Legal document: T-S NS J161 + T-S 12.5

Description

Recto: A partnership contract that is the subject of the legal queries to Daniel b. Azarya, the Palestinian gaon, edited in Gil, Palestine #395 (PGPID 508 ), #396 (PGPID 1783). The pharsing in this deed can be compared to the full quotation of the deed in the second query mentioned above. There are some differences in details between the two deeds, which is an example of Phil Lieberman point on the uniquness of every 'copy' in Geniza deeds. The lower part of the deed was edited by Gil (Palestine, #394), the join of the upper part was identified by Yagur. Another copy of the same contract is T-S 20.79. The deed sets the partnership between the travelling agent, Moshe b. Yehuda ha-Ma'arvi, and his partner, Ḥasan ha-Kohen b. SulIīmān, order to avoid the taxes in Sicily, the merchandise will be registered under Ḥasan's name, who as coming from Sicily is exempted from the tax. While on the sea journey Moshe died, and so the above mentioned queries discuss the matter in which his goods can be sold by the Jewish court in order to support his widow and orphan girl. Verso: Dirge. (Information from S. D. Goitein, Mediterranean Society, 2:236, 395-5, 574, 613; CUDL; EMS.