Genizah
A Genizah' isstoreroom or depository insynagogue, usually specificallycemeteryworn-out Hebrew language bookspapers on religious topics. It also was traditionally usedstore away books viewed as heretical that, due topresence ofHebrew nameGod, could not be thrown away or burned accordingtraditional Jewish law.
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2 Inmedieval era 3 The Cairo Genizah 4 Other Genizot 5 Practise inOrient |
ReferencesGenizahz isTalmud
The Talmud (Tractate Shabbat 115a) directs that holy writingsother thanHebrewGreek languages require "genizah," that is, preservation. In Pesachim 118b "bet genizah" = "treasury." In Pesachim 56a Hezekiah hides ("ganaz")medical work;Shabbat 115a R. Gamaliel orders thatTargum toBookJob should be hidden ("yigganez") under"nidbak" (layerstones). In Shabbat 30b there isreferencethose rabbis who soughtcategorizebooksEcclesiastesProverbs as heretical; this occurred beforecanonization ofHebrew Bible, when disputes flared over which books should be considered Biblical. The sameoccursShabbat 13bregard toBookEzekiel,in Pesachim 62regard toBookGenealogies.
Inmedieval era
In medieval times such Hebrew scrapspapers as were relegated togenizah were known as "shemot" (names), because their sanctityconsequent claimpreservation were helddepend on their containing"names"God. In additionpapers, articles connected withritual, such as tzitit, lulavim,sprigsmyrtle,similarly stored.
The Cairo Genizah
The discovery by Professor Rabbi Solomon Schechter, on May 13, 1896, offragment oforiginal HebrewEcclesiasticus drew so much attention togenizah whencecame thatterm "genizah"now applied almost exclusively tohoard atold synagogueFostat near Cairo.
This waschurch dedicatedSt. Michael untilconquestEgypt by Chosroes616, whenbecamesynagogue. To BenjaminTudela, intwelfth century,appeared "very ancient." Simon van Geldern (c. 1750), Heine's ancestor, tellshis diary how much impressed he was bywealthpossibility that lay hidden amidrubbish ofgenizot there. In 1864 Jacob Safir visited it,his "Eben Sappir" describes how he spent two days ferreting amongancient booksleaves tilldustashes sickened him oftask; but "who knows what may yet be beneath?" In 1888 E. N. Adler visitedsynagogue, but did not succeedseeing more thanrecess inupper part ofright wall containingscrollEzra andfew other ancient manuscripts. He was informed that all shemot were buried inJewish cemetery at Basatin. Shortly afterwardsynagogue was repaired byCairene community,during its renovationold receptacle seemshave been rediscovered. It issecret chamber atback ofeast end,is approached fromfarthest extremity ofgallery by climbingladderentering throughhole inwall.
When Sayce visitedsynagogue many ofcontents ofgenizah had been thrown outburied inground, throughpartwhichroad was subsequently cut. This would account forevident exposuredampness which some ofoldest fragments have undergonefor their earthy odor. Sayce acquired many fragments fromcaretakers ofsynagogue, whichnow inBodleian Library. Other librariescollectors, especially Archduke Rainer, made similar acquisitions. E. N. Adler revisitedsynagogue on Jan. 3, 1896, underescort ofchief rabbi, Rafaïl ben Shimon ha-Kohen,was allowedtake awayhimsack containing allparchmentpaper fragmentshad been ablegatherabout four hours. Somethese turned outbeexceptional interest,were published shortly afterward.
It wasidentification ofBen Sira text amongBodleian fragmentsMaythat year which induced SchechterproceedCairo inautumnbring backhim practicallyentire written contents ofgenizah. These now constitutebulk ofTaylor-Schechter collection atCambridge University Library. Aboutsame time Mrs. LewisMrs. Gibson, two learned sisters, known by their discoveries inMount Sinai Monastery, visited Cairo,returnedCambridge, England, withlarge numberfragments, whichplaced at Professor Schechter's disposal forpurposeexamination. Visits togenizahOctober, 1898, April, 1901,February, 1903, merely broughtlight printed matter; but if this be foundinclude title-pagescolophons, someit may provehave bibliographical value. Cyrus AdlerWashington duringvisitCairo inyear 1891 secured about forty pieces fromdealer.
Inyears since thengreat deal morematerial from this recoveredanalyzed. (Much more needsbe written onlast centuryresearch on this topic. Please help update this section.).
Other Genizot
Most ancient synagogues had genizot. ThatFeodosia inCrimeaan alcove onground floor atback ofark, approachable fromoutside ofbuilding byhole so small as onlyadmit ofentrance ofvery small boy. Search there proved fruitless, ashad been clearedgeneration previously by Firkovitch. At Bokharagenizahinroof, but disused copiesscrolls ofLawwalled up by stuccoarched alcoves surroundinginterior ofbuilding.
At Teheran, Iran, itin an underground cellar, so damp that papers turnpulp infew weeks;ketubah or two were all that resulted fromsearch1896. Insecret chamber ineaves ofroofone ofchapels ofancient synagogue at Aleppo (4th cent.?) isgenizahthat famous city. In 1898 this was as fulldust asone at Cairo, but itmuch less interestingancient. Its contentsperiodically removed, andtaken solemnly toJewish cemetery. Their buriallocally supposedinducedownfallrain. At Rustchuk burials"shemot" take place every ten years, whensermondelivered, followed bybanquet, andrightburying each sacksold as"miẓwah"; one month laterstonelaid overplaceburial,inscribed asgenizah ofyearquestion.
In Praguegenizahalso inroof, overhistoric banner which recordsbravery ofBohemian Jews. The genizahprotected fromdesigns ofdesecrator or collector bylegend, devoutly believed, that itunderspecial protection of"golem."
Practise inOrient
InOrient generally, shemotfrom timetime deposited temporarilysome corner or cupboard ofsynagogue, often belowark or "almemar." Whencollection grows too big, or when some special occasion arises, such asdrought,paperssolemnly gathered upcarried off to"bet ḥayyim"buried theresome ceremony. With this customassociatedfar older practiseburyinggreat or good man with"sefer" which has become "pasul" (unfituse through illegibility or old age). In Morocco,Algiers,Turkey,evenEgypt, such paper-interments continually occur,notleast important part ofTaylor-Schechter collection has come fromgraveyard.
See also: Judaism
