In this Article
An International Team of Experts
Six Experts. One Shared Vision.
The founding of the Leu Judaica Department marks more than the creation of a new center of expertise for Jewish cultural heritage. It also brings together an international team of experts representing leading figures from scholarship, museums, private collecting, and the international coin trade.
Each brings a distinct perspective. Together they share one goal: to study important witnesses to Jewish history with scholarly rigor, preserve them responsibly, and make them accessible to future generations.
It is precisely this combination of different forms of expertise that makes the Leu Judaica Department unique. Scholarly research, responsible collecting, institutional collaboration, and decades of experience in the international coin trade do not exist in isolation; they complement one another. The result is a network able to support collections holistically – from scholarly research and documentation to publication, long-term preservation, and responsible transfer to new stewards.
Dr. Haim Gitler
Dr. David Jeselsohn
Catharine C. Lorber
Yves Gunzenreiner
Lars Rutten
Til Horna
Scholarship as the Foundation
The Department's scholarly foundation is provided by internationally recognized researchers whose work has shaped numismatic scholarship for decades.
Dr. Haim Gitler, Tamar and Teddy Kollek Chief Curator of Archaeology at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, joins the Department as a scholarly advisor and is one of the world's leading specialists in the numismatics of ancient Judaea and the Near East. His research brings archaeology, history, and numismatics together and connects collections with international scholarly discourse.
This perspective is complemented by Catharine C. (‘Cathy’) Lorber, whose foundational publications on the coinages of the Seleucids, Ptolemies, and ancient Judaea are regarded as standard references worldwide. Her particular strength lies in her scholarly independence. Through her independent judgment and editorial experience, she helps document important collections to the highest academic standards and integrate them permanently into international research.
The Perspective of Responsible Collecting
Important collections are built not by expertise alone, but above all through passion, patience, and responsibility. Few embody this attitude as fully as Dr. David Jeselsohn. Over decades, he has assembled one of the most important private collections of Jewish cultural heritage while also supporting research centers, libraries, and scholarly publication projects. His experience is a reminder that great collections realize their greatest value not through ownership, but through their contribution to cultural memory.
Where Scholarship Meets the Market
Research alone is not enough. Equally important is the ability to communicate scholarly findings clearly and to steward collections responsibly.
This role is fulfilled by Lars Rutten, historian, numismatist, and Academic Director of the Leu Judaica Department. Through historical interpretation, market expertise, and many years of experience in the international coin trade, he ensures that scholarship, provenance, and historical context are visible throughout the cataloging process. His work bridges research and the practice of collecting in a clear and accessible way.
Til Horna is responsible for turning this vision into practice. As Senior Numismatist, he combines deep expertise in medieval and modern numismatics with exceptional organizational precision. He coordinates complex collection and auction projects, creating the conditions in which scholarly quality, professional documentation, and excellent service work seamlessly together.
A Shared Vision
The Leu Judaica Department was initiated by Yves Gunzenreiner, Managing Director of Leu Numismatik AG. His vision is to create a place where collectors, scholars, museums, and philanthropic supporters can work together over the long term. Trust, integrity, scholarly quality, and personal responsibility form the foundation of every project. His aim is not only to guide important collections successfully, but to make their historical and cultural value visible for the long term.
A Shared Responsibility
The members of the expert team share a common conviction: important collections are far more than historical objects. They are sources of scholarly knowledge, expressions of cultural identity, and a legacy for future generations.
The Leu Judaica Department seeks to share this responsibility with collectors, museums, universities, libraries, family offices, and philanthropic supporters. It serves as a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and responsibility – with the aim not only of preserving Jewish cultural heritage, but of advancing its study and international visibility over the long term.
Are you also committed to the study and preservation of Jewish cultural heritage and interested in working with us?
Please contact us at judaica@leunumismatik.com or +41 52 214 11 10.
