The Genizah at the House of Shepher

Returning to Jerusalem after a long absence, Shulamit Shepher becomes embroiled in a family feud over possession of the so called Shepher Codex, a mysterious and valuable Torah manuscript discovered in her grandparents’ attic genizah, a depository for old or damaged sacred documents. In unravelling the origins of the codex, Shulamit uncovers not only her ancestors’ history but must reconsider her own past, her present and ultimately, her choices for the future. The tale of the family Shepher, their aspirations, feuds, and love affairs, is a haunting one of exile and belonging, displacement and the struggle for identity. The Genizah at the House of Shepher has received numerous awards, including Jewish Book Council’s inaugural 2007 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature; and Hadassah Magazine’s Ribalow prize. It has been short listed for Jewish Quarterly’s Wingate Prize.