University of Pennsylvania, Halper 355

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Metadata

DS ID:

DS25918

Shelfmark:

Halper 355

Title:

Court memo

Memorandum

Scribe:

Halfon ben Menasse, active 1100-1138

Place:

Fustat

Old Cairo TGN

Date:

1100-1138?

twelfth century (dates CE) AAT

Language:

Judeo-Arabic

Judeo-Arabic WIKIDATA

Material:

parchment unevenly cut, torn; verso is blank, save few scribbled words

Parchment AAT

Physical Description:

Extent: 1 frag. : parchment unevenly cut, torn; verso is blank, save few scribbled words

Note:

The cut of memo, informal cursive hand, and lack of mail folds, indicate that this is either a draft copy, or an internal memo.
The writer addresses an honorable, probably a judge, agreeing to his decision to proceed discreetly, without the presence of witnesses.
The hand is recognized as that of the court scribe Ḥalfon ha-Leṿi ben Menasheh. Over 250 such documents have been collected by Gershon Weiss: Legal documents written by the court clerk Halfon ben Menasse, dated 1100-1138, a study in the diplomatics of the Cairo Geniza (Thesis (Ph.D.) in Oriental Studies--Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 1970.
Assuming Ḥalfon is the author of this memo, it is likely that it is written to Matsliaḥ ha-kohen Gaon, his mentor for whom Ḥalfon served under for most of his career.
Cairo Genizah Collection (University of Pennsylvania. Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. Library).
Cairo Genizah Collection (Dropsie College. Library).
Amram.

Keyword:

Jewish law

Witnesses (Jewish law)

Court records

Institutional Record:

https://find.library.upenn.edu/catalog/9940420333503681

IIIF Manifest:

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p31r6nj9j/manifest

Holding Institution:

University of Pennsylvania