About this talk

What comes to mind when you think of Jewish life in Egypt? Perhaps the Great Synagogue in Alexandria, Maimonides in Cairo or the Cairo Geniza. But few know the story of Egypt's Karaite Jews — a vibrant community that followed only the Hebrew Bible and rejected the Oral Law.

In this lecture, we'll journey through the streets of Alexandria and the pages of my own family history to uncover the lesser-known legacy of Karaite Jews in Egypt. At their peak, they formed a distinct and active part of Jewish life in the region, with their own synagogues, customs, and scholars.

We'll also explore how Karaites differ from Rabbanite Jews — in prayer, in Torah interpretation, in their approach to kashrut, gender roles, and more.

Join us for this glimpse into a unique Jewish tradition that few have heard of, but that continues to survive and evolve to this day, though now in other parts of the globe.

About Ranash

Ranash (Ran Menashe) was born and raised in Ra'anana, Israel, in a secular Karaite family. He is a freelance educator, lecturer, and group facilitator. As a social entrepreneur, Ranash has been involved in—and founded—two major non-profit organizations in Israel that have influenced Israeli society: Elul Bashvil and Masa Hevrati.

Ranash has been studying and teaching Judaism, Jewish thought, and philosophy for the past 15 years in various settings, including the Ein Prat Academy in Israel and is affiliated with Machon Hadar in New York.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, he was a fellow in Paideia's one-year program. He paused his professional life to take a sabbatical year and delve deeper into Jewish studies. During that time, he explored his Karaite origins more thoroughly and decided to create a series of lectures in which he shares personal stories and imparts knowledge about this unique Jewish movement, which remains largely unknown.