The Genizah of Rychnov nad Knìžnou: Preliminary Research for a Project Involving the Processing of Genizot Finds from Synagogues in Bohemia and Moravia

The term genizah refers to an enclosed, private space, such as a synagogue attic, which for centuries was used by a local Jewish community as a storage place for worn-out items relating to religious practice. It contained mainly texts that were no longer ritually suitable and were to be buried in the Jewish cemetery at a later date. Among the items stored in genizot are primarily religious writings, but there are also often secular publications, personal correspondence, sets of ritual textiles and other objects.