Materialisierte Heiligkeit

Holy texts are at the heart of the diverse Jewish cultures; by regular reading of them, Jews all over the world reassure themselves of their community and construct a place of cultural identity beyond the profane. The sacred text not only defines beliefs; it also represents the sensory expression of divine revelation. Using selected manuscripts from the holdings of the Staatsbibliothek Berlin, this volume sheds light on the origin and materiality of the Hebrew Bible, the poetry and musical performance of Jewish liturgical texts, strict rabbinical rules for producing Torah scrolls, and the art of Megillot and Passover Haggadot. The richly illustrated contributions are complemented by explanations of Christian and Muslim scriptural traditions.

Exhibition, Berlin State Library, October 16, 2025 to February 26, 2026 Comprehensive introduction to Jewish written culture Interdisciplinary research on the materiality of liturgical writings and prayer books Extensively illustrated with examples from the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz