This collection of original contributions by an international group of experts summarizes recent developments in Genizah research. Stefan Reif's overview of a century of work on the famous Taylor-Schechter Collection of Hebrew manuscripts at Cambridge University Library is followed by Menahem Kister's textual interpretations of the Ben Sira fragments. Michael Klein uncovers targumic contexts and renderings, while Menahem Kahana demonstrates how Genizah texts permit the reconstruction of early midrashim. Neil Danzig's analysis sheds light on ninth-century prayers and homilies, and Joseph Yahalom chronicles Judah Halevi's last years. Haggai Ben-Shammai assesses S. D. Goitein's contribution to Jewish historiography and touches on Jewish theology, and Paul Fenton reveals that Muslims and Jews often co-operated professionally and sometimes enjoyed close social contact. Mordechai Friedman concentrates on child brides, family violence and Jewish marriage documents, while Joel Kraemer describes letters between women and their relatives. There are extensive indexes as well as 22 plates.

This second volume of the bibliography of published material from the Cambridge Genizah collections is an indispensable tool for scholars. The guide to every book, article and reference dealing with the 140,000 Genizah fragments at Cambridge covers most areas of Jewish studies. The data is presented in large format, and the main reference section contains over 25,000 items of information. In addition, the book contains listings of material arranged according to author, and of works cited, as well as addenda and corrigenda to the first volume. Also available: Published Material from the Cambridge Genizah Collections: A Bibliography 1896-1980 0-521-33336-9 Hardback $180.00 C