Michelle Margolis

An initial-word panel with a head, and a hare marking the beginning of Torah portion Bo (בֹּא)
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Torah; Italy (Florence); 1441-1467 CE; f.41v

Sure looks like Hebrew characters on that binding label..

Torah scroll, c. 17th century.

Cuneiform Tablet, 2060 BCE

Ivdaea Capta coins, minted after the fall of Jerusalem

NBD, just pulling some ancient (actually ancient, for those who know how I feel about that word!) objects for the Jewish Books class that starts in a few weeks :) 📚📜😍

Not shown: the Aramaic Ostracon that probably dates to the 5th century BCE.

Illustration from a medieval manuscript showing a figure in armor operating a large crossbow, with a humorous modern caption "when you've been invited to a meeting that could have been an email." The background includes detailed floral designs.

Big Monday energy 😅

#MedievalMonday

Shelfmark: MS. Bodl. 264

The AJL Jewish Fiction Award Committee is seeking two new members. Immerse yourself in the vibrant field of contemporary Jewish fiction, connect with and learn from a group of wise and committed colleagues, and honor outstanding writers.

Details at jewishlibraries.org/....

I can only ask, "Why are hearts so hardened?"
Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s largest synagogue was firebombed. The Ku Klux Klan bombed it in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. It was a stop on the Freedom Trail.

AAJR Baron Book Prize Accoridng to their call, “The American Academy for Jewish Research invites submissions for the Salo Wittmayer Baron Book Prize.  The Baron Book Prize ($3,000) is awarded annually to the author of an o...

AAJR Baron Book Prize. Deadline: 31 January, 2026.
#jewishstudies
mjsnow.hypotheses.org/20210

Yes! She's excellent, but also not here.

*Katrin, not Kathryn!

Definitely theirs!!

Anyone in my orbit specifically on Bluesky studying medieval Jewish illuminated mss?

Not on this app, that I can think of off-hand, unfortunately, but I'll repost as well. But Evelyn Cohen and Kathryn Kogman-Appel are the immediate ones that come to mind - do you have specific questions? There's a ton that's been published in this area (and TONS more to do!)

Jewish Literature under Muslim Rule: Textual Transformations and Inter-Religious Encounters, 14–16 April 2026, Munich According to their call, this “workshop is a cooperation between the Simon Dubnow Institute, Leipzig, and the Unit of Judaic Studies/ Munich Research Centre of Jewish Arabic Cultures at the University...

CFP: Jewish Literature under Muslim Rule: Textual Transformations and Inter-Religious Encounters, 14–16 April 2026, Munich.
#jewishstudies
mjsnow.hypotheses.org/20136

AI is enlisted to rescue Jews' cultural heritage and give new life to ancient languages (RNS) — Researchers are using a very modern tool to transcribe and read hundreds of thousands of medieval manuscripts from the lost age of Eastern European Jewry.

Scholars affiliated with the Midrash Project embarked on a “transcribe-a-thon,” using eScriptorium, an AI platform tailored for use on historical manuscripts.
religionnews.com/2025/12/17/a...

Image of the front cover of the binding, with a hand on it for scale

Every 15th-century book was printed on paper stock from one of a handful of fixed sizes. The largest of these measured about 50 x 70 cm. The sheets used to print this book, when manufactured, fell outside that range at a fairly colossal 56 x 70 cm and so thick as to almost feel like leather. 3/8

Love to see a prize celebrating both Steinschneider and good primary source publishing in Jewish Studies :)
networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
📚📜🗃️

YouTube video by Miriam Anzovin Eternal Clout: A Newly Translated Ode to Serah bat Asher with Alan Niku!

Shalom, friends! Serah bat Asher, beloved figure in Jewish lore, appears for the first time in this week’s parsha. Also for the first time, a Judeo-Persian prayer poem praising this Iranian Jewish folk hero is translated into English by Alan Niku! Be the first to hear it!
youtube.com/watch?v=Bppy...

Pretty sure a GME would disqualify itself due to it being part of a Greater Metro area

Ohh, interesting. The alphabet at the bottom looks to me like a Christian Hebraist kind of thing. But super curious about what's going on with that Jewish hand. @adamshear.bsky.social, am I correct in seeing מרת on the second line, or do I just find women everywhere? ;)

Agreed. This is a Jewish Italian Hebrew hand, but not Hebrew words, I don't think. @adamshear.bsky.social, any thoughts?

YAY!!!! So excited to read it.

This is truth. I say this as an expert in Jewish Studies who just returned from the annual Jewish Studies conference.

YouTube video by Sabbath Mode Judaism is a Speedrun

Also, if you're interested in the "loophole mentality," @dzkalman.bsky.social did a FANTASTIC explainer here: youtu.be/BCJ_wSo94Ww?...

Oooooo, we have one too!
exhibitions.library.columbia.edu/exhibits/sho...
Pinkas terumot le-bet ha-keneset be-Casale Monferrato.
Manuscript in Hebrew on paper.
Italy, ca. 19th century.
MS X893 P653

LLMs can only understand the first line.

Humans can understand the infinite context below.

This volume of Lithuanian Historical Studies includes an article, "The Yiddish Nation as an Imagined Community," on use of LLMs on #YIVO archival materials for study of pre-war E European #Yiddish - based #Jewish identity. Looks fascinating @dhjewish.bsky.social @mmargolis.bsky.social

Between Theo Dunkelgrun's fantastic presentation and book on the topic, and the chapter in @skimmel.bsky.social's Librarian's Atlas, it was definitely time for me to get some photos of our copy of the Antwerp Polyglot.

It's a regular for my Hebrew Bibles session for LitHum students! 📚📜

I know everyone is upset about Gmail’s AI thing right now, but why does nobody talk about the fact that it’s search is absolute pants

Can you share any more info?