On January 30, 2025, the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Tel Aviv launched an exhibition called “Common Language”. This exhibition showcases four new projects exploring the evolution of Hebrew script design. Among them, typographer Ben Nathan and our colleague, architect Daniel Ziss, presented their project Sahara, which is one of the outcomes of a long-term research initiative started at the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. The aim of this field project was to document mellahs and synagogues in southern Morocco.

During the research conducted in the desert, in remote and isolated areas of southern Morocco, Jewish cemetery tombstones in rural settings were also documented. The script discovered on these tombstones differs significantly from known Hebrew fonts, yet it shares certain similarities with early Hebrew scripts predating the printing revolution. Additionally, influences from Amazigh and Arabic scripts are evident.

Following the study of the script found on tombstones in isolated Saharan villages, the individual letters were analyzed and digitized. This rediscovered script was named “Al-Khanq” after the first village where it was identified. Although Al-Khanq differs considerably from traditional Hebrew fonts, it remains highly legible and structured. Today, the Al-Khanq typeface is already being used in print and inscriptions on contemporary Judaica.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Shenkar Design Research Center has published a monograph and produced a podcast series titled “Shared Language”, covering the four typographic projects featured in the exhibition. The monograph also includes an article on the research project documenting synagogues and mellahs in the Sahara, as well as the process of designing the Al-Khanq script. Additionally, one of the key outcomes of this exhibition will be an April conference organized by the Shenkar Design Research Center.

The exhibition will conclude on April 24, 2025.