The Cambridge Genizah Collections : Their Contents and Significance

This collection of original contributions by international experts summarizes recent developments in Genizah research. Beginning with an overview of the contents of the Cambridge Genizah Hebrew manuscripts, the essays provide an introduction to important intellectual, religious and social developments in the Jewish communities of the medieval Islamic world.

This collection of original contributions by an international group of experts summarizes recent developments in Genizah research. Stefan Reif's overview of a century of work on the famous Taylor-Schechter Collection of Hebrew manuscripts at Cambridge University Library is followed by Menahem Kister's textual interpretations of the Ben Sira fragments. Michael Klein uncovers targumic contexts and renderings, while Menahem Kahana demonstrates how Genizah texts permit the reconstruction of early midrashim. Neil Danzig's analysis sheds light on ninth-century prayers and homilies, and Joseph Yahalom chronicles Judah Halevi's last years. Haggai Ben-Shammai assesses S. D. Goitein's contribution to Jewish historiography and touches on Jewish theology, and Paul Fenton reveals that Muslims and Jews often co-operated professionally and sometimes enjoyed close social contact. Mordechai Friedman concentrates on child brides, family violence and Jewish marriage documents, while Joel Kraemer describes letters between women and their relatives. There are extensive indexes as well as 22 plates.