Manuscrits hébreux
Item
Country
FR
Name of institution (English)
National Library of France (Richelieu)
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
fra
Contact information: postal address
Bibliothèque Richelieu 58, rue de Richelieu, 75002 Paris
Contact information: phone number
0033 (0)153795959
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
manuscrits@bnf.fr (Manuscript department)
Reference number
Hébreu
Type of reference number
Call number
Title (English)
Hebrew manuscripts
Title (official language of the state)
Manuscrits hébreux
Language of title
fra
Creator / accumulator
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Date note
1st century b. C./17th century
Language(s)
heb
Extent
1,491 manuscripts
Type of material
Graphic Material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Manuscrits hébreux collection originated from the intention of a few monarchs, such as Charles V (1338-1380), to build up a collection of Hebrew manuscripts in France and the incorporation of private libraries of Jewish people.
In addition to around 40 manuscripts with paintings, the Hebrew collection includes about 150 illuminated and decorated pieces.
The range of subjects represented in the collection is highly diverse, including, for instance, works on the Bible and commentaries, Talmud and civil and religious law, theology, kabalah, philosophy, science and medicine, grammar, history, poetry, and archival documents such as marriage certificates (ketubbot). The documents originated in various places, such as the East, Yemen, Byzantium, Italy, North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, France, England, Germany and Central Europe.
Some examples of materials related to Sephardim are the following:
Ms. hebr. 15/Ms. Bible. A.T. (hébreu): Complete Bible in Hebrew from around 1490-94.
Ms. hebr. 26/Ms. Anciens Fonds 26: Bible with Masorah magna and parva, copied by Haim ben Israel in Toledo. 1272.
Ms. hebr. 82/Ms. Oratoire 8: Bible (Prophets), copied by Moshe ben Shlomo HaCohen in Burgos, 1207.
Ms. hebr. 105/Ms. Anciens Fonds 48: Bible (Prophets and Scriptures) produced in Toledo, 1198.
Ms. hebr. 215: Jacob ben Abba Mari Anatolio (ca. 1194-1256), L’Aiguillon des élèves. Torres Vedras (Portugal), 1398. Malmad ha-talmidim by Jacob ben Anatoli produced in Torres Vedras.
Ms. hebr. 222: Ramban's Commentary on the Torah, copied by Yosef ben Sasson Charfati in Lisbon, 1484.
Ms. hebr. 227/Ms. Anciens Fonds 128: Nahmanides's Sefer ha-Ge'ulah (Book of Redemption), copied in Mineo, 1342. At the end of the volume, there is a note in Latin about the purchase of the book in Istanbul in 1675.
Ms. hebr. 238/Ms. Oratoire 27: Sermons on the Torah by Joshua Ibn Shuaib. The volume was copied by Moshe ben Shlomo Gabbai in Béjar in 1461.
Ms. hebr. 244/Ms. Anciens Fonds 79: Levi ben Gershom's Parosh Torah, copied in Aguilar de Campo, 1457.
Ms. hebr. 331/Ms. Anciens Fonds 163: Rambam's Commentary on the Mishna, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 420: Šeʾelwt wtšwbwt: Responsa by Asher ben Yehiel produced in Faro, 1489.
Ms. hebr. 431/Ms. Sorbonne 231: Treatise written by Jacob ben Asher. The manuscript was copied by two scribes; one of them was called Shmuel ben Moshe Abed, who finished his work in a cell in Pamplona in 1403.
Ms. hebr. 592/Ms. St. Germain 520: Sidur for the whole year (Sephardic rite), copied by Elazar ben Moshe Gagush in Lisbon, 1484.
Ms. hebr. 654/Ms. Sorbonne 189: Passover Haggadah, 13th-14th century.
Ms. hebr. 706/Ms. Anciens Fonds 352: Shem Tov ben Joseph Ibn Falaquera's Sefer ha-Nefesh (Book of the Soul).
Ms. hebr. 716/Ms. Anciens Fonds 232: Midrash of the Ten Commandments, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 776/Ms. Anciens Fonds 274: Avraham Abulafia's Chaye Ha-Olam Ha-Ba (Life in the World to Come), 15th-16th century.
Ms. hebr. 781/Ms. Sorbonne 113: The Zohar (Book of Genesis) copied by Yehiel Nissim, son of Shmuel Ish, in Pisa, 1526.
Ms. hebr. 785/Ms. Anciens Fonds 118: Excerpts of the Zohar, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 811/Ms. Oratoire 75: Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla's Ginnat e'goz (Nut Orchard).
Ms. hebr. 813/Ms. Anciens Fonds 278: Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla's Share'are Orah (Gates of Light), 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 940/Ms. Anciens Fonds 314: Averroes' Commentary on Aristotle's De Anima, translated into Hebrew by Shem Tov ben Yitzchak of Tortosa in Crotone, 1472.
Ms. hebr. 982/Ms. Anciens Fonds 226: Isaac Ibn Latif's Sha'ar ha-Shamayim (The Gate of Heaven).
Ms. hebr. 1016/Ms. Oratoire 196: Abu Aflah's Sefer ha-Tamar, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 1069/Ms. Oratoire 169: Isaac ben Joseph Israeli's Yesod Olam (The Foundation of the World), produced in Syracuse, 1491.
Ms. hebr. 1100/Ms. Anciens Fonds 440: Ptolemy's Almagest copied and translated into Hebrew by Tedros ben Moshe Alexandrini and his grandson. The latter completed the translation in Calatayud in 1475.
Ms. hebr. 1136/Ms. Anciens Fonds 370: Avicenna's Canon of Medicine produced in Villalón de Campos. The several books in this volume were translated by Joseph Lorki, Nathan ben Eliezer, and Avraham Even Kershef, 1487.
Ms. hebr. 1143/Ms. Anciens Fonds 407: This volume contains a Hebrew translation of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine and a medical treatise by Jerónimo de Santa Fé (Joshua ha-Lorki), including an article on psychic powers and the drugs that affect them. The manuscript was copied by Yosef Benveniste Ibn Lavi in Almagro in 1483.
Ms. hebr. 1190/ Ms. Anciens Fonds 403: Nicolaus Salernitanus' Antideuterium, 12th century.
In addition to around 40 manuscripts with paintings, the Hebrew collection includes about 150 illuminated and decorated pieces.
The range of subjects represented in the collection is highly diverse, including, for instance, works on the Bible and commentaries, Talmud and civil and religious law, theology, kabalah, philosophy, science and medicine, grammar, history, poetry, and archival documents such as marriage certificates (ketubbot). The documents originated in various places, such as the East, Yemen, Byzantium, Italy, North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, France, England, Germany and Central Europe.
Some examples of materials related to Sephardim are the following:
Ms. hebr. 15/Ms. Bible. A.T. (hébreu): Complete Bible in Hebrew from around 1490-94.
Ms. hebr. 26/Ms. Anciens Fonds 26: Bible with Masorah magna and parva, copied by Haim ben Israel in Toledo. 1272.
Ms. hebr. 82/Ms. Oratoire 8: Bible (Prophets), copied by Moshe ben Shlomo HaCohen in Burgos, 1207.
Ms. hebr. 105/Ms. Anciens Fonds 48: Bible (Prophets and Scriptures) produced in Toledo, 1198.
Ms. hebr. 215: Jacob ben Abba Mari Anatolio (ca. 1194-1256), L’Aiguillon des élèves. Torres Vedras (Portugal), 1398. Malmad ha-talmidim by Jacob ben Anatoli produced in Torres Vedras.
Ms. hebr. 222: Ramban's Commentary on the Torah, copied by Yosef ben Sasson Charfati in Lisbon, 1484.
Ms. hebr. 227/Ms. Anciens Fonds 128: Nahmanides's Sefer ha-Ge'ulah (Book of Redemption), copied in Mineo, 1342. At the end of the volume, there is a note in Latin about the purchase of the book in Istanbul in 1675.
Ms. hebr. 238/Ms. Oratoire 27: Sermons on the Torah by Joshua Ibn Shuaib. The volume was copied by Moshe ben Shlomo Gabbai in Béjar in 1461.
Ms. hebr. 244/Ms. Anciens Fonds 79: Levi ben Gershom's Parosh Torah, copied in Aguilar de Campo, 1457.
Ms. hebr. 331/Ms. Anciens Fonds 163: Rambam's Commentary on the Mishna, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 420: Šeʾelwt wtšwbwt: Responsa by Asher ben Yehiel produced in Faro, 1489.
Ms. hebr. 431/Ms. Sorbonne 231: Treatise written by Jacob ben Asher. The manuscript was copied by two scribes; one of them was called Shmuel ben Moshe Abed, who finished his work in a cell in Pamplona in 1403.
Ms. hebr. 592/Ms. St. Germain 520: Sidur for the whole year (Sephardic rite), copied by Elazar ben Moshe Gagush in Lisbon, 1484.
Ms. hebr. 654/Ms. Sorbonne 189: Passover Haggadah, 13th-14th century.
Ms. hebr. 706/Ms. Anciens Fonds 352: Shem Tov ben Joseph Ibn Falaquera's Sefer ha-Nefesh (Book of the Soul).
Ms. hebr. 716/Ms. Anciens Fonds 232: Midrash of the Ten Commandments, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 776/Ms. Anciens Fonds 274: Avraham Abulafia's Chaye Ha-Olam Ha-Ba (Life in the World to Come), 15th-16th century.
Ms. hebr. 781/Ms. Sorbonne 113: The Zohar (Book of Genesis) copied by Yehiel Nissim, son of Shmuel Ish, in Pisa, 1526.
Ms. hebr. 785/Ms. Anciens Fonds 118: Excerpts of the Zohar, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 811/Ms. Oratoire 75: Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla's Ginnat e'goz (Nut Orchard).
Ms. hebr. 813/Ms. Anciens Fonds 278: Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla's Share'are Orah (Gates of Light), 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 940/Ms. Anciens Fonds 314: Averroes' Commentary on Aristotle's De Anima, translated into Hebrew by Shem Tov ben Yitzchak of Tortosa in Crotone, 1472.
Ms. hebr. 982/Ms. Anciens Fonds 226: Isaac Ibn Latif's Sha'ar ha-Shamayim (The Gate of Heaven).
Ms. hebr. 1016/Ms. Oratoire 196: Abu Aflah's Sefer ha-Tamar, 14th-15th century.
Ms. hebr. 1069/Ms. Oratoire 169: Isaac ben Joseph Israeli's Yesod Olam (The Foundation of the World), produced in Syracuse, 1491.
Ms. hebr. 1100/Ms. Anciens Fonds 440: Ptolemy's Almagest copied and translated into Hebrew by Tedros ben Moshe Alexandrini and his grandson. The latter completed the translation in Calatayud in 1475.
Ms. hebr. 1136/Ms. Anciens Fonds 370: Avicenna's Canon of Medicine produced in Villalón de Campos. The several books in this volume were translated by Joseph Lorki, Nathan ben Eliezer, and Avraham Even Kershef, 1487.
Ms. hebr. 1143/Ms. Anciens Fonds 407: This volume contains a Hebrew translation of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine and a medical treatise by Jerónimo de Santa Fé (Joshua ha-Lorki), including an article on psychic powers and the drugs that affect them. The manuscript was copied by Yosef Benveniste Ibn Lavi in Almagro in 1483.
Ms. hebr. 1190/ Ms. Anciens Fonds 403: Nicolaus Salernitanus' Antideuterium, 12th century.
Archival history
The origin of the Manuscrits hébreux (Hebrew manuscripts) collection dates back to the 14th century. In 1306, more than 200 manuscripts were confiscated on orders of Philippe IV (1268-1314). The king returned some manuscripts to the Jews of Paris, while the Crown kept others for different purposes.
The interest in Hebrew manuscripts in the Royal Library in France grew in the following decades. An inventory of 1544 mentions the presence of four Hebrew volumes in the king's collections. Related to the period of King Henri II (1519-1559), it is possible to notice 32 Hebrew manuscripts still in bindings bearing the king's coat of arms. On the death of Catherine de Médicis (1519-1589), around 20 other books entered the library of Henri IV (1553-1610), who had some of them bound with his coat of arms. The will to own Hebrew manuscripts and the royal insignias in some of them show the high cultural value of these volumes at that time.
In the 17th century, the number of incorporations grew substantially. Among the most relevant donations were the nearly 130 books collected by Gilbert Gaulmin (1585-1665) and the 170 Hebrew manuscripts belonging to Colbert (1619-1683), which were incorporated in 1732.
During the French Revolution, the nationalisation of clerical property more than doubled the collection of Hebrew manuscripts, which was mainly enriched by the Sorbonne's vast collection of 260 manuscripts belonging to Richelieu (1585-1642) and the 205-volume collection belonging to Achille de Harlay de Sancy (1581-1646), French ambassador to Constantinople.
The incorporations in the following decades were of smaller importance. Indeed, since the 1,313 entries in the 1866 inventory, the library's holdings have increased by 166 manuscripts as a result of gifts, bequests, or purchases from individuals or at public auctions.
The interest in Hebrew manuscripts in the Royal Library in France grew in the following decades. An inventory of 1544 mentions the presence of four Hebrew volumes in the king's collections. Related to the period of King Henri II (1519-1559), it is possible to notice 32 Hebrew manuscripts still in bindings bearing the king's coat of arms. On the death of Catherine de Médicis (1519-1589), around 20 other books entered the library of Henri IV (1553-1610), who had some of them bound with his coat of arms. The will to own Hebrew manuscripts and the royal insignias in some of them show the high cultural value of these volumes at that time.
In the 17th century, the number of incorporations grew substantially. Among the most relevant donations were the nearly 130 books collected by Gilbert Gaulmin (1585-1665) and the 170 Hebrew manuscripts belonging to Colbert (1619-1683), which were incorporated in 1732.
During the French Revolution, the nationalisation of clerical property more than doubled the collection of Hebrew manuscripts, which was mainly enriched by the Sorbonne's vast collection of 260 manuscripts belonging to Richelieu (1585-1642) and the 205-volume collection belonging to Achille de Harlay de Sancy (1581-1646), French ambassador to Constantinople.
The incorporations in the following decades were of smaller importance. Indeed, since the 1,313 entries in the 1866 inventory, the library's holdings have increased by 166 manuscripts as a result of gifts, bequests, or purchases from individuals or at public auctions.
Administrative / Biographical history
Originally known as "Bibliothèque royale" (Royal Library), then as the "Bibliothèque de la Nation" (Library of the Nation) and "Bibliothèque nationale" (National Library), the "Bibliothèque nationale de France" (National Library of France) (BnF), thus named since 1994, is today the national library of the French Republic.
Its history began with King Charles V (1338-1380) when, in 1368, he installed his collection of books in a properly equipped room in the Louvre, which, a year later, housed over 900 volumes.
King François I (1494-1547) introduced new instructions for organising the Library on December 28, 1537. He supported the idea that printers and booksellers should deposit all printed books put on sale in the kingdom at the Castle of Blois. This obligation, now called legal deposit, was a fundamental step for the royal library.
In 1666, new developments took place. Colbert (1619-1683) had the ambition of making the library an instrument for the glory of King Louis XIV (1638-1715). It was then installed in the Vivienne district, and a new policy for expanding the collections was implemented. In a short time, the number of manuscripts doubled, and the number of printed books quadrupled.
Abbé Bignon (1662-1743), appointed librarian in 1719, gave the library an unprecedented splendour, organising it into departments: Printing Books, Manuscripts, Medals and Engraved Stones, Engraved Plates and Collections of Prints, Titles and Genealogies. Bignon also continued the work of his predecessors in the acquisition of documents.
The French Revolution had a profound impact on the library. The legal deposit was abolished in July 1790, but three years later, it was re-established on a voluntary basis by the law of July 19, 1793, and fully restored in 1810. During this period, the library considerably increased its holdings with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of confiscated or seized documents.
In 1858, a commission led by Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870) wrote a report on specific changes to be introduced in terms of the organisation of the library. Napoléon III (1808-1873) then entrusted the architect Henri Labrouste (1801-1875) with reconstructing part of the buildings. In 1874, Léopold Delisle (1826-1910) was appointed general administrator and launched the creation of the "Catalogue général des livres imprimés" (General catalogue of printed books), the first volume of which was published in 1897 and the last one in 1981.
In the 20th century, the library continued to evolve. Reading rooms increased from six to eleven between 1930 and 1964. At the same time, three annexes were built in Versailles in 1934, 1954, and 1971, one in Sablé in 1980 and another in Provins in 1981. However, these extensions did not solve the storage problems caused by increased printed production.
The arrival of more and more massive collections and new media posed new conservation problems, and the number of places offered to readers needed to be increased. Despite the efforts to modernise and computerise the library during the 1980s, it faced hurdles in adapting to the new conditions of printed production and reading demand.
Given these challenges, the construction of a new library was announced in 1988 by President François Mitterrand (1916-1996). The site chosen for the building was located on the banks of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. In August 1989, architect Dominique Perrault's project was selected. On December 20, 1996, the study library opened, and on October 8, 1998, the opening of the research library sealed the completion of this prominent project.
Its history began with King Charles V (1338-1380) when, in 1368, he installed his collection of books in a properly equipped room in the Louvre, which, a year later, housed over 900 volumes.
King François I (1494-1547) introduced new instructions for organising the Library on December 28, 1537. He supported the idea that printers and booksellers should deposit all printed books put on sale in the kingdom at the Castle of Blois. This obligation, now called legal deposit, was a fundamental step for the royal library.
In 1666, new developments took place. Colbert (1619-1683) had the ambition of making the library an instrument for the glory of King Louis XIV (1638-1715). It was then installed in the Vivienne district, and a new policy for expanding the collections was implemented. In a short time, the number of manuscripts doubled, and the number of printed books quadrupled.
Abbé Bignon (1662-1743), appointed librarian in 1719, gave the library an unprecedented splendour, organising it into departments: Printing Books, Manuscripts, Medals and Engraved Stones, Engraved Plates and Collections of Prints, Titles and Genealogies. Bignon also continued the work of his predecessors in the acquisition of documents.
The French Revolution had a profound impact on the library. The legal deposit was abolished in July 1790, but three years later, it was re-established on a voluntary basis by the law of July 19, 1793, and fully restored in 1810. During this period, the library considerably increased its holdings with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of confiscated or seized documents.
In 1858, a commission led by Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870) wrote a report on specific changes to be introduced in terms of the organisation of the library. Napoléon III (1808-1873) then entrusted the architect Henri Labrouste (1801-1875) with reconstructing part of the buildings. In 1874, Léopold Delisle (1826-1910) was appointed general administrator and launched the creation of the "Catalogue général des livres imprimés" (General catalogue of printed books), the first volume of which was published in 1897 and the last one in 1981.
In the 20th century, the library continued to evolve. Reading rooms increased from six to eleven between 1930 and 1964. At the same time, three annexes were built in Versailles in 1934, 1954, and 1971, one in Sablé in 1980 and another in Provins in 1981. However, these extensions did not solve the storage problems caused by increased printed production.
The arrival of more and more massive collections and new media posed new conservation problems, and the number of places offered to readers needed to be increased. Despite the efforts to modernise and computerise the library during the 1980s, it faced hurdles in adapting to the new conditions of printed production and reading demand.
Given these challenges, the construction of a new library was announced in 1988 by President François Mitterrand (1916-1996). The site chosen for the building was located on the banks of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. In August 1989, architect Dominique Perrault's project was selected. On December 20, 1996, the study library opened, and on October 8, 1998, the opening of the research library sealed the completion of this prominent project.
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Existence and location of copies
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| כתיב (Ktiv) | Existence and location of originals |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Richelieu) | Collections (official language of the state) |