É. Apor , I. Ormos (ed.): Goldziher Memorial Conference, June 21–22, 2000, Budapest.

BEERI, Tova: The Intriguing Fate of a Geniza Document: Goldziher's Contribution to the Study of Hebrew Poetry in Babylonia

TOVA BEERI he proudly notes, was a former disciple of the addressee, referring to himself min ...tilmidhihi "from ... your pupil" in his signature. He apologizes for writing his letter in Arabic, not in Hebrew, as was apparently expected of a student of the Gaon. He did so because he was pressed for time and troubled by business affairs. Although Nahum's approach to his master was respectful in tone, nevertheless he uses a rather warm and familiar style; they undoubtedly had a close and friendly relationship. At the time he wrote his letter Nahum had been away from Baghdad for some years; he resided, as mentioned, in Qayrawan, but had previously visited alAndalus. The bulk of the letter deals with private and commercial affairs. A well-todo man, Nahum possessed houses and other property in Baghdad. He was especially concerned about a certain Abu Mansur, most probably a close relative of his, perhaps one of his sons. He asks the Gaon to look after this Abu Mansur, to advise him in business, and to teach him Mishna and Talmud. Nahum also mentions some of his relatives still living in Baghdad: his father, Yosef, was already dead/ but he had sons and sisters involved in his business affairs there. He asked the Gaon to keep an eye on them and to assist them if necessary. Goldziher had little to say about this document. He transcribed it accurately and translated it into French, he summarized its content and added some remarks concerning its language, style, and orthography. He already knew of course, who the addressee was, but could not identify the writer, Nahum ben Yosef, who was at the time, as Goldziher writes, "unknown in Jewish Literature". Yet in the intervening ninety-five years since this letter's publication much new information has been revealed about this 'unknown' individual. Geniza scholars such as Jacob Mann, Shlomo Dov Goitein, Moshe Gil, Alexander Scheiber, Ezra Fleischer and others, have gathered a wealth of varied information not only about Nahum but also about his predecessors and offspring, covering some five consecutive generations.

6 Nahum's father, Yosef, was none other than the famous paytan, that is, liturgical poet, Yosef al-Baradani. More than three hundred pieces of This fact is clearly deduced from Nahum's letter: he adds the traditional blessing for the deceased (radiya Allahu canhu) when mentioning his father. See Goldziher's publication p. 184 line 16. 6 For information concerning Nahum and his family see: J. Mann, 'The Responsa of the Babylonian Geonim as a Source of Jewish History', JQR NS 9(1919), 150-157; Id., Texts and Studies, vol. I, New York 1972

2, 122, 151-153; S. D. Goitein, A Mediterranean Society, vol. Ill, Berkeley - Los Angeles - London 1978, 300, 301, 493; M. Gil, A History of Palestine 634-1099, Cambridge 1992, paragraphs 298, 828, 899; Id., In the Kingdom of Ishmael, Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem 1997, s.v. 'Nahum al-Baradani, family of; A. Scheiber, Geniza Studies, Hildesheim 1981, 19-44, 288-296, 477-485; E. Fleischer, 'Studies in the Poetry of Rav Hayya Gaon', in: Z. Malachi [ed.], A. M. Habermann Jubilee Volume, Jerusalem 1977, 248-249, nn. 34-37 [Hebrew]; M. Ben-Sasson, The Emergence of the Local Jewish Community in the Muslim World, Qayrawan 800-1057, Jerusalem 1996, 166-167 ar

,d the bibliographical notes there [Hebrew]. On four generations of cantors {hazzanim) in the Baradani family see T. Beeri, 'Hazzanim in Babylonia: A Family 16