1 When the spirit is gone, we put the corpse out of sight to protect it from abuse. In like manner, when the writing is worn out, we hide the book to preserve it from profanation. The contents of the book go up to heaven like the soul...

SOLOMON SCHECHTER

Genizah is a Hebrew word meaning ‘treasury’. To the Jews of medieval Cairo, a Genizah was a place for worn In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and out scrolls or other sacred texts. Brought to Cambridge Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge by scholar Solomon Schechter in 1897 the contents from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. of the Genizah of the Ben Ezra Synagogue are among They brought with them a treasure lost for the University Library’s greatest treasures. a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Through the Genizah manuscripts in Discarded History, Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery we reveal the social, business and personal lives of the accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself remarkable Jewish community of Fustat, Old Cairo, documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi a thousand years ago. Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

2 1 THE DISCOVERY THE BOOK OF BEN SIRA Arabic script instead of Hebrew, as they UNCONSERVED TORAH Palestine or Egypt, 10th century believed it allowed them to present Egypt (?), 10/11th century a more correct pronunciation of the This manuscript changed the course original Hebrew text. Schechter described the Genizah of scholarship. It prompted Schechter as a ‘battlefield of books’. 120 years to travel to Cairo and retrieve the Hebrew in Arabic characters, paper later almost all of Cambridge’s 200,000 contents of the Genizah. The book T-S Ar.52.242 Genizah fragments have been carefully of Ben Sira, known in Christian circles conserved. This small copy of the as Ecclesiasticus, was composed Hebrew Pentateuch has been left in the 2nd century BCE, but doubts QUR’AN in its original condition to show about its sanctity led to its exclusion in Hebrew script something of the task that confronted from the Hebrew Bible and the loss Egypt, 11th century Schechter in Cairo. of its Hebrew text in the Middle Ages. In Solomon Schechter’s day, the oldest In the Genizah we can see evidence Hebrew, parchment known version was in Greek, and some of close relations between the T-S 6K3 questioned the existence of a Hebrew different faiths of Egypt. Some Jews original. When Schechter saw that this were clearly interested in learning manuscript preserved a copy of the about Islamic theology. This fragment Some… have perished original text, he made plans to track contains Suras 1 and 2 from the Qur’an, outright, and are literally down its source in Cairo. followed by omens for undertaking  a journey. The text of the Qur’an has ground to dust in the terrible Hebrew, paper been transliterated into Hebrew struggle for space, whilst Or. 1102 script, suggesting that it can only others, as if overtaken by a have belonged to a Jew. general crush, are squeezed SOLOMON SCHECHTER Judaeo-Arabic, paper into big unshapely lumps. TO AGNES LEWIS T-S Ar.51.62 Solomon Schechter

Schechter wrote to Mrs Lewis declaring  his excitement at identifying the Ben JERUSALEM TALMUD, Sira/Ecclesiasticus fragment. He insists TRACTATE GITTIN that for the time being they keep the Palestine, 9/10th century discovery secret. The Ben Ezra Genizah preserved Dear Mrs Lewis, many sacred texts unique to the Jews of Syria and Palestine. This large I think we have reason to congratulate page from a magnificent copy of the ourselves. For the fragment I took Jerusalem Talmud (‘The Talmud of with me represents a piece of the the Land of Israel’) was an important Original Hebrew of Ecclesiasticus. discovery when Schechter first saw it in It is the first time that such a thing the sisters’ possession. Syro-Palestinian was discovered. Please do not speak traditions of Jewish worship were yet about the matter. I will come to you almost entirely forgotten until the The Ben Ezra Synagogue tomorrow about 11 pm and talk over discovery of the Genizah. before its recent restoration the matter with you how to make the Fustat, 1970s matter known. Aramaic, Hebrew, parchment Lewis-Gibson Talmud 2.4 In haste and great excitement yours sincerely S. Schechter HEBREW BIBLE, THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Du Gunbadan, Iran, 903–4 CE Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery HEBREW BIBLE, THE BOOK OF NUMBERS When sacred books and scrolls became from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself They brought with them a treasure lost for what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi in Arabic script damaged and were no longer fit for They brought with them a treasure lost for Palestine or Egypt, 11th century use they were placed in the Genizah a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridgeof Egypt gave lecturer Schechter Solomon permission Schechter to take was chamber. These two leaves from Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had sowhatever excited heby liked.the sisters’ Schechter remarkable declared discovery that This Bible is written in the Hebrew a small, personal copy of the Bible accumulated along with thousands of other he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 language but with Arabic letters. were written by a scribe called Joseph  accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself It was probably written by a Karaite,  in Du Gunbadan in Iran. This Bible – documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, whatmanuscripts the Genizah back toheld. Cambridge. The Chief Rabbi a member of a Jewish sect that the oldest dated medieval Hebrew Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take objected to the rabbinic tradition of manuscript – travelled far before it was The Jewish community had been placing mainstream Judaism and sought to eventually deposited in the Genizah. The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that return to the pure teachings of the Bible. their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Some Karaite scholars of the Middle Hebrew, parchment Genizah since at least the 10th11th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge. Ages chose to write their Bibles with T-S NS 246.26.2

2 3 A SYNAGOGUE IN OLD CAIRO PALESTINIAN VERSION Kinana 1 The glassmaker 4 OF THE AMIDA PRAYER The ‘Adept’ ben al-Halla 8 The son of the mother-in-law Palestine or Egypt, Umm Sabi 3 of al-Mutalibi 2 – Received 10/11th century Danil and his son 2 A newcomer elder of Baghdad 6 The Berber woman 3 The cantor ben al-Quda‘i 6 The oldest form of the Amida prayer, Her sister 3 The mother-in-law of ben al-[…] 4 recited by Jews at every weekday service, Zuhayr and his father-in-law 6 The acquaintance of Abu l-Muna 8 included a curse against ‘Christians and Yafuni 2 The daughter of Hashika 5 heretics’. The old Palestinian version of The newcomer from Rum 6 Abu Mukhtar 4 the rite, used in the Ben Ezra Synagogue The ‘runner’ Kohen 6 His sister 3 in the Middle Ages, constantly reminded His mother and maternal aunt 4 The wife of the tanner 3 the congregation of the dangers The brothers of the deceased man 3 Yaqub the blind man 3 posed by Christians and other heretical Umm Aynayn Hamd 4 Makhluf the blind man 2 sectarians. In modern versions the The children of the deaf man 8 wording has been changed to curse Mubaraka 4 Translation by MC ‘slanderers’ and ‘enemies’ instead. The mother-in-law of Elia and the orphan boy 2 Hebrew, parchment Elia 3 SYNAGOGUE INVENTORY T-S K27.33b Elia ‘the short’ 2 Fustat, 1080 CE The orphans of the Karaite 2 And may the Christians and The female washer of the dead Hebrew, parchment sectarians instantly perish... of the Rum 3 T-S 20.47 Rebecca 4 Umm Matatya 2 ... new material, [a colour] with yellow, ALMS LIST The acquaintance of the dyer 4 from the family of Sana’a al-Dawla, Fustat, 1107 CE Abu Khalif the blind man 5 on which there is inscribed ‘for the His in-law 1 congregation of the Iraqis’... and a Judaeo-Arabic, paper Two acquaintances of Azhar 16 siqlatun handkerchief, black and T-S NS J41 Ben Yahya 4 white, from Halfon... A grass-coloured The acquaintance of the man handkerchief with a blackish colour In the name of God, Friday the 8th from Damietta 6 from Abu l-Husayn b. Abu l-Bayan. of the month of Av, may its mourning The daughter of al-Thulayth 2 A very old siqlatun handkerchief, be turned into joy. The daughter of al-Jady 2 black with white... and old... and Dispensed to the poor, may God in his The sister of Ishaq 2 a small white handkerchief made of mercy make them rich, 4 and a half Ben Saada 2 fine sticky material and a piece of red qintars of bread. The son of the writer/singer brocade... with the name of Farah The orphans of the astrologer 8 of liturgical poetry 6 inscribed on it, and some siqlatun The man from Acre 6 Saada 4 material for the columns and a piece Abu Kathir 6 Umm Miryam 2 of siqlatun with a fringe for the book Noah 3 Abu Shaykha 2 of Haftara portions and a covering for Sittan 2 Barakat the fortune teller 4 the Ark... and material... for the Ark, Abu Hilal 4 Salama 4 white and red, siqlatun and two worn Ayyash 3 The man from Qalaha 3 patches of western siqlatun and a prayer Ibrahim of Tyre 4 Umm Zarifa 4 shawl for priests and a green curtain for The neighbour 2 The wife of Awad 4 the entrance-way.... twenty-five lamps... The Surani 6 The mother-in-law of the parnas weaving their four chains... two or three The acquaintance of Abu Surur 4 of the Rum 4 of iron and one of copper and on the Samih 4 Joseph 6 head... and two small copper lamps... Umm Ubayd 3 The supervisor of milk 4 and three ‘scorpions’ made of copper for Ma‘la 5 The woman from Sicily 4 snails [= kinds of lamp]... two bowls An orphan girl and her brothers 43 Shamia the newcomer 6 of yellow copper and four small bowls... The wife of the deceased man 4 The widow of the seller of and thirty-eight pen candelabra and In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and The sons of Rahamim 3 honey sherbet 4 seventeen woven candelabra. Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge Symeon 4 The afflicted newcomer 3 A candelabrum with three uprights from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. Nathan 3 Shemarya 4 and a star, and its candelabra one large. Public life in Fustat (Old Cairo) centred The congregation prayed there three times The wife of the deceased man Eliakim 2 The proselyte from Cairo 6 A big chain with a ‘scorpion’ and its They brought with them a treasure lost for His travelling companion 2 The man from Hijaz 3 hooks with three candelabra (Zara’a aon thousand religious years: institutions: a page thefrom synagogue, the original Cambridgea day, sent theirlecturer children Solomon to study Schechter the Hebrew was The female proselyte 4 Abu Khalifa 6 dedicated it). An iron triangle and Hebrewthe church, book the of mosque.Ben Sira. For The the page Jews had of soBible, excited and byassembled the sisters’ to exchangeremarkable news discovery and Maliha 3 Samih the grave digger 4 a large copper circle, with regard Palestinian heritage, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, collect the charitable donations that supported Yaqub 1 Umm Hilala 2 to which it is doubtful if it belongs to the accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself Zafaran 8 The man with tremors 3 Babylonians or to the Jerusalemites, documentsknown in the in Middlethe Ben Ages Ezra as Synagogue, ‘the Synagogue whatthe poor, the theGenizah sick and held. refugees. The Chief People Rabbi were Siba 4 The worker or dealer in lead 5 and a pair of ‘seats’ for reading (one Oldof the Cairo, Palestinians’ in a chamber or ‘of called the Jerusalemites’, a Genizah. ofproud Egypt of theirgave Schechtermagnificent permission building, to and take the The children of Abu Said 6 The wife of the furrier 5 large and the other small...). was the community’s most important social wealthy donated cash for its upkeep, colourful Umm Furayj 2 Ben Danil 8 The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that Wahib 3 A newcomer 2 Translation by SDG theirhub. It worn-out provided books a place and for documents worship, education, in the hehangings ‘liked all’, for andits walls, shipped and almost books 200,000and scrolls Shalom 3 The Rayyis ben Joseph – Genizahpublic business, since at and least charity. the 10th century CE. manuscriptsfor its library. back to Cambridge. Umm al-Khayyat 2 may his memory be blessed

4 5 HOLY WAR LETTER FROM THE JEWISH We were not informed, praise be to the available sum would have been spent ELDERS OF ASHQELON Most High, that the accursed ones who for the ransom of only a few. However, Egypt, 1100 CE are called Ashkenazim [Germans] the grace of the Lord, may His Name violated or raped women, as did the be exalted, and his ever-ready mercy, Hebrew, paper others. Now, among those who have has been bestowed upon these wretched T-S 20.113 reached safety are some who escaped people… on the second and third days following News still reaches us that among those the battle and left with the governor Translation by SDG who were redeemed from the Franks who was granted safe conduct; and and remained in Ashqelon some are others who, after having been caught in danger of dying of want. Others by the Franks, remained in their hands A CRUSADER NOTE remained in captivity, and yet others for some time but escaped in the end; Acre Palestine, 11th century were killed before the eyes of the rest, these are but few. The majority consists who themselves were killed afterwards of those who were ransomed. To our During their conquest of the Holy with all manner of tortures; [for the sorrow, some of them ended their Land, the Crusaders took prisoners enemy murdered them] in order to lives under all kind of suffering and for ransom, and plundered ancient give vent to his anger on them. We did affliction. The privations which they synagogues for books and scrolls not hear of a single man of Israel who had to endure caused some of them to to sell. Someone, a Westerner, was in such plight without exerting leave for this country without food or has made a neat Medieval Latin note ourselves to do all that was in our power protection against the cold, and they of the content of this looted book to save him. died on the way. Others in a similar ‘interpretacio esaya prophete’ way perished at sea; and yet others, (a commentary on the prophet Isaiah).  The Most High has granted after having arrived here safely, became The words probably helped indicate opportunities of relief and deliverance exposed to a ‘change of air’; they came resale value. The book was at least to individual fugitives, of which the at the height of the plague, and a 70 years old when the Crusaders seized first and most perfect instance – number of them died. We had, at the it. An earlier owner’s note states that after the compassion of Heaven – time, reported the arrival of each group. it was purchased by a man from has been the presence in Ashqelon And when the aforementioned Acre in 1031 CE. of the honourable sheikh Abu l-Fadl honoured sheikh arrived, he brought Sahl son of Yusha’ son of Shay‘a (may a group of them, the bulk of those who Latin, Hebrew, parchment God preserve him), an agent of the had reached Ashqelon; he spent the T-S 12.722 Sultan (may God bestow glory upon Sabbath and celebrated Passover with his victories), whose influence is great them on the way in the manner as is in Alexandria where his word is very required by such circumstances. much heeded. He arranged matters He contracted a private loan for the sum A Crusader note wisely and took great pain in securing that he had to pay the camel drivers T-S 12.722 the ransom; but it would require and for their maintenance on the way, a lengthy discourse to explain how as well as the caravan guards and for he did it. But he could only ransom other expenses, after having already some of the people and had to leave spent other sums of money, which he the others. In the end, all those who did not charge to the community. could be ransomed from them were All this is in addition to the money that liberated, and only a few whom they was borrowed and spent in order to buy kept remained in their hands, including back 230 volumes, 100 codices and 8 a boy of about 8 years of age, and Torah scrolls. All these are communal a man, known as […] the son of the property and are now in Ashqelon. Tustari’s wife. It is reported that the Franks urged the latter to embrace The community, after having disbursed the Christian faith of his own free will about 500 dinars for the actual ransom On 15 July 1099 CE Christian armies of back to them. The Egyptian Jews came to and promised to treat him well, but of the individuals, for maintenance he told them, how can I become of some of them and for the ransom, Inthe 1896, First intrepidCrusade twins captured Agnes Jerusalem Lewis and from Jerusalem’s aid. Many books previously in a Christian and be left in peace as mentioned above, of the sacred books Margaretits Fatimid Gibson defenders. returned The cityto Cambridge was looted Jerusalem ended up in Egypt and eventually by them [the Jews], who had disbursed remained indebted for the sum of 200 and burned, and many of its inhabitants in the Genizah itself. on his behalf a great sum. Until this dinars. This is in addition to what from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. day these captives remain in their [the has been spent on behalf of those who Theyslaughtered. brought with them a treasure lost for Franks’] hands; as well as those who have been arriving from the beginning a thousand years: a page from the original CambridgeThe Crusader lecturer conquest Solomon was the Schechter latest in was a were taken to Antioch, but these are few; until now, on water and other drinks, HebrewAmong the book Genizah of Ben Sira.manuscripts The page are had rare soseries excited of wars by the that sisters’ had afflicted remarkable the discoveryHoly Land and not counting those who abjured medical treatment, maintenance, and, their faith because they lost patience in so far as possible, clothing. If it could accumulatedaccounts of the along fate withof the thousands Jewish community of other in hethroughout travelled the to Old 11th Cairo century. to see The for relative himself as it was not possible to ransom them, be calculated how much this has cost documentsJerusalem followingin the Ben the Ezra Crusader Synagogue, occupation. whatsilence the of GenizahGenizah held.sources The in Chief the immediate Rabbi and because they despaired of being over such a long period, the sum would OldWe learnCairo, that in a Jewish chamber captives called werea Genizah. taken, and ofaftermath Egypt gave is indicative Schechter of permission the widespread to take permitted to go free. indeed be great. came under pressure to convert to Christianity. destruction of the traditional centres of Jewish The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that Had the accepted practice been theirEven worn-outthe community’s books and large documents collection in of the books helife ‘liked and learning all’, and inshipped Palestine. almost 200,000 followed, that is, of selling three Jewish Genizahand scrolls since was at looted least andthe 10ththen centuryransomed CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge. captives for 100 (dinars), the whole

6 7 SALADIN PETITION TO SALADIN Petition to Saladin Malij, Egypt, 12th century T-S K2.96

Arabic, paper T-S K2.96

Nasih al-Din Ishaq. The slave Abd al-Baqi ibn Yahya, the Jew, who resides in Malij. In the name of God, the merciful and compassionate. May God, the exalted, make eternal the rule of the exalted and lofty seat, the mighty lord, al-Malik al-Nasir, the uniter of the word of the faith, the conqueror of the slaves of the cross, Salah al-Dunya wa-l-Din, sultan of Islam and the Muslims, reviver of the dynasty of the commander of the faithful, cause his power to endure and exalt his word. The slave kisses the ground and reports that he is a poor man with a family and children, who makes his living among Muslims in Malij in the province of al-Garbiyya. He pays the poll tax for which he is liable and there is no one with whom he has bad relations. Recently he has been hurt and made to suffer by the poll-tax officials. They have summarily made him give up his employment and forced him to work as a tax collector and an informant. There has been no precedent for this for 60 years. The justice of the master should prevent his being caused damage and his being made to give up his livelihood. He asks for the issuing of an exalted rescript, may God increase its efficacy, to all the officials concerned with the collection of the poll tax in the province of al-Garbiyya to release him so that nothing will befall him and to treat his case with justice and impartiality, that he may be able to live in his native town with his family and children. Let the exalted rescript be deposited in his hand, as a kindness and benefaction to him. Praise be to God alone and his blessings be upon our lord Muhammad, his prophet, and save him. In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge Translation by GK from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. They brought with them a treasure lost for SALADIN'S REPLY a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Egypt, 12th century Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery Arabic and Hebrew, paper Allaccumulated citizens of along the Islamic with thousands Empire had of otherthe right he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself T-S K2.96 todocuments petition the in the ruler Ben directly Ezra Synagogue, to seek justice. what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi WhenOld Cairo, Abd inal-Baqi, a chamber a Jew called in the a Nile Genizah. Delta of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take If there has been a precedent for you town of Malij found himself in trouble, to work as a tax collector, you have The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that no excuse with regard to the service hetheir petitioned worn-out Saladin, books and the documents ruler of the in Ayyubid the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 of the aforementioned people. Empire,Genizah directlysince at andleast asked the 10th for his century help. CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

8 9 THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS LETTER FROM A REFUGEE I am ‘like a lonely bird on a rooftop’ We’ve recently received a report that he Tripoli, Lebanon, (Psalms 102:8). As my sins and my has departed this life... 1070s CE transgressions increased, I developed a serious affliction upon my nose, and The invasion of the Holy Land by the the infection spread, and it festered and AN EARTHQUAKE Seljuk Turks in the later 11th century was my face was eaten away. This disease AND ITS AFTERMATH extremely violent and created large is worsening, and I cannot perform Ramla, Palestine, 1033 CE numbers of refugees, Jewish, Muslim any work. I am naked, thirsty, and and Christian. This letter is from a Jewish I lack everything. I am powerless. Hebrew, paper woman who had to flee Jerusalem, There is no one to take care of me, even T-S 18J3.9 ending up in Tripoli in Lebanon. There if I were to die. Now then, [I] throw she writes: ‘I am an ill woman on the myself down before the LORD and They came out of the houses into the brink of insanity, on top of the hunger of before my lord, that you might show streets because they saw in the houses my family and the little girl who are all pity to me, according to your kindness, that the walls were buckling back and with me, and the horrible news I heard and take action for me, for the sake forth, and the beams were flexing in about my son.’ She suggests it would of the LORD and the sake of the merit and out of position in the walls. be better to be captured since those in of your righteous, pious and pure The fortified structures collapsed captivity ‘find someone to give them food ancestors. ‘You will decide on a matter, and the new dwellings were thrown and drink’. As refugees, she and her and it will be established for you, down, and many died under the rubble children are starving. and light [will shine] on your ways’ because they had no means of escape. (Job 22:28). And may my lord order Everyone came out of their houses, each Judaeo-Arabic, parchment a charitable collection in any place one leaving behind all that they had, Lewis-Gibson Misc. 35 that our lord desires, either in Cairo and fled for their lives. Wherever they or the city, that I may find compassion turned, they could see the evidence of I was with him on the day I saw and respite from the LORD and from God’s mighty deeds. Walls had been them killed in terrible fashion... you. And let my lord not send me back thrown one on top of another and cast empty-handed [...] and humiliated from down, and all those that remained were him. I shall be praying to the LORD damaged and broken open. No one is LETTER FROM A WOMAN for your pleasant and good name. And living within them because their owners WITH LEPROSY may God Almighty bless you, make you are afraid that they might even now Egypt, c. 1090 CE fruitful and multiply you, so that fall on them. you become a congregation of nations, Hebrew, paper and may He give Abraham’s blessing Even to write a little of what occurred T-S 13J13.16 to you and to your descendants with causes my hand to grow weary of you. And may your wellbeing increase writing, and my mind is troubled by The Lord answer you in the day of and grow, and may your honour accrue what the eye has seen and the ear trouble! The name of the God of Jacob and become greater than all others’, has heard. Scripture has indeed protect you!’ (Psalms 20:2) ‘May He forever and for all eternity. Amen. been fulfilled: ‘Behold, the LORD send you help from the sanctuary, and empties the earth, and makes it give you support from Zion’ (Psalms Translation by BMO waste, and turns it upside down, and 20:3) ‘He has pity on the weak and the scatters its inhabitants’ (Isaiah 24:1). needy, and saves the lives of the needy’ The intelligent man will understand (Psalms 72:13) To the honourable, great LETTER FROM THE its interpretation. Everyone was alike, and holy, glorious crown and diadem, LEPERS OF TIBERIAS the ordinary person like the priest, a good name from above. To our master Tiberias, Palestine, the slave like his master, when they left and teacher, our lord David the Great 11th century their citadels seeking to save their own Prince, Head of all Israel in Exile, lives. Many resigned themselves may our God keep him and our LORD A man has died and cash is missing. to divine judgement, reciting ‘The preserve him and our Creator protect The leper community of Tiberias sent LORD is the true God, the living God him, and may God allow him to see two people out to collect funds from and the everlasting King etc’ (Jeremiah male offspring from his loins, to take Egypt, a leper and a healthy man. After 10:10), ‘Who looks at the earth and In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and his place and the place of his righteous nine months of silence, Hillel, head of it shakes etc’ (Psalms 104:32), ‘Who Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge ancestors. May He extend his days the Jewish community in Tiberias, has shakes the earth from its place etc’ and his years in delight. Amen. just heard that the leper is dead, and (Job 9:6), ‘Who touches the land and from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. Hillel tries to retrieve the money he it melts’ (Amos 9:5), ‘And everyone They brought with them a treasure lost for Your poor maidservant – pathetic, had collected. Lepers congregated in who dwells in it will languish etc’ a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was grief-stricken, wretched, worried and Tiberias, seeking cures in its hot springs, (Hosea 4:3), ‘Who can stand before Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery impoverished by my sins – I hereby and had to rely on public charity to His indignation etc? (Nahum 1:6). present my supplication [before the sustain them. accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself LORD and] before you, that you  And this event occurred on Thursday, documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi may pay heed to the words of your Hebrew, paper the twelfth day of the month of Tevet, Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take maidservant, ‘because my sighs Lewis-Gibson Misc. 25 before sunset, all of a sudden in Ramla, are many and my heart is [faint]’ and in all of the land of Palestine, The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that (Lamentations 1:22), for I am all alone: They sent an emissary, a leper by the in the fortified towns and the rural their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 I have neither husband, nor son, nor name of Kalaf of Aleppo, and with him Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge. daughter, nor brother, nor sister. was another healthy man. →

10 11 villages alike, even in all the coastal ‘Come, let us return to the LORD etc’ The one known as Qayn ibn Abd An earthquake and its aftermath fortresses up to the fortress of […] and (Hosea 6:1), ‘Who knows? He may still al-Qadir had reported that the T-S 18J3.9 in all the towns of the Negev and in the turn and relent etc’ (Jonah 3:9). governor, whose name and byname hill country as far as Jerusalem, and Perhaps he will turn from the ferocity is Abu-l Futuh, Ruler of the District, in all the towns up to Shechem (modern of his anger and we shall not perish. has been seeking [his arrest] due Nablus) and the villages as far as And the great miracle was that all the to his earlier deeds. [Qayn] came to ask Tiberias, and in all the […] of the hills days that the people were cast out into for a letter to his Honour asking this of Galilee and all of the Land of Israel. the open and in the streets, no rain Abu-l Futuh the Ruler to do him no And those who have been out travelling fell. Also the governor of the city, with harm because he had already repented. on the roads tell of the mighty deeds the men in the caliph’s employ, put up And this man Qayn came and threw of the living God, saying ‘We have seen tents for them outside the town, and himself down on the floor: ‘I am your the mountains shaking, skipping like they are still there even now. May the supplicant!’ And so I am requesting rams, their stones shattered, the hills Everlasting God, the LORD, look down of his Honour to speak to the Ruler rocked and the trees bent down. in His mercy at His world, show mercy so that he does not harm him. Even the well water, in places, came to His creations and save man and And inform him of my standing with up to the brim.’ The tongue is too short beast, and may He have compassion [his Honour] and of my standing to tell the full tale. Were it not for the for babes and sucklings and those that with the elder so that my request will be mercy of our God, who showed us can’t distinguish right from left, so that more acceptable to him. And whatever mercy because of his great kindness, we shall not perish. And may He save he does to this man Qayn he also does and caused it to happen before the end you from this and things like it, and to me, because members of his of the day, so that everyone could see may He hide you from all harsh decrees household came to the place where each other and warn each other, then and shelter you in His lair on an evil I am living now: they know that it might have happened in the night, day, and may He hide you in the shelter I am in good standing with our elder when everyone would have been asleep of His wings. May He exalt you, and Prince of the Congregation. And may in their beds unable to escape, bar preserve for you your good deeds, your his wellbeing and the wellbeing a very few. But His mercies are great kindnesses and your charitable acts, of his honour and of his retinue and His kindnesses are numerous, and may He let you dwell in safety and of his friends grow and not be and though He decreed, He will not and free of the fear of evil. Peace to you, laid. A great salvation! Solomon the carry out a complete destruction. and peace to your household, and peace downtrodden, who looks for and He even showed great generosity by, to all that you have. Receive peace from awaits God’s salvation. before the quake, summoning up dark the Lord of Peace. clouds that rained heavy raindrops. Translation by BMO Two great rainbows were seen, one of Translation by BMO which appeared divided, and fire was seen from the south-west, at the very moment of the quake, such as had LETTER FROM not been experienced since ancient THE HEAD OF THE times. That night it shook again, and JERUSALEM ACADEMY everyone was outside – men, women Ramla, Palestine, 11th century and children – crying out to the God of the Spirits to still the earth, to give it Hebrew, paper rest, to save man and beast. Again on T-S 13J14.5 Friday night it shook, and on Saturday night. Everyone was alarmed, gripped To the dear, glorious, honourable, with trembling. The land and all great, holy master and teacher its inhabitants were melting away Abraham ha-Kohen ‘Prince of the helplessly, weeping and crying out Congregation’ – may the Rock be his in a loud voice: ‘O merciful One, show aid and his shelter’s shade, and may mercy and have compassion, save he crown him and help him find grace, us from this evil. Do not come to a and hope and trust in Him – son of judgement out of rage. Remember the honourable, holy master and Inmercy 1896, and dointrepid not remember twins our Agnes Lewisteacher and Isaac ha-Kohen – his rest Margaretformer sins.’ EveryoneGibson isreturned clothed with to Cambridgebe in Eden. Accept, our mighty Prince trembling, sitting on the ground, of the Congregation, a blessing from tremblingfrom a research at every moment, trip to swaying Egypt and thePalestine. LORD and righteousness from andThey shaking. brought These with last eightthem days a treasurethe lost God forof his salvation, as well as from athere thousand has been noyears: peace ofa mindpage and from theme original and from my son, muchCambridge wellbeing lecturer Solomon Schechter was Hebrewno rest for thebook soul. of Ben Sira. The pagewithout had end. The intentionso excited of these linesby the sisters’ remarkable discovery to his Honour concerns a request that Whataccumulated could this letter-writer along with do thousandsbut was of asked other of me by anhe elder travelled from the to Old Cairo to see for himself documentsspeak to the people in the to declare Ben Ezraa fast, Synagogue,city’s nobles by the namewhat Murajja, the Genizahone held. The Chief Rabbi Oldcall an Cairo, assembly, in anda chamber go out into called the a Genizah.of my greatest friends ofwho Egypt honours gave me Schechter permission to take field to the cemetery, fasting, weeping exceedingly. Men of his acquaintance andThe mourning, Jewish andcommunity saying ‘Rend had your been placingcame to him and askedwhatever him to make he liked. Schechter declared that theirheart and worn-out not your clothingbooks and return documents a request in the of his Honour.he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizahto the LORD since your God at leastetc’ (Joel the 2:13), 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

12 13 GOOD WORKS LETTER FROM THE HEAD contemplation we say: ‘For what of the Lord’. And if the people display OF THE PUMBEDITHA reason have you forgotten us?’ inaction, what will their sages do? ACADEMY Our elders sit desolate, our young men Should they go hungry and thirsty? Pumbeditha, Iraq, c. 970 CE are sighing, our teachers are grieving, For we are left now calculating and and we suffer bitterly because we see toiling in order to get enough food — Hebrew, paper how the world continues to be laid we and our children — and we will T-S 13J25.5 waste. Though surely it is in accordance use the food to satisfy the remainder with the bidding of our Holy One, [of the sages] that are left and their [We] thank His Holy Name for because on His covenant, which is his children. And as it has been said about ransoming it, as it is written: ‘My lips Law, [the world] stands. As it is written: us: ‘For you will be like an oak whose will jubilantly cry out when I sing ‘Thus said the Lord: “As surely as I have leaf withers and like a garden that is praises to you, and my soul, which established my covenant with day and without water’. For our leaves have you have ransomed’. And [we are night, the laws of heaven and earth”. withered and our water is exhausted, hereby] informing [you] that though And [because His Torah] is found because when the sages of the law were you — our brothers, the delights of our continually to be diminishing, so also compared to a cluster [of grapes], eyes, and the joys of our hearts and the world that rests upon it continues so also the wealthier people [...] the our friends in spirit — may have to perish, as it is written: ‘They neither clusters. And because of what Rav forgotten us, we have not forgotten you; know nor understand. They walk about Shim‘on ben Laqish said:[...] for you are considered by us the very in darkness. All the foundations of essence of our life, and how can a man the world are shaken’. And what profit Translation by BMO forget the essence of his life?! And [we is there that you forge a path for the have not forgotten] your contributions, world’s destruction? If you say [about ‘of which we have heard and known, us] that we are lacking and that our and of which our forefathers told us’, wisdom has diminished, truly it is so. for you used to provide our daily bread, and how can a man forget the food that Certainly our splendour has been is his need? And [we have not forgotten] tarnished, our learning is diminished that the provision of our water is from and our schools are desolate. We are you, and how can a man fail to recall left, few from many. The school of the the source of his life? teachers is like a wasteland, for every bright-eyed lad used to be brought to Therefore, though many years have the house of study, but now no one passed and many days have gone brings his son and we must employ by and you have not been in contact strategems to bring them one by one so with us, [whether in the form of] letters, that the Mishnah will not be forgotten. [legal] questions, votive offerings or Also many of the children of the donations, as was your forefathers’ talmudic scholars are leaving for other custom — may the memory of the activities and taking their place among righteous be for a blessing — [yet, the salary-earners or emigrating. despite all this] you are foremost in our And from generation to generation thoughts. You are inscribed like a seal we are becoming fewer, and from year upon our heart; you murmur with to year [we are shrinking in number...]. its stirring; like a seal upon our arms you are engraven. And despite the fact What has brought about all this? Sherira Gaon laments the decline that it is not always seen, it is the place The inaction of Israel, who withhold of the Babylonian centres of learning. of an important precept. And ‘behold from them their stipend and their T-S 13J25.5 on the palms’ we have engraven you, sustenance. For who can stand without which will be seen. sustenance?! When He gave his Torah to his people, ordering them to study Therefore, with their movements you it, each according to the sufficiency will appear to us from a distance like of his needs, did not manna descend In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and lightning in the darkness, like the every day so that they could not find a Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge shade of a rock in the wilderness. pretext not to follow it? As it is written: And indeed it is said: the Lord ‘is the ‘Behold, I will rain down bread from from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. one who knows and a witness’ in these the heavens for you, and the people will They brought with them a treasure lost for matters. If we should forget you, may go out and gather it etc’. And when He a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was our strength be forgotten. And we brought them to their land, and ordered HebrewThe Jewish book community, of Ben Sira. like The the page Muslim had sotaxes, excited to provide by the sisters’bread, to remarkable support the discovery pilgrims [praise] the memory of your parents the priests and the Levites to study and society around it in Egypt, put special in Jerusalem and to maintain the synagogues so often, our tongues become dry. And to teach because He knew that not all accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself above our highest joy [you] will be set, were able to dedicate themselves to the documentsemphasis on in public the Ben charity. Ezra Synagogue,The disadvantaged whatthere. the People Genizah left property held. The to Chief the community Rabbi as the messenger prophesied, saying: ‘If study of law, he also ordered the people Old– the Cairo, poor, inthe a sickchamber and foreign called aimmigrants Genizah. – ofso Egyptthat its gave rents Schechter could help permission those in need, to take and I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right to attend to their needs. As it is written: could have their stories told in the synagogue generosity was recognised as one of the highest hand wither, let [my tongue] cleave to ‘He ordered the people, the inhabitants The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that my palate if I do not remember you, of Jerusalem, to deliver the portions of theirand collections worn-out booksheld for and them. documents Money wasin the hepersonal ‘liked all’,virtues. and shipped almost 200,000 if I do not set Jerusalem above my the priests and the Levites so that they Genizahpledged to since support at least widows, the 10th orphans, century to payCE. manuscripts back to Cambridge. highest joy’. And with a great deal of might devote themselves to the Torah

14 15 LETTER FROM THE POET RESTORING A SITE Repairs to the 'the Cave' synagogue JUDAH HA-LEVI OF PILGRIMAGE in Jerusalem Toledo, Spain, 12th century Jerusalem, 1035 CE T-S 13J34.2

Judaeo-Arabic, paper In the 11th century the most important T-S 10J15.1 synagogue in Jerusalem and major site of pilgrimage was ‘the Cave’.  My lord and master, may God unite It was damaged following a devastating us soon under desirable circumstances! earthquake across Palestine. Among You have strained my yearnings. Solomon son of Judah’s duties as Head Please mend soon what you have of the Academy of Jerusalem was the impaired. May I ask you a favour? upkeep of Jewish property there. Kindly approach your uncle and your In this letter, Solomon solicits help paternal aunt, as well as the Head from the wealthy members of the of the Police Abu Ibrahim Ibn Baron, Egyptian Jewish community to help who values you very much and who restore ‘the Cave’. He describes work is my support – may God make his that has already been undertaken honoured position permanent – that including the removal of rubble and they should talk to Ibn al-Shayyani the use of 62 beams and 600 planks. with regard to the balance of the pledge made for the imprisoned woman. Hebrew, paper For we are in trouble with regard T-S 13J34.2 to the small balance remaining as we had been with regard to the large sum. Dinars for the stones, for the The bearer of this letter of mine – may plaster and for the workers... God restore his health – asks you to kindly recommend him to someone who could be of help to him. For he was a man of means and has become the opposite; on top of this, he has lost his health and eyesight and is far away from his family and native country. And God may let you be the originator of every charity and good work. Peace upon my lord and God’s mercy.

P.S. Convey my highest regards to the illustrious Master, the Light of Israel, may the All Merciful preserve him, and substitute for me in asking him to reply to the people of Toledo. They rely on me in this matter, Letter from the poet Judah ha-Levi and I cannot say that my requests T-S 10J15.1 find no friendly response with the Master – may his Rock protect him. Peace upon my lord.

Translation by SDG

In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. They brought with them a treasure lost for a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

16 17 MEDICINE AND MAGIC MEDICAL RECIPE BY THE MAIMONIDES' TREATISE A CONTRACT FOR INDIA TRADER IBN YIJU ON APHRODISIACS EYE SURGERY Mangalore, India, 12th century Fustat or Cairo, 12th century Egypt, 12th century

A shortage of paper in India meant Judaeo-Arabic, paper Arabic, paper that cloth was often used as a writing T-S Ar.44.79 T-S Ar.34.94 material. The document was written by the trader Abraham Ibn Yiju. Long pepper, galanga, ginger Nasir ibn Jibril came to Makarim Here he copies a medical recipe and aristolochia, an ounce of each, ibn Ishaq, the Jewish physician, that includes a wide variety of exotic cinnamon and anise, two ounces together with his biological daughter ingredients from India, Persia and of each, clove, mace and nutmeg, called Sutayt, in whose left eye elsewhere. Abraham lived for 17 years one quarter ounce of each; grind there was pus. He requested the in India. Soon after he arrived he got these medicaments so that they will aforementioned physician treat married, but by an unusual route: be ready to season any dish to be her eye with a sharp knife. If God, he bought a slave called Ashu and cooked and strew them over the dish. exalted is he, grants sight, his freed her, so that, in accordance with Strew it according to what will remuneration will be two dirhams. Jewish law, she became a Jew and be mentioned in detail. If the outcome is the opposite, he he could then marry her. When Abraham will evaluate the fee accordingly returned to Cairo he brought back What one must avoid in foods and and the physician will be free two decades’ worth of correspondence medicaments is all that makes cold from liability for that. and business accounts. or dry or drives away the winds. Of the things customary among us, Translation by GK Arabic, cloth lentils, vetch, and cold vegetables T-S Ar.41.81 as cucumber, donkey cucumber, melons, garden orach and spinach belong to this group and more especially lettuce, GOOD LUCK CHARM which is very harmful in this... Egypt, 12th century For that is the most efficient treatment Arabic, paper to warm the genitals, to conduct T-S AS 183.272 good blood to them, to strengthen them and to strengthen erection. Excellent fortune has come to you – One should also make a point to good luck and a happy omen! constantly drink iron water, as is Your fortune is on the increase every prescribed for people with dysentery. day, in a pure, new flourishing. Let it be filed and drunk at the time Be thankful to God, and he will give of need. If it is possible, then the broth you increase, for with Him is the of all dishes should be iron water, since greatest increase. this is very useful for strengthening Medical recipes on cloth the erection and strengthening all the T-S Ar.41.81 Translation by GK inner organs. Know that the physicians only designate by ‘joy-bringing drink’ drink prepared with ox-tongue. SCORPION AMULETS Experience shows that if ox-tongue Egypt, 11/12th century is placed in wine until its strength is extracted, it greatly increases the These magical amulets are intended joy and strengthens sexual intercourse. to protect the purchasers against If one takes this famous iron water and the bites of scorpions. They would have boils in it four dirhams of ox-tongue, been worn in an amulet case around half an ounce of lemon peel, half the neck. The magician, no great artist, a dirham of beaten carnation; and In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and copied them over and over, taking little one mixes in two ritls of wine or a ritl Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge care. There must have been a market of honey (for one who does not consider Many leading members of the Egyptian Jewish The Genizah contains many samples of his for them, however, since some have wine permissible) and drinks this little from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. evidently been cut off and sold. by little, it will be of great avail. Theycommunity brought practised with them medicine. a treasure Among lost themfor medical writings in his own hand. These This much is sufficient for what the awas thousand the thinker years: Moses a page Maimonides from the original (d. 1204 Cambridgereveal the most lecturer common Solomon ailments Schechter and their was Hebrew, Aramaic and gibberish, paper servant was ordered to do. The master Good luck charm HebrewCE), who book acquired of Ben his Sira. theoretical The page knowledge had sotreatments. excited by Despite the sisters’ advances remarkable in medical discovery T-S AS 143.26 may choose out of this that which T-S AS 183.272 is easy to do, do sometimes this, accumulatedfrom Arabic translations along with thousands of Galen, Hippocrates of other hescience, travelled there to also Old continuedCairo to see to forbe ahimself strong and another time that. May God documentsand the other in greatthe Ben writings Ezra Synagogue, of Classical whatreliance the on Genizah magical held. cures The for Chief everyday Rabbi lengthen his life in happiness and OldAntiquity. Cairo, Maimonidesin a chamber worked called aas Genizah. a physician ofproblems. Egypt gave And Schechter so we find permission many amulets to take and delight, and join for him this with the everlasting bliss, in His mercy. Theat the Jewish Caliph’s community court in Cairo,had been but placing also whatevercollections he of liked. magical Schechter spells, which declared call that upon theirdispensed worn-out medical books advice and documentsto his neighbours in the heGod, ‘liked his angelsall’, and and shipped even demonsalmost 200,000to solve Translation by SMS Genizahand in letters since to at friends. least the 10th century CE. manuscriptsproblems, bring back wealth to Cambridge. or help find love.

18 19 THE SCHOOLROOM LETTER FROM A TEACHER MASTARA CHILD'S ALPHABET Egypt, 11/12th century Egypt, 11/13th century Egypt, 11/12th century

Judaeo-Arabic, parchment This is a mastara or ruling-board. Learning Hebrew began with copying T-S 8J28.7 Scribes from Islamic lands used them the alphabet from a textbook. to prepare their writing paper, rubbing Here a child has written out the first 10 I have to inform you, my lord, that paper over it to leave straight-line consonants of the Hebrew alphabet, I have not been successful in educating impressions. Scribes wrote with  in combination with the eight Hebrew this boy, Abu Mansur. Perhaps you a cut-reed pen, called a qalamos. vowel signs. Once they had mastered can help me in this. Whenever I spank Ink was made from carbon or iron the alphabet, children moved on to him, I do so excessively; but as soon gall nut. copying out prayers and parts of the as I begin, the mistress rushes along book of Leviticus from the Hebrew and, having smacked him four or five Paper layered with string Bible. The Genizah shows that this basic times, releases him. Had it not been T-S K11.54 school curriculum remained unchanged for his illness, I would have killed him for centuries. with beating, although as a poorly clothed newcomer, he is entitled to some CHILD'S DRAWING Hebrew, paper consideration. He is impervious to Egypt, 11/12th century T-S K5.18 argument and not at all quiet. As soon as he comes in, he starts fighting with A thousand-year-old stick-man drawing. his sister and cursing her incessantly, Although the Genizah was originally CHILD'S ALPHABET especially if I am not present. Perhaps intended to store only sacred texts, it PRIMER you could threaten him with a little managed to accumulate an enormous Egypt, 11th century spanking and tell him to be reasonable, amount of other material too. well-behaved and quiet... Children learned to write the letters Paper of the alphabet and the vowel signs Translation by SDG T-S AS 221.204 from books like this. The colourful decorations on this Hebrew alphabet primer are designed to interest and LETTER ABOUT CHILD'S ALPHABET delight children. The book would SCHOOLYARD BULLIES Egypt, 11/12th century have been expensive to produce, Egypt, 11/12th century and probably shared among several A child’s early attempt at writing children in the school. Judaeo-Arabic, parchment the alphabet. Bored, they started T-S Ar.53.65 to doodle. Children went to school Hebrew, parchment to learn Hebrew so that they could read T-S K5.13 I would like to inform my lord the the Bible, a duty of every Jewish adult. sheikh – God (Allah) preserve his They would have spoken Arabic, but strength! – that Abu l-Hasan, no sooner few would have learned how to write it. had he been given over [to my care] Instead, when they grew up they mostly than his eye was on his schoolwork. wrote their Arabic with Hebrew letters, But I have to inform [my lord] what Judaeo-Arabic. happened to him: [another child called] Abu l-Hasan ibn Wuhayb rose up and Hebrew, paper broke his writing-board with the full T-S K5.19 knowledge of the other boys. Greetings. Mastara Translation by BMO T-S K11.54

In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge Child's drawing Child's alphabet primer fromJewish a researchboys and trip girls to attended Egypt and school Palestine. in Manuscripts in juvenile handwriting show T-S AS 221.204 T-S K5.13 TheyFustat brought (Old Cairo) with inthem order a treasure to learn lostthe for children practising their alphabet and copying aHebrew thousand Bible. years: Through a page the from Genizah the original we learn Cambridgebiblical verses. lecturer Doodles Solomon in the Schechter margins was Hebrewhow children book ofstudied Ben Sira. with The writing page boards had soof once-cherishedexcited by the sisters’ books seemremarkable immediately discovery accumulatedbalanced on their along knees, with thousandsclustered around of other hefamiliar. travelled Notes to Old sent Cairo home to from see forexasperated himself documentsthe textbook. in Schoolbooksthe Ben Ezra were Synagogue, valuable and whatteachers the revealGenizah the held. punishments The Chief given Rabbi Oldhad Cairo,to be shared, in a chamber so the parentscalled a ofGenizah. children ofto Egyptnaughty gave children, Schechter and permission the crimes to take Theencouraged Jewish communitythem to learn had to been read placinga book upside whateverof schoolroom he liked. bullies. Schechter declared that theirdown worn-outor sideways. books This and way documents children incould the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizahread it wherever since at theyleast sat. the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

20 21 DIRHAMS AND DINARS ALEXANDRIAN JEWS BUY would like fifty dinars to cover their to me completely [and totally …] BACK JEWISH CAPTIVES needs. This leaves forty dinars to come half of the property which is known Egypt, 1050 CE from the communities of Egypt – their as the sugar factory, which is located Rock keep them. Altogether this will in Minyat Zifta, in the neighbourhood Hebrew, paper give fifty dinars. The total price … and its lower parts and upper parts, T-S 12.338 [for the captives paid] by their masters its visible parts and hidden parts (i.e., to the soldiers who originally and every legal right (derived from it) Greetings to our mighty and respected took them) is forty-four and a half external … in its possession from this one, the honourable and holy, our dinars; two of [the captives] for thirty- day onwards, and he shall fence the master and teacher Nahray, glory two and a half dinars and the third aforementioned sugar factory, and will of the scholars and crown of the for twelve dinars. The master of one define it and circle it … will reach to discerning – may our God who dwells of them said to us: ‘I am due the sum the street which is open in front of the on high extend generously the thread of sixteen and a half. I will make you property of Husayn ibn Ibrahim of his kindness to him day and night, a present of half a dinar, so you just al-Ma’ari’s heir, … and the [house that his song be with him, to open for have to give me sixteen dinars’. known] (to belong) to the heirs of the him the storehouses of salvation from The two others said: ‘For the other Rabbi’s son who is the partner of the the four winds – son of the scholar two [captives] we will only accept qadi Ali ibn al-Qasm, and the third Nissim – may his memory be for a thirty-six dinars’. And so we are still part … Salim ibn al-Ashqar, and the blessing. From me, his friend, who striving until the Holy One, blessed fourth part, the western one, will reach requests God – may He be exalted – be He, appoints their redemption. to the street which is open … all the to increase his wellbeing and who And all those who tremble at the words half part which I gave in possession, entreats Him to extend his days in of our God should gather together and from the aforementioned sugar factory, prosperity and his years in delight. speak with them, [telling them] to gird to the Sheikh Abu al-Marja Salim May He, in his grace, adorn him with up the loins and brace up the belly the aforementioned, in one … and its kindness and crown him with mercy because it is for their sake that the rights, a complete, effective and total in His mighty faithfulness. May He word of the Lord has come upon us. sale … to him and his heirs after him hear my prayer for him. May He reunite To the honourable, great and holy, our from this time onwards, and all this us happily to keep sweet company, master and teacher Nahray the wise aforementioned half … Salim, he and to walk together in His house. And were A pearl of learning, son of the scholar his soil, walls, ceiling, woods, mud, I to tell our mighty one the great extent Nissim, may his memory be for a brick … from the bottom of the ground of my longing for sight of him and blessing and for [life(?)] [May he to the top of the sky as a possession my powerful desire to gaze upon him, progress] upwards and be successful from this day onwards … of any type I would fill many sheets. God – in every deed and act. From me, the of transactions in destruction or built, blessed be He – has been asked least of the people of the covenant, in residence or emptiness, in sale to bring together the separated Yeshu‘a ha-Kohen, the Haver, or gift … and to hide … and gather up the scattered in His Son of the scholar Joseph, Bet Din, grace. I am compelled at this time who loves him like his soul. A covenant Translation by AA and BMO to inform him – his Rock keep him – of peace, and master [...] [...] and your that a year of poverty and pathetic wellbeing increase forever subsistence, of limited livelihood, and for eternity. and the violence against us of robbers and of the rulers of this city has been Translation by BMO brought to a close with the arrival of three captives with cruel masters who are traders from Amalfi. We inform A MUSLIM-JEWISH him of our discovery that these three BUSINESS people were taken from a ship and Minyat Zifta, Egypt, 1140 CE were robbed by Byzantine soldiers of everything; they stripped them Judaeo-Arabic, parchment bare of [their] merchandise [...] T-S 8.4 and they enslaved them [...] In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and and they planned to [...]. … it will be upon him as a [legal Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge contract] and a proof from this day ‘And we have brought them for you onwards that I [attest before you from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. Egypt sat at the centre of a vast international The backbone of the medieval Egyptian to buy them and to do them a favour using the most certain and perfect] They brought with them a treasure lost for expressions of affirmation, in my good trading network that stretched from Spain, economy was the trade route to India. Many as we ourselves did with them when a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was we took them from [the soldiers] and health and freedom of will, willingly, around the Mediterranean, and as far as India. of the commercial documents in the Genizah with neither duress nor force nor Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery made ourselves responsible for their Commerce flourished across the barriers of are related to this highly lucrative route, upkeep’. So, despite the fact that time compulsion, [with neither negligence faith,accumulated and Jews along and with Muslims thousands launched of other joint whichhe travelled flourished to Old in Cairo the 12th to see century. for himself Goods betrays us and our houses are empty nor error, nor defect of illness within businessdocuments ventures in the Ben together. Ezra Synagogue,Jewish merchants carriedwhat the from Genizah India held. to Egypt The Chieffor sale Rabbi around of all goods, we have taken upon our me, nor anything of the like from] all madeOld Cairo, use of in their a chamber family calledand religious a Genizah. ofthe Egypt Mediterranean gave Schechter shores permission included aromatic to take necks the heavy yoke of their upkeep the factors that nullify testimony, that for about a month and we have I have received and taken from him, Theconnections Jewish communityto trade over had long been distances. placing whateverspices, metals he liked. and textiles,Schechter while declared clothing, that struggled hard to find the price of even in cash, good Egyptian [coins ….such theirThey worn-outrelied on bondsbooks ofand trust documents to ensure in a thesmooth hecarpets, ‘liked booksall’, and and shipped soap travelled almost 200,000East. one of [the captives], managing to secure and such] weighted, good and correct Genizahflow of goods since and at leastthe settlement the 10th century of debts. CE. manuscriptsShipwrecks and back piracy to Cambridge. were a constant threat. just ten dinars in donations and we Egyptian dinars. And all this arrived

22 23 ORDER OF PAYMENT those frightful experiences. All day long And, please, calm the heart of the little The last letter of David Maimonides Egypt, 1140 CE I imagine how you must feel when you one and her sister; do not frighten them Or.1081 J1 hear about ‘Ata’ Allah Ibn al-Rashidi, and let them not despair, for crying Various languages, paper how he was robbed, and you believe that to God for what has passed is a vain T-S Ar.30.184 I was in his company. Then God comes prayer (M. Berakhot 9:3). [...] I am doing between me and my reason. all of this out of my continuous efforts In [your name O Merciful One]. for your material well-being, although Truth. 5 dinars. To cut a long story short: I arrived you have never imposed on me anything May the elder Abu’l-Khayr Khiyyar in Aydhab and found that no imports of the kind. So be steadfast; God will pay to the bearer five dinars had come here [...] at all. I found replace your losses and bring me back for wax candles. nothing to buy except indigo. to you. Anyhow, what has passed is The month of Av, 1451 of the So I thought about what I had endured past, and I am sure this letter will reach Seleucid Era in the [des]ert [...]; then it appeared you at a time when I, God willing, shall a simple matter for me to embark have already made most of the way. Translation by BMO on a sea voyage. I took Mansur But the counsel of God alone will stand as my travel companion, but not (Proverbs 19:21). Our departure will Ma‘ani... for all my troubles came [only probably be around the middle THE LAST LETTER OF from him; you know] the man and how of Ramadan. DAVID MAIMONIDES he behaves (2 Kings 9:11). Sometime, Aydhab, Sudan, 1170 CE if God wills it, I shall tell you [all that I shall trav[el with ... Tell this] to his happened between us] on our way from uncle, and also that he is fine. [Best Judaeo-Arabic, paper Fustat to Aydhab. regards to you, to] Bu ‘Ali and his Or.1081 J1 brother, to the elder Bu Mansur and My company in the Mala[bar] sea his brothers, to my sisters and the boys, To my beloved brother R. Mos[es, will be [...], Salim, the son of the broker to all our friends, to the freedman, son of R.] Maymun – the memory and his brother’s son, Makarim and Mahasin. of the righteous be blessed! al-Hariri and his b[rother], and the brother of Sitt Ghazal. But Ma‘ani Written on the 22nd of Iyyar, while David, your brother who is longing embarked, together with Ibn the express caravan is on the point of for you – may God unite me with you al-Kuwayyis on another ship, leaving. under the most happy circumstances and Bu l-‘Ala remains in Dahlak, in his grace. I am writing this letter since the ship in which he travelled Translation by SDG from Aydhab. I am well, but my mind foundered, but he was saved and is very much troubled, so that I walk absolutely nothing of his baggage around in the bazaar and do not know – was lost. Ibn ‘Atiyya, however, was by our religion – where I [am...], nor in another boat, together with Ibn how it is that I did not imagine how al-Maqdisi. Their boat foundered much you must worry [about m]e. and only their din[ars] remained with them. Now, despite all of this, This is my story: I reached Qus and do not [worry]. He who saved me from after Passover I booked for Aydhab the desert with its [...] will save me in a caravan. [...] while on sea. [...]

So we travelled alone out of fear of him. No one has ever dared to embark on such a disastrous undertaking. I did it only because of my complete ignorance. But God [saved] us after many frightful encounters, to describe which would lead me too far afield. When we were in the desert, we Order of payment Inregretted 1896, what intrepid we had twinsdone, but Agnes the Lewis and T-S Ar.30.184 Margaretmatter had gone Gibson out of ourreturned hands. to Cambridge Yet God had willed that we should befrom saved. a researchWe arrived intrip Aydhab to Egypt safely and Palestine. withThey our brought entire baggage. with Wethem were a treasure lost for aunloading thousand our thingsyears: at athe page city gate, from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Hebrewwhen the caravans book of arrived. Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery Their passengers had been robbed andaccumulated wounded and along some had with died thousands of of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself documentsthirst. Among themin the was Ben Ibn al-Rashidi, Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi Oldbut he Cairo, was unharmed. in a chamber [...] We preceded called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take him only slightly and there was only aThe small Jewish distance community between us and had those been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that theirwho were worn-out robbed. We books were saved and only documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizahbecause we hadsince taken at uponleast ourselves the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

24 25 THE BUSINESS OF MARRIAGE ENGAGEMENT DEED KARAITE-RABBANITE effect as a valid bill of divorce”. Fustat, 1119 CE MARRIAGE CONTRACT And this took place on the first day Egypt, 1082 CE of the week, the 16th day of the month Judaeo-Arabic, paper of Av, 1480 (of the Seleucid Era) Lewis-Gibson Misc. 42 Aramaic and Hebrew, parchment Samuel ha-Levi son of Saadya – T-S 24.1 May he rest in Eden! The honourable, great and holy, Mevorakh son of Nathan, Member our master and teacher Toviyya, And our Prince, this David, also of the Academy – May he rest in Eden! the esteemed elder – may God protect stipulated that, if, God forbid, him – son of the honourable, great this Nashiah shall die without Translation by AA and BMO and holy, our master and teacher offspring, half of this dowry should Tiqva the esteemed elder – may his end be returned to her father’s house be good – concluded a match with Sitt according to the custom of the children TROUSSEAU LIST al-Kull daughter of the honourable, of the Land of Israel and … moreover Egypt, 12th century great and holy, our master and teacher he agreed not to force this Nashiah, Perahya ha-Kohen, the esteemed elder, his wife, to sit with him in the light Judaeo-Arabic, paper who is known for his good deeds – may of the Sabbath, nor to eat the fat T-S J1.29 his end be good. And they both agreed (of the sheep’s) tail, nor to profane her that the early marriage payment will own festivals, on condition that she With good luck and success! be forty gold dinars, as a complete, observe with him the festivals … A gold tiara 80 dinars clear and open gift from the time of And we have carried out an act of A shoulder band with 11 disks of gold marriage, and the late payment will be acquisition from the honourable, and 20 of amber 70 […] good gold dinars. great, holy, our master and teacher, A pair of pins with clusters of pearls 20 our Prince, this David the Prince, A pair of peacock pins 18 And her paternal uncle received Prince of the Exile of all Israel, A pair of earrings 5 in our presence two gold-set rings, son of the honourable, great, holy, A pair of pins 5 one […] ring, [… one] silver ring, our master and teacher, our lord, A pair of niello-work bracelets 52 one amber ring, silver tubes, small our Prince, Daniel the [great] Prince, A pair of braided bracelets 30 pieces of […] amber, a silk carpet, Head of the Academy of the ‘Pride A single enamelled (bracelet) 25 a golden green kerchief, and a head of Jacob’ – may his sacred memory A maymun necklace of amber divided cover […]. And the honourable, great be for a blessing – for this Nashiah, by cylinders and a box of gold 8 and holy, our teacher and master a young woman, this virgin bride, A pearl band divided by Toviyya, the fiancé, took upon himself daughter of the honourable, great, (beads of) gold 8 that this Sitt al-Kull will be regarded holy, our master and teacher, our lord, Gold tubes 6 as trustworthy in her statements, our noble, Moses ha-Kohen, Banner Two rings 4 in the conduct of her household and of the Jews, their Stronghold, and the An ornamented mirror 10 her ketubba, with regard to her outfit Joy of [their Crown, with an implement A water container (for the table) and all other implements used by her suitable for] acquisition, regarding all and a cover, a silver goblet, in every respect, by him and all his heirs that is written and explained above. and a ladle 15 after his death; that she has the status Fit and established. A shallow bowl 4 of two trustworthy witnesses; and that A tureen, an étagère, no oath, grave or light may be imposed Translation by BMO a mixing vessel with feet 5 on her under any circumstances, A crystal mixing vessel 5 [nor even] an anonymous ban. Another mixing vessel 3 CONDITIONAL BILL OF A gold […] 2 We performed an act of acquisition DIVORCE An ivory kohl container 3 with him regarding everything Fustat, 1169 CE A crystal cock (a knickknack) 4 imposed upon him with an implement A pen-box made in China, with 2 fit for doing so, nullifying all secret Judaeo-Arabic, paper knives, a sand sprinkler (for blotting), dispositions and conditions. T-S 8J5.23 and an ivory plate (on which the And we have written and signed pen is nibbed) 13 In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and it so that it will be as a title of rights This bill of divorce was delivered A silver comb 4 Jewish marriage is symbolised by the ketubba, Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge Prenuptial agreements aimed to ensure a and as proof. All this took place on into the hand of Sitt [al]-Fakhr, A pair of gold bracelets 15 the marriage deed. Often this was the largest, cordial married life by solving problems in Friday eve, 2nd of Kislev, year 1431 who is being divorced, from the hand 3 gold rings 4 from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. most magnificent document a couple would advance: no living with the in-laws, no buying of the Era of Documents. Strong and of master [M]oses, who is doing the A locally-made scent-box of porcelain They brought with them a treasure lost for own. In Judaism there are several other stages a slave girl and no wild partying! Hundreds valid. Everything is strong, firm divorcing, on condition that should he ornamented with silver 20 and valid. Abraham ben Shemaiah, die it will go into effect as a valid bill A round ornamented mirror 6 toa thousand marriage: years: engagement, a page from betrothal the original and the ofCambridge trousseau lecturer lists survive, Solomon valuing Schechter in minute was Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery Member of the Academy, son of of divorce and should he not die A (perforated) lion and a needle for wedding itself. All were marked with written detail all the clothes, jewellery, bed linen Shemaiah Gaon – may he rest in Eden. it will not go into effect as a valid bill perfuming 5 deeds,accumulated hundreds along of whichwith thousands are preserved of other in andhe travelled other property to Old Cairo– including to see slavesfor himself – [Isaac] son of Samuel the Spaniard – of divorce. And so he has said to her 2 silver vases and a jewel box 5 thedocuments Genizah. in Thesethe Ben are Ezra rich Synagogue, sources of social thatwhat women the Genizah brought held. into The a marriage. Chief Rabbi the memory of the righteous be blessed, in our presence: “This is your bill An amber shallow bowl with a Oldhistory, Cairo, shining in a chamber a light on called the lives a Genizah. of Suchof Egypt lists gave provided Schechter security permission in case ofto take may he live in the world to come. Halfon of divorce on condition that if I do not gold rim 5 son of Manasseh ha-Levi die it will not go into effect as a valid A chest and its stand 10 Theordinary Jewish people. community had been placing whateverdivorce or he widowhood, liked. Schechter ensuring declared that the that bill of divorce, and if I do die it will Equipment for bloodletting 2 their worn-out books and documents in the hewoman ‘liked would all’, and be noshipped worse almostoff financially 200,000 Translation by AA and BMO go into effect as a valid bill of divorce, Total (value of jewellery) 471 dinars Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscriptsthan when she back entered to Cambridge. the marriage. and if I do not die it will not go into →

26 27 The Clothing The Copper Prenuptial agreement A cloud-coloured festive attire, A candle-lamp, an oil lamp, 2 complete T-S 20.160 consisting of a robe, a wimple, Spanish Lamps, a large box and a greyish headband 50 and another box inside it, A white wimple with gold threads 15 A pitcher, a large washbasin, A hood with stripes ‘as the pen runs’ a large ewer, and a robe, both with gold threads 10 And another washbasin, a ewer, A kerchief of dabiqi linen 8 a soda ash container, a box, A skullcap of dabiqi linen A part of a box, an oven, a round bucket, A wrap with two ends in gold threads 3 candlesticks, And a veil with gold threads 22 A copper stool, and a bathrobe A wrap of dabiqi linen and silk 4 with hems A blue Rumi (dress of European style) 6 Total 200 dinars A silk wimple in double layers 6 Vases with their perfume 8 dinars A silken festive attire consisting of a robe The maids […] ‘Izz (‘Glory’) and Dalal (‘Coquetry’) A greyish robe of silk and dabiqi linen and two personal attendants, and a greyish Rumi 15 Nusa (‘Rainbow’ or ‘Lantern’) A greyish cloak 5 and Wafa (‘Fidelity’) 100 A pomegranate-coloured festive robe Total 1350 and its wimple 15 The books 250 A blue wimple with gold threads 5 Total 1600 A jukaniyya with bird patterns 4 The first and final instalment 500 A poultice-coloured wimple 5 Grand total 2100 dinars An apricot-coloured jukaniyya, and a silk cloak with gold threads Translation by SDG and an apricot-coloured silk Rumi 10 A green robe with gold threads, and a wax-coloured wimple 5 PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT A home-made makhtuma Egypt, 1047 CE (embroidered clothing) 6 A jukaniyya of siglaton Hebrew, paper (precious brocade) 3 T-S 20.160 A jukaniyya of red siglaton 4 A makhtuma of siglaton 7 I shall not allow into my house A home-made tabby makhtuma 6 the dissolute, jokers, frivolous A starch-coloured tabby makhtuma 5 company or good-for-nothings. A jukaniyya of brocade with borders 10 Nor shall I enter the house of anyone A jukaniyya of red brocade 10 who clings to licentiousness, corruption A makhtuma of pistachio brocade 15 or immoral acts. Nor shall I associate A greenish festive attire, consisting with them for the purposes of eating, of a robe, a wimple, a headband, drinking or anything else. And I shall and a Rumi 30 not acquire for myself a ‘maid’ (slave Panelled robes and pieces of cloth 30 concubine) for as long as this Faiza [deleted] is with me, except by her express desire A handbag of siglaton 12 and command. Nor shall I leave A handbag of blue brocade 20 Fustat to take to the road all the time Total of the Clothing 373 dinars that this Faiza is with me, except by her wish and with her knowledge. A bedspread of Rumi brocade 10 I, Toviyya son of Eli, take upon InAnother 1896, bedspread intrepid 10 twins Agnes Lewismyself and all these conditions… Margaret2 chameleon-coloured Gibson canopies returned 60 to Cambridge A sofa of Rumi brocade, 6 pieces 40 Translation by BMO Afrom sofa ofa ‘Islets’research brocade trip 15 to Egypt and Palestine. AThey sofa of brought brilliant colour,with them4 pieces a 15 treasure lost for aAn thousand ‘Islets’ sofa, years:3 pieces a15 page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was HebrewA sofa of Rumi book brocade, of Ben 3 pieces Sira. 15 The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery A siglaton couch 5 Aaccumulated siglaton sofa 5 along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself documentsA couch made ofin reeds the 3Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi OldA brocade Cairo, pad in 5 a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take Total of the spreads and hangings 198The dinars Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

28 29 SECOND CLASS CITIZENS? LETTER FROM MOSES He appointed judges in the land and according to the law, because they MAIMONIDES ordered them to give fair judgements (i.e. the locals) had prevented us from Fustat, 12th century and dispense lawful verdicts. slaughtering; and that the collection He banished men of violence and of tax should be from the beginning Judaeo-Arabic, paper turned away the wicked. He abhorred of the month called al-Muharram T-S 12.192 those of perverse ways or shameful until the month called Du-‘l Hijja, deeds. He loved prudent men, and they should not take tax from May God prolong the life of his honour, the establishing of justice and us until the beginning of the year. my pillar and support, the faithful the right path. Our emissary came back and brought Sheikh al-Thiqa and sustain his with him the decree dealing with the position of honour. His servant and And out of his great love of aforementioned three points. We took admirer Moses sends him greetings. righteousness, he set up reliable the papers and we went, a group of us, He longs for him because of the witnesses for the places of execution, to the governor Haydara. He took the distance between them. He requests the offices of judges, and the night- decree and some letters that we had him to be so kind as to help the bearer watchmen, such as never had been brought to him from the ‘Notable (of this letter), Isaac al-Dari, because in the mind of a king or been done of the Realm’ and other important he is one of our acquaintances. by any ruler before. Everyone knew people in the government, and he read May he tell the Haver – God preserve that he desired neither silver nor gold, them, before throwing them from his him – to entrust his problem to the nor plunder nor to rule by oppression hand and seeking to obtain a bribe community and see (the money for) or tyranny. for doing all that they contained. his poll tax collected from among you, because two payments of tax Now, on the third day of the month And so we went away afflicted and are due from him and from his son. of Shevat in the year four thousand troubled, and we made a collection If his honour is able to take steps seven hundred and seventy of the from every side and corner until to have this paid from among you Creation of the World (= 1010 CE), we had given him a great many dinars, in Minyat Zifta, then may he do it, which is the year one thousand three thus depriving the poor, the orphans for he is a newcomer and he has not hundred and twenty-three from and widows, after cries, trouble yet paid a thing. He is now on his way the Cessation of Prophecy, which and distress. We also gave bribes to Damietta on important business is the year nine hundred and forty-three to his officials and retinue, until for us, and on his return let there of the Destruction of the Holy Dwelling, we had been refined like the refining be done on his behalf as much as one of the cantors of the community, of silver and the testing of gold. possible. May his wellbeing increase by the name of Putiel, died.… After all this he sent for an elder called and the wellbeing of the Haver and his ‘the Preacher’ who testified before him son, and the wellbeing of his own son – Translation by BMO that the Jews had previously enjoyed God preserve him. rights to the water… And so the day came that he reopened the water Moses son of the scholar Maymun – LETTER FROM THE JEWS for us, and all the elders, the young may the memory of the righteous OF DAMASCUS men and all the notables of the city be a blessing. Damascus, c. 1050 CE gathered and testified before him saying: ‘They have no legal right Translation by BMO Hebrew, paper to share our water and they have T-S 13J26.13 no share among us in this city’. He replied to them: ‘My lord the Caliph POEM IN PRAISE OF ... The increase of our iniquities caused has spoken and has enacted a decree: CALIPH AL-HAKIM the hand of the Arabs to strengthen I will not negate a word of it until you Egypt, 1012 CE its rule, until, growing bold, the tyrants bring me from him another decree like of the city, its notables, its elders and this one but an annulment of it’. Hebrew, paper the qadi there, called ‘the Nephew When they heard this, everyone got T-S 8K10 of Abu’l-Sayyar’ – May the name up from in front of him in shame and of the wicked rot! – conspired to cut reproach. He said to the qadi of the city: …in the land of Egypt and who off our water supply. For they said ‘Look I have reopened the water for rules over the corners of the world — ‘How can the Hebrews drink from them; now I am returning to you alone In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and the West, the East, the North and our water?’ And whenever we called the edict concerning their slaughtering Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge the South. And his rule grew lofty, on a leader or governor to reopen because you alone can enact the edict’. Most of the world’s Jewish population lived in From the end of the 10th century, Egypt from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. powerful and mighty, and he raised our access to the water, they would The qadi left him as he was and the Islamic lands in the Middle Ages. As dhimmi, was incorporated into the Shi’ite Fatimid his throne higher than the throne gather and attest that ‘They have next day our destitution began. They brought with them a treasure lost for ‘protected people’, Jews and Christians in Caliphate. The large Jewish and Christian of his forefathers and their forefathers no share or legal right over our water’. The governor heard of the arrival Egypta thousand were years:free to a practise page from their the religion original populationCambridge waslecturer generally Solomon treated Schechter fairly bywas the before them. In the thirteenth year This went on until the arrival this of soldiers (to his jurisdiction) Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery of his (al-Hakim’s) reign he guided year of the governor called Haydara and so he sent word to the Jews provided they recognised the absolute rule Fatimids, and Jews were even admitted into all of the kingdom with magnanimity ‘Treasure of the Realm’. We saw that and sought to obtain the tax for ofaccumulated Islam, paid along the jizya with – thousands a severe poll-tax of other – seniorhe travelled government to Old Cairopositions. to see But for the himself second- and good judgement. He did not need his hand ruled over the people of the the forthcoming year, five months anddocuments did not inseek the converts Ben Ezra from Synagogue, among classwhat statusthe Genizah given toheld. the The dhimmi Chief under Rabbi Islamic a vizier, nor a counsellor. A number of city and the surrounding area. in advance. He said, ‘I desire two theOld MuslimCairo, in population. a chamber called a Genizah. lawof Egypt meant gave that Schechter restrictions permission and oppression to take conspirators conspired against him and So we sent our emissary to Egypt hundred and fifty dinars from you. a number of adversaries rose up against to obtain a letter and a decree to deal I will not speak to you again till after The Jewish community had been placing whatevercould be employed, he liked. Schechterand the Genizah declared records that him, and God cast them down beneath with three matters: to reopen the water the end of next year…’ their worn-out books and documents in the heoutbreaks ‘liked all’, of harshand shipped discriminatory almost 200,000 actions the soles of his feet, because he loved supply to us as it was previously; Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscriptsand even violence back againstto Cambridge. the Jews. righteousness and hated wickedness. to allow us to slaughter in the market Translation by BMO

30 31 THE LIVES OF OTHERS LEGAL QUERY ANSWERED so often. After learning that she was what you are up to and whether you BY MOSES MAIMONIDES a Jew, he inquired about her and have any needs and how you are. [...] Fustat, 12th century found out that she was the daughter Now, I am informing you that your of Ibn al-Mashita. Some of the Muslims wife suffers great distress with your Judaeo-Arabic, paper were seized with righteous zeal because children. You’ve abandoned them these T-S 8K13.8 of this and spied on her, suspecting past twenty-three years and have shown her of having an affair with no desire to see them. Why do you act [Question: ...] An aged widow, a Christian, the aforementioned this way towards your wife and your who is above suspicion, has reported doctor. This went on for about forty children? You should consider what that [the teacher] jokingly expressed days, more or less. One day, she came to do about your children. You said: to her a desire to sleep with her. to him and said ‘I would like you ‘Inform me about the water’. The Nile But she has no witness to this and to come and take a ride with me to has already flooded and is at peace. no proof. And nothing like this has a patient’. And she stayed with him As for the [price of] bread: twelve previously happened to him except until he had finished work. Then he pounds for a silver coin. And a garden for her allegation, which she made got up and rode with her, and they of the Lord is the land of Egypt. with the intention of harming him, went away together.… damaging his reputation, cutting Translation by BMO off his livelihood and putting him Translation by FN to public shame. Is her report concerning him credible or not? And if the aforementioned man wishes WIFE THREATENS to free himself of suspicion, should DAYTIME HUNGER STRIKE  he place a public ban on anyone Egypt, 12th century alleging that he has done such a thing or telling lies about him or harbouring A woman pleads with her husband suspicions about him? Let our teacher to return home after he chose to move instruct us and may he receive a double out in a dispute over having to live with reward from Heaven. her family and pay them rent. To avoid a charge of ‘abandonment’, the husband The answer: has been returning on Sabbaths for brief Her testimony is not acceptable. conjugal visits. The woman threatens And every individual has the right to start a hunger strike (but only during to excommunicate by name anyone the daytime) if her husband does not who has publicly impugned his move back home. On the back of the reputation, but not to pronounce letter he writes ‘If you don’t break your an excommunication over someone fast, I won’t come back Sabbaths who [merely] harbours suspicions or any other day!’ about him. And the correct way to proceed in this case is to silence Judaeo-Arabic, paper the gossiping and not to pronounce Lewis-Gibson Arabic 2.51 a ban and not to have any further discussion in public. Written by Moses. I swear that I shall not break my fast by day... Translation by BMO

A FATHER-IN-LAW WRITES A CHRISTIAN-JEWISH TO HIS LONG-LOST LOVE AFFAIR SON-IN-LAW Egypt, 11th century Egypt, 10th/11th century

Judaeo-Arabic, paper Hebrew, parchment Or.1080 J93 T-S 12.179

…Amram ibn Sa‘id ibn Musa Accept greetings from me, Sa‘d. appeared [before the court] and I am letting you know that my soul reported that he was working in the longs to see your face and to gaze apothecary practice of Abu’l-Faraj upon your honour. May the Holy One, ibn Ma‘amar al-Sharabi and that blessed be He, let me soon look upon there was a physician, Abu Ghalib, your face. […] I would not have ceased there who wrote out prescriptions my constant writing to you except for the apothecary. The aforementioned we heard that [you had been killed Amram ibn Sa‘id stated that he noticed by] the enemy. And I was sad about a woman sitting rather frequently this news. But subsequently I have with this aforementioned doctor, heard that you are alive and so Abu Ghalib, and thought her to be I have written this letter. I implore a Muslim woman since he saw her you to reply to me and let me know

32 33 WITNESSES TESTIFY TRANSLATOR KEY A long-lost son-in-law TO AN ILLICIT AA Amir Ashur T-S 12.179 RELATIONSHIP BMO Benjamin M. Outhwaite Fustat, 12th century FN Friedrich Niessen GK Geoffrey Khan Judaeo-Arabic, paper MC Mark R. Cohen T-S 10J7.10 SDG S.D. Goitein SMS S.M. Stern …I was with the cantor Hillel ben Eli... when al-Wuhsha, the broker, came in and said to him: ‘Do you have any advice for me? I had an affair with al-Hassun and became pregnant. Our marriage document has been lodged with the Muslims, but I am afraid that he may refuse to acknowledge the child.’ She then lived in the house of Ben al-Sukkari on the uppermost floor. He (the cantor) said: ‘Go and gather some people, and let them surprise you with him so that your assertion might be confirmed’. She did so, gathering two who surprised her with him, and confirmed her assertion. She was then pregnant with this Abu Sa‘d, her son, from her illicit relations with Hassun. And I know that she went on Yom Kippur to the synagogue of the Babylonian community, but when the Nasi (‘the Prince’ – leader of the community) – of blessed memory – noticed her, he threw her out of the synagogue. I confirm all this and offer it as my true testimony. There appeared also in court the ritual slaughterer Abu Sa’id Halfon ha-Kohen, son of Joseph ha-Kohen – may he rest in Eden – and deposited the following testimony in our presence: ‘I was living in the house of Hibat Allah Ben al-Sukkari – may God accept him with favour – on the ground floor for many years, while Wuhsha the broker had her domicile in the uppermost part of the house. In those days she came down once to one of the tenants, namely Abu Nasr the Kohen, the cantor Ben al-Kamukhi, and to Abraham the Jerusalemite known as the son of the poet, and said to them: “Please, come up with me room for something. InThe 1896, two went intrepid up with her twins and found Agnes Lewis and MargaretHassun sitting Gibson in her place returned and …’ to Cambridge

Translationfrom a research by SDG trip to Egypt and Palestine. They brought with them a treasure lost for a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.

34 35

34 WHERE DO THE GENIZAH FRAGMENTS COME FROM?

The Genizah Research Unit has been grateful to the many individuals and organisations who have supported acquisition, digitisation, conservation and research into the Collection. These include:

Albert D. and Nancy Friedberg, through the Jewish Manuscript Society Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Arts and Humanities Research Council British Academy Small Research Grant Scheme (Leverhulme Funds) Lauffer Family Charitable Trust Museum of the Bible The Polonsky Foundation Wellcome Trust (Research Resources)

Thank you all for your generous support.

In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. They brought with them a treasure lost for a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Exhibition and catalogue design Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge. by Modern Designers

36 37 One can hardly realise the confusion in such a real old Genizah until one has seen it. It is a battlefield of books, a battle in which the literary productions of many centuries had their share...

SOLOMON SCHECHTER

In 1896, intrepid twins Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson returned to Cambridge from a research trip to Egypt and Palestine. They brought with them a treasure lost for a thousand years: a page from the original Cambridge lecturer Solomon Schechter was Hebrew book of Ben Sira. The page had so excited by the sisters’ remarkable discovery accumulated along with thousands of other he travelled to Old Cairo to see for himself documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue, what the Genizah held. The Chief Rabbi Old Cairo, in a chamber called a Genizah. of Egypt gave Schechter permission to take The Jewish community had been placing whatever he liked. Schechter declared that their worn-out books and documents in the he ‘liked all’, and shipped almost 200,000 Genizah since at least the 10th century CE. manuscripts back to Cambridge.