Cairo Genizah : History: Egyptian Scroll

Samuel b. Hošaʿna (Third in the Academy)

Cairo Genizah

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Leaves from the ‘Egyptian Scroll’, a poetic narrative that was read out in the synagogue to commemorate and give thanks for freedom from oppression in the year 1012 CE. A public disturbance at a Jewish funeral procession provoked violence, mass arrests followed, and a Fusṭāṭ judge sentenced 23 members of the Jewish community to death. As was their right under Islamic law the leaders of the Jewish community appealed directly to the Caliph al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh in Cairo. He declared that the Muslim witnesses had lied and released the condemned Jews. The probable author of the 'scroll', the Hebrew poet Samuel the Third b. Hošaʿna, is mentioned on leaf 4v, since he was also one of the prisoners. Leaf 1 of the codex contains morning benedictions and is in a different hand to the other leaves. Its vocalisation has also been added secondarily. Leaf 2 should come between leaves 6 and 7. There are leaves missing between leaves 3 and 4 and possibly also between 5 and 6.</p>