About Jewish Worlds and Words in Medieval England
Rare manuscripts can give an insight into the Jewish population and presence in medieval England, and some of the most remarkable and important of all have recently become part of the British Library collection, arriving from Longleat House library.
They include a unique Hebrew grammar, a trilingual Hebrew-Latin-French dictionary and a Hebrew Psalter, compiled around 1250 by the monks of Ramsey Abbey, in consultation with Jewish scholars.
Leading expert on the period Dr. Dean Irwin gives the background to Jewish life and culture in England at that time, after which Professor Judith Olszowy-Schlanger of Oxford University presents what she considers to be the most significant surviving manuscript for Christian-Jewish relations in the period, and assesses what it tells us.
Introduced by Julian Harrison, Lead Curator, Medieval Historical and Literary Manuscripts at The British Library.
Jewish Book Week is London’s longest running literary festival, attracting award-winning authors and thinkers every year. It will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this 28 Feb – 8 March.
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Venue and bar opening times
This is an in-person only event in the British Library Knowledge Centre.
The Knowledge Centre and bar open from 18.00.
Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
Concessions
There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, Young Persons (16–25s), and visitors on Universal/Pension Credit and free entry for carers.
Professor Judith Olszowy-Schlanger
Professor Judith Olszowy-Schlanger is Director of the Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Oxford University.
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She is President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Professor and Fellow of Corpus Christi College. She is also Professor of Hebrew and Judaeo-Arabic Manuscript Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (in Paris, France and the author of over a hundred publications.
Dr Dean Irwin
Dr Dean Irwin is a Visiting Fellow of the University of Lincoln.
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He researches thirteenth century records relating to medieval Anglo-Jewry especially urban communities and networks. He is a member of the advisory board of the Jewish Historical Society of England and has been acted as a historical expert for television and podcasts including BBC History Extra.
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