Global Jewish Diaspora

The Global Jewish Diaspora library holdings of The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life were created for the larger part through donations by local families and supporters of the Judah L. Magnes Museum, and in some cases through focused acquisitions.

The circa five hundred volumes in this collection include titles published in Hebrew and other languages throughout Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and Russia), North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt), the Middle East (Salonika, Izmir, Palestine and the State of Israel), and North America, between the middle of the 16th century until the early 20th century. These holdings include rare imprints not found in either The Bancroft Library or the UC System, or in some cases in any major library on the West Coast.

The volumes in the Global Jewish Diaspora collection are currently being processed and, after being catalogued by UC Berkeley Library staff, will become accessible at The Bancroft Library.

Illustrated Judeo-Persian Manuscripts

Two illustrated Judeo-Persian manuscripts depicting biblical scenes. 85.46.1 and 85.46.2Gift of Chimon Mayeri and Family

Painted Esther Scroll (Northern Italy, 18th century)

Painted manuscript of the Book of Esther, rolled for use on the holiday of Purim. The Hebrew text, in Ashkenazi squared Hebrew script (without Masoretic punctuation), is set in 15-line sections ...

Paul Christian Kirchner, Jüdisches Ceremoniel (1724)

The detailed description of Jewish ceremonial customs by Kirchner, a Jewish convert to Christianity, first published in 1717, was re-edited by the Christian Hebraist, Sebastian Jugendres ...

collections

Global Jewish Diaspora