Manoscritti del Talmud Torà
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
Library of the Historical Archive of the Jewish Community of Livorno
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Piazza Benamozegh 1, 57123 Livorno
Contact information: phone number
0039 0586896290 (Gabriele Bedarida)
Contact information: email
comunitaebraica.livorno@gmail.com
Reference number
Ms.
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Talmud Torà Manuscripts
Title (official language of the state)
Manoscritti del Talmud Torà
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Communità ebraica di Livorno
Date note
14th century/19th century
Language(s)
heb
Extent
63 volumes
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Manoscritti del Talmud Torà collection is composed of Hebrew manuscripts from the 14th to the 19th centuries (mainly 17th-19th centuries) on several subjects collected by this yeshiva of the Jewish community of Livorno. The most significant groups of manuscripts are prayer and liturgical books (11 manuscripts) and Kabbalah writings (17 manuscripts). However, the collection also comprises works on Philosophy, Apologetics, Exegesis, Homiletics, Poetry, Rhetorics, Theology, among other subjects. It includes some autographic writings, such as Binyamin ben Yacov Espinosa's Shirim, iggerot we-chilbburim acherim (Poetry, letters and other essays), written in the second half of the 18th century (ms. 33) and Moseh ben Mordekay Zacuto's Sefer ha-kawwanot (Book of mystic intentions) with autographic commentaries from 1651 (ms. 38).
Other highlights of this collection are the following:
Ms. 1: 16th- or 17th-century copy of Ezer ha-emunah (The act of faith), a polemical work on the Prophetic books by Moses ha-Kohen de Tordesillas.
Ms. 5: 16th-century copy of Judah Halevi's Sefer ha-Kuzari.
Ms. 6: 16th-century miscellanea that includes copies of, among others, Maimonides's Millot ha-higgayon and Abraham Avigdor's Latin-Hebrew translation of Petrus Hispanus' Parva logicalia.
Ms. 26: 16th-century copy of Moses Cordovero's Sefer Elimah (The Book of Elim).
Ms. 39 and 48: Two copies (17th century and 1778) of Abraham ben Isaac of Granada's Berit menuchah (The Pact of Quietness).
Ms. 57: 17th-century copy of Isaac ben Abraham Troki's Sefer Chizzuq Emunah, according to Isaac Athias's Hebrew-Spanish translation published in Hamburg in 1621.
Ms. 60: Miscellanea of Talmudic and Halakic writings written in Sephardic semi-cursive script and dating from the 14th-15th centuries.
Digital copies of part of this collection (24 volumes) are available on the Manus OnLine platform.
Other highlights of this collection are the following:
Ms. 1: 16th- or 17th-century copy of Ezer ha-emunah (The act of faith), a polemical work on the Prophetic books by Moses ha-Kohen de Tordesillas.
Ms. 5: 16th-century copy of Judah Halevi's Sefer ha-Kuzari.
Ms. 6: 16th-century miscellanea that includes copies of, among others, Maimonides's Millot ha-higgayon and Abraham Avigdor's Latin-Hebrew translation of Petrus Hispanus' Parva logicalia.
Ms. 26: 16th-century copy of Moses Cordovero's Sefer Elimah (The Book of Elim).
Ms. 39 and 48: Two copies (17th century and 1778) of Abraham ben Isaac of Granada's Berit menuchah (The Pact of Quietness).
Ms. 57: 17th-century copy of Isaac ben Abraham Troki's Sefer Chizzuq Emunah, according to Isaac Athias's Hebrew-Spanish translation published in Hamburg in 1621.
Ms. 60: Miscellanea of Talmudic and Halakic writings written in Sephardic semi-cursive script and dating from the 14th-15th centuries.
Digital copies of part of this collection (24 volumes) are available on the Manus OnLine platform.
Archival history
The Hebrew manuscripts collection of the Talmud Torà library was formed in the early 17th century and later enriched with subsequent acquisitions and donations. In 1806, the acquisition of the private collection of the bibliophile Refa'el Chayyim Monselles (1761-1806), containing several rare and precious manuscripts, improved the library with 37 manuscript volumes. In 1909, Rodolfo Mondolfi donated another fonds that contributed to increasing this collection. It included a special collection of manuscripts on Kabbalah, Astrology and Medicine that had belonged to his father, Yishmael Eliézer Mondolfi. The private library of Rabbi Yosef Immanuel Ergas, inherited by his son Refa'el Ergas, was another important acquisition.
In 1915, Carlo Bernheimer composed a catalogue of the Hebrew manuscripts and printing works preserved in the Talmud Torà library. Then, he identified 130 manuscripts: 39 from Monselles fonds, 36 from Mondolfi fonds, 51 from the library's original fonds and four new acquisitions. In 1951-52, the Jewish National and University Library of Jerusalem acquired 53 manuscripts for the Talmud Torà library. Years later, in 1961, when the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts (IMHM) microfilmed the Talmud Torà's manuscripts, only 74 were identified. Thirteen of them had not been catalogued by Bernheimer. However, 29 items mentioned in the 1915 catalogue were missing. In a new microfilming campaign carried out by the IMHM in 1992, 21 other manuscripts not found in the library in 1961 were microfilmed. At present, the Biblioteca del Tamud Torà holds 63 manuscripts.
In 1915, Carlo Bernheimer composed a catalogue of the Hebrew manuscripts and printing works preserved in the Talmud Torà library. Then, he identified 130 manuscripts: 39 from Monselles fonds, 36 from Mondolfi fonds, 51 from the library's original fonds and four new acquisitions. In 1951-52, the Jewish National and University Library of Jerusalem acquired 53 manuscripts for the Talmud Torà library. Years later, in 1961, when the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts (IMHM) microfilmed the Talmud Torà's manuscripts, only 74 were identified. Thirteen of them had not been catalogued by Bernheimer. However, 29 items mentioned in the 1915 catalogue were missing. In a new microfilming campaign carried out by the IMHM in 1992, 21 other manuscripts not found in the library in 1961 were microfilmed. At present, the Biblioteca del Tamud Torà holds 63 manuscripts.
Administrative / Biographical history
The origins of the Jewish community of Livorno dates back to the 1580s, when Jews from the Ottoman Empire and Iberian exiles settled in the city. Its growth followed Grand Duke Ferdinando I's policy to encourage the establishment of foreign merchants in Livorno by guaranteeing them full rights and privileges. Attracted by the opportunities opened by the so-called "Livorninas" (1591 and 1593), many Jewish merchants settled in Livorno, and the Jewish community of Pisa founded a branch in the city. Soon after, in 1597, the Jewish community of Livorno became independent from Pisa and built its own synagogue in 1603.
Livorno became the home of a numerous and influential community of Jewish merchants, who developed their activity through vast and complex networks that connected the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and Asian ports.
The administration of the community was entrusted to a council of five members, the "Capi" or "Massari", who were elected annually amongst the most prominent and well-succeeded merchants. In addition to the Massari, a council of twelve deputies was created in 1667. Their position was for life. The administrative bodies of the congregation also included a council of 40 citizens divided into three commissions from whom the Massari were elected. In 1693, a great board composed of 60 members was created. Later, in 1715, the Grand Duke appointed three members of this great council as censors. They exercised this position for two years and were assigned to examine the community's books and supervise its expenses.
The 18th century became the economic and cultural golden age of the Livorno Jewish community. The several yeshivot established in the city and founded in 1676 promoted the diffusion of Jewish culture, in particular the Talmud Torah.
In 1780, the municipality of Livorno received its constitution, which declared that Jews were eligible to the municipal council but excluded from the magistracy. However, they had the right to send a deputy to the magistracy, who took part in the government of the city. During the French domination, this and others privileges given to the Jewish community were revoked. However, they ended up being restored in 1816. In 1845, Jews became eligible for all municipal offices.
The decline of the city's commerce during the 19th century led to the emigration of several Jews. In the early 20th century, there were about 3,000 Jews in Livorno. In the past, the community had reached nearly 10,000 people at various times.
Livorno became the home of a numerous and influential community of Jewish merchants, who developed their activity through vast and complex networks that connected the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and Asian ports.
The administration of the community was entrusted to a council of five members, the "Capi" or "Massari", who were elected annually amongst the most prominent and well-succeeded merchants. In addition to the Massari, a council of twelve deputies was created in 1667. Their position was for life. The administrative bodies of the congregation also included a council of 40 citizens divided into three commissions from whom the Massari were elected. In 1693, a great board composed of 60 members was created. Later, in 1715, the Grand Duke appointed three members of this great council as censors. They exercised this position for two years and were assigned to examine the community's books and supervise its expenses.
The 18th century became the economic and cultural golden age of the Livorno Jewish community. The several yeshivot established in the city and founded in 1676 promoted the diffusion of Jewish culture, in particular the Talmud Torah.
In 1780, the municipality of Livorno received its constitution, which declared that Jews were eligible to the municipal council but excluded from the magistracy. However, they had the right to send a deputy to the magistracy, who took part in the government of the city. During the French domination, this and others privileges given to the Jewish community were revoked. However, they ended up being restored in 1816. In 1845, Jews became eligible for all municipal offices.
The decline of the city's commerce during the 19th century led to the emigration of several Jews. In the early 20th century, there were about 3,000 Jews in Livorno. In the past, the community had reached nearly 10,000 people at various times.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged sequentially.
Finding aids
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of copies
Microfilmed copied in the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts in Jerusalem.
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio Storico della Comunità Ebraica di Livorno | Collections (official language of the state) | |
| Biblioteca dell'archivio storico della Comunità ebraica di Livorno | Collections (official language of the state) |