Causes, Methods, and Manifestations of the Destruction of Hebrew Manuscripts
From Firenze University Press Journal: CROMOHS
Mauro Perani, Università di Bologna
This study attempts to explain the multiple reasons for the destruction of Hebrew manuscripts. The reuse of medieval Hebrew, Christian, or non-religious manuscripts is part of an epochal phenomenon caused by the spread of the printingpress. While the phenomenon is general, however, in the case of Hebrew manuscripts it reached a tremendous Jewish-only conjuncture, namely the persecution and burning of Jewish books by the Inquisition and the burning of the Talmud ordered by Pope Julius III in 1553, followed by the Church’s policy change towards Jews under Pope Paul IV’s ruthless rule.
- Aspects of the Reuse of Medieval Hebrew Manuscripts
The dismemberment and reuse of medieval Hebrew manuscripts represents an epochal phenomenon, a consequence of the ever-increasing spread of the printing press . Moreover, Hebrew books faced a particularly tragic conjunction: the intentional destruction and burning of sacred texts, including the Talmud, under Pope Julius III in 1553. This occurred alongside economic and religious restrictions as well as the degradation of personal freedom for Jews under Pope Paul IV; formerly known as the fiercely ruthless cardinal of the Inquisition, Gian Pietro Carafa was elected pope from 1555 to 1559. These measures led rabbis to cease teaching their disciples due to a complete lack of copiesof the Talmud.Megillat Vienetz, a text describing a pogrom against the Jews of Frankfurt launched in 1614, informs us of the seizures and looting of Jewish books that occurred on that occasion. It is reported that those handling the books on their way to destruction were in the habit of separating the paper books, destined to be burnt, from those in parchment, as selling parchment to bookbinders proved to be a lucrative affair. It should also be noted that, while the Church was responsible for destroying a vast number of Hebrew books, at the same time Christian intellectuals and ecclesiastics saved numerous Hebrew manuscripts from destruction by acquiring them for their libraries. Notable among these guardians of the Hebrew written heritage are Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi, whose library was acquired by the PalatinaLibraryof Parma after his death; Cardinal Domenico Grimani, who acquired the Pico della Mirandola Library; Cardinal Casanate; Cardinal Federico Borromeo; and several others.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/cromohs-14237
Read Full Text: https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/cromohs/article/view/14237
