HebrewPal - Hebrew Palaeography Album

Collapse

Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. b. 3.16

Details
Item Images (2)
Graphic Elements (38)
Specimens (1)
Related Items (0)

Details

Shelfmark

Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. b. 3.16

Collection

Bodleian Library (Oxford, United Kingdom)

Item Nature

Document Type

One leaf document

Writing

Writing Material

Paper

Ink

Brown (iron-gall)

Writing Instrument

Calamus

Ruling

Ruling Existence

No ruling can be seen

Number of Written Lines

17+marginalia (recto); 26+marginalia (verso)

Dimensions

Height

280

Width

180

Date

Date Mentioned

1060-1061

Date Century

11th Century CE

Place

Estimated Geographical Area

Orient
Sepharad

Language

Judeo-Arabic

Document Text

Letter

Document Text Observations

The letter reflects the economic difficulties of the Jewish community of Alexandria due to the heavy expenses of freeing captives. These financial obligations were so straining that the community was unable to properly host 'The Prince (Heb. Nasi) Daniel b. Azarya.' The letter was written in 1060-1061. Daniel b. Azarya resided in Fustat and, apparently, planned to visit Alexandria at the time.

Vowels and Signs

Hebrew Vocalisation

No vowels or accents

Other

Item History

Given by the Egypt Expl. Fund, 1890 (from the Genizah).

Ktiv Reference Number

https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/manuscripts/hebrew-manuscripts/itempage?vid=KTIV&scope=KTIV&docId=PNX_MANUSCRIPTS990053387330205171&SearchTxt=b.%203.16,AND

Ktiv Link

https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/manuscripts/hebrew-manuscripts/itempage?vid=KTIV&scope=KTIV&docId=PNX_MANUSCRIPTS990053387330205171&SearchTxt=b.%203.16,AND (Date accessed: 2026-02-11)

Repository Library Link

https://genizah.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/catalog/volume_15#MS_Heb_b_3-part15-item1 (Date accessed: 2026-02-11)

Further Bibliography

M. Gil, In the Kingdom of Ishmael‎ (in Hebrew) (Tel Aviv University, 1997), vol. 4.

M. Frenkel, The Compassionate and Benevolent: The Leading Elite in the Jewish Community of Alexandria in the Middle Ages‎ (in Hebrew) (Ben-Zvi Institute for the Study of Jewish Communities in the East, 2006).

Available online through the Princeton Geniza Project at https://geniza.princeton.edu/documents/2518/ (accessed February 11, 2026).

Published: 11 Feb 2026, 1:02 p.m.

Created: 11 Feb 2026, 1 p.m. by Elena Lolli

Last Updated: 11 Feb 2026, 1:02 p.m. by Elena Lolli

Entry Authors: Elena Lolli

How to cite this page: Elena Lolli, 'Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. b. 3.16', in: Hebrew Palaeography Album, General Editors: Judith Olszowy-Schlanger. Consulted online at https://www.hebrewpalaeography.com/data/items/1307/ on 2026-02-12.

Item Images

Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. b. 3.16: 1r