HebrewPal - Hebrew Palaeography Album

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Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. f. 34.45

Details
Item Images (2)
Graphic Elements (32)
Specimens (1)
Related Items (0)

Details

Shelfmark

Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. f. 34.45

Collection

Bodleian Library (Oxford, United Kingdom)

Item Nature

Document Type

One leaf document

Writing

Writing Material

Paper

Ink

Black (carbon based)

Writing Instrument

Calamus

Ruling

Ruling Existence

No ruling can be seen

Number of Written Lines

21 (recto); 20 (verso)

Date

Date Century

11th Century CE

Date Observations

Beginning of the 11th century.

Place

Locality of Writing

Baghdad

Language

Hebrew

Document Text

Letter

Document Text (Other)

Copy of a letter

Document Text Observations

Copy of a letter from Shemuel Gaon b. Hofni to the community in Fez. Mentions tragic events that took place in Fez, including killing of community members and destroying of the synagogue. The writer sends his deep condolences. The letter was probably sent from Baghdad through Fustat and Sahlan copied parts of it.

Vowels and Signs

Hebrew Vocalisation

No vowels or accents

Other

Item History

Bought through the Rev. Prof. Sayce, 1896 (from the Genizah).

Ktiv Reference Number

990001647290205171

Ktiv Link

https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/manuscripts/hebrew-manuscripts/itempage?vid=KTIV&scope=KTIV&docId=PNX_MANUSCRIPTS990001647290205171&SearchTxt=heb.%20f.%2034,AND (Date accessed: 2026-02-26)

Repository Library Link

https://genizah.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/catalog/volume_191 (Date accessed: 2026-02-26)

Further Bibliography

M. Gil, In the Kingdom of Ishmael‎ (in Hebrew) (Tel Aviv University, 1997), vol. 2.

Available online through the Princeton Geniza Project at https://geniza.princeton.edu/documents/5632/ (accessed February 26, 2026).

Created: 26 Feb 2026, 2:20 p.m. by Elena Lolli

Entry Authors: Elena Lolli

How to cite this page: Elena Lolli, 'Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. f. 34.45', in: Hebrew Palaeography Album, General Editors: Judith Olszowy-Schlanger. Consulted online at https://www.hebrewpalaeography.com/data/items/1351/ on 2026-02-26.

Item Images

Oxford, Bodleian MS. Heb. f. 34.45: 1r