The Fisher Library's Judaica holdings span over 1000 years. This exhibition features items that were produced every century from the 10th to the 21st, including biblical manuscripts, works of Jewish law and liturgy, incunabula, rare Constantinople imprints, and much more. Highlights are the manuscript of the Zohar, which belonged to the famous false Messiah Shabbetai Tsevi, and a copy of Maimonides law code Mishneh Torah with Sabbatean markings. Another highlight is a facsimile of the Alba Bible, one of the most elaborate illuminated biblical manuscripts ever produced. The exhibition also features contemporary works by Jewish and Israeli artists and bookmakers. A section devoted to Canadiana features one the earliest Canadian imprints, dating from 1752 as well as the first English translation of the Hebrew prayerbook (1770), among whose sponsors were the Canadian merchant Aaron Hart and his wife.
This exhibition is curated by Barry Walfish.