An old, crumbling binding of a 16th-century book of the Zohar was nearly lost to oblivion in the National Library’s archives. A few faint pencil markings on the cover caught the eye of a librarian, revealing surprising secrets about the book it once encased. Join us on a fascinating, almost detective-like journey through the pages and bindings of this remarkable book, uncovering its perilous, winding path before it reached the National Library.


The Pope and Haman in Renaissance Italy
The only known manuscript of The Chronicle of Pope Paul IV is at the National Library in Jerusalem…

8 Nights, 8 Treasures, 8 Languages
Join us for a Hanukkah video journey across cultures and time, featuring treasures from the National Library of Israel!

Did a Woman Really Read from the Torah in the 15th century?
Leifheit bat Asher owned a copy of the oldest printed Jewish prayer book. Was she also called to the Torah?

The Disappearing Headstones from the Jewish Cemetery of Ferrara
Were the ancient headstones sold or stolen and who was responsible for their disappearance?

Meet Emilia Morpurgo: A Female Ritual Slaughterer from Italy
Even though many authorities of Jewish law permit women to perform ritual slaughter, there are very few testimonies of female ritual slaughterers in Jewish history.