From North Africa and Europe in the west, through the Middle East to China in the east, our collection of Hebrew manuscripts manifests Jewish cultural and social lives spanning a thousand years. Explore some of these newly digitised collection items, examine key themes in our collection, and read expert articles to learn more about Jewish wisdom, culture, history and religion.
The Northern French Hebrew Miscellany (Add MS 11639), dated around 1278 CE, is one of the richest treasures in the British Library. Professor Sacha Stern examines the inclusion of an unusual Christian calendar in this unique manuscript.
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As part of the Hebrew Manuscript Digitisation Project, the British Library imaged 74 scrolls. Former project conservator Ann Tomalak describes some of the challenges of conserving these unique items.
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Dr Christina Duffy explores the use of multispectral imaging at the British Library, and how it recovered erased illustrations from the margins of Add MS 26957, a 15th-century CE Hebrew prayer book.
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The illuminated Haggadot of medieval Spain are some of the most personal manuscripts made for Jewish patrons in the collection of the British Library. Dr Julie Harris searches for clues on who these splendid manuscripts were commissioned for.
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Using the work of the Library’s Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project, Dr Yossi Chajes examines ‘visual Kabbalah’, its interpretations and its importance
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Hebrew Bible manuscripts are often decorated with micrography – a Jewish scribal art that forms the outline of images in tiny script. Dr Dalia-Ruth Halperin considers the use of micrography and Carmina Figurata in Hebrew manuscripts.
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Before the age of printing, the texts and layouts of Hebrew works were not standardised. This is because the transmission of works was out of the hands of their authors and in the hands of scribes. Dr Israel Sandman considers the intervention of scribes when copying Hebrew scientific works.
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‘On this day you shall tell your son: it is because of what the Lord did for me when I went forth from Egypt (Ex. 13:8).’ Professor Katrin Kogman-Appel condisers what it was like to celebrate Passover as a 14th-century CE Sephardic family.
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Kristin Phelps and Dr Adi Keinan-Schoonbaert look at 3D imaging at the British Library.
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By looking into Jewish mystical texts and the use of names in Jewish magic, Dr Agata Paluch considers the use of divine and angelic names to gain special powers, cast magic, or even attain unification with God.
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Dr Dalia-Ruth Halperin examines figured micrography and the relationship between text and design in this unique Jewish art.
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The Northern French Hebrew Miscellany (Add MS 11639), dated around 1278 CE, is one of the richest treasures in the British Library. Professor Sacha Stern examines the inclusion of an unusual Christian calendar in this unique manuscript.
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From full border illuminations to marginal micrography, which stories are revealed by these creative forms of art?
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From the alignment of the stars to the zodiac, what were the scientific works of Jews and how were they transmitted?
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In which different forms have biblical texts been transmitted, and how was the accuracy of the holy text maintained?
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What was it like to be a European, Middle Eastern, North African, or even Chinese Jew hundreds of years ago?
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How can we digitally experience Hebrew manuscripts? How can we unravel their secrets using computational and scientific techniques?
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Explore the magical essence of words and the infinite creation of the physical and metaphysical universe.
Read moreView some of our unique collection items
Date: 1278-1324 CE
Date: 17th century CE
Date: 1325-1374 CE
Date: 1469 CE
Date: 16th century CE
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