Jewish book art in ritual context
As a manuscript, such a text takes on a special significance: its value is not only measured by the quality of the material or the artistic design, but also by the personal virtues of the scribe and the circumstances under which it was written.
Image gallery
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
Blick in die Ausstellung „Materialisierte Heiligkeit. Jüdische Buchkunst im rituellen Kontext“ im Stabi Kulturwerk.
The exhibition presents selected Hebrew manuscripts from the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin’s important Hebraica collection and offers fascinating insights into Jewish book art and its cultural context. Outstanding pieces from the famous Erfurt collection allow visitors to study, for example, skilful Hebrew micrography, traces of Christian Hebraism and the ritual production of Torah scrolls – including the largest Hebrew Bible of the Middle Ages, two exceptionally well-preserved Ashkenazi Torah scrolls and a large-format prayer book from the 14th century.
Richly illuminated Esther scrolls and prayer books, including some from the renowned Hamilton collection, also offer insights into the heyday of Jewish book art. A particular highlight is the elaborately restored calendar work by Judah Mehler Reutlingen. It impressively shows how the Jewish holidays were precisely determined by coordinating the lunar and solar cycles and inserting additional months or days.
Additional information
Exhibition space
Stabi Kulturwerk
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 8
10117 Berlin
Opening hours
Wednesday till Sunday 10.00 – 18.00
Thursday 10.00 – 20.00
Closed on Monday and Tuesday Montag
Free Admission
Stabi Kulturwerk
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 8
10117 Berlin
Opening hours
Wednesday till Sunday 10.00 – 18.00
Thursday 10.00 – 20.00
Closed on Monday and Tuesday Montag
Free Admission
Educational Services
Guided tours in English
Join us for a guided tour to learn more about the heyday of Jewish book art, the manuscripts on display from the Berlin State Library's important Hebraica collection, and their cultural contexts.
Participation is free of charge. Please register here.
Duration: 45 minutes. Meeting point: Infopoint Stabi Kulturwerk.
Dates:
Interactive tour with Federica Ligarò
Thursday 11/20/25 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 12/13/25 at 12 p.m. on
Join us for a guided tour to learn more about the heyday of Jewish book art, the manuscripts on display from the Berlin State Library's important Hebraica collection, and their cultural contexts.
Participation is free of charge. Please register here.
Duration: 45 minutes. Meeting point: Infopoint Stabi Kulturwerk.
Dates:
Interactive tour with Federica Ligarò
Thursday 11/20/25 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 12/13/25 at 12 p.m. on
Accessibility
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible.
