Jerusalem – Experts at Israel’s national museum have completed the restoration of a 15th-century Hebrew manuscript with exquisite illustrations made by master Italian artisans, officials said Thursday.
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The Renaissance masterpiece is a copy of the Mishneh Torah, an important work of Jewish law written three centuries earlier by the medieval philosopher and rabbi Maimonides.
The manuscript, written on animal skin, discusses laws governing property, ritual purity and agriculture. It includes Hebrew words in gold leaf and miniature figures in colorful dress against brilliant skies of a blue shade made from lapis lazuli stones.
It took a year for a team at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem to repair the manuscript and prepare it for display, curator Anna Nizza said.
The museum has half of the original book, which was divided into two parts in the 19th century. The other half is owned by the Vatican Library.
The manuscript displayed to reporters Thursday was created in Italy just as the era of great illuminated manuscripts was drawing to a close and the art of bookmaking in Europe was being permanently altered by the advent of the printing press.
James Snyder, the museum’s director, said the manuscript was produced by one of the top Renaissance workshops and is “perhaps without parallel in character.”
The scribe, whose name is given in an inscription as Nehemia, was Jewish, but curators believe the craftsmen behind the illustrations were Christians working under the guidance of a wealthy Jewish family that commissioned the book. It was not uncommon at the time for Christian artisans to create ritual artifacts for Jews.
A U.S. couple bought the work from a family in Frankfurt, Germany, for an undisclosed price in 2007 and has lent it to the museum. It is slated to go on display in July.
just in time for the 28th siyum this coming shabbos
This is a unique treasure making the words of the Rambam come alive in a most beautiful format.
i’ve seen a mishnah torah in loshon kodesh on one side and latin on the other in mint condition in a public library and they don’t even know the value
printed in the early 1500’s the most interesting thing in there , is a drawing of tefilin where the batim of tefilin gradually thin out into a migdal
When will some create a reproduction of work for the masses to see.
Most Yiddin don’t realize the critical importance of the Mishneh torah. According to chazal, any psak or halachic ruling is invalid if it contradicts the views of rambam in the MT, even where he didn’t agree with the concensus view of other other gadolim of what was said in talmud, for in such cases the presumption was that the words of the talmud had been incorrectly interpreted.
Those that are learning 3 chapters Rambam a day , are finishing the 28th Machzor this coming Shabbos
For those that can’t learn 3 chapters a day, they may want to learn one per day and finish in a bit less than 3 years.
For those that can’t learn even one chapter a day, there is an index, more shiur (Chabad.org daily learning) to learn the sefer hamitzvos from the Rambam, corresponding to the mitzvos included in the 3 chapters of those that learn 3 chapters a day.
After you finish the Rambam, you have the advantage to having learned tho whole Torah as the Rambam states. It is a great aid on the learning of gemoroh shulchan oruch etc, as you have knowledge in all aspects of the Torah and being familiar with any topic you may find in any gemoro for example. It creates an atmosphere of achdus between those that learn it as well. What a hashgocho protis that the restoration of the manuscript is being publisized this week 2 days before the syum.
Yes, I think the Rmabam is vey proud, A Jewish lady, A Mechalel Shabos that eats Treif showing off his Sefer.
Nebach, there’s absolutely nothing to look upon from a Daas Torah point.
# 8 is a moron! What would the rambam say about your logic