Talk:Genizah

Working on photo

I will attempt to take a photograph of the genizah at my synagogue the next time I can get there. It should be in the next week or two. I'm not 100% sure they have one, but there's a very good possibility, so I'll try. Tuvok[^T@lk/_{Improve me}] 04:51, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

Needless to say, I couldn't find one. They actually didn't know what a genizah even is. Hmm... Tuvok[^T@lk/_Improve] 08:30, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

Masada photo

It seems to me highly unlikely that this would be a (second) genizah at Masada. I have written to user Daniel Ventura who has taken it and written the caption and I'm waiting for his reply. He's been absent from Commons for a year now, so an answer might not be forthcoming.

The known & much more likely genizah looks nothing like that (see here on this older website). Bare field stones. This recent photo looks more like a cistern with hydraulic plaster. Maybe that ledge made somebody believe that manuscripts were once deposited there. But the identification of a 2nd genizah at Masada would make huge waves, and this hasn't.

I suggest removing the unsupported image for now. Arminden (talk) 10:33, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

Removed.

Here it is:

A possible geniza at Masada, eastern Israel

Arminden (talk) 10:35, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

Here it is, with the proper caption: "water cistern". I guess it's the one near the Water Gate, with this being the section whose ceiling hasn't collpased yet. Not far from the presumed synagogue, but a genizah?! If I'm right, it's also huge, you can deposit there ten entire city libraries. Arminden (talk) 10:41, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

Yep. That's the one. Forget it. Some tour guide smoked the wrong thing. Arminden (talk) 10:44, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

Previous picture of modern-day genizah

Modern genizah collection receptacle on street in Nachlaot, Jerusalem

Can somebody elucidate me why the previous picture of a modern-day genizah was removed by somebody with the comment "Why has this openly anti-Semitic and unfunny joke been allowed on this page for years?"

I suppose the genizah depicted isn't the most pristine one, but where does the deeply offensive bit come in? Though I suppose there are a few (not many, though) pictures of nicer-looking genizahs on Commons… JanTH (talk) 19:53, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

Maybe because "Der Stürmer" (New Series) would love to use it on its cover?

A suggestion: for one, the original file caption might give a hint: [...] A sign reads: "Please don't throw your trash here!!!"

That lady started asking me (in English) why all the people put "ashpa" (grabage) in the Gniza (repository)... How the hell shoulld i know?!"

A dumpster covered by graffiti, with a lady who, let's put it this way, probably would never agree to this picture of her being published.

A genizah is, by concept and definition, about dignified disposal. What is remotely dignified about this picture? Arminden (talk) 20:26, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

Mmh, I suppose I can understand that point of view, even though I'd only seen it as some sort of documentary realism – the collision between ancient traditions and the realities of modern-day city life. Be that as it may, I've re-added some hopefully more agreeable pictures. JanTH (talk) 20:48, 13 March 2026 (UTC)