Geniza Lab

Verso: Narrative in Judaeo-Arabic. Perhaps notes for a sermon. It starts by describing a stroll on the Sabbath following Pentecost to 'the observatory' (al-raṣad) to get some fresh air (natanashshaq). One of the members of the party, Elʿazar b. Shelomo asked the writer "What is the mountain of God?" The writer then expounds on the nature of the mountain of God. Dating: A previous PGP description listed this as 11th century, but it is not clear on what basis. (Information in part from Goitein's index cards.) ASE

Calendrical calculation. (Information from Goitein's index cards)

A miscellany. On recto there are very elaborate praises for God in Judaeo-Arabic. On verso there are three different keys to Hebrew ciphers. The first is the same as in Bodl. MS heb. f 102/28, the second is simply atbash, and the third is based on the mnemonic הקץ עצל דיך מנום כזב גרש פן תסף חטא, a Hebrew version of "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." On the facing page there is a prescription for a medicinal syrup ("sharāb mudabbir") (cf. Chipman, The World of Pharmacy and Pharmacists, p. 189).

Prescription in Judaeo-Arabic, it seems for hemorrhoids (arwāḥ, see Blau's dictionary, p. 264).

Block print. Welcome placard in Hebrew with black and red flower patterns. Information from Goitein's note card.

Instructions for some sort of magical procedure. "Take seven pebbles, throw one in each of the four cardinal directions, and three will remain with you. Then recite the following verses sven times. . . ."

Small amulet, probably, for Tamīm b. Hilāla.

Several alchemical recipes written at all angles to each other.

Prescription in Judaeo-Arabic for Abū Yaḥyā, including instructions for both medicine and diet. The name of the recipient at the beginning and the phrase "effective if God wills" at the end are written in Arabic script. Information from Mediterranean Society, II, p. 583.

Booklet containing Hebrew poems/prayers, with an ownership note: "this daftar belongs to Netan'el b. Elʿazar." There are some marginal notes in Arabic script, but no Arabic-script document here.

Medical prescription or recipe. In Arabic script. The first item is hiera picra (ايارج فيقرا). Also uses pulp of colocynth (shaḥm ḥanẓal). There are 3 lines in the same hand in the middle of verso.

Calendar for the year 1430/31 CE, written in an interesting ink that has faded to pale silver; the page now looks blank at a glance, but much of the text is legible.

Medical recipes in Judaeo-Arabic. Using various kinds of myrobalan (halīlaj kābulī, balīlaj, amlaj). The second is for 'the great iṭrīfal' (a common medical term derived from Sanskrit triphala).

Literary text, on vellum. There is an ownership note mentioning Elʿazar b. Efrayim.

Pen trial consisting of the formula wa-mā tawfīqī ʾillā bi-llāh

Colophon to a medical or pharmacological treatise. In Judaeo-Arabic. No name or date.

On recto, Hebrew piyyuṭ. All around it and on verso, Arabic jottings and pen trials.

Recipe, Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic script. Very late.

Left fragment: Magical text with the header ללמטלקה = for the divorcee

Calendar. Giving conversions between various calendars, including Julian/Gregorian. Verso: Accounts (or grocery list?) in Judaeo-Arabic. Firewood, spices, salt, . . . , raisins, sesame, eggs.