Were the Yeshivot in Spain Centers for the Copying of Books?

Abstract

The subject of this article is the copying of Hebrew manuscripts in the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages. Geographical localities mentioned in the manuscripts' colophons are the basis for locating copy centers. Very little is known of the working environment of the Jewish scribes. The assumption is that this activity took place primarily in the patron's or scribe's own home. However, in the colophons from Sefarad important information can be derived; that is, that some manuscripts were copied in several yeshivot throughout Spain. This refers mainly to manuscripts copied during the 15th century until the time of the Expulsion. Herein I describe the yeshivot, their scholars, their scribes, and the persons who ordered their copies. Although the number of manuscripts containing this information is reduced, one may assume that other manuscripts were copied in a similar environment. In effect, the yeshivot were the Jewish scriptoria. This information sheds light on the culture of the Hebrew book in the Iberian Penninsula in the waning days of the Middle Ages.