Obadiah the Proselyte

Born in Oppido Lucano, Italy. At birth given the name Johannes. In 1102 converted to Judaism, and in order to further his study of Judaism traveled to Constantinople, Baghdad, and Palestine, finally settling in Egypt and becoming a member of the thriving Jewish community situated there, where he wrote his memoirs. Obadiah's writings contain the earliest surviving manuscript source of Jewish music notation of synagogue chant.

Sources: Encyclopedia Judaica, Oxford Music Online.

Manuscripts and transcriptions of Obadiah the Proselyte

                                      ^{Mi 'al hôrev recto Fragment}

                                     ^{Mi 'al hôrev verso Fragment}

                                     ^{Baruch ha'gever verso Fragment}

                                     ^{Wa-eda mah recto Fragement}

                                      ^{Baruch ha'gever Transcription}

If you are interested in learning more, please peruse our bibliographical database, which includes a number of important articles relating to the discovery and analysis of Obadiah's manuscripts. Some of these articles are available for download and can be accessed below. For a new repository of primary materials on Obadiah the Proselyte see the special website launched in 2019.

See also our Song of the Month (July 2008) "Mi-al har horev: From the manuscripts of Obadiah the Proselyte"