REVIEW FROM THE "SOUTH FLORIDA JEWISH JOURNAL"
THE WAY A HISTORY BOOK SHOULD BE WRITTEN
SACRED TREASURE—THE CAIRO GENIZAH by Rabbi Mark Glickman, Jewish Lights, Woodstock Vt. 2010, 254 pages, $24.99
Reviewed by Rabbi Jack Riemer
What an exciting book this is! The publicity release begins “Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code in an old Egyptian Synagogue”, and the book justifies the statement. If other history books were written with this kind of verse, non-professionals, and young people in particular, would read a lot more history than they do.
Most people probably have some vague idea of what a gernizah is. They know that Jews do not just throw away Holy Books. They either bury them, or stuff them into synagogue attics out of respect for the Name of God or the quotations from the Torah that they may contain.
And most people probably have a vague idea of what the Cairo Genizah was. They know that Solomon Schechter, who was at the time a reader in Rabbinics at Cambridge University, and who went on from there to become the head of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, went to Cairo, climbed up the ladder that led to the attic in the synagogue where the genizha was stored, and brought back to Cambridge many of the pieces of paper that he found there, and that began the field of Genizah Studies.
But that is about all that most of us know about this topic. I had no idea until I read this book that the genizah contained three hundred thousand documents, enough to keep scholars busy cataloguing and deciphering these scraps for many lifetimes. I had no idea that it contained business correspondence, love letters, hundreds of poems, both secular and religious, medical information, letters to and from Maimonides himself, and even a page from what we would later understand were the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Mark Glickman has written a page turner of a book. We follow him from Schechter to S.D. Goitein to Stefan Reif, to the scholars who are now using—and inventing---new kinds of computers and cameras and new ways of cleaning these manuscripts and digitalizing them so as to make these long neglected works available for the first time on line. Whereas these scholars had to go to Cairo and sit in the dusty attic where these documents were first discovered or else go to the many countries from Russia to England to America to the Vatican to Norway to France, and to Israel where some of them were stored, in order to study them, it will soon be possible to study them on line from wherever you may be.
And even more amazing: if the top half of a piece of paper had somehow gotten separate from the bottom half, and if one half ended up in Russia and the other half ended up in England, it is now possible for the specially designed computers to identify that they share the same handwriting, and that they come from the same author, and are really one piece of paper, and so they can be joined and studied. It is as if someone had created hundreds of jigsaw puzzles and mixed them up together, and then sent them to people all over the world, and challenged them to put their pieces together. And yet the work is being done slowly and systematically, by scholars who understand that this is by far the largest, and surely one of the most informative, collections of forgotten Jewish writings ever rediscovered.
Mark Glickman writes exuberantly, taking us along with him on an exciting journey from country to country, from library to library, explaining to us in simple language that you do not have to be a professional scholar to comprehend how rich this collection is, and how it opens up to us a whole world that we would otherwise know almost nothing about.
At the end of this fast moving and well written book, Mark Glickman raises the question of what does it all mean, what does this collection have to teach us, not only about the world of the Middle Ages, but about our own time.
He says it teaches four important spiritual and historical truths. The first is that, contrary to what we usually believe; the Jewish community of the Middle Ages was not as monolithic as we think it was. In fact, it was as fractured and as contentious as we are today. At least three groups co-existed side by side in Medieval Cairo: those who followed the Palestinian Talmud and accepted the authority of the Palestinian Sages, those who followed the Babylonian Talmud and accepted the authority of the Gaonim, and the Karaites , who disappeared eventually, but who at one time had real numbers and status. These three groups lived side by side, did business with each other, and debated with each other, according to the documents they left behind
The second truth the Genizah teaches is that there was a vibrant, vital, prosperous, Jewish community that existed a thousand years ago in Egypt of all places. This community had security, success, and Jewish knowledge, contrary to our stereotype that medieval Jewry was downtrodden, oppressed, and unenlightened.
The third truth that the Genizah teaches is that Arab-Jewish relations were not always as bad as they are today. Many of the Jews whose literary legacy is found in the Genizah wrote in Arabic as well as in Hebrew, and they learned from, as well as taught, the people around them. The Hebrew language developed its grammar on the model of the Arabic language. The revival of Hebrew in our time would not have been possible without the help rendered to it by Arabic a thousand years ago. Arabic itself was a Jewish language, and, unlike Latin in Europe, was employed by Jews for all secular and religious purposes, except for the synagogue service.
The fourth, and perhaps the greatest lesson in the Genizah, is the holiness of writing. In this age of computers with their instant delete buttons, it is hard to understand but there is really something awesome about the power of writing. As Glickman puts it: “Pen touches paper and moves across its surface, and leaves a trail of ink behind. And that trail forms letters, the letters form words, the words become sentences, and the sentences convey thoughts. The written word can go from mind to mind, from heart to heart, from continent to continent. At some level, we still know this. This is why we cherish old love letters, graduation certificates, and family albums. They enable us to connect ourselves to the past and to bind ourselves, if only fleetingly, to the souls of others.”
So this is a book for all who like exciting stories. It is at least as fast moving and as adventurous as anything in Indiana Jones. It is a book for anyone who likes history, for it tells the fascinating story of the treasures that were found in a synagogue attic more than a century ago, and what it has taught us about a nearly forgotten community that lived in the Middle Ages. And it is a book for all who appreciate the shards of history, and the wonder of what communities leave behind to instruct us about themselves with.
For all these reasons, and more, I heartily recommend this informative and exciting book.
Rabbi Jack Riemer is a frequent reviewer for this journal and for many other journals of Jewish Thought in America and abroad.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Genizah Update #28
"One of the Best Jewish Books of 2010”
December 23, 2010
Dear Friends,
Greetings! I hope this email finds you well. I have several exciting book-related news items to share with you:
KUDOS
Waking up and doing my early morning email-check today, I was delighted to learn that Jewish Ideas Daily named my book, Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah, one of the best Jewish books of 2010. In fact, my book is the eighth one on the list…but maybe that’s just because it’s alphabetical. As you can see if you follow the link below, Sacred Treasure is in very good company on this list; seeing it there was a real thrill and a great honor.
http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/module/2010/12/23/main-feature/1/a-year-in-books
GENIZAH FUND DONATIONS
Now that my book has been completed, I’ve closed the account holding the generous donations that many of you provided. Fortunately, the leftover funds allowed me to make $1,000 donations to two important Genizah institutions:
• The Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit, Cambridge University Library
As you may know, the Cambridge University Library holds the largest collection of Genizah manuscripts – indeed, the largest collection of Jewish manuscripts of any kind – in the world. Included in their holdings is the Mosseri Genizah Collection, a trove of 7,000 manuscripts removed from the Genizah in the early 20th century and held in a trunk in the Mosseri family home until 2006. Conservators are unpacking and processing these documents at a rate of six or so per day – it’s a huge job. This donation will support the Genizah unit in their important work with this collection. You can learn more about it at http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/Taylor-Schechter/jmgc/.
• The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
JTS holds the worlds-second largest collection of Genizah manuscripts – about 35,000 of them. The Seminary acquired most of these treasures in the 1920’s from a collector named Elkan Nathan Adler. Adler had preserved the documents in clear plastic sleeves made of PVC – the same stuff they make water pipes from today. At the time, this was considered the latest and greatest way to preserve old manuscripts, but since then we’ve learned that PVC contains acids and other compounds which slowly eat away at the documents with which they come into contact. Knowing this, conservators now need to remove the documents from their PVC sleeves, and store them instead in sleeves made out of Melinex. Melinex is pop-bottle plastic, and it never degrades. Of course, such a project will be costly, but I’ve earmarked our donation for this specific purpose, and it’s nice to know that it will play an important role in preserving the priceless JTS Genizah treasures.
UPCOMING RADIO INTERVIEWS
• Friday, December 24, 12:00-12:30 PST, “Beyond 50 Radio” (Portland, OR), http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=59781&cmd=tc
• Sunday, January 2, 8:00 AM PST, “Jewish Perspective Radio” (Brevard County, Florida), http://jewishperspectiveradio.com/ (Airing-date unconfirmed)
After they are aired, both programs should be available online and on iTunes.
PHOTO ABOVE
The photograph atop this email comes to me courtesy of my friend, Dr. Ben Outhwaite, director of the Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit at Cambridge. It is not “PhotoShopped.” Rather, this is a real picture of a real copy of my book sitting amongst real manuscripts from the Cairo Genizah. The two words below and to the left of the book are, “haadhihi al-kuraasa,” which is Judeo-Arabic for “this book.”
REVIEWS
Many thanks to those of you who have posted reviews of my book on Amazon. If you enjoyed the book, have not yet reviewed it, and are so inclined, please feel free to do so at your earliest convenience. These reviews are enormously helpful in getting the word out about the book.
Speaking of reviews, I have attached one from Rabbi Jack Riemer that I thought you might enjoy reading. It was published in the South Florida Jewish Journal
THE GIFT OF A SACRED TREASURE
It’s still not too late to get a copy of Sacred Treasure as a belated Chanukah or Christmas gift…or as a very early one for next year. If you’re interested in purchasing a signed copy from me, please contact me or consult previous Genizah Updates for details.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
As you can see, I have still have an active schedule of Genizah talks, including an upcoming talk on Monday, January 13, 7:00 PM, at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Seattle. If you would me to come speak to your group, please contact me at your convenience.
Date Time Venue City
1. Sun, Jan 2 8:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
2. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
3. Mon, Jan 13 7:00 PM Third Place Books Seattle (Lake Forest Park)
4. Mon, Jan 24 TBA Temple Israel Dayton, OH
5. Tues, Jan 25 TBA The Valley Temple Cincinnati, OH
6. Wed, Jan 26 12:15 PM Hebrew Union College-Jewish Inst. of Religion Cincinnati, OH
7. Wed. Jan 26 7:00 PM Rockdale Temple Cincinnati, OH
8. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
9. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
10. March 27-30 TBA Central Conference of American Rabbis New Orleans, LA
That’s all for now. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a wonderful holiday season.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
_____________________________________________________________
Have you seen my new book? “Sacred Treasure--The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic” (Jewish Lights Publishing) http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-431-3
"One of the Best Jewish Books of 2010”
December 23, 2010
Dear Friends,
Greetings! I hope this email finds you well. I have several exciting book-related news items to share with you:
KUDOS
Waking up and doing my early morning email-check today, I was delighted to learn that Jewish Ideas Daily named my book, Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah, one of the best Jewish books of 2010. In fact, my book is the eighth one on the list…but maybe that’s just because it’s alphabetical. As you can see if you follow the link below, Sacred Treasure is in very good company on this list; seeing it there was a real thrill and a great honor.
http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/module/2010/12/23/main-feature/1/a-year-in-books
GENIZAH FUND DONATIONS
Now that my book has been completed, I’ve closed the account holding the generous donations that many of you provided. Fortunately, the leftover funds allowed me to make $1,000 donations to two important Genizah institutions:
• The Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit, Cambridge University Library
As you may know, the Cambridge University Library holds the largest collection of Genizah manuscripts – indeed, the largest collection of Jewish manuscripts of any kind – in the world. Included in their holdings is the Mosseri Genizah Collection, a trove of 7,000 manuscripts removed from the Genizah in the early 20th century and held in a trunk in the Mosseri family home until 2006. Conservators are unpacking and processing these documents at a rate of six or so per day – it’s a huge job. This donation will support the Genizah unit in their important work with this collection. You can learn more about it at http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/Taylor-Schechter/jmgc/.
• The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
JTS holds the worlds-second largest collection of Genizah manuscripts – about 35,000 of them. The Seminary acquired most of these treasures in the 1920’s from a collector named Elkan Nathan Adler. Adler had preserved the documents in clear plastic sleeves made of PVC – the same stuff they make water pipes from today. At the time, this was considered the latest and greatest way to preserve old manuscripts, but since then we’ve learned that PVC contains acids and other compounds which slowly eat away at the documents with which they come into contact. Knowing this, conservators now need to remove the documents from their PVC sleeves, and store them instead in sleeves made out of Melinex. Melinex is pop-bottle plastic, and it never degrades. Of course, such a project will be costly, but I’ve earmarked our donation for this specific purpose, and it’s nice to know that it will play an important role in preserving the priceless JTS Genizah treasures.
UPCOMING RADIO INTERVIEWS
• Friday, December 24, 12:00-12:30 PST, “Beyond 50 Radio” (Portland, OR), http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=59781&cmd=tc
• Sunday, January 2, 8:00 AM PST, “Jewish Perspective Radio” (Brevard County, Florida), http://jewishperspectiveradio.com/ (Airing-date unconfirmed)
After they are aired, both programs should be available online and on iTunes.
PHOTO ABOVE
The photograph atop this email comes to me courtesy of my friend, Dr. Ben Outhwaite, director of the Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit at Cambridge. It is not “PhotoShopped.” Rather, this is a real picture of a real copy of my book sitting amongst real manuscripts from the Cairo Genizah. The two words below and to the left of the book are, “haadhihi al-kuraasa,” which is Judeo-Arabic for “this book.”
REVIEWS
Many thanks to those of you who have posted reviews of my book on Amazon. If you enjoyed the book, have not yet reviewed it, and are so inclined, please feel free to do so at your earliest convenience. These reviews are enormously helpful in getting the word out about the book.
Speaking of reviews, I have attached one from Rabbi Jack Riemer that I thought you might enjoy reading. It was published in the South Florida Jewish Journal
THE GIFT OF A SACRED TREASURE
It’s still not too late to get a copy of Sacred Treasure as a belated Chanukah or Christmas gift…or as a very early one for next year. If you’re interested in purchasing a signed copy from me, please contact me or consult previous Genizah Updates for details.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
As you can see, I have still have an active schedule of Genizah talks, including an upcoming talk on Monday, January 13, 7:00 PM, at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Seattle. If you would me to come speak to your group, please contact me at your convenience.
Date Time Venue City
1. Sun, Jan 2 8:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
2. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
3. Mon, Jan 13 7:00 PM Third Place Books Seattle (Lake Forest Park)
4. Mon, Jan 24 TBA Temple Israel Dayton, OH
5. Tues, Jan 25 TBA The Valley Temple Cincinnati, OH
6. Wed, Jan 26 12:15 PM Hebrew Union College-Jewish Inst. of Religion Cincinnati, OH
7. Wed. Jan 26 7:00 PM Rockdale Temple Cincinnati, OH
8. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
9. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
10. March 27-30 TBA Central Conference of American Rabbis New Orleans, LA
That’s all for now. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a wonderful holiday season.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
_____________________________________________________________
Have you seen my new book? “Sacred Treasure--The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic” (Jewish Lights Publishing) http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-431-3
Monday, November 29, 2010
Genizah Update #27
The Gift of a Sacred Treasure
November 29, 2010
Hello Everybody,
Just a brief update this time, with some post-Thanksgiving details about Sacred Treasure.
REVIEWS
The reviews of Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah continue to come in, and so far, no negative comments have appeared – at least none that I’ve noticed. You can see some of them at the links below, and a few more will likely appear in national publications during the next several weeks.
• http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Treasure-Cairo-Genizah-Discoveries/dp/1580234313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281233587&sr=8-1
• http://www.nwbooklovers.org/2010/11/16/sacred-treasure-of-the-cairo-genizah/
• http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/nov/27/pages-plenty-20101127/?subscriber/features
A REQUEST
If you read and enjoyed the book, it would be enormously helpful if you would consider posting a review on Amazon. Such feedback is crucial to help raise awareness of this book and the story it tells.
A BESTSELLER!
Each Sunday, the Seattle Times book section selects a local bookstore and lists their recent bestsellers. Yesterday’s edition listed those of Eagle Harbor Book Company, on Bainbridge Island Washington, and Sacred Treasure came in at number three! The good news is that it outsold the #4 book, Of Thee I Sing, by Barack Obama. The bad news is that it still hasn’t caught up to the #2 book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. To be behind a Wimp but ahead of the president of the United States is a position I will accept with pride.
SPEAKING DATES AVAILABLE
As you can see below, I have an active speaking calendar during the next several months. I still have time-slots available, however, so please feel free to impose upon your church, synagogue, civic organization, school, etc. to have them contact me to come speak. I speak to groups of all ages, and love any opportunity I have to share the Genizah story.
THE GIFT OF A SACRED TREASURE
If you are looking for that special gift to give that special someone for Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, a birthday, anniversary, or International Human Rights Day (coming soon on December 10), I’m sure you’ll agree that nothing could possibly say “Happy______” better than Sacred Treasure. You can probably get the best deal from Amazon or another online retailer, but if you order it from me, I’ll sign it myself send it right to your doorstep or to whatever other doorstep you want me to send it.
Price:
Book $24.99
Shipping $3.00 each
Tax (WA only) $2.14 each
Send checks to:
Rabbi Mark Glickman
15030 232nd Ave. NE
Woodinville, WA 98077
Thanks as always for your enthusiasm and support.
With gratitude and heartfelt holiday wishes,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Speaking Engagements
Date Time Venue City
1. Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland, OR
2. Thu, Dec 2 Noon Congregation Beth Israel Portland, OR
3. Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
4. Mon, Dec 6 6 PM Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity Seattle, WA
5. Tue, Dec 7 10 AM Hamilton International School Seattle, WA
6. Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
7. Sun, Jan 2 8:00 PM Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
8. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
9. Mon, Jan 24 TBA Temple Israel Dayton, OH
10. Tues, Jan 25 TBA The Valley Temple Cincinnati, OH
11. Wed, Jan 26 TBA Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Cincinnati, OH
12. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
13. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
14. March 27-30 TBA Central Conference of American Rabbis New Orleans, LA
The Gift of a Sacred Treasure
November 29, 2010
Hello Everybody,
Just a brief update this time, with some post-Thanksgiving details about Sacred Treasure.
REVIEWS
The reviews of Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah continue to come in, and so far, no negative comments have appeared – at least none that I’ve noticed. You can see some of them at the links below, and a few more will likely appear in national publications during the next several weeks.
• http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Treasure-Cairo-Genizah-Discoveries/dp/1580234313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281233587&sr=8-1
• http://www.nwbooklovers.org/2010/11/16/sacred-treasure-of-the-cairo-genizah/
• http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/nov/27/pages-plenty-20101127/?subscriber/features
A REQUEST
If you read and enjoyed the book, it would be enormously helpful if you would consider posting a review on Amazon. Such feedback is crucial to help raise awareness of this book and the story it tells.
A BESTSELLER!
Each Sunday, the Seattle Times book section selects a local bookstore and lists their recent bestsellers. Yesterday’s edition listed those of Eagle Harbor Book Company, on Bainbridge Island Washington, and Sacred Treasure came in at number three! The good news is that it outsold the #4 book, Of Thee I Sing, by Barack Obama. The bad news is that it still hasn’t caught up to the #2 book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. To be behind a Wimp but ahead of the president of the United States is a position I will accept with pride.
SPEAKING DATES AVAILABLE
As you can see below, I have an active speaking calendar during the next several months. I still have time-slots available, however, so please feel free to impose upon your church, synagogue, civic organization, school, etc. to have them contact me to come speak. I speak to groups of all ages, and love any opportunity I have to share the Genizah story.
THE GIFT OF A SACRED TREASURE
If you are looking for that special gift to give that special someone for Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, a birthday, anniversary, or International Human Rights Day (coming soon on December 10), I’m sure you’ll agree that nothing could possibly say “Happy______” better than Sacred Treasure. You can probably get the best deal from Amazon or another online retailer, but if you order it from me, I’ll sign it myself send it right to your doorstep or to whatever other doorstep you want me to send it.
Price:
Book $24.99
Shipping $3.00 each
Tax (WA only) $2.14 each
Send checks to:
Rabbi Mark Glickman
15030 232nd Ave. NE
Woodinville, WA 98077
Thanks as always for your enthusiasm and support.
With gratitude and heartfelt holiday wishes,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Speaking Engagements
Date Time Venue City
1. Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland, OR
2. Thu, Dec 2 Noon Congregation Beth Israel Portland, OR
3. Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
4. Mon, Dec 6 6 PM Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity Seattle, WA
5. Tue, Dec 7 10 AM Hamilton International School Seattle, WA
6. Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
7. Sun, Jan 2 8:00 PM Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
8. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
9. Mon, Jan 24 TBA Temple Israel Dayton, OH
10. Tues, Jan 25 TBA The Valley Temple Cincinnati, OH
11. Wed, Jan 26 TBA Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Cincinnati, OH
12. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
13. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
14. March 27-30 TBA Central Conference of American Rabbis New Orleans, LA
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Genizah Update #26
LAUNCH!
November 11, 2010
Hello Everybody,
We have liftoff! Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah has launched into published existence, and the journey seems to be going wonderfully.
On October 27th, Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville hosted a launch-party for the book. It was a delightful evening, which included Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath), several tributes emceed by my son Jacob, some great Middle Eastern food, and books galore. Over 100 people attended, and I was gratified and touched that so many joined in the celebration.
The evening also featured a Sacred Treasure cake, pictured above. These days, cake-preparers can somehow reproduce photographic images in frosting, and the cake at the launch party featured an image of the cover of my book. The cover, as you can see, includes a swath of a Genizah manuscript, which means that, if I am not mistaken, this is the first time ever that an image of a manuscript from the Cairo Genizah has been rendered in frosting. A historic event if there ever was one!
Many thanks to Stephanie Glickman, Jen Shevitz, Judy Simon, Stacy Schill, and everyone else who made the wonderful event happen. Thanks, too, to Peggy Barnett, who took the photos:
Reviews
A couple of reviews have been written about the book, and more are sure to come. Two now appear on Amazon.com – one of them was written by Israel Drazin, an Orthodox rabbi, and both give the book five stars.
Another review – written by a prominent Conservative rabbi and not yet published – was VERY enthusiastic. The review is headlined “The Way a History Book Should be Written.” It opens, “What an exciting book this is!” It calls the book “a page turner,” “fast moving and well written,” “a book for all who like exciting stories.” In general, the review is pretty positive.
If you have read the book and enjoyed it, please feel free to post a review on Amazon. These reviews are hugely important and are of great help in getting the word out about the book.
If, however, you have read the book and didn’t enjoy it, then don’t worry about the review…we’ll come up with another way for you to support the cause.
Media Coverage
See these recent stories about the book and other matters-Genizah:
• Article about the book and the launch party in this week’s edition of Northeast King County Washington’s River Current News (this article will become publically available online by tomorrow, November 12th): http://www.rivercurrentnews.com/news/2010-11-11/Front_Page/Local_Rabbi_Unfolds_the_Cairo_Genizah.html
• Article in the current edition of Reform Judaism Magazine: http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1827
• Article in the Lansing (Michigan) State Journal (I spoke about the Genizah in Lansing for a couple of days right after the launch party): http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101029/NEWS01/10290326/1001/NEWS/Rabbi-tells-story-of-Hebrew-texts-found-in-Cairo
Books Available
As I mentioned in a previous email, books are now available online or directly from me:
• http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-431-3
• http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Treasure-Cairo-Genizah-Discoveries/dp/1580234313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281233587&sr=8-1
Full disclosure time: You can get the book for the best price at Amazon or other such online retailers. I, however, earn about twice as much if you buy it from the publisher, and about eight times as much if you order it directly from me. If you opt for the latter, here is the information you’ll need.
Book price: $24.99
Sales Tax (WA only) $2.15
Shipping (if needed) $3.00
Checks payable to:
Rabbi Mark Glickman
15030 232nd Ave NE
Woodinville, WA 98077
USA
Speaking Engagements
As you can see below, I am speaking about the Genizah to a wide variety of groups within the next several months. If you are interesting in having me speak, please feel free to let me know.
As always, I thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Speaking Engagements
Date Time Venue City
1. Sun Nov 14, Sun , Nov 21 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
2. Thu, Nov 18 7:00 PM Eagle Harbor Book Co. Bainbridge Island, WA
3. Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland
4. Thu, Dec 2 Noon Cong. Beth Israel Portland
5. Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
6. Tues, Dec 7 TBA Hamilton International Middle School Seattle, WA
7. Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
8. Sun, Jan 2 9:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
9. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
10. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
11. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
12. March 27-30 TBA Central Conference of American Rabbis New Orleans, LA
LAUNCH!
November 11, 2010
Hello Everybody,
We have liftoff! Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah has launched into published existence, and the journey seems to be going wonderfully.
On October 27th, Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville hosted a launch-party for the book. It was a delightful evening, which included Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath), several tributes emceed by my son Jacob, some great Middle Eastern food, and books galore. Over 100 people attended, and I was gratified and touched that so many joined in the celebration.
The evening also featured a Sacred Treasure cake, pictured above. These days, cake-preparers can somehow reproduce photographic images in frosting, and the cake at the launch party featured an image of the cover of my book. The cover, as you can see, includes a swath of a Genizah manuscript, which means that, if I am not mistaken, this is the first time ever that an image of a manuscript from the Cairo Genizah has been rendered in frosting. A historic event if there ever was one!
Many thanks to Stephanie Glickman, Jen Shevitz, Judy Simon, Stacy Schill, and everyone else who made the wonderful event happen. Thanks, too, to Peggy Barnett, who took the photos:
Reviews
A couple of reviews have been written about the book, and more are sure to come. Two now appear on Amazon.com – one of them was written by Israel Drazin, an Orthodox rabbi, and both give the book five stars.
Another review – written by a prominent Conservative rabbi and not yet published – was VERY enthusiastic. The review is headlined “The Way a History Book Should be Written.” It opens, “What an exciting book this is!” It calls the book “a page turner,” “fast moving and well written,” “a book for all who like exciting stories.” In general, the review is pretty positive.
If you have read the book and enjoyed it, please feel free to post a review on Amazon. These reviews are hugely important and are of great help in getting the word out about the book.
If, however, you have read the book and didn’t enjoy it, then don’t worry about the review…we’ll come up with another way for you to support the cause.
Media Coverage
See these recent stories about the book and other matters-Genizah:
• Article about the book and the launch party in this week’s edition of Northeast King County Washington’s River Current News (this article will become publically available online by tomorrow, November 12th): http://www.rivercurrentnews.com/news/2010-11-11/Front_Page/Local_Rabbi_Unfolds_the_Cairo_Genizah.html
• Article in the current edition of Reform Judaism Magazine: http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1827
• Article in the Lansing (Michigan) State Journal (I spoke about the Genizah in Lansing for a couple of days right after the launch party): http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101029/NEWS01/10290326/1001/NEWS/Rabbi-tells-story-of-Hebrew-texts-found-in-Cairo
Books Available
As I mentioned in a previous email, books are now available online or directly from me:
• http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-431-3
• http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Treasure-Cairo-Genizah-Discoveries/dp/1580234313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281233587&sr=8-1
Full disclosure time: You can get the book for the best price at Amazon or other such online retailers. I, however, earn about twice as much if you buy it from the publisher, and about eight times as much if you order it directly from me. If you opt for the latter, here is the information you’ll need.
Book price: $24.99
Sales Tax (WA only) $2.15
Shipping (if needed) $3.00
Checks payable to:
Rabbi Mark Glickman
15030 232nd Ave NE
Woodinville, WA 98077
USA
Speaking Engagements
As you can see below, I am speaking about the Genizah to a wide variety of groups within the next several months. If you are interesting in having me speak, please feel free to let me know.
As always, I thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Speaking Engagements
Date Time Venue City
1. Sun Nov 14, Sun , Nov 21 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
2. Thu, Nov 18 7:00 PM Eagle Harbor Book Co. Bainbridge Island, WA
3. Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland
4. Thu, Dec 2 Noon Cong. Beth Israel Portland
5. Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
6. Tues, Dec 7 TBA Hamilton International Middle School Seattle, WA
7. Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
8. Sun, Jan 2 9:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
9. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
10. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
11. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
12. March 27-30 TBA Central Conference of American Rabbis New Orleans, LA
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Genizah Update #25 - Books!
Genizah Update #25
BOOKS!
October 28, 2010
This past Tuesday was a long hard day for me. However, as you can see above, when I returned home weary and disheveled at about 10:15 PM, I was delighted to find awaiting my arrival several boxes of the printed copies of my book, Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah. After three years or so of hard work, it was very gratifying to see my Genizah project finally come to fruition. Thanks to all of you who helped make it possible.
BOOKS AVAILABLE
The books are now available from the publisher, Amazon, and other online retailers. You get the best price from Amazon et al; I get a bigger piece of the pie if you order from the publisher, and a far bigger one if you order directly from me. See details below.
As I write this, my book is #10 on Amazon’s “Religion & Spirituality>Judaism>History of Religion” list – down from #6 earlier in the day. I’m guessing this means that two of you have ordered to book from them, and I thank you both!
LAUNCH PARTY
As I mentioned in a previous email, Congregation Kol Ami (Woodinville, WA) is sponsoring a launch party this coming Saturday, October 30th, at 7:30 PM. The evening will include Havdalah (a brief ceremony marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath), a short reading from the book, and an opportunity to purchase your copy and have me sign it for you. The event is open to the public, and I would be delighted if you could attend. (A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Congregation Kol Ami).
ARTICLE IN REFORM JUDAISM MAGAZINE
The Winter issue of Reform Judaism Magazine will include a major feature about Expedition Genizah – my trip with Jacob to Cambridge, Cairo and New York. If you belong to a Reform Congregation in North America, you should receive your copy of the magazine on or around November 10. However, the article is now available to everyone online at http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1827. And although it doesn’t appear very clearly over the internet, the cover of the magazine will include a teaser for the article – “Indiana Glickman and the Chamber of Secrets.”
Other Upcoming Events
As you can see below, my schedule is filling up rapidly. That said, I am eager to share the Genizah story with whomever is interested in hearing it, so please encourage the various groups and communities in which you are involved to consider inviting me as a speaker – synagogues, churches, universities, Kiwanis, book clubs, military brigades, foxhunts – I’ll speak wherever I can.
Date Time Venue City
1. Sat, Oct 30 7:30 PM Congregation Kol Ami Woodinville, WA
2. Sun, Oct 31 7:00 PM Cong. Kehillat Israel Lansing, MI
3. Mon, Nov 1 7:00 PM Michigan State University E. Lansing, MI
4. Tue, Nov 2 7:00 PM Elliott Bay Book Co. Seattle, WA
5. Sun Nov 14, Sun , Nov 21 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
6. Thu, Nov 18 7:00 PM Eagle Harbor Book Co. Bainbridge Island, WA
7. Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland
8. Thu, Dec 2 Noon Cong. Beth Israel Portland
9. Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
10. Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
11. Sun, Jan 2 9:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
12. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
13. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
14. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
At the risk of sounding like the proverbial broken record, thanks again for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. I hope to see those of you who can attend at the party on Saturday night.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
ORDERING INFORMATION
If you would like to order the book directly from me, here is the info you’ll need:
Base Price $24.99
Shipping (If needed) $3.00
Tax (WA only) $2.15
Checks should be payable to me, and sent to:
15030 232nd Ave. NE
Woodinville, WA 98077
BOOKS!
October 28, 2010
This past Tuesday was a long hard day for me. However, as you can see above, when I returned home weary and disheveled at about 10:15 PM, I was delighted to find awaiting my arrival several boxes of the printed copies of my book, Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah. After three years or so of hard work, it was very gratifying to see my Genizah project finally come to fruition. Thanks to all of you who helped make it possible.
BOOKS AVAILABLE
The books are now available from the publisher, Amazon, and other online retailers. You get the best price from Amazon et al; I get a bigger piece of the pie if you order from the publisher, and a far bigger one if you order directly from me. See details below.
As I write this, my book is #10 on Amazon’s “Religion & Spirituality>Judaism>History of Religion” list – down from #6 earlier in the day. I’m guessing this means that two of you have ordered to book from them, and I thank you both!
LAUNCH PARTY
As I mentioned in a previous email, Congregation Kol Ami (Woodinville, WA) is sponsoring a launch party this coming Saturday, October 30th, at 7:30 PM. The evening will include Havdalah (a brief ceremony marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath), a short reading from the book, and an opportunity to purchase your copy and have me sign it for you. The event is open to the public, and I would be delighted if you could attend. (A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Congregation Kol Ami).
ARTICLE IN REFORM JUDAISM MAGAZINE
The Winter issue of Reform Judaism Magazine will include a major feature about Expedition Genizah – my trip with Jacob to Cambridge, Cairo and New York. If you belong to a Reform Congregation in North America, you should receive your copy of the magazine on or around November 10. However, the article is now available to everyone online at http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1827. And although it doesn’t appear very clearly over the internet, the cover of the magazine will include a teaser for the article – “Indiana Glickman and the Chamber of Secrets.”
Other Upcoming Events
As you can see below, my schedule is filling up rapidly. That said, I am eager to share the Genizah story with whomever is interested in hearing it, so please encourage the various groups and communities in which you are involved to consider inviting me as a speaker – synagogues, churches, universities, Kiwanis, book clubs, military brigades, foxhunts – I’ll speak wherever I can.
Date Time Venue City
1. Sat, Oct 30 7:30 PM Congregation Kol Ami Woodinville, WA
2. Sun, Oct 31 7:00 PM Cong. Kehillat Israel Lansing, MI
3. Mon, Nov 1 7:00 PM Michigan State University E. Lansing, MI
4. Tue, Nov 2 7:00 PM Elliott Bay Book Co. Seattle, WA
5. Sun Nov 14, Sun , Nov 21 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
6. Thu, Nov 18 7:00 PM Eagle Harbor Book Co. Bainbridge Island, WA
7. Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland
8. Thu, Dec 2 Noon Cong. Beth Israel Portland
9. Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
10. Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
11. Sun, Jan 2 9:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
12. Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
13. Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
14. Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
At the risk of sounding like the proverbial broken record, thanks again for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. I hope to see those of you who can attend at the party on Saturday night.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
ORDERING INFORMATION
If you would like to order the book directly from me, here is the info you’ll need:
Base Price $24.99
Shipping (If needed) $3.00
Tax (WA only) $2.15
Checks should be payable to me, and sent to:
15030 232nd Ave. NE
Woodinville, WA 98077
Thursday, October 14, 2010
October 14,2010
Hello Everybody,
I am told that printed copies of my book Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah will be shipped from the printer to the publisher on or around …TOMORROW, and that they will be on bookstore shelves by the end of the month. It is exciting and gratifying to know that this long project is about to come to fruition.
In the meantime, at one point yesterday the book soared to #7 on the Amazon bestseller list – the Amazon “Religion & Spirituality>Judaism>History of Religion” bestseller list, that is. It was also #40 on their Judaism list, as well. Alas, as I type this, it has descended to #26 on the first of these lists…such are the vagaries of life in the world of letters!
Launch Party
To celebrate the publication of the book, Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville WA is planning a launch party. It will take place:
7:30 PM, October 30th
At Congregation Kol Ami
Meeting at Bear Creek United Methodist Church
16530 Avondale Rd NE, Woodinville WA 98077
If you live in the Seattle area, or if you are able to get to the Seattle area that evening, I would be delighted if you could join us. There will be a brief Havdalah service to mark the end of the Jewish Sabbath, food, mingling, and books available for purchase and signing (I might even sign some, too. )Please see the attached press release for more details.
Speaking Engagements:
As you can see below, my schedule is filling up quickly. If you know of a group that might be interested in having me speak, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Time Away
That said, Caron and I will be away on a Cruise Oct 17-24 (Sunday-Sunday). So to contact me next week you’ll either need to own a helicopter or be a very good swimmer.
As always, thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Sacred Treasure, the Cairo Genizah
Speaking Engagements
Date Time Venue City Notes
Sun, Oct 10 10:00 AM Unitarian Universalist Church Woodinville, WA,
Sat, Oct 30 7:30 PM Congregation Kol Ami Woodinville, WA Book-Launch Party
Sun, Oct 31 7:00 PM Cong. Kehillat Israel E. Lansing, MI
Mon, Nov 1 7:00 PM Michigan State University E. Lansing, MI
Tue, Nov 2 7:00 PM Elliott Bay Book Co. Seattle, WA
Sun Nov 14, Sun, Nov 21 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
Thu, Nov 18 7:00 PM Eagle Harbor Book Co. Bainbridge Island, WA
Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland
Thu, Dec 2 Noon Cong. Beth Israel Portland
Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
Sun, Jan 2 9:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
Hello Everybody,
I am told that printed copies of my book Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah will be shipped from the printer to the publisher on or around …TOMORROW, and that they will be on bookstore shelves by the end of the month. It is exciting and gratifying to know that this long project is about to come to fruition.
In the meantime, at one point yesterday the book soared to #7 on the Amazon bestseller list – the Amazon “Religion & Spirituality>Judaism>History of Religion” bestseller list, that is. It was also #40 on their Judaism list, as well. Alas, as I type this, it has descended to #26 on the first of these lists…such are the vagaries of life in the world of letters!
Launch Party
To celebrate the publication of the book, Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville WA is planning a launch party. It will take place:
7:30 PM, October 30th
At Congregation Kol Ami
Meeting at Bear Creek United Methodist Church
16530 Avondale Rd NE, Woodinville WA 98077
If you live in the Seattle area, or if you are able to get to the Seattle area that evening, I would be delighted if you could join us. There will be a brief Havdalah service to mark the end of the Jewish Sabbath, food, mingling, and books available for purchase and signing (I might even sign some, too. )Please see the attached press release for more details.
Speaking Engagements:
As you can see below, my schedule is filling up quickly. If you know of a group that might be interested in having me speak, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Time Away
That said, Caron and I will be away on a Cruise Oct 17-24 (Sunday-Sunday). So to contact me next week you’ll either need to own a helicopter or be a very good swimmer.
As always, thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Sacred Treasure, the Cairo Genizah
Speaking Engagements
Date Time Venue City Notes
Sun, Oct 10 10:00 AM Unitarian Universalist Church Woodinville, WA,
Sat, Oct 30 7:30 PM Congregation Kol Ami Woodinville, WA Book-Launch Party
Sun, Oct 31 7:00 PM Cong. Kehillat Israel E. Lansing, MI
Mon, Nov 1 7:00 PM Michigan State University E. Lansing, MI
Tue, Nov 2 7:00 PM Elliott Bay Book Co. Seattle, WA
Sun Nov 14, Sun, Nov 21 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Bellevue, WA
Thu, Nov 18 7:00 PM Eagle Harbor Book Co. Bainbridge Island, WA
Thu, Dec 2 11:30 AM Oregon Board of Rabbis Portland
Thu, Dec 2 Noon Cong. Beth Israel Portland
Thu, Dec. 2 7:00 PM Powell’s Bookstore, Cedar Hill Crossing Beaverton, OR
Thu, Dec 9 Noon Temple Beth El Tacoma, WA
Sun, Jan 2 9:00 PM Pac. Assn. of Reform Rabbis (PARR) Palm Springs, CA
Thu, Jan 6 7:30 PM University Synagogue Irvine, CA
Sun, Feb 27 TBA Cong. Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, ID
Fri, Mar 18 Noon University District Rotary Club Seattle, WA
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Genizah Update #23
Two Weeks Until Launch
Dear Friends,
At long last, I am delighted to announce that my book Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah is about to be released. The publisher tells me that they expect to have printed copies in their warehouse on October 20th, and that the books should arrive in stores several days after that.
If you’re interested, you can preview a few chapters of the book and preorder your copies now, at http://www.jewishlights.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=GPREV&Store_Code=JL&Product_Code=978-1-58023-431-3.
Actually, even though it hasn’t been released, the book has already made it onto at least one bestseller list. Just the other day it spent at least a few hours in the #75 position on Amazon’s Religion & Spirituality>Judaism>History of Religion List. If this doesn’t mean that it’s hit the big time, I don’t know what would!
Schedule
As I mentioned in a previous update, there are several Sacred-Treasure-related events coming soon:
• Sunday, October 10 Genizah Talk at Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church, Woodinville, WA, 10:00 AM
• Saturday, October 30 Book-Launch Party, Congregation Kol Ami (Meeting at Bear Creek United Methodist Church), Woodinville, WA [Tentative, time and details TBA…it will be in the evening]
• Sunday, October 31 Appearance at Congregation Kehillat Israel, East Lansing, MI
• Monday, November 1 Lecture at Michigan State University
• Tuesday, November 2 Reading at Elliot Bay Book Co., Seattle
• Thurs., November 18 Reading at Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA
• Thurs., December 2 Reading at Powell’s Bookstore, Beaverton, OR (suburban Portland)
• Thursday, December 9 Genizah Talk at Temple Beth El, Tacoma WA, noon
• Sunday, February 27 Genizah Talk at Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, Boise, ID
I am also in the process of arranging appearances at the annual conventions of:
• The Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis – January, Palm Springs
• The Central Conference of American Rabbis – March, New Orleans
Help Needed
Within the parameters of my other professional and family responsibilities, I am eager to speak about the Genizah to anyone willing to listen. Please feel free to suggest me as a speaker to synagogues, churches, universities, people you know in the media, Elk Clubs, sweat-lodges, and any other groups or individuals you think might be interested. Of course, I would be glad to send additional information to you or to whomever you suggest.
Donations
The caretakers of the Cairo Genizah manuscripts continue to need our help and support. As I have mentioned previously, I have created a fund that will support this book project and also contribute to the effort of Cambridge University and the Jewish Theological Seminary to conserve their massive Genizah collections. Please feel free to send your donations to me at 15030 232nd Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98077. Thank you.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for this project. I appreciate it more than words could say.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Two Weeks Until Launch
Dear Friends,
At long last, I am delighted to announce that my book Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah is about to be released. The publisher tells me that they expect to have printed copies in their warehouse on October 20th, and that the books should arrive in stores several days after that.
If you’re interested, you can preview a few chapters of the book and preorder your copies now, at http://www.jewishlights.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=GPREV&Store_Code=JL&Product_Code=978-1-58023-431-3.
Actually, even though it hasn’t been released, the book has already made it onto at least one bestseller list. Just the other day it spent at least a few hours in the #75 position on Amazon’s Religion & Spirituality>Judaism>History of Religion List. If this doesn’t mean that it’s hit the big time, I don’t know what would!
Schedule
As I mentioned in a previous update, there are several Sacred-Treasure-related events coming soon:
• Sunday, October 10 Genizah Talk at Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church, Woodinville, WA, 10:00 AM
• Saturday, October 30 Book-Launch Party, Congregation Kol Ami (Meeting at Bear Creek United Methodist Church), Woodinville, WA [Tentative, time and details TBA…it will be in the evening]
• Sunday, October 31 Appearance at Congregation Kehillat Israel, East Lansing, MI
• Monday, November 1 Lecture at Michigan State University
• Tuesday, November 2 Reading at Elliot Bay Book Co., Seattle
• Thurs., November 18 Reading at Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA
• Thurs., December 2 Reading at Powell’s Bookstore, Beaverton, OR (suburban Portland)
• Thursday, December 9 Genizah Talk at Temple Beth El, Tacoma WA, noon
• Sunday, February 27 Genizah Talk at Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, Boise, ID
I am also in the process of arranging appearances at the annual conventions of:
• The Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis – January, Palm Springs
• The Central Conference of American Rabbis – March, New Orleans
Help Needed
Within the parameters of my other professional and family responsibilities, I am eager to speak about the Genizah to anyone willing to listen. Please feel free to suggest me as a speaker to synagogues, churches, universities, people you know in the media, Elk Clubs, sweat-lodges, and any other groups or individuals you think might be interested. Of course, I would be glad to send additional information to you or to whomever you suggest.
Donations
The caretakers of the Cairo Genizah manuscripts continue to need our help and support. As I have mentioned previously, I have created a fund that will support this book project and also contribute to the effort of Cambridge University and the Jewish Theological Seminary to conserve their massive Genizah collections. Please feel free to send your donations to me at 15030 232nd Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98077. Thank you.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for this project. I appreciate it more than words could say.
Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Glickman
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