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.
Daniel, the Serpent, and the Lion’s Den
When King Astyages was laid to rest with his ancestors, Cyrus the Persian succeeded to his kingdom. Daniel was a companion of the king, and was the most honored of all his Friends.
Now the…
Joshua’s Prayer for Israel before His Death
And Joshua said, “You above all know, Lord, what moves the heart of the sea before it rages, and you have searched out the constellations and numbered the stars and regulated the rain; you know the…
Isaac Blesses Jacob and His Sons
Isaac then said, “May a blessing rest on you, my sons, and on your descendants today because you have given me rest. My mind is not sad regarding the birthright—lest you do something evil about it.…
Israel’s Future and the Coming Kingdom
Then powerful kings will rise over them, and they will be called priests of the Most High God. They will perform great impiety in the Holy of Holies. And a wanton king, who will not be of…
The Utility of a Parable
The rabbis say: Do not make light of the mashal [parable or illustrative fable]. For with the aid of a parable, one can understand the words of Torah. It is comparable to a king who lost a golden coin…
Yalta
And some say that this halakhah was taught in a baraita: Ten things were said with regard to a cup of blessing [the cup of wine over which Grace after Meals is recited]: It requires…
Mishnah Terumot
1. If a woman [who was married to a priest] was eating terumah [the priest’s portion], and they came and said to her, “Your husband is dead,” or “He divorced you”; or if a…
Mishnah Makhshirin
1:1. Any liquid that is desired at the start, even though it is not desired at the end, or, if it is desired at the end, even though it was not desired at the start, [it] comes under the law of if…
Bavli Gittin
[The mishnah taught that] Hillel [the Elder] instituted a document that prevents the sabbatical [year] from abrogating an outstanding debt [prosbul]. We learned [in a mishnah]: [if one prepares—Ed.] a…
Ruth Rabbah
21. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:14). All kisses are of licentiousness, except for three: A kiss of greatness, a kiss of [greeting after] absence, and a kiss of parting. A kiss of greatness…
Aristobulus I
After their father Hyrcanus died, the eldest son, Aristobulus, saw fit to transform the government into a kingdom, which he judged to be the…
Octavian Confirms Herod’s Claim to Kingship
“Caesar,” he said, “I was made king by Antony, and I acknowledge that I have throughout served Antony’s interests. I will not conceal from you either that, if I had not been occupied with the Arabs…