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.
Foreign Bills of Divorce
One who brings a get from abroad [to the land of Israel] must declare, “In my presence it was written and in my presence it was signed.” Rabban Gamaliel says: Even one who brings it from Rekem or from…
The Food of Outsiders
20. Meat that is found in the possession of a non-Jew: one is permitted to derive benefit from it. [Meat found] in the possession of a heretic: one is prohibited from deriving benefit from it. [Meat]…
The Soul and the Body Testify
R. Judah ben R. Naḥmani, the translator for Resh Lakish, expounded: What is the meaning of Do not trust a friend; do not put your faith in a general; guard what comes out of your mouth from her who…
Immortality Is the Reward for Martyrdom
Truly the contest in which they were engaged was divine, for on that day virtue gave the awards and tested them for their endurance. The prize was immortality in endless life. Eleazar was the…
A Recipe for Illness
Aramaic
R. Abahu [said] in the name of R. Yoḥanan: Therefore, tsafdina’ [or, tsifduna’] illness constitutes danger [to life].
[Once] R. Yoḥanan suffered from this [illness], and he was treated by the…
Conception, Gestation, and Determination of Fetal Sex
If someone’s wife conceived, and he said [a prayer], “Let it be [God’s] will that my wife shall give birth to a male [child]”—this is a prayer in vain. [ . . . ]
[Hebrew] It has been taught [in a…
Joseph the Wise
Artapanus says in his work Concerning the Jews that Joseph was a descendant of Abraham and a son of Jacob. Because he surpassed his brothers in intelligence and prudence, they plotted against him. But…
David’s Song of Praise
A Hallelujah of David the Son of Jesse
I was the smallest among my brothers,
and the youngest among the sons of my father; and he made me shepherd of his flocks,
and…
Mordecai’s Prayer for Fortitude and Deliverance
Then Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to remembrance all the works of the Lord.
He said, “O Lord, Lord, you rule as King over all things, for the universe is in your power and there is no one…
Hannah’s Hymn of Thanksgiving
And Hannah placed the boy before Eli and said to him, “This is the desire I have desired, and this is the request I have asked” (1 Samuel 1:25–27). And Eli said to her, “You have not asked alone, but…