Our collection of Hebrew manuscripts is one of the most important in the world. Its volumes embrace many areas of Hebrew literature, with Bible, Talmud, kabbalah, philosophy and poetry being particularly well represented.
History and scope 1: Foundation collections
The beginnings of the British Library's Hebrew collections, including 130 manuscripts and charters bequeathed by Robert Harley.
History and scope 2: 19th century expansion
The expansion of the collections up to the mid-19th century, when the Hebrew collections comprised about 300 manuscripts.
History and scope 3: Almanzi Collection
322 medieval and early modern Hebrew manuscripts, added to the collections in 1865.
History and scope 4: Gaster and Shapira Collections
These include Karaite, Yemenite and Samaritan manuscripts.
History and scope 5: Genizah fragments
10,000 fragments from Cairo, providing insight into Jewish life around the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages.
How to access the collections
Substantial holdings of Hebrew manuscript catalogues and full-text resources are available on microfilm or microfiche.
Contact
Ilana Tahan, M.Phil., Lead Curator, Hebrew and Christian Orient Studies
Asian and African Studies
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7646
Fax: +44 (0)20 7412 7641
E-mail: ilana.tahan@bl.uk
