Call for papers : Colloquium Methodology of Hebrew Palaeography. Expertise, art or science ?
Organized by ERC-Synergy MiDRASH, EPHE – PSL
From an outsider’s perspective, the work of Hebrew palaeographers can appear mysterious. How do they know that a manuscript was indeed written by Maimonides? What evidence supports claims of provenance and authorship? What implicit assumptions underpin palaeographical conclusions?
The growing use of computational methods may create the impression that palaeographical evaluations are becoming more objective. Yet, the fundamental nature of such evaluations remains unchanged. As Peter Stokes has noted, “[Presenting] palaeographical data… cannot be done using purely computational methods with the computer as a ‘black box’, since this simply replaces the palaeographer with the computer as a source of authoritarian statements.
In this situation, how do we define the limits of the method we use as palaeographers? Can a method be questioned, and if so, to what extent and by which means? What constitutes palaeographical expertise, and how is it constructed? How have criteria of authority and validity evolved over time, and what can the history of (Hebrew) palaeography teach us about these changes? What kind of evidence should support claims of expertise?
To what degree must palaeographers defend their conclusions when communicating with non-palaeographers, be they antique dealers, editors of critical editions, digital curators, or historians specialising in other fields? How far can we – or should we – go in defending our views? How is the authority of a palaeographer perceived within and outside the field?
Further, what cultural or cognitive biases affect palaeographical analysis? How can palaeographical findings be verified or replicated? Is it possible – or desirable – to formalise palaeographical expertise? Can a computer challenge a palaeographer’s conclusions, and should such computational tools be designed by palaeographers themselves? What does methodological transparency look like in the age of machine-assisted analysis?
In order to address these questions, we are organising a series of thematic sessions that will bring together palaeographers engaging with these questions from different perspectives. We welcome participants working outside the field of Hebrew manuscript studies, as well as palaeographers across the spectrum, from traditional methods to computational approaches. We invite both theoretical reflections on palaeography, and more ‘technical’ or case-based contributions. In all cases, we aim to foster methodological transparency.
Proposed section topics include, but are not limited to:
- dating
- handwriting identification
- evolution of script
- localisation
- terminology and its definition
- the universality (or lack thereof) of palaeographical terminology
The colloquium is planned as an in-person event. In exceptional cases, online participation may be arranged. If necessary, please contact the organizer directly to discuss this option.
The language of the colloquium is English.
We look forward to your participation.
How to apply:
Please submit the following materials as a single PDF-file:
- Paper title and abstract (250-350 words).
- Short CV (maximum 2 pages).
- Current institutional affiliation.
All materials must be submitted in English.
Please note that the number of papers we can accommodate is limited; proposals will be selected
based on their relevance to the colloquium’s theme.
Please send your application to Evgeniya Zarubina [evgeniya.zarubina@ephe.psl.eu] using
“Hebrew Palaeography Colloquium Application” as the subject line.
Application deadline: 21 November 2025
Notification of acceptance: 20 December 2025
If you have any questions regarding the colloquium’s organization, please do not hesitate to
contact the organizer using the email above.
Organizer: Dr Evgeniya Zarubina, EPHE-PSL, Paris, France
Organised within the framework of the ERC project MiDRASH (Grant N° 101071829).
Reuters : Vast trove of medieval Jewish records opened up by AI
By Dedi Hayun and Hannah Confino
‘This is only the beginning’ Scholars transcribe hundreds of thousands of Cairo Geniza fragments, some never read before
The MiDRASH project received an $11.5 million grant to take research on medieval Jewish literature to the next level
The secrets of the Cairo Geniza are being revealed through new systems.
A project based on the National Library’s digital database of Hebrew manuscripts will, for the first time, enable the automatic transcription of the entire Cairo Geniza. In doing so, the texts of the large collection of Jewish manuscripts and books will become accessible to everyone (in hebreu).
https://www.ynet.co.il/judaism/article/sjhljtiewl
AI unlocks Cairo Genizah’s hidden world
A new automatic transcription project makes 400,000 medieval fragments fully searchable for the first time.
By Sharon Altshul
https://www.jns.org/ai-unlocks-cairo-genizahs-hidden-world
Secrets of the Cairo Geniza to Be Revealed
A groundbreaking project based on the National Library of Israel’s digital database of Hebrew manuscripts has enabled automatic transcription of the entire Cairo Geniza, making it searchable and accessible worldwide.
On Monday, November 24, 10:00-11:00, MiDRASH team leaders Professor Daniel Stökl Ben Ezra, Professor Nachum Dershowitz, Dr. Avi Shmidman, will present their work their work in automatic transcription of the Cairo Geniza and will also publish the models developed for transcribing the Geniza.
The presentation is part of a “Transcribathon” for the transcription of Hebrew manuscripts. On November 24-27, volunteers will “hack” a database of digitized Hebrew language manuscripts that have undergone automatic transcription. Their task will be to improve these transcriptions by reviewing and correcting the results of the automatic process, helping to train and enhance machine-learning models that will ultimately enable full text search of handwritten documents.
The “Transcribathon” will be held both at the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem and online, from November 24–27, between 10:00 and 18:00 (Israel time). The focus will be on semi-cursive and cursive medieval and modern Hebrew scripts. Activities will include reviewing and correcting automatic transcriptions, with full guidance provided for all participants. To participate:
https://www.nli.org.il/en/visit/seminars/manuscripts-hackathon