Michelle Margolis
@mmargolis.bsky.social
N.E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia. Lover of old & worn early printed books/manuscripts & the stories they tell in the margins. Co-director, Footprints: Jewish Books Through Time and Place. #dhjewish 🟦
Pinned
Michelle Margolis
@mmargolis.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Went back to repost my introduction but...I never did one.
Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm the Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University and I'll be talking about old Jewish books and manuscripts and libraries and occasionally digital scholarship. I once made a game about early Hebrew printing.
Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm the Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University and I'll be talking about old Jewish books and manuscripts and libraries and occasionally digital scholarship. I once made a game about early Hebrew printing.
Well, I was looking for the source of the illustration of the family at the Seder (Corfu, 1887), but instead found an illustrated Livorno haggadah in Tunisian Judeo-Arabic, an Alexandria haggadah, and one printed in Calcutta (also JA, for Baghdadi Jews).
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November 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Well, I was looking for the source of the illustration of the family at the Seder (Corfu, 1887), but instead found an illustrated Livorno haggadah in Tunisian Judeo-Arabic, an Alexandria haggadah, and one printed in Calcutta (also JA, for Baghdadi Jews).
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Reposted by Michelle Margolis
We’re thrilled to launch our new Humans of AI podcast!
Prof. @melissaterras.bsky.social of @transkribus.bsky.social — a cooperative AI platform transforming how libraries, archives, and museums bring history to life.
🎧 share.transistor.fm/s/ce0399b5
📺 youtu.be/qK5x4j7jiuQ
#AI #CulturalHeritage
Prof. @melissaterras.bsky.social of @transkribus.bsky.social — a cooperative AI platform transforming how libraries, archives, and museums bring history to life.
🎧 share.transistor.fm/s/ce0399b5
📺 youtu.be/qK5x4j7jiuQ
#AI #CulturalHeritage
November 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM
We’re thrilled to launch our new Humans of AI podcast!
Prof. @melissaterras.bsky.social of @transkribus.bsky.social — a cooperative AI platform transforming how libraries, archives, and museums bring history to life.
🎧 share.transistor.fm/s/ce0399b5
📺 youtu.be/qK5x4j7jiuQ
#AI #CulturalHeritage
Prof. @melissaterras.bsky.social of @transkribus.bsky.social — a cooperative AI platform transforming how libraries, archives, and museums bring history to life.
🎧 share.transistor.fm/s/ce0399b5
📺 youtu.be/qK5x4j7jiuQ
#AI #CulturalHeritage
Soooo I finally went to the glorious JTS exhibit at the Groler Club. (Image below of the study for the painting of Aldus Manutius handing books to Jean Grolier, which appears in many formats throughout the building).
Go check it out! In person or online: grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/sho...
Go check it out! In person or online: grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/sho...
November 3, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Soooo I finally went to the glorious JTS exhibit at the Groler Club. (Image below of the study for the painting of Aldus Manutius handing books to Jean Grolier, which appears in many formats throughout the building).
Go check it out! In person or online: grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/sho...
Go check it out! In person or online: grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/sho...
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
There are 3 weeks left to apply to the Katz Center's 2026–27 fellowship, War and Peace in Jewish Thought and History. Click below to learn more!
katz.sas.upenn.edu/scholarly-pr...
katz.sas.upenn.edu/scholarly-pr...
October 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
There are 3 weeks left to apply to the Katz Center's 2026–27 fellowship, War and Peace in Jewish Thought and History. Click below to learn more!
katz.sas.upenn.edu/scholarly-pr...
katz.sas.upenn.edu/scholarly-pr...
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 23 (Noon ET, on Zoom), we'll bring out CAJS Rar Ms. 534, a manuscript written by Moses Gomez de Mesquita documenting his administration and institution of prayer customs for the Sephardim in England.. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Coffee with a Codex: Sephardim in England
For Coffee With A Codex on October 23, Judaica Special Collections Cataloging Librarian Louis Meiselman will bring out CAJS Rar Ms. 534, a manuscript written by Moses Gomez de Mesquita documenting his...
bit.ly
October 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For #CoffeeWithACodex on October 23 (Noon ET, on Zoom), we'll bring out CAJS Rar Ms. 534, a manuscript written by Moses Gomez de Mesquita documenting his administration and institution of prayer customs for the Sephardim in England.. #medievalsky #cwac
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Register here: https://bit.ly/4oldipr
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Thank you @hannahstohelit.bsky.social and @mmargolis.bsky.social for the excellent suggestion!
Just FYI- whether for ch"m trip planning purposes or any others, know that the Grolier Club/JTS manuscript exhibit is one of the coolest things I have ever gotten to see, whether on my lunch break or at any other time. Thanks @mmargolis.bsky.social for the tip- everyone should go (& it's free)!
October 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Thank you @hannahstohelit.bsky.social and @mmargolis.bsky.social for the excellent suggestion!
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Honestly insane in mindblowingly cool documents per square foot, and also better for free than lots of other (perfectly good) exhibits I’ve paid for
October 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Honestly insane in mindblowingly cool documents per square foot, and also better for free than lots of other (perfectly good) exhibits I’ve paid for
The wonderful Javier del Barco will be presenting at Penn in November: The Sephardic Bible Bookcraft: Codicology, Layout and Contents in Two Manuscripts at the Library of
@katzcenterupenn.bsky.social 📜📚
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 5:15 - 7:00 pm EST
www.library.upenn.edu/events/sepha...
@katzcenterupenn.bsky.social 📜📚
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 5:15 - 7:00 pm EST
www.library.upenn.edu/events/sepha...
The Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies & the Herbert D. Katz Center Distinguished Fellow's Lecture in Jewish Manuscript Studies
Javier del Barco, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, & the 2025-2026 Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies & the Herbert D. Katz Center Distinguished Fellow in Jewish Manuscript Studies, examine...
www.library.upenn.edu
October 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The wonderful Javier del Barco will be presenting at Penn in November: The Sephardic Bible Bookcraft: Codicology, Layout and Contents in Two Manuscripts at the Library of
@katzcenterupenn.bsky.social 📜📚
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 5:15 - 7:00 pm EST
www.library.upenn.edu/events/sepha...
@katzcenterupenn.bsky.social 📜📚
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 5:15 - 7:00 pm EST
www.library.upenn.edu/events/sepha...
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Just FYI- whether for ch"m trip planning purposes or any others, know that the Grolier Club/JTS manuscript exhibit is one of the coolest things I have ever gotten to see, whether on my lunch break or at any other time. Thanks @mmargolis.bsky.social for the tip- everyone should go (& it's free)!
October 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Just FYI- whether for ch"m trip planning purposes or any others, know that the Grolier Club/JTS manuscript exhibit is one of the coolest things I have ever gotten to see, whether on my lunch break or at any other time. Thanks @mmargolis.bsky.social for the tip- everyone should go (& it's free)!
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
"Jewish women were increasingly active participants in their communities, managing homes & professions, leading institutions & sororities, & crafting objects & texts of exquisite beauty", forthcoming by D. Kaplan & E. Carlebach press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... h/t @mmargolis.bsky.social
A Woman Is Responsible for Everything
A groundbreaking look at the integral role of women in early modern Jewish communal life
press.princeton.edu
October 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
"Jewish women were increasingly active participants in their communities, managing homes & professions, leading institutions & sororities, & crafting objects & texts of exquisite beauty", forthcoming by D. Kaplan & E. Carlebach press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... h/t @mmargolis.bsky.social
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
September 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Yom Kippur starts at sunset on 1 October. Here is the initial -word, inhabited by dragons and hybrids, at the beginning of Kol Nidrei (All vows).
#YomKippur
BL Oriental 42; 'Dragon's Head Mahzor'; Germany; 14th century; Germany; f.44v
#YomKippur
BL Oriental 42; 'Dragon's Head Mahzor'; Germany; 14th century; Germany; f.44v
September 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Yom Kippur starts at sunset on 1 October. Here is the initial -word, inhabited by dragons and hybrids, at the beginning of Kol Nidrei (All vows).
#YomKippur
BL Oriental 42; 'Dragon's Head Mahzor'; Germany; 14th century; Germany; f.44v
#YomKippur
BL Oriental 42; 'Dragon's Head Mahzor'; Germany; 14th century; Germany; f.44v
We have a date! This year's Norman E. Alexander Celebration of Collections will be on December 1. "Beyond the Text: Reading Jewish History Between the Words" with Prof. Edward Fram, Prof Elisheva Carlebach, and Dr. Eugene Matanky. Register here! 📚📜
columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Norman E. Alexander Celebration of Collections. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
This year's annual NEA Celebration of Collections has an early modern focus, where three scholars will discuss their research on what we find in books when we look beyond the actual texts - at annotat...
columbiauniversity.zoom.us
September 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM
We have a date! This year's Norman E. Alexander Celebration of Collections will be on December 1. "Beyond the Text: Reading Jewish History Between the Words" with Prof. Edward Fram, Prof Elisheva Carlebach, and Dr. Eugene Matanky. Register here! 📚📜
columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Lovely interview with my colleague @jeremiah-mercurio.bsky.social on Linguistics in Columbia Libraries; I see a shoutout to the #LCAAJ (an incredibly rich Yiddish linguistics project that began in the 1950s...)! blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/linguistics/...
Spotlight: Meet Librarian Jeremiah Mercurio – CLAUSE
blogs.cuit.columbia.edu
September 25, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Lovely interview with my colleague @jeremiah-mercurio.bsky.social on Linguistics in Columbia Libraries; I see a shoutout to the #LCAAJ (an incredibly rich Yiddish linguistics project that began in the 1950s...)! blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/linguistics/...
Really excited to see this medieval Hebrew manuscript and talk at the Morgan Library: www.themorgan.org/programs/gal...
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| Gallery Talk | שיח גלריה Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art and Life (Hebrew language) | Gallery Talk | The Morgan Library & Museum
ספר תהילים, אשר על פי המסורת נכתב על ידי דוד המלך, הוא אוסף של שירי קודש, והוא הספר הארוך והפופולרי ביותר בתנ״ך.
www.themorgan.org
September 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Really excited to see this medieval Hebrew manuscript and talk at the Morgan Library: www.themorgan.org/programs/gal...
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Reposted by Michelle Margolis
some of my favorite former NEH employees have channeled their collective grant-making wisdom into an opportunity for funders. thrilled to see it! hire them. 💫
We are excited to introduce Sidra Collaborative!
We partner with arts, culture, and humanities organizations and funders to build sustainable programs and reimagine a funding landscape that centers transparency, equity, and community.
Learn more: www.sidracollaborative.com
We partner with arts, culture, and humanities organizations and funders to build sustainable programs and reimagine a funding landscape that centers transparency, equity, and community.
Learn more: www.sidracollaborative.com
September 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
some of my favorite former NEH employees have channeled their collective grant-making wisdom into an opportunity for funders. thrilled to see it! hire them. 💫
I mean, it really will be an exhibit for the ages: www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...
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Centuries of Jewish Literary Creativity Celebrated at the Grolier
A new exhibition at The Grolier Club opening later this month in New York will feature manuscripts from The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).
www.finebooksmagazine.com
September 8, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I mean, it really will be an exhibit for the ages: www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...
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Reposted by Michelle Margolis
The Portuguese Synagogue, Esnoga or ‘Snoge’ in Amsterdam is celebrating its 350th birthday this year!
September 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The Portuguese Synagogue, Esnoga or ‘Snoge’ in Amsterdam is celebrating its 350th birthday this year!
I love this so much.
My drawn statement on Ai as standalone from my now finished minicomic as syllabus for new liberal studies class! As promised this is shareable, printable - all from my site, feel free to make use of it, cite me & let me know how it’s received. Share away all here! spinweaveandcut.com/fall-2025-sy...
September 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I love this so much.
Cool #dhjewish event going on in Wrocław this November: Beyond Digital Awe. European Jewish Studies and the Challenge of Digital Humanities
dhjewish.org/event/confer...
dhjewish.org/event/confer...
Conference: Beyond Digital Awe. European Jewish Studies and the Challenge of Digital Humanities | DHJewish
dhjewish.org
September 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Cool #dhjewish event going on in Wrocław this November: Beyond Digital Awe. European Jewish Studies and the Challenge of Digital Humanities
dhjewish.org/event/confer...
dhjewish.org/event/confer...
New exhibit up at the RBML explores books as media for art. It's very cool.
September 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
New exhibit up at the RBML explores books as media for art. It's very cool.
This is amazing and also made me sad. I miss the ODH and the people that made it amazing.
#iSchoolUI PhD student Owen Monroe spent his internship with the National Endowment for the Humanities Office of Digital Humanities studying the long-term sustainability of NEH-funded digital projects. His work helped NEH explore a new grant program for maintaining digital projects ▶️ bit.ly/3JKLnAj
September 4, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This is amazing and also made me sad. I miss the ODH and the people that made it amazing.
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Working on Aaron of Lincoln's charters this evening gives me an excuse to revisit this delightful charter of Simon le Bret granting lands at Wrangle and Leake (Lincs.) to Aaron of Lincoln and Abraham son of Rabbi Josce. TNA DL 27/267
August 16, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Working on Aaron of Lincoln's charters this evening gives me an excuse to revisit this delightful charter of Simon le Bret granting lands at Wrangle and Leake (Lincs.) to Aaron of Lincoln and Abraham son of Rabbi Josce. TNA DL 27/267
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Also: this great inter-library loan (one of the world's treasures!) poster from my September visit to Macalester College
November 19, 2024 at 5:49 AM
Also: this great inter-library loan (one of the world's treasures!) poster from my September visit to Macalester College