The Mystery of Georgia’s Millennium-Old Pentateuch

June 26 2024

Around the 8th century, Jewish scribes in the Land of Israel and Babylonia began producing codices—handwritten, bound books—of the Hebrew Bible, complete with markings to denote vowels, how the text should be chanted, punctuation, chapter divisions, and marginal notes for future scribes. Unlike scrolls, these were for study rather and reference rather than ritual use. One of the oldest, and certainly the most famous, of these is the Aleppo Codex, which—after being carefully safeguarded for centuries by Syrian Jews—now only exists in fragments, which do not include most of the Five Books of Moses.

The oldest near-complete codex of the Pentateuch was found in Lailashi in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, and includes extraordinary calligraphy and micrographic art. Ori Soltes explains some of the history of Georgian Jewry, which traces its roots to the aftermath of the destruction of the First Temple, and the mystery of the codex’s origins. George Khan delves into the technical and linguistic features of the text, which will be of interest to those who read the Torah in synagogues, while Debra Band examines its artistry. (Video, 65 minutes.)

Read more at Oxford Interfaith Forum

More about: Aleppo codex, Georgia, Hebrew Bible, Rare books

What’s Behind Hamas’s Threat to Stall the Release of Hostages, and How Israel Should Respond

Feb. 12 2025

Hamas declared yesterday that it won’t release more hostages “until further notice.” Given the timing and wording of the announcement—several days before the release was supposed to take place, and speaking of a delay rather than a halt—Ron Ben-Yishai concludes that it is a negotiating tactic, aimed at “creating a temporary crisis to gain leverage.” Therefore, writes Ben-Yishai, “Hamas may reverse its decision by Saturday.” He adds:

Israel cannot afford to concede to Hamas’s demands beyond what is already outlined in the agreement, as doing so would invite continuous extortion throughout the negotiation process, further delaying hostage releases.

The group sees the public outrage and growing calls for action following the release of hostages in severe medical condition as an opportunity to extract more concessions. These demands include not only a rapid start to negotiations on the next phase of the deal and an end to the war but also smaller, immediate benefits, particularly improved conditions for displaced Gazans.

Beyond these tactical objectives, Hamas has another goal—one that Israelis do not always recognize: inflicting psychological pain on the Israeli public. The group benefits from, and perhaps even draws strength from, the anguish and emotional distress in Israel, as well as the testimonies of freed hostages detailing the abuse they endured. Hamas wants these stories to be heard—not only to pressure the Israeli government but also because, in the eyes of its supporters, Israel’s suffering is its ultimate victory.

Read more at Ynet

More about: Gaza War 2023, Hamas, Israeli Security