Manuscripts in the Judaica Collection

The National Library holds app. 350 manuscripts written in Hebrew script in its collections, the majority in Hebrew, but also Yiddish, Judaeo-Arabic, Judao-Persian etc. are represented. With few exceptions (app. ten manuscripts belonging to the Manuscript Department), they all form part of the Judaica Collection. The manuscripts have in many cases been received as testamentory gifts throughout the centuries, as well as acquired from collections in Denmark and abroad, e.g. the ten volumes acquired during " The Arabian Journey", and the app. 160 items from David Simonsen's collection. The oldest manuscript in the collection is probably a Geniza fragment in Judeo-Arabic (Arabic written ín Hebrew script), dated at app. 1100 CE.

A majority of the manuscripts contain different religious texts (Biblical texts and commentaries, halakhic texts, liturgy etc.). Many are illuminated, and in not a few instances, the artistic values exceed by far the contents of the text as a focus for scholars and students. As an example can be mentionend the most famous of The Royal Library's Hebrew manuscripts, the so-called "Copenhagen Maimonides". This manuscript, Maimonides' (Moshe ben Maimon, c. 1135-1204) philosophical work Moreh Nevukhim (Guide for the Perplexed, shelfmark Cod. Heb. 37), was written and illuminated in Catalonia in 1347/48. It is available as a digital facsimile, with a short introduction (incl. a bibliography etc.).

In addition has the collection of manuscripts acquired from David Simonsen, including the letter for the Cairo Genizah mentioned above, been made available as digital facsimile editions.

No complete catalogue covering the collection has been published to date, but  most of the manuscripts are described in the database maintained by the Institute for Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts at The Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem (for an overview, type "COPEN" in the search field "Custodian Call no."). The first printed catalogue, Codices Orientales Bibliothecæ Regiæ Havniensis (ed. Westergaard & Mehren, 1846-1857) is available as PDF-files; Hebrew manuscripts are described in vol. 2, pp. 1-31 and vol. 3, pp. 83.

See also: Publications on The Royal Library's Jewish manuscripts (selection)

Availablity

The manuscripts can only be used at the Centre for Manuscripts & Rare Books, after having been ordered on special forms, that can be found at the Centre, or by previous arrangement (mail or e-mail). The user is required to show a Reading Room ID card; the application form can be downloaded here.

Copies, photographs etc.

Requests for slides, scans and other types of reproductions should be directed to The Photographic Studio. Permission to reproduce is normally given, provided that it is for a non-commercial purpose, and that The Royal Library is duly credited.

Deposited collections

The Royal Library also acts as custodians of part of the manuscripts belonging to the Jewish Community of Copenhagen, including the so-called Copenhagen Haggadah. Requests for permission to reproduce these manuscripts should be directed to the Jewish Community.