The National Library of Israel The National Library of Israel – Book Is Over 700 Years Old! What Makes It Special?
This huge tome, a handwritten Hebrew manuscript of the Pentateuch, was created around the year 1300 in Central Europe. But that was just the beginning of its incredible journey… Prof. David Stern of Harvard University explains how books are, in a sense, like people – they have lives that can be quite unpredictable.
David Stern is the Harry Star Professor of Classical and Modern Jewish & Hebrew Literature at Harvard University. He is a National Library of Israel 2026 Resnick Fellow. The manuscript shown here is an Ashkenazic Pentateuch, Ms. Heb. 24°7024, 13th- 14th century.
This video was filmed during the National Library of Israel’s Rare Book Summer School in July 2026.
