Hebrew Manuscripts

The collection of codices hebraici (Cod.hebr.) at the Bavarian State Library is one of the largest and most important in the German-speaking area, with around 700 pieces including 183 fragments. It dates from the 12th to the 18th century. Beside the predominant form of the bound book (codex) there are also numerous Torah and Esther scrolls. Even if the Hebrew manuscripts are attributed to the Orientalia because of their language, they were mostly written in Europe (mainly Germany, France and Spain). By far the most important piece in the collection is the world-famous Baylonian Talmud (Cod.hebr. 95), which originated in France in 1342 and is the only medieval codex to have almost completely passed down this text (63 treatises).