Bridges of Knowledge

In this collaborative volume, the editors examine the role of Judeo-languages in literary, social, religious, and cultural channels of knowledge transfer, particularly in the dissemination of oral and written traditions beyond the core intellectual elite to the secondary Jewish intelligentsia and broader audiences. This phenomenon is evident in Yiddish, Judeo-Spanish, Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Italian, Judeo-French, and Judeo-Turkish from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The studies in this book present a wide range of manuscripts and printed editions, highlighting the diverse functions and roles of Judeo-languages as vehicles for the distribution, transmission, and mediation of knowledge.

Jean Baumgarten is Directeur de recherche emeritus at the Centre National de la recherche scientifique (CNRS, Paris). He has published articles and books on the Yiddish language and literature (16th-18th century), cultural studies of the Ashkenazi culture, Jewish mysticism and Hasidism.

Ruth von Bernuth is Professor at the North Carolina University. She published books and articles on German and Yiddish literature and culture (15th-18th centuries). Her most recent research focus is the Bible and Biblical literature in Yiddish.

Moshe Lavee is a lecturer in Talmud and Midrash (department of Jewish History,) chair of eLijah-Lab for Digital Humanities (University of Haifa). He published articles and books on Aggadic Midrash from the Genizah, the construction of identity in rabbinic Literature, and DH applications for Jewish Studies.