Geniza Lab

Announcement from the Grand Rabbinate of Cairo [Ḥakhamhāne Miṣr] for the celebration of the coronation of the King of Britain – Museum of Islamic Art – 3 May 1935CE – (number 27) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 57). No British monarch was coronated in this year, however, the Silver Jubilee of King George V was celebrated three days after this announcement on May 6 1935CE. A scan of this document that is mostly legible can be found in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (p.170) where Ḥasan and Sarrāj analyze its contents and mention that the document came from the Mosseri family crypt at the Bassatine Cemetery during an excavation in 1987. This analysis also cites the venue of the celebration mentioned in the communal announcement: the Ismaʿilīya Synagogue on ʿAdlī Street in Cairo. MCD.

Invitation from the administration of the Paḥad Isḥak Synagogue (Kraïem) for attending the celebration which will be held in the synagogue on Passover between Saturday 29 March and 9 April 1955CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 294) – in Arabic and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 44). The synagogue had the alternate title of Kraïem after its builder Zahi Kraïem. MCD.

Announcement by the Ashkenazi Jewish community of Cairo for the opening of a public clinic in the neighborhood of the communal synagogue on Rosette Gardens Street in Cairo – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 3) – in Yiddish and French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 52). A scan and translation of this document is available in Al-Janiza wa-l-maʿābid al-Yahūdiyya fī Miṣr (p. 157-158). The original text in French reads: "Communauté Israélite Aschkénazi du Caire – Commision de Bienfaisance – Avis – Nous avons l'honneur d'informer l'honorable public du Caire que nous avons installé une clinque gratuite pour malades, sans distinction de nationalité, sons la direction du docteur A. Tonis, diplômé de l'Université de Genève (Suisse). Clinque ouverte tous les jours de 11 a.m. - 12 sauf Samedi et jours fériés, dans le local de la Cour du Temple de la Communauté sis rue Jardin Rosette." MCD.

Letter from "the Jewish national bank in Egypt at 14 Abū al-Sabāʿa Street with the slogan of access to "Erets Israel" (the Land of Israel) for the Jewish people 'dispersed' for centuries when the possibility of return to their homeland was lost," wishing a person in the synagogue of ʿAbassīya a happy new year on the occasion of the Jewish new year, and requesting the collection of "pledges" of assistance to the bank – 9 September 1928CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 54) – in French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 65). MCD.

Part of a newspaper "al-Klīm" published by Karaite Jews discussing the visit of the Chief General Muḥammad al-Nagīb to the Karaite synagogue on Saturday October 25 1952 – 1 November 1952 – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 77) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 59). The Latin-script rendering of this journal on its heading was "Al-Kalim Revue Israelite Caraime" and was published at 15 Torsina Street. Images of this visit by Chief General Muḥammad al-Nagīb appear in: El-Kodsi, The Karaite Jews of Egypt, 90-94. MCD.

Letter from the Grand Rabbinate of Cairo to Kẖawaja Elli Abimalor and Kẖawaja Shlomo Lijar requesting that they not give away any of the contents from the synagogue without written permission that has been recorded by the synagogue administration – undated – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 79) – in Arabic. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 33). MCD.

Announcement from the Cairo Jewish community for a celebration at the Vitali Madjar Synagogue in Heliopolis – on the occasion of celebrating in the Jewish synagogue (Lāḥ Lūmbū) – May 12 1960CE – Museum of Islamic Art – (number 9) – in French. (information from Ḥassanein Muḥammad Rabīʿa, ed., Dalīl Wathā'iq al-Janīza al-Jadīda / Catalogue of the Documents of the New Geniza, 37). MCD.

Accounts in Judaeo-Arabic. Of the 'Miṣriyyīn' synagogue. Dating: 18th or 19th century.

30 pages of a notebook of lined paper, filled with names and numbers arranged according to days of the wee. Probably 19th century (this is a guess, not based on any date written in the pages). One of the pages (labeled Leaf 28) has entries for the synagogues Talmud Torah and Rabbi Yishmaʿel.