Further to recent postings about the Genizah digitization project, colleagues may be interested in this series on BBC radio. Unlike TV programmes, it is possible to listen to BBC radio programmes on the iplayer from outside the UK.
Best wishes Vanessa Vanessa Freedman Hebrew & Jewish Studies Librarian, University College London Convenor, Hebraica Libraries Group UCL Library Services University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 2598 (Internal ext. 32598) Fax: +44 (0) 20 7679 7373 E-mail: [email protected] Websites: www.ucl.ac.uk/library www.lib.cam.ac.uk/hebraica/hebraicam2.htm **Please remember the environment and only print this if necessary** -----Original Message----- From: Katherine Aron-Beller [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 22 May 2013 13:04 Subject: Life in Fragments: Stories from the Cairo Genizah The Genizah Research Unit at Cambridge University Library would like to announce the broadcasting of Life in Fragments: Stories from the Cairo Genizah, a 5-episode series for BBC Radio 3's 'The Essay'. Produced by Nightjar, the show features five researchers from the Unit giving short (15-mins) talks about the historical aspects of the Cairo Genizah. Further details below. The Essay is on Monday to Friday next week (27-31 May) at 10.45pm on BBC Radio 3, and the shows will be available on iPlayer or to download as a podcast after the event. website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b020tknt/broadcasts/upcoming iplayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio The Essay Life in Fragments: Stories from the Cairo Genizah BBC Radio 3, 27 - 31 May 10:45pm The Cairo Genizah is a treasure trove of manuscripts from the Ben Ezra synagogue in Old Cairo that portrays over 800 years of community life. Rediscovered in the 19th century, this vast communal paper-bin contained hundreds upon thousands of scraps of rag-paper and parchment - an unedited archive of prayers, letters, poems, magical spells, alchemical recipes, children's exercise books, divorce deeds and pre-nuptial agreements that paints a lively and intimate picture of daily medieval life in Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean. Episode 1: The Discovery (27th May) In this first essay, Dr Esther-Miriam Wagner of the Genizah Research Unit tells the story of the discovery of the Genizah inside the ancient and crumbling synagogue of Al-Fustat, a suburb of modern day Cairo. Featuring a legendary curse, a pair of intrepid Scottish twins, an eccentric scholar and one very generous rabbi... Episode 2: Letters (28th May) Intercepting private letters between medieval merchants, Dr Ben Outhwaite, Head of the Genizah Research Unit, uncovers an international trading network that united Jews, Muslims and Christians across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Episode 3: Women (29th May) Looking at marriage and divorce deeds, as well as some incredibly detailed pre-nuptial agreements, Dr Melonie Schmierer-Lee of the Genizah Research Unit reveals the fortunes of women in medieval Cairo. Episode 4: Three Lives (30th May) Reading the private documents of the legendary philosopher Maimonides, community leader Solomon ben Judah and Indian Ocean trader Abraham ben Yiju, Dr Daniel Davies of the Genizah Research Unit sheds light on three very different lives. Episode 5: Alchemy & Magic (31st May) In this final essay, Dr Gabriele Ferrario of the Genizah Research Unit reveals the most secretive side of the Genizah collection: the manuscripts relating to alchemy and magic. Presenters: Esther-Miriam Wagner, Ben Outhwaite, Melonie Schmierer-Lee, Daniel Davies, Gabriele Ferrario Produced by Michele Banal and Miranda Hinkley A Nightjar production for BBC Radio 3 Dr Gabriele Ferrario Research Associate Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit Cambridge University Library West Road CB3 9DR Cambridge UK [email protected] -- __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
