LibGuides: Jewish Studies Materials in the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University: Religious Literature

Illustrating the Hebrew Bible

The twentieth century brought forth a flourish of Jewish artistic depictions of Biblical figures, scenes and stories, in a variety of forms and styles. A 2010 exhibit, curated by the Librarian for Jewish Studies, Rachel Ariel, presents a sample of the abundance of art work done by Jewish artists illustrating the Hebrew Bible. Follow the link below to view more examples of Jewish religious art collected for a past exhibit in Perkins Library!

http://library.duke.edu/exhibits/hebrewbible/index.html

Rare Print Highlights

Haggadot
These books of readings for the Passover Seder service are often highly personal expressions of the creator's artistic, social, and political concerns. Our extensive collection displays chronological, aesthetic, geographic, and linguistic diversity.
Hebrew Bibles
Abram and Frances Pascher Kanof Collection of Jewish Art, Archaeology, and Symbolism
The Rubenstein has received many of its haggadot and other Judaica through the generosity of Abram and Frances Pascher Kanof. The North Carolina Museum of Art has them to thank for many of the pieces in its Judaica collection.
Kennicott Bible
Facsimile of the most exquisite of all Hebrew bibles, written and illuminated in medieval Spain in 1476, just 16 years before the Expulsion.
Rothschild Haggadah
Written in northern Italy in 1479, this Haggadah is one of the most exquisite sections of the Israel Museum's Rothschild Miscellany, a manuscript unrivaled in richness and scope. Our volume is a facsimile of this unique text.
Rylands Haggadah

Jewish Orthodox Literature

Jewish Orthodoxy, the traditional section of Jewry that maintains a religiously observant way of life based on a divinely ordained Torah and its laws, is composed of many groups that differ by certain customs and ideological trends.

The Jewish Orthodox Publication collection documents Jewish Orthodoxy in its various manifestations through ephemeral publications created and distributed by Orthodox Jewish groups in Israel, the United States, and around the world. The materials range in date from 1914-2004, with the bulk of the material published between 1950-1995. Check out the collection guide here: Jewish Orthodox Publication collection, 1914-2004.

Or look in the Rubenstein Library's catalog! Click on the link to search for Orthodox Judaism as a subject heading.

Early Manuscripts

The Rubenstein holds a substantial collection of early manuscripts of varying provenance, including Arabic, Ethiopic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Syriac. Many of our papyri relate to religion. For more information about these materials, contact us.