Limmud Toronto 2019

The greatest discovery in the history of Jewish studies has been the magnificent treasure trove of medieval documents found in what’s known as the Cairo Geniza. There are hundreds of thousands of primary sources which were lost to history for a thousand years, thrown away as trash; but through improbable circumstances including twin sisters, daring rescues, arid weather, and scholarly chutzpah, they were discovered and rescued in modern times. These hand-written documents - letters, contracts, poems, scholarship and more - reveal a hidden world never before seen. They give direct voice to those, such as women, whose voices would otherwise have been lost to history. In this workshop, we will trace the unusual circumstances of the geniza’s discovery, analyze fascinating primary sources from women, and discuss the implications of having this transformative trove now in our hands.