Kabbalah - קַבָּלָה‎‎

Detail of the Hebrew letter ~shin~ decorated with foliate motifs, which served as a book plate of the patron Shabbetai ben Mattatya of Rome (see Narkiss, 1984). Image taken from f. 2 of Guide of the Perplexed ( More

Detail of a page: dcorated panel with foliate scroll at the closure of the text column framing the colophon of the scribe, Solomon, at the end of Samuel ibn Tibbon's ~Perush ha-milot ha-zarot~ (A glossary of fo More

Hebrew letter ~shin~ decorated with foliate motifs, which served as a book plate of the patron Shabbetai ben Mattatya of Rome (see Narkiss, 1984). Beneath, there are three acquisition notes in Hebrew from 1340, More

Full foliate border at Deuteronomy 32. Image taken from f. 98 of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Detail of a magic square. Image taken from f. 90v of Interpretaciones nominum Ebreorum (Interpretation of the Hebrew names). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collec More

Full-page miniature of the Temple implements. Image taken from f. 2 of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Full-page panel of ~masorah magna~ in micrographical design. Image taken from f. 187v of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Full-page panel of ~masorah magna~ in micrographical design. Image taken from f. 338 of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Full border of geometric design at the Song of the Sea (Ex. 15). Image taken from f. 35 of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Full border of geometric design at the Song of the Sea (Ex. 15). Image taken from f. 34v of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Full foliate border at Deuteronomy 32. Image taken from f. 97v of Bible with ~masorah~ ('First Ibn Merwas Bible'). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Text with diagrams for numerical divination, and fifteen magical characters. Image taken from f. 164 of Proposiciones; Errores in grammatica, letter to the Archbishop of Corinth; philosophical, scientific and m More

Three arches inhabited by hybrids and animals above the three text columns. Image taken from f. 1 of Halakhical works: ~Tashbetz~ by Samson ben Tzadoq (ff. 1-30v), ~Sefer ha-Terumah~ by Baruch ben Isaac (ff. 31 More

Initial word-panel, ~Ze ha-sefer~ (this is the book) with an arched frame inhabited by hybrids and animals. Image taken from f. 31 of Halakhical works: ~Tashbetz~ by Samson ben Tzadoq (ff. 1-30v), ~Sefer ha-Ter More

Detail: three arches inhabited by hybrids and animals above the three text columns. Image taken from f. 1 of Halakhical works: ~Tashbetz~ by Samson ben Tzadoq (ff. 1-30v), ~Sefer ha-Terumah~ by Baruch ben Isaac More

Initial word included into an arched frame decorated with foliate motifs. Image taken from f. 38v of Halakhical works: ~Tashbetz~ by Samson ben Tzadoq (ff. 1-30v), ~Sefer ha-Terumah~ by Baruch ben Isaac (ff. 31 More

Detail: initial word-panel, ~Ze ha-sefer~ (this is the book) with an arched frame inhabited by hybrids and animals. Image taken from f. 31 of Halakhical works: ~Tashbetz~ by Samson ben Tzadoq (ff. 1-30v), ~Sefe More

David and Goliath, and the end of Ecclesiastes (12:13-14), with a caption over the head of David: 'King David'. Image taken from f. 11v of Biblical readings from a festival prayer book (~mahzor~): Song of Songs More

Initial word decorated with a dragon torso lying on top of the letter, at the beginning of Jeremiah. Image taken from f. 17 of Biblical reading from a festival prayer book (~mahzor~): Job, Jeremiah 1:1-23:7, Is More

Pen drawn dragon next to the initial word of the Book of Ruth. Image taken from f. 3v of Biblical readings from a festival prayer book (~mahzor~): Song of Songs, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations. Written in Hebrew.

Pen drawn dragon next to the initial word of Ecclesiastes. Image taken from f. 6 of Biblical readings from a festival prayer book (~mahzor~): Song of Songs, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations. Written in Hebrew.

Marginal drawing of a dove next to the word ~yonim~ (doves), at the beginning of the Song of Songs. Image taken from f. 1 of Biblical readings from a festival prayer book (~mahzor~): Song of Songs, Ruth, Eccles More

Historiated initial word at the beginning of the Book of Lamentations: Jeremiah seated on a small stool with an open book in front of him. In the left side of the initial word, in the inner margin, there are va More

Decorated initial word ~Wa-yiqra~ (And [the Lord] called) in brown ink, at the beginning of Leviticus. Image taken from f. 126 of Commentary on the Pentateuch with the ~Haftarot~ (ff. 1-240) on the Five Scrolls More

Detail of a page: drawing of a menorah with explanatory captions. Image taken from f. 101v of Commentary on the Pentateuch with the ~Haftarot~ (ff. 1-240) on the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~; ff. 240v-270), More

Textual illustration of a menorah with explanatory captions, in brown ink. Image taken from f. 101v of Commentary on the Pentateuch with the ~Haftarot~ (ff. 1-240) on the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~; ff. 2 More

Diagram of the Holy Land. Image taken from f. 199 of Commentary on the Pentateuch with the ~Haftarot~ (ff. 1-240) on the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~; ff. 240v-270), and on the ~Haftarot~ for festivals (ff. More

Diagram of the Holy Land. Image taken from f. 198v of Commentary on the Pentateuch with the ~Haftarot~ (ff. 1-240) on the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~; ff. 240v-270), and on the ~Haftarot~ for festivals (ff More

Diagrams showing men and animals going around the earth and meeting on the other side. Image taken from f. 54 of L'image du monde. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal More

Ink diagram of a game entitled 'la fourme de la table rounde'. Image taken from f. 160 of L'image du monde. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists o More

Ink diagram of day and night. Image taken from f. 100v of L'image du monde. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2,000 manuscripts that we More

Initial word decorated with foliate and penwork in black ink, at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for the seventh day of Passover (for the poem, see Davidson, vol. 2, no. 239). Image taken from f. More

Detail of a page: miniature of a red heifer in the lower margin illustrating a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for ~Shabbat Parah~. Caption: ‘Red heifer’. Mutilated by a later trimming. Image taken from f. 28v of Fe More

Image taken from f. 159v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover and Shavuot, Ashkenazi rite, with Books of Ruth (ff. 163v-168v) and Song of Songs (ff. 168v-172v). Written in Hebrew.

Textual illustration in the lower margin, mutilated due to trimming. A young man in prayer shawl standing at a reading desk with an open book on it. Image taken from f. 159v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) f More

Initial word decorated with foliate motifs and a small cauldron is hanging on a sprig, at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for ~Shabbat ha-Gadol~ (for the poem, see Davidson, vol. 1, no. 1086). The More

Initial word decorated with foliate motifs in black ink and red, at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for the first day of Passover (for the poem, see Davidson, vol. 1, no. 1962). Image taken from f More

Miniature of a red heifer in the lower margin illustrating a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for ~Shabbat Parah~. Caption: ‘Red heifer’. Mutilated by a later trimming. Image taken from f. 28v of Festival prayer book More

Initial word decorated with foliate motifs in ink, at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for Hanukkah (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 1651). Image taken from f. 1v of Festival prayer book (~m More

Puzzle initial 'C' with pen-flourishing extending into the margin. Image taken from f. 2 of Geoffrey's 'Historia regum Britanniae' (index Gesta Britonum, De gestis Britonum), dedicated to Robert of Gloucester ( More

Pen-drawing of a zodiac man. Image taken from f. 10 of Lectionary, with a calendar, and readings for Sundays and weekdays. Written in Dutch. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Th More

Detail: initial-word panels decorated with pen-flourishing. The smaller one, ~shnei~ (two) is at the end of ~Hilkhot qinyan~, the chapter on purchase, and the bigger one is at the beginning of ~Hilkhot matanah~ More

Detail: initial-word panel decorated with pen-flourishing, at the beginning of ~Hilkhot nahalot~, the chapter on inheritance. Image taken from f. 247v of Fourth Book of ~Arba'ah Turim~: ~Hoshen ha-Mishpat~ ('Th More

Detail: an illustration of a man lighting the Hanukkah lamp, at the beginning of the section on Hanukkah. Image taken from f. 19 of Decisions of Isaiah of Trani the Younger (~Pisqei Rabbi Yeshayah Aharon~). Wri More

Detail of a page: a miniature of two men stoning a third one who trespasses the law by working on Shabbat, at the beginning of the tractate on Festivals. Image taken from f. 64v of Decisions of Isaiah of Trani More

Text page with coloured initial words. Image taken from f. 107v of Guide of the Perplexed in Judeo-Arabic. Written in Judeo-Arabic.

Partial foliate border with a nest full of young birds and a parent bird approaching. Image taken from f. 283v of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a partial foliate border inhabited by two magpies. Image taken from f. 282v of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Illustration of men in prayer, at texts for fast days. Image taken from ff. 167v-168 of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel decorated with pen-flourishing. Framed marginal illustration of a man lighting the Hanukkah lamp with a congregation behind him. Image taken from f. 101 of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for th More

Drawing of two closed gates flanking a tower above the initial words, at the ~Neilah~ prayer. Image taken from f. 287 of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of an initial-word panel accompanied by a dragon and a hybrid, at the evening prayer for Yom Kippur. Image taken from f. 262v of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a marginal illustration of a lion perhaps connected to the word ~Judah~ appearing in the last line of the folio. Image taken from f. 207 of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian ri More

Detail of a partial foliate border inhabited by a wolf with a lamb in his mouth. Image taken from f. 281v of Prayer book (~Forli Siddur~) for the entire year, Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: initial-word panel inhabited by animals, dragons and hybrids. Image taken from f. 12 of Collection of halakhical works: ~Sefer Mitzwot Qatan~ ('SeMaQ') by Isaac of Corbeil with the additions o More

A drawing of a man holding a cup and a ~matzah~ (unleavened bread), and his axe hanging from a trunk, next to the catchword. Image taken from f. 61v of Collection of halakhical works: ~Sefer Mitzwot Qatan~ ('Se More

Initial word ~Bereshit~ (in the beginning) inhabited by animals and human faces. Image taken from f. 3v of ~Gan Elohim~ (The Garden of God): supracommentary on Rashi's commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: the Ark of the Covenant with the cherubim. Image taken from f. 2v of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: drawing of the Sacrifice of Isaac, with captions in Ashkenazi square script. Isaac is kneeling on the altar, Abraham is lifting the knife, but an angel prevents him from hurting his son by gra More

Miniature of the Holy Ark with two doves symbolizing the cherubs, the Tablet of Law, and the Altar, with captions in Ashkenazi square script. Image taken from f. 2v of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a full page drawing of the Sacrifice of Isaac, with captions in Ashkenazi square script. Isaac is kneeling on the altar, Abraham is lifting the knife, but an angel prevents him from hurting his son by More

Detail of a page: Temple implements. Image taken from f. 3 of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: Temple implements. Image taken from f. 2v of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Full-page miniature of the menorah with caption in Ashkenazi square script. Image taken from f. 2 of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Miniature of the basin, the table, the table of showbread, plates and dishes for incense, the musical instruments and the cleansing instruments, with captions in Ashkenazi square script. Image taken from f. 3 o More

Full page drawing of the Sacrifice of Isaac, with captions in Ashkenazi square script. Isaac is kneeling on the altar, Abraham is lifting the knife, but an angel prevents him from hurting his son by grabbing hi More

Micrography of a menorah, at Psalm 67. Image taken from f. 18v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~), Italian rite, volume 1. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Diagram. Image taken from f. 2 of Pharsalia. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2nd Earl of Arundel (1585-1646). Thomas Howard More

Diagrams in brown ink in the main text. Image taken from f. 70 of Commentary on Cicero's De somno Scipionis. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in More

Image taken from f. 6 of Medical treatises. Written in Latin and English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of British museums and librarie More

Diagrams of some 'pictura urinarum', in a medical treatise. Image taken from f. 6 of Medical treatises. Written in Latin and English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a cru More

Image taken from f. 20 of Medical treatises. Written in Latin and English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of British museums and librari More

3 jars. Image taken from f. 4v of Medical treatises. Written in Latin and English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of British museums and More

Drawing of a zodiacal man, in a medical treatise. Image taken from f. 20 of Medical treatises. Written in Latin and English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role More

Drawing of flasks. Image taken from f. 2 of Medical treatises. Written in Latin and English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of British m More

Detail of an initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 156 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) with miscellaneous works in the margins. Written in Hebrew. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medi More

Miniature of people celebrating Seder with a group of young men lifting the Seder basket over the table. Image taken from f. 61v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) with miscellaneous works in the margins. Writt More

Detail: marginal drawing of a female bust at the blessing for the Counting of the Omer. Image taken from f. 55v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Drawings of two dragons at the beginning of the additional prayer (~musaf~) for Passover. Image taken from f. 53v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Carpet pages with colophon. Image taken from ff. 154v-155 of Grammatical introduction (~Makhberet ha-Tigan~) (ff. 1-37), Pentateuch with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~ (ff. 38v-end). Written in Hebrew.

Marginal drawing of a lady praying at the beginning of the ~Widduy~ (confession prayer) for Yom Kippur. Image taken from f. 74v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail: a panther under the initial words ~Rabban Gamliel~. Next to the same passage, in the margin there is a bust of a man portraying Rabban Gamliel. Next to the subsequent passage, ‘This is ~matzah~ (unleave More

Initial-word panels ~Ha~ (this) and ~Ma~ (what) decorated with pen-flourishing, at the beginning of the Haggadah. In the outer margin next to the initial-word panel ~Ha~, there is a drawing of a young couple li More

Palmettes and micrographical design of fish at the Song of Moses (Deut. 32). Image taken from f. 152 of Grammatical introduction (~Makhberet ha-Tigan~) (ff. 1-37), Pentateuch with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~ (f More

Detail of a page: initial-word panel ~Ha~ (this) decorated with pen-flourishing and a drawing of a young couple lifting a Seder basket in the margin, at the beginning of the Haggadah. Image taken from f. 39 of More

Palmettes and micrographical design of fish at the Song of Moses (Deut. 32). Image taken from f. 151v of Grammatical introduction (~Makhberet ha-Tigan~) (ff. 1-37), Pentateuch with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~ ( More

Colophon of the scribe and artist, Joel ben Simeon. Image taken from f. 112 of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail: textual illustration of the havdalah over the cup of wine: a drawing of a bust of a lady lifting a chalice, in the outer margin. Image taken from f. 31 of Prayer book (siddur), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: drawings of dragons. Image taken from f. 53v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

There is a panther under the initial words ~Rabban Gamliel~. Next to the same passage, in the margin there is a bust of a man portraying Rabban Gamliel. Next to the subsequent passage, ‘This is ~matzah~ (unleav More

Colophon of the scribe and artist, Joel ben Simeon. Image taken from f. 112 of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Portraits of Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva. Image taken from f. 43v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail: drawing of two dragons with their necks interwined, at the beginning of the prayers for Passover. Image taken from f. 37 of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: marginal drawings of Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva. Image taken from f. 43v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Textual illustration of ~ha-yeorah tashlihuhu~ (you shall cast [the male babies] into the river): a man casting a naked baby into the river. Image taken from f. 42 of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Writt More

Carpet pages with verses from the Psalms in micrographic design. Image taken from ff. 38v-39 of Grammatical introduction (~Makhberet ha-Tigan~) (ff. 1-37), Pentateuch with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~ (ff. 38v-e More

Detail: marginal drawing of a young man holding the ~maror~ (bitter herb) and pointing to the word ~maror~ at the beginning of the passage 'This bitter herb'. Image taken from f. 45v of Prayer book (~siddur~), More

Textual illustration of the havdalah over the cup of wine: a drawing of a bust of a lady lifting a chalice, in the outer margin. Image taken from f. 31 of Prayer book (siddur), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Carpet page with verses from the Psalms in micrographic design. Image taken from f. 39 of Grammatical introduction (~Makhberet ha-Tigan~) (ff. 1-37), Pentateuch with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~ (ff. 38v-end). W More

Initial-word panel with pen-flourishing and a medallion formed by foliate motifs: a rooster holding a piece of wheat with a snake coiling on it in its beak, and above the rooster, there is a moon and a hexagram More