Angels

Jews often associate angels with Christian imagery. But the Greek word at the root of “angel” merely means “messenger” (as does the Hebrew equivalent), as in “messenger of God,” and angels were widespread in biblical and later Jewish texts. As accepted parts of the Jewish imagination of the heavenly court, angels were also frequently represented in Jewish manuscripts and other Jewish art (yes, in contradiction to the second commandment, but Jews commonly ignored this commandment). You will see many examples of this in the pages of manuscripts in our collection.