George Charles de Hevesy, a scientist of Jewish origin, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry at the height of World War II while living in hiding as a refugee. But even before that, he had carried out a daring and ingenious operation — using his scientific expertise to conceal Nobel Prize medals from the Nazis. What does all this have to do with a mischievous landlady who served him recycled leftovers? This is the story of a brilliant and resourceful scientist.
Revealed: Albert Einstein’s Forgotten Assistants
Recently uncovered letters in the Gnazim Archive reveal the extraordinary life stories of two Eastern European Jewish scientists who worked alongside Einstein and helped develop the theory of relativity. This is the story of brilliant minds largely erased from historical memory, and of an archival discovery that brings them back into the light.
The Struggle Over a Baby Baptized by Force
A recently discovered letter sheds light on a tragic historical phenomenon: the secret, forced baptism of Jewish children by Christian servants.
From “The Magic Mountain” to the Fight Against the Nazis: The Story of Thomas Mann
Who was the celebrated German author who began his life as a nationalist and later joined the democratic opposition in exile against the Third Reich? What was his connection to Israel and to the National Library? And why do visitors place stones on his grave? On the 70th anniversary of the death of Thomas Mann, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, we trace the man who gave us “The Magic Mountain” and who became one of the clearest and most steadfast voices against what was happening in his homeland.
The German Boy: Who Was Karl M. Baer?
Behind an unassuming headstone at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv lies one of the most remarkable life stories of the 20th century. By the time of his death, few people knew that this seemingly ordinary insurance agent from the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam was in fact a true global pioneer.
Lover, Liar, Librarian: The Two Lives of Casanova
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova’s name has become a symbol—even a dictionary entry. But was there more to the life and memoirs of the famed Italian lover than just romantic escapades and skirt-chasing? His writings reveal a gifted storyteller who lived without inhibition, but also insights that are dubious, disturbing, and endlessly fascinating. So who was Casanova?
In France, It’s The 14th of July. Elsewhere: Bastille Day
Whatever the holiday’s name, the French Revolution brought Jews equality. The National Library of Israel’s holdings help tell the story.
Even Borscht Tastes Like Home
New on the shelf: When we leave home, even when we make that decision willingly and voluntarily, there is still a connection to the place we left behind. And there’s nothing like food to reawaken those memories and that unique sense of longing.
The Mystery of the Jewish Soldier Who Fell on Yom Kippur, 1944
Two prayer books with some oddly intriguing labels have revealed a fascinating story involving an American Jewish soldier killed during a failed WWII operation. This story begins in Manhattan, 81 years ago. It ends at the National Library of Israel…
Austria’s Dreyfus? The Story of Philippe Halsman, the Man Who Didn’t Murder His Father
Philippe Halsman took some of the most famous photos in the world – hundreds of images of iconic celebrities and pictures adorning the cover of Life magazine and museum walls. But before all this, Halsman was tried in Austria for the unimaginable crime of murdering his own father. Was he truly a cold-blooded killer, or was he an Austrian Dreyfus, persecuted solely for being Jewish?
