In honor of Jerusalem Day, the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection invites us to take a look at the maps that defined the city prior to its reunification.
Looking Back at the Jewish Soldiers of the Great War
A century after World War I, people are still surprised to learn the extent of Jewish participation in the military.
A Diary from Jerusalem Under Siege
“I’m very thirsty and there isn’t a drop of water in the house. I must go down to the street, perhaps I’ll find something to drink, and thus I must cease my writing.” A peek into the siege diary of Menachem Zvi Kadari, a resident of the Old City during Israel’s War of Independence.
A Matter of Faith: Ferrara Manuscript Outlines Orthodoxy and Heresy Between Jewish and Christian Traditions
A 17th-century Italian manuscript sheds light on an important example of Catholic book censorship in the modern age
The Nazi Guide to Finding the Proper Spouse
These “10 commandments” for building a good relationship were found in a pamphlet distributed to all students graduating from a trade school under the Nazi regime.
Are King Solomon’s Magical Powers Concealed Inside This Book?
These methods will help you discover if you are in possession of an ancient book containing mystical powers, or perhaps not
German Police Transfer Max Brod Papers to the National Library of Israel
Among other items, the collection includes a diary of Brod’s, written when he was Kafka’s closest friend in Prague. Thought to be lost in recent years, the diary has drawn interest from literary scholars around the world.
Columbus’ Crusade
A letter unearthed 500 years after Columbus’ famous journey hints at an extraordinary venture that never materialized…
How to Buy a Jewish Manuscript in Four (Not So) Easy Steps
This story of the purchase of this Spanish Kabbalistic manuscript encapsulates much of the work done here at the National Library.
When the Child Prisoners of Cyprus Dreamt of Israel
Stone carvings, made by Jewish children in detention camps on Cyprus, depict their longing to finally reach the Land of Israel
