The Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, will display a 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible from April 18-20 at the Bridwell Library of the university.
The Bible has recently been displayed in London and Tel Aviv. Still, the exhibition is its first public showing in the United States.
Unveiling the Old Hebrew Bible, 'Codex Sassoon'
The famous collector David Solomon Sassoon, who gathered the world's largest private collection of Judaica and Hebraica manuscripts, bought the Bible in 1929 and gave it its current name, the Codex Sassoon.
According to the news report by the university, a skilled Hebrew scribe painstakingly lettered the almost 800-page Bible onto parchment. Also, the Hebrew Bible contains 24 books and is separated into the Torah ("Penateuch"), the Ketuvim" writings"), and the Nevi'im ("prophets"). The Old Testament of the Christian Bible is based on the Hebrew Scriptures.
Anthony Elia, the director of the Bridwell Library at Southern Methodist University, said the Codex Sassoon is one of the most influential artifacts to appear in the last thousand years because of its reach, impact, and transformative value.
Unlike earlier versions of the Hebrew Bible, Masoretic Hebrew texts like Codex Sassoon include critical and explanatory notes on the text, per the report.
A Masorite scribe spent one to two years copying another work into the Codex Sassoon in the late ninth or early 10th century. A second expert annotated the Codex before being brought to a synagogue in Makisin, Syria, in the 13th century.
Modern Jewish and Christian Bibles are based on the Codex Sassoon, the earliest and most comprehensive Hebrew Bible manuscript. The Hebrew Bible, including the Torah and Psalms, are considered divinely revealed texts in Islam.
Display hours for the Codex Sassoon are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 18 and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 19 and 20. The event is free to attend, but tickets are necessary.
About Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is an internationally renowned research and teaching institution and a top-tier private institution outside Dallas.
Students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries make up SMU's diverse and high-achieving student body.
Data-driven SMU and its powerful "supercomputing" infrastructure, along with entrepreneurial drive, create an unmatched environment for research excellence.
According to the website, SMU is well-known for its dedication to helping its students, faculty, and alums develop into responsible, innovative leaders.
SMU's proximity to Dallas, the heart of one of the country's fastest-growing regions, creates exceptional academic, social, and professional possibilities that serve as a springboard for making a worldwide impact.
About 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students are enrolled in one of SMU's eight degree-granting campuses.
SMU's Mission
With its commitment to learning, discovery, and service, SMU seeks to shape individuals who could positively impact society.
University employees, students, and guests will be immersed in an atmosphere that values each person for who they are and encourages them to realize their full potential as thinkers and learners.
In keeping with its United Methodist roots, SMU reaffirms its longstanding dedication to free inquiry and open teaching.
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