Sample Sources
The sources below are those contained in our three curated collections—covering themes of Passover, Gender Roles, and Holocaust Resistance. They represent a fraction of the thousands of sources that will be available when the full site launches in 2024.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin, Germany
After years of controversy, The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe was established in central Berlin, close to the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, which once divided the city…
Family Chronicle
When I was born, I was given the name Manuel, after my grandfather, Manuel Alvares Pinto, as was said earlier. For this reason and because I was my father’s eldest son, my grandfather always had me…
Last Will and Testament
O most high and sovereign Creator of heaven and earth, not one of Your countless creatures can resist Your will. Without it neither men nor birds nor brutish beasts could live upon the earth. Unless…
Testament (Jamaica)
In the name of God Amen I Judith Baruh Alvares of the parish of Port Royal in the island of Jamaica widow being in an ill state of health but of sound mind and disposing memory thanks be to my eternal…
Pinkas Lita (Register of Lithuania): On Excommunication
If one who has been excommunicated does not act to have his excommunication removed within thirty days, and the local rabbinic court sees and observes that he remains in his state of rebellion when he…
Acordos (Regulations): On Unruly Boys
On the 28th of Tisry, yr. 5468 [1707], the gentlemen of the Mahamad and their councillors met to correct the disorders caused in this Holy House by the big boys and lads who do not attend the Medras…
Community Register
We the undersigned hereby declare that to sustain the community and for the welfare and the peace of the communities of our city, of common accord we have issued for twenty years the following…
Regulations
With the help of the Almighty; this is a true copy of the original.
We, the undersigned, hereby confirm that the guild of kayīkjis [caique-owners; boatmen] of Ortaköy have undertaken the obligation to…
Magen Avraham (Shield of Abraham)
When a borrower is asked to pay usury or interest, they frequently use this…
Takkanot Fez (Regulations of Fez): On Financial Matters
Since there have been a great many requests about matters of taxes, and the gates of wealth and influence are limited, and we have seen that the…
El libro des los acuerdos (The Book of Accounts)
43. To avoid the scandal and hindrance that it causes in this Kahal Kados on the occasions when English ladies come to see the ceremonies of our religion…