Since the banishment from the Garden of Eden, humanity has longed to return, to a form of nature wild enough to move us as human beings, yet tame enough not to threaten us. To a place that soothes the soul and nourishes the body. The garden is a motif that runs like a thread through countless human cultures. Why are we all yearning for Paradise?
The Goldziher Library: A Scholarly Treasure Revealed
A monumental collection containing books, manuscripts, papers and letters belonging to Ignaz Goldziher, the esteemed Hungarian-Jewish scholar of Islam, has now been fully cataloged – a century after its arrival at the National Library of Israel.
Lab Results Confirm: This Ibn Sina Manuscript Is Nearly 1000 Years Old
A manuscript attributed to the famous 11th-century Persian physician and philosopher Ibn Sina has created a scholarly stir regarding its dating. Is it contemporary with the author? If so, this would make it an important and reliable copy. Or was it copied a few hundred years after his death? There was only one way to find out…
Animals, Monsters and Far-Off Lands
What do mythological beasts and imaginary creatures have to do with the Mongol conquest?
When Abraham and Plato Met in Barcelona
Medieval Barcelona was a unique meeting spot of Eastern and Western culture. A place where Jews, Muslims and Christians could mix. It was in Barcelona that the “first Jewish scientist” and one of the great Christian translators of the day conceived an ambitious plan to bring the wisdom of the Islamic and ancient worlds to an awakening Europe
“Nor shall you follow their laws”? The Influence of Islamic Mysticism on Judaism
A look at the subtle influence of Islamic mysticism on Jewish worship and thought from the Middle Ages to the present
An Arab Qur’an with a Persian Identity
The Persian language as we know it today emerged after the Arab conquests of the 8th century CE. One of the National Library of Israel’s treasured manuscripts contains the first known example of New Persian to appear on the world stage…
Dala’il al-Khayrat: Depicting Mecca Across the Islamic World
The hajj pilgrimage is a life-shaping experience for millions of Muslims around the world. It culminates with the arrival at the Holy Mosque in Mecca. These manuscripts from the collections of the National Library of Israel depict the Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina in colorful illustrations, an artistic expression of faith that continues to evolve…
This Iranian Trailblazer Revolutionized Global Medicine and Thought
The works of Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, served as core medical texts for some 500 years in Europe. His groundbreaking philosophical teachings also transcended borders…
A Look at the Figure of Gabriel the Archangel
Gabriel, the archangel in charge of Heaven’s heavy lifting
