In 2018, we decided to partner with a developer named Russel Neiss to create an automated Twitter account that randomly selects and posts images from the Hebrew manuscript collection on the Internet Archive. In doing so, we have not only made the manuscripts available to an audience that includes people who could not or would […]
The past few months have been busy for us, as we’ve acquired a number of new rare books and manuscripts for the Columbia RBML: 1. Divre Rivot – A compilation of various disputes and discussions relating to customs that took place in Mantua in the late 16th and 17th centuries. The wealthy members of the […]
In 1733, a man from Firenze, in Italy, named Moise (Moses) Vita (Hayyim) Cafsuto (Cassuto) set off on a journey to the Holy Land. He kept a diary of his travels throughout the Middle East, where he noted interesting sites (specifically Jewish ones, like graves and synagogues) and scenes along his journey. We recently acquired […]
I am pleased to announce the acquisition of manuscripts from the archive of the Franchetti family. The Franchettis were hatmakers, originally from Mantua, who moved to Tunis and established their hat business there. The business quickly became global, with connections in Leghorn/Livorno and Izmir. This new collection includes 8 volumes of business correspondence and records. […]
I am pleased to announce the acquisition of a new database for the study of Talmud at Columbia, the Sol and Evelyn Henkind Talmud text databank. The databank includes typed transcriptions and images of nearly all of the critical manuscripts and early printings of the Talmud, to allow scholarly research of variants and alternate readings […]
I am pleased to announce two new acquisitions for the Judaica collection at Columbia: 1) A small collection of materials from Judaica bookdealers around the world in the first part of the 20th century. A brief description: Collection of letters and ephemera relating to the Judaica book trade, most from 1926-1955. The collection includes […]
It is with great pleasure that I announce that Columbia’s exhibition of Hebrew and Judaic manuscripts, The People in the Books, is now open, through January 25, 2013. The exhibit is free and open to the public during all RBML hours of operation. Entry is free, and handicapped accessible. Please bring valid government-issued photo ID […]
Please join us for the opening reception and lecture for the Judaica manuscript exhibition at Columbia. For more information, see here: http://library.columbia.edu/content/libraryweb/news/libraries/2012/20120814_judaica.html […]
On September 12, 2012, Columbia University Libraries will be proud to open a manuscript exhibition featuring the Judaica manuscripts from Columbia's extensive collection. More info to come… […]
The advantage to working in a collection such as Columbia's, with its very deep and diverse resources, is that new and interesting materials pop up almost daily. A couple of months ago, I received a phone call that someone wanted to come and look at our Spinoza autograph. Columbia is home to the Oko-Gebhardt Spinoza […]