The Hebraic Section of the has long SPECIAL COLLECTIONS been recognized as one of the In addition to its more general holdings, the world’s foremost centers for Hebraic Section houses a number of special LIBRARY OF CONGRESS collections. Digitized Finding Aids for these the study of Hebrew and collections can be accessed at: materials. http://www.loc.gov/rr/amed/ Highlights include: Established in 1914 as part of the Division Hebrew Manuscripts: approximately 225 of Semitica and Oriental Literature, its manuscripts dating from the 11th to early beginnings can be traced to Jacob H. 20th centuries, among them the Washington Schiff’s gift in 1912 of nearly 10,000 Haggadah of 1478, the chief jewel of the THE Hebraic Section. The collection is currently books and pamphlets from the private being digitized in its entirety. collection of Ephraim Deinard, a well- known bibliographer and bookseller Hebrew Incunabula: 37 books printed before who combed the world in search of rare 1501. These rare Hebrew “cradle-books” Hebrew books and manuscripts span the three major centers of early In the years since this initial gift, the Hebrew printing: Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Library has developed and expanded its Sixteenth-Century Hebrew Books: over 675 Hebraic holdings to include all materials books printed in Italy, Eastern Europe, and HEBRAIC of research value in Hebrew and cognate the over the course of the languages. Today the section houses sixteenth century, among them a number of works in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo- first printings of classic works. Persian, Judeo-Arabic, Aramaic, Syriac, and the languages of Ethiopia. Ladino Books: books written in the language of the Sephardi following the expulsions from Spain and Portugal. Its online Finding Aid was recently updated with Opening page from approximately 200 titles. the Washington Haggadah. Yizkor Books: Holocaust memorial books commemorating the Jewish communities of Handwritten and Eastern Europe destroyed in World War II. illustrated by Joel Order of Prayers before Retiring at Night. Manuscript ben Simeon. Vellum. Artist’s Books: limited-edition books created on vellum. Hand written and illuminated by Joseph Italy or Germany, at fine art presses. The Hebraic Section ben Schmalkalden. Mainz, Germany, 1745. Acquired 1478. Acquired from currently holds over 75 of these innovative in 2016. the collections books in Hebrew and Yiddish. of Ephraim Deinard. Rare Children’s Books: a magnificent collection of some of the earliest illustrated books for children in Hebrew and Yiddish.

Order of Prayers before Retiring at Night. Manuscript on vellum. Hand written and Illuminated by Joseph SECTION ben Schmalkalden. Mainz, Germany, 1745. Acquired in 2016. COLLECTIONS GROWTH OF THE COLLECTIONS THE HEBRAIC SECTION TODAY THE ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS

In 1958, the Hebraic Section received The rich holdings of the Hebraic Section The Library of Congress holds the a second major boost through the reflect virtually every aspect of Jewish life largest collection of materials from enactment of Public Law 480. Thanks through the ages. Over 250, 000 items Ethiopia and Eritrea in North America. In to this law, twenty-five American are housed in a stack area adjacent to the addition to its many books in Amharic research libraries (including the section and are available for examination by and Tigrinya, the Ethiopian Collection Library of Congress) were supplied researchers. They include an extensive range has significant holdings of newspapers with a copy of virtually every book and of books; a broad selection of periodicals and serials with over 350 serials to journal of research value published current and historical; and a variety of Yiddish date and about the same number of in Israel. The PL-480 program for and Hebrew newspapers reflecting every newspapers, among them Aemero, the Israeli imprints, coordinated by the possible shade of opinion. first newspaper in Amharic. Twenty of these newspapers have already Library of Congress, lasted nine years The Hebraic Section strives to share the rich been microfilmed and the two national (1964 – 1973) and provided each of treasures in its holdings with visitors home newspapers, Adis Zaman of Ethiopia the participating institutions with an and abroad. To this end, it has held two major and Hadas Eretra of Eritrea, are also average of 65,000 items. exhibitions within the past twenty years, available on microfilm. Berhanena each showcasing special items from the Salam, published from 1925 till 1934, Since the cessation of the program in collections: From the Ends of the Earth (1989) is available in digital format. Other 1973, substantial efforts and resources and Words like Sapphires (2012), the latter languages represented in the collection have been expended to maintain this celebrating 100 years of the Hebraic Section. include Oromo and Ge’ez. high level of acquisition, as testified It also highlights items from its collections by the comprehensiveness of the through blogs posted regularly on the: The acquisition of the Thomas Leiper Library’s current collection of Hebrew- Kane Collection in 2001 added a number language materials in all genres. Library’s 4 Corners of the World Blog: of books printed before 1960 as well as http://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/ an important collection of pamphlets. Today, the Library’s holdings continue Portrait of Menelik II, Emperor The crown jewel of the Kane Collection to grow through purchase, donation, of Ethiopia, as imagined by an is its manuscripts, with about 250 and exchange. Copyright law, another unknown Spanish artist in 1896. codices on vellum and paper. source of acquisition, has proved (Library of Congress African The Ethiopian Collection also offers invaluable for at least one collection and Middle Eastern Division, unique to the Hebraic Section, the researchers a significant number of Ethiopian Collection of Trade photographs, postcards, and other Lawrence Marwick Collection of Cards) Copyrighted Yiddish Plays. These are items useful for researching the Italo- more than 1000 original Yiddish plays Ethiopian wars. in manuscript or typescript, written For more information about the between the end of the 19th century Ethiopian Collection and its ongoing and the middle of the 20th. Intended The Hebraic Section welcomes groups program of events, please contact: for the American Yiddish theater, the interested in viewing its collections. To learn plays were submitted for copyright more about this or to be placed on a mailing registration to the Library of Congress list for its programs and events, please feel – and thus preserved for posterity. free to contact us!

Lanisa Kitchiner, Ph.D. Ann Brener, Ph.D. Sharon Horowitz Fentahun Tiruneh Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division Hebraic Area Senior Reference Area Specialist [email protected] Specialist Librarian (202) 707-4163 (202) 707-4186 (202) 707-3780 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]