NYC Gazette

Yeshiva University Library holds a fragment of the Cairo Genizah, a small piece of paper containing part of "LeYoshev Tehilot," a piyyut recited on Yom Kippur. This fragment is attributed to Eleazar Kallir, a liturgical poet from the Land of Israel in the late sixth or early seventh century. The fragment likely dates back to the 11th century, five centuries after its original composition. Despite criticism from Abraham Ibn Ezra, Kallir's works have remained integral to Jewish liturgy for about fifteen centuries.

The Cairo Genizah was discovered by European travelers and scholars who traveled to Cairo to study and collect these ancient fragments. Solomon Schechter, a lecturer in Talmud at Cambridge University, was among those who visited. With an introduction from Chief Rabbi Hermann Adler to Chief Rabbi Aaron Raphael Bensimon of Cairo, Schechter journeyed to Egypt to excavate parts of the Genizah for Cambridge.

The Yeshiva University fragment came from Rabbi Dr. Louis Lewin's collection. Lewin served as a rabbi in Posen and Silesia and later moved his collection to London during World War II. Yeshiva University acquired this collection in 1948.

In addition to the Genizah fragment, two postcards written by Solomon Schechter during his time in Egypt were found among the trunks. These postcards provide insight into Schechter's experiences while working on the Genizah.

“For our many sins [bav"h – בעו"ה] there is no kosher hotel here and I am sick of the local food. I am busy with mitzvot (good deeds) almost all day, and please God, I will be successful," wrote Schechter in one postcard.

Schechter also requested books from his friend Dr. Marcus Brann in Breslau and asked him to send copies of Ketuvim Aharonim to Grand Rabbi Bensimon in Cairo.

Today, thanks to modern technology and past efforts by explorers like Schechter, students can study these historical documents comfortably through digital means.

For further details on Yeshiva University's Genizah fragment, refer to the blog post "Fragment of the Month" on Cambridge University Library's site.