An astonishing treasure trove of ancient manuscripts hidden for centuries in a Cairo synagogue illuminates over a thousand years of vibrant Jewish, Christian, and Muslim life in the heart of the Islamic world and reveals a period of religious tolerance nearly unimaginable today.
From Cairo to the Cloud reveals the untold story of an astonishing treasure trove of ancient manuscripts hidden for centuries in the sacred storeroom of an Egyptian synagogue. The Cairo Geniza is described as a “medieval Facebook,” and contains a staggering array of sacred literature and documents that illuminate the daily lives of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Cairo a thousand years ago.
The Geniza documents range from religious texts to business reports, medical prescriptions to literary treasures, magical amulets to children’s drawings, love letters to divorce decrees.
These manuscripts provide uniquely intimate access to a vanished civilization, revealing a rich, complex, and cosmopolitan society we knew almost nothing about.
A globe-trotting tale of discovery and intrigue, From Cairo to the Cloud is an acclaimed documentary telling the Geniza story through a passionate cast of scholarly detectives devoted to uncovering its secrets.
To learn more, visit the Friedberg Genizah Project, The Cambridge Digital Library, and the Princeton Geniza Lab.