Geniza Lab

Letter to Aharon Rofe in Damascus. In Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. The writer may be writing from Ṣanʿā (penultimate line of recto) where he has traveled for business. He awaits instructions from the addressee and asks him to send pears (ijjāṣ) ("unless they brought the disgusting ones") and violets and סיתרג(?) and rhubarb. Needs further examination.

Letter from an unknown woman to her 'brother' Shemuel. She also addresses her female cousin (yā bint ʿammatī). Consists largely but not entirely of greetings. Needs further examination.

Letter to Avraham Rofe. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dealing mainly with business matters. Mentions raisins and pomegranate seeds.

Letter from a woman named Harja, somewhere in Syria, to her brother' Hārūn Fayrūz in Cairo. This letter contains an update on her stomach illness and blindness after she had gone to see the physicians (see the earlier Yevr.-Arab. II 1457, and see tag for other letters by her).

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Writer and addressee unknown. Dating: No earlier than 15th century; mentions the currency ashrafī. The letter deals in great depth with a matter of a fatwā and and dealings with the Muslims courts, including specifically a Ḥanafī judge. Mentions Ramle. Needs further examination.

Letter from an unknown man to Umm ʿAbd al-Laṭīf. In Judaeo-Arabic. Quite long, filled with business matters and greetings. Needs further examination.

Recto: Letter from Shemuel(?) to Hārūn. The writer may be the husband of the addressee's paternal aunt. In Judaeo-Arabic. Locations unknown; the writer mentions someone who arrived from Cairo with news. Dating: 15th century or later, based on the mention of the currency ashrafī. Much of the letter consists of expressions of condolence. The writer reports that the addressee's paternal aunt is crying and screaming due to the death of the family member as well as due to her separation from the addressee. She is fasting and has not eaten fatty foods (zafar) in 12 days, and refuses to do so until news arrives of the addressee's health. Verso: Letter fragment, probably. In Judaeo-Arabic. Describes scenes of horrific violence around the synagogue in Fustat inflicted by 'the youths' (al-shubbān). Umm ʿAbd al-Ghaffār was beaten. Others were rounded up and tortured. Much of it is a lament that would almost be appropriate for a Tisha b'Av service were it not for the specific details (a synagogue in Fustat/Cairo, the individuals named). Needs further examination.

Letter from Shemuel to his cousin (ibn khāl) ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, in Jerusalem. In Judaeo-Arabic. Consists almost entirely of greetings and updates on the health of various family members. Verso: Also contains five items from a list or account.

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Writer and addressee unknown. Dating: No earlier than 15th century, since it mentions the currency ashrafī. Deals mainly with business matters. Mentions Rashīd. The writer will be accompanying a certain amīr to 'the villages' and to Alexandria. Needs further examination.

Letter from a woman named Harja, somewhere in Syria, to her brother ʿAbd al-Dā'im Ibn Fayrūz, in Cairo. See tag for other letters by her.

Letter from Avraham Neḥmad to Moshe b. ʿAbd al-Waliyy. Writer and addressee are Qaraites. Written in Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. The letter begins with a recommendation for the bearer, Yiṣḥaq al-Ḥamawī. The whole community of Ḥamawīs (people from Hama) in the writer's location is in great distress on account of the capitation tax (jāliya). The continuation of the letter deals with business matters. Verso also contains sums in

Letter from the Qaraite community of Jerusalem to the Qaraite community of Damascus. The scribe is Meir Rofe Tawrīzī, and the letter is also signed by Mordekhai Hillel and ʿAbd al-Raḥīm. Written in Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: Unknown, but possibly the 1580s CE based on the mention of the sanjak named Abū Sayfayn, known from other sources to have been the administrator of the sanjak of Nablus under Sinan Pasha. The letter is a vivid account of the dire circumstances and persecutions in Jerusalem. The writers mention that the Rabbanites were in fact oppressed even more, but they subsequently turned on the Qaraites. The writers need assistance, and they write that they are seeking it from Damascus because the community of Fustat/Cairo "is not to be turned to," it seems due to troubles of their own. Needs further examination.

Letter in Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Needs examination.

Letter from Faraj Allāh to unknown addressee(s). In Judaeo-Arabic with one line of Arabic script on verso. The letter consists mostly of expressions of concern and regards. In the final lines he writes, "As for the matter of Fāris, the matter is explained in the letter that is with Ibrāhīm al-[...]."

Business letter in Judaeo-Arabic, with some Arabic script in the margin and the address written in Arabic script. Dating: No earlier than 15th century; mentions the currency ashrafī. Needs examination.

Letter of condolence from Yūsuf b. Shemuel to his 'partner' (sharīk) Naṣrallāh. In Judaeo-Arabic.

Letter in Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic. Mentions Dā'ūd al-Ḥazzān (the writer is quarreling with him) and the beadle ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq. Also mentions "dār al-shāmiyyīn," the house of the Palestinians/Levantines. Needs further examination

Letter to the writer's 'son' ʿAbd al-Wāḥīd. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer repeats half a dozen times that the addressee should not believe the false rumors that the writer gloats at his misfortunes. On the contrary, his misfortune is the writer's misfortune and his happiness is the writer's happiness. He further writes that the addressee's mother is constantly praying for him.

Letter from Jerusalem. In Judaeo-Arabic. The writer reports that he arrived safely in Jerusalem with his group on Thursday at the end of the day. No one expected such a smooth and successful journey. The Muslims who encounter them say, "You Jews! You must have a secret with God." Most of the remainder consists of greetings.

Letter from Ibrāhīm al-Ḥakīm, unknown location, to ʿAbd al-Karīm b. Maʿānī(?), in Cairo. The letter is in Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic with the address in Arabic script. The letter consists mostly of greetings.