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The Soncino Talmud and Late Medieval Hebrew Book Culture
Dr Yakov Z. Mayer from Haifa University is a Hebrew writer and a historian of Hebrew Book Cultures. His recent book is The Talmud: A History of Learning (2025, with Ishay Rozen Zvi).
In 1484, less than thirty years after Gutenberg’s Bible left the famous printing house in Mainz, the first two volumes of the Talmud were printed by the Ashkenazi Soncino family in Italy. These were the tractates of Berakhot and Beitzah. These volumes became among the most famous Hebrew incunabula and are responsible for the iconic design of the Talmud page as we know it today.
Many historical discussions have examined the influence of this edition on subsequent editions and generations of scholars. However, the question of the demand for the edition at the time of its appearance has not yet been addressed.
In my lecture, I will address the book culture of Talmud scholars in the study halls (Yeshivot) of Northern Italy toward the end of the 15th century, and describe the cultural, economic, and scholarly context in which the Soncino Talmuds were printed, focusing on the eight tractates printed during the first five years of the printing house’s operation, from 1484 to 1489, that have survived to this day.
All welcome – refreshments to follow.
In order to participate in this lecture online, please register at this link: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5RYjP2YURfCgwLNi2lAAdQ
Date:
12 February 2026, 18:00
Venue:
Clarendon Institute, Walton Street OX1 2HG
Venue Details:
Catherine Lewis Lecture Theatre, and online via Zoom
Speaker:
Yakov Z Mayer (Haifa University)
Organising department:
Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Organiser contact email address:
enquiries@ochjs.ac.uk
Part of:
Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Belinda Clark
