.

Letter from Gedalya Fayrūz, Fustat/Cairo, to Shelomo Berakha, Jerusalem. Dating: Unknown. Written in Judaeo-Arabic. Seems to consist mostly of greetings. Needs examination.

Letter from Yefet Fayrūz, in Damascus, to Eliyyahu Fayrūz, in Fustat/Cairo. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Catalogued as 18th century. Needs further examination.

Legal queries regarding inheritance rendered in Hebrew verse.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic to two unknown addressees. Dated: Elul 1524 Seleucid = 1213 CE. The writer requests a rapid response "to that which was indicated." Goitein describes this document as an instruction by order of Avraham Maimonides to help a needy man. His handwritten edition includes the note 'in the handwriting of Avraham Maimonides,' l. 10. On verso a poem, probably by the hand of Moshe b. Levi Halevi (AA)

Letter from Avraham al-Tawrīzī to al-Shaykh al-Fakhr al-Skandarī. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: No earlier than 15th century; mentions the currency ashrafī. Catalogued as 16th century. Mentions that Ibn al-Nābulsī arrived. Deals mainly with business matters. Mentions an amir and a duwaydar(?).