Published on Sep. 13, 2023

Updated on Sep. 22, 2023

To be able to see, feel, and touch the second-oldest Sephardic Torah scroll still extant is a special experience.  At Mizzou we are lucky to have access to such unique pieces.  Last month, Mizzou’s Special Collections partnered with a private collector to make an extensive collection of medieval and early modern materials available to scholars. I was drawn to this open house (jointly hosted by the Honors College and Special Collections) by the lovely invitation (a part of which is shown above) and the description. The collection, as the invitation described, was wide-ranging and included early printed books, medieval manuscripts, heraldry and genealogical texts, and artworks. Highlights included the Sephardic Torah mentioned above, one of the thirty oldest known fragments of the Qur’an, the Ingoldisthorpe Psalter, an extensive collection of Spanish cartas ejecutorias, and four Nuremberg Schembart manuscripts. While these materials do not belong to the MU Libraries, the collection is available to all researchers and is for use in the classroom.

It was a privilege to see these manuscripts and to get a small glimpse into the cultures, norms, and religions of people from 800 or more years ago. The opportunity to experience moments like this is a crucial element of what a comprehensive leading research university like Mizzou has to offer.