In a tale that intertwines history and mystery, the fate of an ancient Hebrew manuscript has captivated scholars and enthusiasts alike. For nearly a millennium, the Karaites of Cairo safeguarded this legendary codex, but three decades ago, it mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind a trail of questions and intrigue.
Part I: The Keepers of the Manuscript
Back in 1978, J. Zel Lurie, a seasoned journalist and the founding editor of Hadassah Magazine, embarked on a journey to Cairo. His trip was part of a promotional event by TWA Airlines, celebrating new direct flights from JFK to Egypt. It was a momentous period, following the historic Camp David Accords that marked a new chapter of peace between Egypt and Israel. Lurie was eager to explore the remnants of Cairo’s once-thriving Jewish community, which had dwindled significantly over the years.
During his visit, Lurie was approached by a member of the ancient Jewish sect known as the Karaites. This group had called Cairo home for over a thousand years, but their numbers had also diminished. The representative asked Lurie to capture images of an old manuscript housed in a synagogue he had yet to visit, with plans to send the photographs to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “He knew I was heading to Israel,” Lurie recalls, now a vibrant 102-year-old residing in Delray Beach, Florida. His journalism career began at the Palestine Post in pre-state Jerusalem, and he readily agreed to the request.
With his camera ready, Lurie made his way to the Moussa al Dar’i synagogue, an impressive structure located on Sebil el Khazindar Street in Abbasiyah, a newer area of Cairo. “I ascended a narrow staircase to the Karaite sanctuary, which resembled a mosque,” he describes. “It had only a handful of seats in the back.” The floor was adorned with rugs, prepared for worshippers. There, he met Ferag Menashe, the synagogue’s sexton, who guided him into a small room adjacent to the altar. Inside, a tall wooden cabinet stood, filled with manuscripts waiting to tell their stories.
As the mystery of the missing codex unfolds, what secrets might still be hidden within those ancient pages?
