Notable Judaeo-arabic Collection is Acquired by Congress Library

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The most notable acquisition of the Semitic Division of the Library of Congress during the past year was in the domain of Judaco-Arabic literature, according to the annual report of Dr. Israel Schapiro, chief of this division, included in the report of the Librarian of Congress.

Dr. Schapiro’s report explains that the term Judaco-Arabic connotes the Arab vernacular used by Jews living in Arabic speaking countries, and that in its written form it employs Hebrew characters and a simpler grammatical construction than its present tongue. He also states that as a vernacular, Judaco-Arabic is generally classed together with Judaco-Persian. Judaco-Spanish and Judaco-German, but that the literary output of none of these has approached it either in volume or in significance.

The report also states that in view of the high significance of the Judaco-Arabic literature to the students of theology, philosophy and Hebrew Philology and Hebrew poetry it has been the endeavor of the Semitic division to acquire its most representative material both in the original Arabic and in the Hebrew translations, and adds that the bulk of this literature, from its beginnings in the Irak and through its rise in Spain and Southern France down to the publications of its press today have been assembled in the Semitic division.

The additions to the Semitic division have however, during the past year been fewer in number than the average of recent years, the report states, owing to more pressing demands upon the library’s book purchasing funds.