Rosenbach Museum and Library

     In the exhibit, "In the Beginning," this is the Hamishah humshe Torah (the Five Books of the Torah (also known as the Five Books of Moses)) printed by Eliezer Toledano on vellum in 1491 in Italy. This Torah, which is important for Jews, was used for study. It was printed with vowels (the lines and dots below the letters), the Targum (Aramaic commentary which is on the outside edge of the pages), and Rashi (formally known as Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzhaki) commentary on the inside edge of the pages. (Unfortunately, the above picture does not show either of them.)
     It is part of the "In the Beginning" exhibit, because the Rosenbach family was Jewish and Dr. Abraham Rosenbach had an interest in early and early Hebrew printing. In addition, this Torah presents an excellent example of early Hebrew printing in Italy. In the exhibit, it is opened to Genesis 1:1 with it being its box binding, upright though tilted back. The descriptive text that accompanies it is informative as it states who printed it, when it was printed, exactly where it was printed, the materials of the Torah, and what to look for in the text. It is also a part of a section of early Hebrew printing which includes a book with psalms, a High Holiday prayerbook, and a manual for the Passover meal. In addition to this section on early Hebrew printing, the exhibit also includes some printing by or about Jews in the early United States and some of the Gratz family collection.
     To further my study on the Hamishah humshe Torah, I could research early and/or early Hebrew printing and the history of Jews in the late 1400s in Italy. The people who would not be interested in this object would be non-Jews or people who are not interested in early/early Hebrew printing. An opposing point of view to this Torah would be an explanation from a Christian printer in late 1400s stating why he would not print books in Hebrew. A way to engage visitors with this Torah would be to tell them what are one of God's names in Hebrew (and what it looks like in Hebrew) and ask them to find it on the pages that are open. Another way would be to ask people if they could figure out which section this Torah is opened to.