The Early History of the Hebrew Book (2nd-9th centuries CE) -- A Presentation of the Physical Evidence

• In Event: Re-envisioning the Ancient Book

Abstract

AJS 46th Annual Conference (2014)
Jewish History and Culture in Antiquity
Digital Media and Ancient Judaism
Presentation Proposal

Marc Bregman
Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Abstract

The Early History of the Hebrew Book (2nd-9th centuries CE)
A Presentation of the Physical Evidence

A remarkably small numbers of fragments written in Hebrew characters survive from manuscripts that can be reliably dated to the period from after the Bar Kokhba rebellion until the end of the ninth century. These fragments preserve early, important textual witnesses of the works they contain and also provide a key to understanding how these texts were initially committed to writing. The comprehensive presentation of this material will also help to clarify how the Hebrew book evolved in Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Since publishing one of these early fragments (“An Early Fragment of AVOT DE-RABBI NATAN from a Scroll”, TARBIZ 52, 1983), I have made note of a significant number of additional fragments that seem to come from this period, which has been termed “The Dark Ages of the Hebrew Book”. Most of this early manuscript material was preserved in the Cairo Genizah. Many of the relevant fragments so far have not been published, discussed or even mentioned in the scholarly literature. A comprehensive survey of this manuscript material is a scholarly desideratum. It is hoped that more relevant texts may yet come to light, and that other scholars will contribute to the ongoing discussion of this material. It therefore seems that an online survey of the physical evidence in the form of an annotated, descriptive catalog would be the most appropriate digital medium. My presentation will provide an initial display of a website under construction currently titled THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE JEWISH BOOK -- A SURVEY OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. Participants in the session will be invited to provide feedback on the form and content of this project.

author

• Marc Bregman, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro