Partnership Agreement (Almería, Spain)

Ḥalfon ben Nethanel ha-Levi Ibn al-Dimyātī was a leading twelfth-century Jewish merchant. Born in Egypt, he traveled extensively for business from al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) to North Africa, Egypt, Yemen, and even India. He spent time in al-Andalus and maintained a close relationship with the poet and theologian Judah ha-Levi. Ḥalfon himself was a scholar of some standing, whose erudite writings attest to his learning. Many Geniza documents pertain to his life and business activities.

Little is known about Abū Jacob Joseph ben Saul Ibn al-Naghira, a merchant from North Africa. He was living in Fez, Morocco, in 1139 but seems to have traveled later to the port city of Almería, Spain. Two of his partnership agreements with Ḥalfon ben Nethanel ha-Levi survive.