SEPHARDIM-L Archives

From: "Donalyn Snelling" <>
Subject: [SEPHARDIM] 15th Century Girona Jewish Records Found
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 18:50:37 +0000

Hey All,

This find was reported by Israel Line and I thought some of you may be
interested in it!

WEALTH OF MEDIEVAL HEBREW MANUSCRIPTS UNCOVERED IN NORTHEASTERN SPAIN

A Spanish historical archive has found what may constitute the largest
collection of ancient Hebrew manuscripts in Europe by discovering fragments
of medieval texts stuffed inside the covers of books, THE JERUSALEM POST
reported. Josep Matas, director of the Provincial Historic Archive of the
northeastern town of Girona said, "It's too early to say just yet as we're
not sure how many there are but it could be the most important in Europe."

Girona - the town where the documents were found - was one of the most
important Jewish population centers in Spain prior to the expulsion of all
non-Catholics in 1492 by the Catholic kings Isabel and Ferdinand. Matas
believes the town once had some 700 Jews. Matas said the first manuscript
fragment was found several years ago but archive personnel thought it was a
one-off discovery. He said recent investigations unveiled up to a thousand
document fragments hidden in the covers of books and the archive believes
there could be many more. The books, mostly Girona provincial notarial
works, are important in themselves but the material in their covers could be
of much greater historical value, he added. Matas said the fragments studied
and restored so far included texts from the Book of Genesis and the Torah as
well as marriage and business contracts. The Hebrew documents are most
likely remnants of what Jewish families left behind when they fled.

Fare Well,
Donalyn

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• [SEPHARDIM] 15th Century Girona Jewish Records Found by "Donalyn Snelling" <>