Hebrew Manuscript Studies: Codicology, Palaeography, Art History
Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented interest in Hebrew manuscripts in various fields of academic Jewish studies. The development of new technologies to deal with medieval handwriting, online accessibility of the contents of the major European Hebrew manuscript collections, creation of manuscripts databases, and programmes dedicated to the study and preservation of Jewish archives and libraries, have made and continue to make the manuscripts readily available for scholarly investigation. This readiness of access to information has already given a new impetus to ‘the return to primary sources’ in historical research and encouraged new editorial projects concerning medieval Hebrew texts.
Together with this renewed dynamism of historical and textual studies based on the unprecedented availability and ease with which students can consult manuscripts in good quality reproduction, there is a growing awareness of the necessity to understand the material and cognitive aspects involved in manuscript production and circulation. Indeed, the accessibility of the sources needs to go hand in hand with a focused preparation of the students and scholars to approach these handwritten medieval sources in their specificity and complexity.
Indeed, many students and scholars who are using original manuscripts in their historical or literary research feel, and often express, the inadequacy of methodological tools at their disposal in order to better comprehend and exploit this rich source material.
The Summer Workshop in Oxford proposes a comprehensive and specialised programme in the fields of Hebrew codicology, paleography, diplomatics, art history, history of the book, and collections, conservation, Jewish calendars, manuscripts in the age of print and digital humanities applied to Hebrew manuscripts. Several specialists will provide in-depth methodological introduction and research guidance to the fields of Hebrew manuscripts studies. The Workshop is organised in collaboration with the Bodleian Library, which will allow access to original manuscripts in situ for the teaching sessions. Lecturers will include Professor Judith Olszowy-Schlanger, Professor Sarit Shalev-Eyni and Dr. César Merchán-Hamann.
Suitably-qualified scholars and students are invited to apply. Space for the Workshop is limited and early application is advised. Selection of participants will be on the basis of the potential benefit to their studies from attending the Workshop.
A limited number of bursaries is available. The bursaries cover travel, tuition, accommodation and maintenance costs, and will be awarded at the discretion of the organisers on the basis of financial circumstances and suitability for the Workshop.