Latest news with #ShemTovbenAbrahamIbnGaon
Fox News
09-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Rare medieval Bible returns to Israel for public exhibit after centuries-long journey
Israeli officials recently put a unique 14th-century Bible on display just a year after it was bought for a seven-figure sum. The National Library of Israel announced its display of the Shem Tov Bible in a recent press release. The library began exhibiting the centuries-old book on loan from its owner on May 8. The Jewish book, which has been called a "monumental work of biblical, artistic, Masoretic and kabbalistic scholarship," dates back to medieval Spain. It was sold at a Sotheby's auction for $6.9 million in 2024, a representative confirmed to Fox News Digital. The Bible was created by a Kabbalist rabbi named Shem Tov ben Abraham Ibn Gaon, who completed it in 1312 in Spain. After finishing the book, he took it on a two-year-long journey to modern-day Israel. He studied Judaism for the rest of his life until his death in 1330. The Bible soon began changing hands, but it remained in the Middle East before being moved to North Africa in the 17th century. "In the 17th century, it moved to North Africa where mystical powers were attributed to it, including being brought to women in childbirth to assure an easy labor," the press release noted. Pictures of the medieval Bible show intricate artwork that was inspired by the Islamic and Christian art of its day. "These motifs were inspired by the Islamic and Christian visual languages of the period, adapted to the long-standing Jewish tradition of beautifying ritual objects." "Its design features include arcades, gothic arches, birds and beasts, gilded frames surrounding biblical verses, illuminated marginal markers, and more," the statement explained. "These motifs were inspired by the Islamic and Christian visual languages of the period, adapted to the long-standing Jewish tradition of beautifying ritual objects." Sallai Meridor, chairman of the National Library of Israel, called the display of the manuscript "profoundly significant." "Having traveled from Spain to Jerusalem, Baghdad, Tripoli, London and Geneva, the Shem Tov Bible has come full circle and is now back home, returning to the very place where Rabbi Shem Tov ben Abraham Ibn Gaon lived and intended for it to be, in the land of Israel, and now in Jerusalem," the official said. Meridor also thanked the owners of the Bible, the Herenstein family, who in turn said the book "characterized the best of medieval Jewish bookmaking." The family's statement read, "We are delighted to know that the Shem Tov Bible is incorporated into the Library's permanent exhibition of its greatest treasures, and equally delighted that the manuscript will be digitized to the highest standard, making it available worldwide, for study, research or to simply enjoy its beauty." National Library of Israel curator Chaim Neria also noted that the Bible allows scholars to study Jewish traditions "that have all but vanished from the historical record." "A significant aspect of the codex is its observance of the Sefer Tagei, a traditional guide outlining the scribal practices required for writing sacred texts," the historian said. Neria added, "The surrounding notations reference earlier, now-lost documents, specifically the Hilleli Codex of 600 CE." The Shem Tov Bible is one of many recently publicized Jewish historical finds in the last year. Last fall, the 16th-century Di Gara text was returned to a Jewish seminary after mysteriously ending up on an online marketplace. Earlier this year, a 1,600-year-old mikveh was uncovered in Italy – making it the oldest of its kind in Europe.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
14th century Shem Tov Bible comes home to Jerusalem
The Shem Tov Bible, a stunning 14th-century manuscript created by the renowned kabbalist Rabbi Shem Tov ben Abraham Ibn Gaon, will be displayed in the National Library of Israel. The National Library of Israel proudly announced this month the arrival and public display ofthe Shem Tov Bible, a stunning 14th-century manuscript created by the renowned kabbalist Rabbi Shem Tov ben Abraham Ibn Gaon. This extraordinary codex—both a work of biblical scholarship and an artistic masterpiece—is now exhibited as part of the Library's permanent collection. Created in 1312 in Spain, the Shem Tov Bible reflects the rich spiritual and intellectual life of Sephardic Jewry during the medieval period. Combining deep kabbalistic insight, meticulous Masoretic tradition, and exquisite illumination, the manuscript offers a unique window into Jewish mysticism and textual transmission. Rabbi Shem Tov himself embarked on a journey to the Land of Israel shortly after completing the manuscript, settling there by 1315 and continuing his scholarly work until his death around 1330. Over the centuries, the Bible traveled throughout the Middle East and North Africa, where it gained a reputation for mystical powers, especially among women seeking a safe childbirth. In the modern era, the manuscript passed through notable private collections, including that of David Solomon Sassoon in the early 20th century, and later European collectors. In 2024, the Bible was auctioned at Sotheby's and purchased by Terri and Andrew Herenstein, who generously loaned it to the National Library for long-term public display. Sallai Meridor, Chairman of the National Library of Israel, emphasized the profound symbolism of the Bible's return to Jerusalem, especially coinciding with Shavuot, the festival commemorating the giving of the Torah. 'Having journeyed from Spain to Jerusalem, Baghdad, Tripoli, London, and Geneva, the Shem Tov Bible has come full circle and is now back home in the land where Rabbi Shem Tov lived and intended for it to be,' Meridor said. He also expressed deep gratitude to the Herenstein family for making this historic loan possible. Dr. Chaim Neria, curator of the Haim and Hanna Solomon Judaica Collection at the Library, highlighted the Bible's scholarly importance. 'This manuscript represents the pinnacle of biblical and kabbalistic scholarship from the medieval period,' he said. He noted its detailed adherence to the Sefer Tagei, a traditional guide for sacred scribal practices, and its unique references to now-lost earlier texts such as the Hilleli Codex from 600 CE. Beyond its textual significance, the Shem Tov Bible is celebrated for its artistic beauty. Its richly decorated pages feature gothic arches, arcades, birds, beasts, and gilded frames surrounding the biblical verses, inspired by the artistic languages of both Islamic and Christian traditions of the time, yet adapted to Jewish ritual aesthetics. The Shem Tov Bible was unveiled to the public on May 8, 2025, as part of the National Library's 'A Treasury of Words' exhibition in the William Davidson Permanent Exhibition Gallery. The Herenstein family also announced plans to digitize the manuscript to enable worldwide access for scholars and enthusiasts alike. 'The Shem Tov Bible stands as a unique cultural artifact,' the family said. 'We are delighted that it will be preserved, studied, and admired by future generations.' For more information about the manuscript and to view images, visit theNational Library of Israel's website.
