Colloquium Methodology of Hebrew Palaeography: Expertise, art, or science?
Organized by ERC-Synergy MiDRASH, EPHE-PSL 4 May 2026 Paris-Aubervilliers, Campus Condorcet
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 Strokes 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.
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 at [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).
