Torah Scroll Fragment

This fragment of a Torah scroll represents a special treasure for lovers of Judaica: one of the oldest surviving fragments of a Torah scroll. This piece was discovered as part of a spectacular find in the genizah of the Ben Esra Synagogue in Cairo at the end of the 19th century. The fragment, whose provenance is still a mystery today, measures 115 x 50 cm and probably originated between the 8th and 12th centuries. It makes possible a journey through time, through the history of the Jewish faith and the Hebrew language!

Over a Thousand Years Old?

This historically significant witness of Judaism is stored the library of the London School of Jewish Studies, it is one of the oldest surviving Torah scroll fragments. The Hebrew text of the Torah can be read in gorgeous script on centuries-old leather. The fragment measuring 115 x 50 cm originated from the Middle East between the 8th and 12th centuries, but its exact provenance remains unknown to this day.

A Treasure from the Genizah

This significant Torah scroll fragment is the result of a spectacular late–19th century find. The genizah of the Ben Esra Synagogue in Cairo was undergoing renovations in 1890 when a real treasure of the Jewish faith and culture was discovered. In the genizah, a closed hollow space where Torah scrolls and other religious texts that are no longer usable are stowed, because they cannot be destroyed according to the Jewish faith. The genizah of the Ben Esra Synagogue had probably not been opened for eight centuries! The Torah scroll fragment of the London School of Jewish Studies makes this discovery impressively comprehensive!