Rare Jewish materials have recently been at the center of controversy, with sales or attempted sales by US libraries sparking concern. We spoke with experts to explore what lies ahead.
Step into virtually any beis midrash around the world, and if you know where to look, you’ll come across something surprising: Thank-you notes from frum talmidei chachamim to the staffs of the largest Reform and Conservative seminaries.
These acknowledgments are familiar to anyone who has read the introductions to many editions of Rishonim and Acharonim we use daily. Many of the sefarim found in batei midrash today had their texts meticulously corrected by scholars who relied on old manuscripts and printings to produce clear, accurate versions. Often, these scholars expressed gratitude to the librarians at institutions such as the Klau Library at Hebrew Union College (HUC) in Cincinnati or the library of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York for their assistance in locating manuscripts and early printed copies critical to their work.
These libraries, and others around the world, house rare sefarim and manuscripts, including handwritten works, that have been invaluable to scholars of all backgrounds. Both talmidei chachamim striving to deepen their understanding of Torah and secular-oriented researchers studying Jewish culture and religion have relied on these collections. If you’ve ever opened a newly edited Rambam, Rashba, or Ritva, you’ve likely benefited from the treasures preserved at these institutions and their willingness to grant access to scholars of all disciplines.
In addition to Torah works of great renown, these institutions also house documents of immense historical significance that shed light on countless aspects of Jewish life throughout the ages and across the globe. The library at HUC, founded in 1875, and the library at JTS, established in 1893, have each amassed a remarkable collection of manuscripts, records and other items that deepen our understanding of Jewish heritage and culture.
JTS alone boasts a collection of over 11,000 manuscripts, encompassing the full spectrum of Jewish writing—from Rishonim’s commentaries on Gemara to poetry and philosophy. Among its treasures are significant documents from the Cairo Genizah, a collection of kesubos spanning the 17th to 20th centuries, hundreds of sifrei Torah, and a staggering variety of other important documents that are of interest to scholars and the Jewish community as a whole.
HUC’s Klau Library also holds tens of thousands of rare books and manuscripts. Among its collection are 143 incunabula—texts printed before 1500—and the largest collection of Chinese Jewish manuscripts from the Kaifeng community, dating back to the 17th century. The library also houses 15th-century Selichos, mussar sefarim written in Ladino in the 16th century, and an impressive variety of other Jewish writings spanning centuries and continents.
While HUC and the JTS are associated with the Reform and Conservative movements, their libraries have been invaluable resources for frum scholars. Pick up a random volume from the shelf—perhaps one of Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Blau’s editions of Chidushei HaRitva—and you’re likely to find a note of gratitude to Alexander Marx, who served as the JTS librarian from 1903 to 1953. During his tenure, Marx expanded the library’s collection to include hundreds of thousands of volumes, including thousands of rare books and manuscripts.
Beyond their role in collecting these works, the libraries were instrumental in preserving Jewish heritage from being lost to time. Their efforts to acquire sefarim and bring them to the United States before the Holocaust were crucial in safeguarding countless works that might have otherwise been destroyed by the Nazis.
However, recent developments regarding these publicly accessible collections have raised significant concerns. Both HUC and JTS, facing financial pressures, have been accused of attempting to improperly sell off works from their collections. More broadly, these libraries—and similar American Jewish institutions—may be confronting an uncertain future, with their invaluable holdings at risk.
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