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.
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
An initial-word panel with a head, and a hare marking the beginning of Torah portion Bo (בֹּא)
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Torah; Italy (Florence); 1441-1467 CE; f.41v
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Torah; Italy (Florence); 1441-1467 CE; f.41v
January 18, 2026 at 12:47 PM
An initial-word panel with a head, and a hare marking the beginning of Torah portion Bo (בֹּא)
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Torah; Italy (Florence); 1441-1467 CE; f.41v
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Torah; Italy (Florence); 1441-1467 CE; f.41v
Sure looks like Hebrew characters on that binding label..
Looted libraries : Politics, Memory, and German- Polish Entanglements
@European Review of Books: europeanreviewofbooks.com/looted-libra...
@European Review of Books: europeanreviewofbooks.com/looted-libra...
Looted libraries - The European Review of Books
« In both countries, it has left the government officials grappling with an extremely delicate and complex issue. Why is it so difficult to move forward? »
europeanreviewofbooks.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Sure looks like Hebrew characters on that binding label..
NBD, just pulling some ancient (actually ancient, for those who know how I feel about that word!) objects for the Jewish Books class that starts in a few weeks :) 📚📜😍
Not shown: the Aramaic Ostracon that probably dates to the 5th century BCE.
Not shown: the Aramaic Ostracon that probably dates to the 5th century BCE.
January 13, 2026 at 9:50 PM
NBD, just pulling some ancient (actually ancient, for those who know how I feel about that word!) objects for the Jewish Books class that starts in a few weeks :) 📚📜😍
Not shown: the Aramaic Ostracon that probably dates to the 5th century BCE.
Not shown: the Aramaic Ostracon that probably dates to the 5th century BCE.
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
January 12, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
The AJL Jewish Fiction Award Committee is seeking two new members. Immerse yourself in the vibrant field of contemporary Jewish fiction, connect with and learn from a group of wise and committed colleagues, and honor outstanding writers.
Details at jewishlibraries.org/....
Details at jewishlibraries.org/....
January 11, 2026 at 4:09 PM
The AJL Jewish Fiction Award Committee is seeking two new members. Immerse yourself in the vibrant field of contemporary Jewish fiction, connect with and learn from a group of wise and committed colleagues, and honor outstanding writers.
Details at jewishlibraries.org/....
Details at jewishlibraries.org/....
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
I can only ask, "Why are hearts so hardened?"
Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s largest synagogue was firebombed. The Ku Klux Klan bombed it in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. It was a stop on the Freedom Trail.
Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s largest synagogue was firebombed. The Ku Klux Klan bombed it in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. It was a stop on the Freedom Trail.
Beth Israel Congregation Honored With Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker | Mississippi Development Authority
Jackson, Mississippi — April 13, 2018 — A new historical marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail honors the role Beth Israel Congregation played […]
mississippi.org
January 11, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I can only ask, "Why are hearts so hardened?"
Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s largest synagogue was firebombed. The Ku Klux Klan bombed it in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. It was a stop on the Freedom Trail.
Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s largest synagogue was firebombed. The Ku Klux Klan bombed it in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. It was a stop on the Freedom Trail.
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Anyone in my orbit specifically on Bluesky studying medieval Jewish illuminated mss?
Speaking of art, do we know anyone on this app who studies medieval Jewish textual art? Like illuminations and stuff?
January 8, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Anyone in my orbit specifically on Bluesky studying medieval Jewish illuminated mss?
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
CFP: Jewish Literature under Muslim Rule: Textual Transformations and Inter-Religious Encounters, 14–16 April 2026, Munich.
#jewishstudies
mjsnow.hypotheses.org/20136
#jewishstudies
mjsnow.hypotheses.org/20136
Jewish Literature under Muslim Rule: Textual Transformations and Inter-Religious Encounters, 14–16 April 2026, Munich
According to their call, this “workshop is a cooperation between the Simon Dubnow Institute, Leipzig, and the Unit of Judaic Studies/ Munich Research Centre of Jewish Arabic Cultures at the University...
mjsnow.hypotheses.org
January 4, 2026 at 9:14 PM
CFP: Jewish Literature under Muslim Rule: Textual Transformations and Inter-Religious Encounters, 14–16 April 2026, Munich.
#jewishstudies
mjsnow.hypotheses.org/20136
#jewishstudies
mjsnow.hypotheses.org/20136
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Scholars affiliated with the Midrash Project embarked on a “transcribe-a-thon,” using eScriptorium, an AI platform tailored for use on historical manuscripts.
religionnews.com/2025/12/17/a...
religionnews.com/2025/12/17/a...
AI is enlisted to rescue Jews' cultural heritage and give new life to ancient languages
(RNS) — Researchers are using a very modern tool to transcribe and read hundreds of thousands of medieval manuscripts from the lost age of Eastern European Jewry.
religionnews.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Scholars affiliated with the Midrash Project embarked on a “transcribe-a-thon,” using eScriptorium, an AI platform tailored for use on historical manuscripts.
religionnews.com/2025/12/17/a...
religionnews.com/2025/12/17/a...
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Every 15th-century book was printed on paper stock from one of a handful of fixed sizes. The largest of these measured about 50 x 70 cm. The sheets used to print this book, when manufactured, fell outside that range at a fairly colossal 56 x 70 cm and so thick as to almost feel like leather. 3/8
December 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Every 15th-century book was printed on paper stock from one of a handful of fixed sizes. The largest of these measured about 50 x 70 cm. The sheets used to print this book, when manufactured, fell outside that range at a fairly colossal 56 x 70 cm and so thick as to almost feel like leather. 3/8
Love to see a prize celebrating both Steinschneider and good primary source publishing in Jewish Studies :)
networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
📚📜🗃️
networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
📚📜🗃️
Moritz Steinschneider Prize | H-Net
Moritz Steinschneider Prizea collaboration between the Unit of Judaic Studies at Ludwig Maximilian Universitätin Munich and the academic publisher De Gruyter Brill
networks.h-net.org
December 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Love to see a prize celebrating both Steinschneider and good primary source publishing in Jewish Studies :)
networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
📚📜🗃️
networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
📚📜🗃️
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
Shalom, friends! Serah bat Asher, beloved figure in Jewish lore, appears for the first time in this week’s parsha. Also for the first time, a Judeo-Persian prayer poem praising this Iranian Jewish folk hero is translated into English by Alan Niku! Be the first to hear it!
youtube.com/watch?v=Bppy...
youtube.com/watch?v=Bppy...
Eternal Clout: A Newly Translated Ode to Serah bat Asher with Alan Niku!
YouTube video by Miriam Anzovin
youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Shalom, friends! Serah bat Asher, beloved figure in Jewish lore, appears for the first time in this week’s parsha. Also for the first time, a Judeo-Persian prayer poem praising this Iranian Jewish folk hero is translated into English by Alan Niku! Be the first to hear it!
youtube.com/watch?v=Bppy...
youtube.com/watch?v=Bppy...
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
LLMs can only understand the first line.
Humans can understand the infinite context below.
Humans can understand the infinite context below.
Layers of information in an archival document:
- What is said
- What is not said
- What is alluded to
- What is omitted intentionally
(and unintentionally)
- What is misleading
- What is ambiguous
- What is highlighted
- What is downplayed
- What is weaponized
- What is unintelligible today
...
- What is said
- What is not said
- What is alluded to
- What is omitted intentionally
(and unintentionally)
- What is misleading
- What is ambiguous
- What is highlighted
- What is downplayed
- What is weaponized
- What is unintelligible today
...
December 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
LLMs can only understand the first line.
Humans can understand the infinite context below.
Humans can understand the infinite context below.
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
This volume of Lithuanian Historical Studies includes an article, "The Yiddish Nation as an Imagined Community," on use of LLMs on #YIVO archival materials for study of pre-war E European #Yiddish - based #Jewish identity. Looks fascinating @dhjewish.bsky.social @mmargolis.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This volume of Lithuanian Historical Studies includes an article, "The Yiddish Nation as an Imagined Community," on use of LLMs on #YIVO archival materials for study of pre-war E European #Yiddish - based #Jewish identity. Looks fascinating @dhjewish.bsky.social @mmargolis.bsky.social
Between Theo Dunkelgrun's fantastic presentation and book on the topic, and the chapter in @skimmel.bsky.social's Librarian's Atlas, it was definitely time for me to get some photos of our copy of the Antwerp Polyglot.
It's a regular for my Hebrew Bibles session for LitHum students! 📚📜
It's a regular for my Hebrew Bibles session for LitHum students! 📚📜
November 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Between Theo Dunkelgrun's fantastic presentation and book on the topic, and the chapter in @skimmel.bsky.social's Librarian's Atlas, it was definitely time for me to get some photos of our copy of the Antwerp Polyglot.
It's a regular for my Hebrew Bibles session for LitHum students! 📚📜
It's a regular for my Hebrew Bibles session for LitHum students! 📚📜
Reposted by Michelle Margolis
I know everyone is upset about Gmail’s AI thing right now, but why does nobody talk about the fact that it’s search is absolute pants
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I know everyone is upset about Gmail’s AI thing right now, but why does nobody talk about the fact that it’s search is absolute pants
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).
📜📚
📜📚
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).
📜📚
📜📚
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