The Cairo Geniza at Cambridge

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Experience something new this May Bank Holiday, enjoy some time in Cambridge with Stanmore Shul & Belmont Shul and uncover a treasure trove of Jewish history.

For a thousand years, the Jewish community of Fustat (Old Cairo) placed their worn-out books and writings in a storeroom—the Genizah—of the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Hidden for centuries, this extraordinary collection offers a rare glimpse into medieval Jewish life. In 1897, Dr. Solomon Schechter traveled to Cairo, recognising the immense historical value of the Genizah, and brought 193,000 manuscripts back to Cambridge.

Now, you have the chance to see these remarkable fragments of history up close. Join us on a guided visit to the Cairo Geniza at Cambridge University Library, where Dr. Melonie Schmierer-Lee, Research Associate, will reveal some of the most prized and preserved documents, books, letters, and everyday writings—offering a vivid window into life along the Mediterranean over 1,000 years ago.

– Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May 2025
– Meeting at 10:30 AM – Cambridge University Library (please arrange your own transport to and from Cambridge)
– Tour: 11:00 AM sharp – 1:00 PM

Following the tour, we will enjoy lunch together outdoors (weather permitting)—please bring your own kosher packed lunch. Afterward, you may choose to continue exploring Cambridge with the group or take the afternoon at your own pace.

This is a rare opportunity to engage with Jewish history in an unparalleled way—don’t miss it!