Hebrew And Aramaic Incantation Texts From The Cairo Genizah, Vol. 1 »

In this volume, Lawrence Schiffman and Michael Swartz assemble
a collection of Jewish incantation texts which were copied in
the Middle Ages and preserved in the Cairo Genizah. Many
of these texts, now held in Cambridge University Library, are
published here for the first time. All the texts are translated and
supplemented by detailed philological and historical commentary,
tracing the praxis and beliefs of the Jewish magical tradition
of Late Antiquity. Their relation to Jewish legal and mystical
teachings is also explored.
'A major contribution to this area of inquiry. Fourteen incantation
texts are made accessible here. They are framed with all the
desired apparatus: clear facsimiles, transcriptions, translations,
commentary, substantial bibliography and three indexes. The
lengthy introduction, in particular, is valuable, providing a mise
au point for future study of Genizah magical texts.'
s teven m. wasserstorm, ajs review
Lawrence H. Schiffman is the Ethel and Irvin A. Edelman Professor
in Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University, USA. He is
a member of the Enoch seminar and of the Advisory Board of The
Journal Henoch.
Michael D. Swartz is Professor of Near Eastern Languages and
Cultures at Ohio State University, USA.