Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

lexicography, medicine, mysticism and economics are
all represented.
The vast liturgical collection comprises virtually all
Jewish prayer books printed in the Netherlands. In
addition to Hebrew and Aramaic books, the library
contains works in Latin, Greek, Dutch, Spanish,
Portuguese, French, German, English, Yiddish and
other languages. The collection represents the history
of the output of Jewish book printing from Eastern
Europe to the Americas and from Portugal via the Levant
to Cochin.
In 1889 the then librarian David Montezinos donated
his valuable personal collection to the library and
The Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam, home to the library. �
since then it has been known as Ets Haim Library –
Livraria Montezinos.
Since the monumental complex of the Portuguese
Synagogue was built in Amsterdam in 1675, the library has
been located there almost continuously, with the exception
of its confiscation for some years by Germany during the
Second World War.
109