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Posted June 21, 2011, by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer to Maqom's home page for information about previous passages.

BH

A JEWISH DA VINCI CODE ... REALLY!
© Judith Z. Abrams

I recently visited the Rare Book Room of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. I strongly urge you to visit if you're ever in the neighborhood. They have gorgeous illuminated manuscripts, huge books, tiny books and this book, below. It's from pre-Expulsion Portugal, in the original binding. It's the Torah, Haftarot, Megillot (including I and II Maccabbees!). This is one of 6 in the world. In the back is this design. Look closely at the edges inside the boundary of the design. There are Hebrew letters inside those edge designs. The librarian had not noticed these. So, my friends, we have a real life problem to solve.

And the Discussion Questions are clear:

Can you make out the letters? What do they spell? What do they mean?

Really looking forward to your answers!

P.S. You can see some of these treasures online: http://huc.edu/libraries/exhibits/rbr/index.php. Cheers!