On display in the Upper Library is a small number of unusual Hebrew and Yiddish books which have, intriguingly and some rather surprisingly, found their way to this Oxford college library. Drawn from the second phase of the College’s ambitious project to catalogue and digitise its historic Hebrew books and manuscripts, these volumes showcase a variety of places, themes and personalities connected with Jewish printed texts from the fifteenth century to 1800. The story of these books is told here for the first time and takes us on a journey from the North of Europe to the South, traversing the lands of Central and Eastern Europe, and from Italy to the Ottoman Empire. Many of the books have not been displayed before.
Exhibition opening times
Monday to Friday, 10-12 and 2-4pm by appointment
Last entry 3.30pm
Please note that the Library will be closed 17th December 2022 to 2nd January 2023 inclusive.
Admission to the exhibition is free, but booking is essential. To book please contact rahel.fronda@chch.ox.ac.uk
Due to the historic nature of the building, access to the first-floor Upper Library is only available via a flight of stairs.
The catalogue of the exhibition costs £10 and is available to buy from the Library.
Title: Quenching Curiosity: Unusual Hebrew Books at Christ Church
Author: Rahel Fronda
Date of Publication: 24 October 2022
Publisher: Christ Church Library
ISBN: 978-1-7391942-0-8
Bibliographic details: Paperback. 68 pages
215 x 150 mm, 37 colour illustrations
Price: £10
