its Entertai Illuminating Images The following programs have been planned in conjunction with "Treasures of Jewish Cultural Heritage from the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary": • A special preview of "Treasures of Jewish Cultural Heritage from the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary" will be held 3-6 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Dr. Meyer Rabinowitz, librarian and associ- ate professor of Talmud at JTS, will be the keynote speaker at 4:30 p.m. He will speak on the value of preserving the Jewish past to build the future. Light refreshments will be served. $18. • Teacher Workshop: "The Art of the Book," 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18. $30 nonmem- bers/$24 members. • Drop-In Workshop: "Bookarts," create a sim- ple book of your own to take home, 12-3 p.m. Saturdays, March 27 and April 10, and Sunday, April 11. Free with museum admission. • Drop-in Workshop: "Printmaking," learn to make a simple print to take home, 12-3 p.m. Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, May 2. Free with museum admission. • Adult Class: "Book Art for Adults," taught by Lynne Avadenka, 1-3 p.m. Sundays, April 11, 18, 25. $30 nonmembers/$24 members. $15 materials fee. • Lecture: "Salamoni Rossi: A 16th Century Jewish Composer," 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21. Free with museum admission. • Lecture: "Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Confrontation and Cooperation," 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25. Free with museum admission. • Tour: "Boundaries of the Universe: A Suite of Prints," with Lynne Avadenka, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 16. Free with museum admission. • Video: Title to Be Announced, 2 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and Sundays, May 9 and 30. Free with museum admission. • Storytelling: "Jewish Folklore: The Oral Transmission of the Written Text," with Corrine Stavish, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 23. Free with museum admission. • Hudson's First Fridays at the DIA: "Insider's View" by Ellen Sharp, 6 and 7:30 p.m. April 2. Free with museum admission. A preview reception for the exhibition "Treasures of Jewish Cultural Heritage From the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary" will be held 3-6 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the DIA. Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz will present a lecture at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $18 per person, payable at the door. For information or to register for classes or workshops, call (313) 833-4249. 3/12 1999 84 Detroit Jewish News IMAGES from page 81 he organizes the library's traveling collections. "In total, there are 110 objects, and some are really quite startling." The first part of the exhibition consists of two of the most important illuminated Hebrew manuscripts owned by the seminary — the Prato Haggadah, which was written around 1300 in Spain, and the Rothschild Mahzor, which was completed in 1492 Italy. These two manuscripts together have never been seen outside the seminary. The second part of the exhibition includes 27 ketub- bot (marriage contracts) from the library and a private collec- Rabbi Jerry tion; they represent countries Schwarzbard: as far away as India, Morocco, "The exhibition the Netherlands and Portugal. reflects the richness The third component, titled of the Jewish tra- "Toward the Eternal Center: dition." Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple," consists of 81 objects devoted to the concepts of a physical and spiritual center, and features medieval manuscripts, books, maps, illuminations, prints and broadsides. "The exhibition reflects the richness of the Jewish tradition," says Rabbi Schwarzbard, who has lectured extensively about Judaica, Hebraica, the library and its treasures and is making several trips to Michigan to set up the displays and train the docents. "The marriage contracts are quite fascinating for anyone interested in the folk art of the Jewish people or the various customs, such as the acceptance of dowries, of Jewish communities around the world. Still, they are very similar in language, superscriptions and verses, and you'll find the same verses in a Persian ketubbah, an Indian ketub- bah and an Italian ketubbah." The JTS library has more than 11,000 Hebrew manuscripts, and its rare book collection is the largest of its kind in the world. It acquires historically significant works as well contemporary pieces through dona- Rabbi Mayer tions, direct purchases and auctions. Rabinowitz will The final selections for the speak at the pre- Motor City exhibition were view reception on made by Ellen Sharp, DIA cura- Sunday. tor of graphic arts, and Michael Kan, DIA curator of African, Oceanic and New World cultures. "These are extremely rare and beautiful illuminat- ed manuscripts, and they're representative of the seminary's holdings," says Sharp, who will be con- ducting one of the lecture sessions. "The Rothschild Mahzor reflects the position of the Florence Jews, who had positions of importance."