The most ancient and complete Tanakh

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ANU– The Museum of the Jewish People will present the Sassoon Code exclusively in Israel – the most complete ancient edition of the Tanakh.

The codex will be presented to the general public in Israel just one week shortly before being auctioned by Sotheby's in New York, with an estimated value of between $30 million and $50 million.
< br /> ANU –Museum of the Jewish People, will present to the general public in Israel for just one week the Sassoon Codex – the most complete ancient Tanakh that has survived to this day.

This important historical event will take place at the museum from 23 to 29 March 2023, before the Codex Sassoon will be auctioned at Sotheby's auction house in May for between $30 million and $50 million, making it the most expensive manuscript or book ever sold at auction.
Demonstration of the “Code of Sassoon” at ANU, the largest Jewish museum in the world, will become an important moment in the work of the museum as an institution that tells about the multifaceted, rich and multi-layered culture of the Jewish people, about the origins of spirituality, education and creativity, traditions and lifestyle of all of us. Part of the concept of the museum is to connect the past, present and future of the Jewish people. We are proud to present to the public in Israel this manuscript – a Jewish book of books, reflecting the religious, cultural, historical and spiritual essence of the Jewish people.

Dr. Orit Shaham-Gover, Chief Curator of ANU: “This is one of the most amazing events in my curatorial life. The ancient Tanakh reflects Jewish history from ancient times to the present day. The history of this manuscript – it is a story of tradition and discovery, knowledge and education, migration and migration, mystery and disappearance along with fascinating human stories. It is a kind of essence of great Jewish history, embodied in a water manuscript. It is a great honor for the museum to exhibit this important book in Israel.

“Code of Sassoon” — one of the most important and unique surviving manuscripts in human history. It contains all 24 books of the Tanakh, as well as the notes of the Torah transcribed as a book (codex), page by page on both sides. AD. Thus, it is defined as the earliest complete copy of the Bible.

Throughout its history, the book changed hands several times, as evidenced by the various inscriptions on its pages. Thus, in the 13th century, the codex was dedicated to the synagogue in the Makisin community, in the Syrian city of Markada.

A detailed inscription on the last page of the manuscript tells of the tragedy of the community, which was attacked by invaders in the 13th or 14th century. The book was smuggled out of the synagogue and disappeared from view for almost 600 years. It appeared again in Frankfurt at the beginning of the last century and was acquired in 1929 by David Solomon Sassoon, one of the most important owners of private manuscript collections in the twentieth century. Today it is in the collection of Jacob (Jacques) Safrev in Geneva.

“This is an important milestone in the history of mankind, — said Richard Austin, head of books and manuscripts at Sotheby's, — The Bible is the foundation and cornerstone of cultures and communities around the world and is without a doubt the most influential book on humanity.

«Jewish Bible — it is a sacred, foundational text for the peoples of the world. For thousands of years, believers have carefully studied, analyzed, pondered and delved into the Holy Scriptures in order to gain wisdom and achieve spiritual enlightenment. “Code of Sassoon” –this is a turning point in how we perceive the history of the Divine Word, and is a witness to how the Hebrew Bible influenced the pillars of civilization — art, culture, law, politics — over the centuries», – said Sharon Mintz, Sotheby's Senior Specialist in Jewish Studies, Books and Manuscripts.

during the week it will be on display at the museum.

In addition, the museum will extend its opening hours for the period of the Codex exhibition:
23.3–Thursday 10:00-22:00
Friday 09:00-15:00
25.3 – Saturday 10:00-17:00
26-29.3 – Sunday-Wednesday 10:00-20:00
Detailed information and ticket reservation: anumuseum.org.il/he/codex-sassoon/

Address: Klausner 15, Tel Aviv< br />
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