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.
Genesis Rabbah on the Binding of Isaac
55:2. The Lord tries the righteous, [but His soul despises the wicked and the lover of violence] (Psalm 11:5). R. Jonathan taught: The potter does not test defective vessels, for he hardly has to give…
The Death of Judah
Now Judah heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that they pledged friendship to…
Herod Moves against Antigonus and Avenges His Brother
Herod had by now sailed from Italy to Ptolemaïs, and, having put together a considerable force of mercenaries and native Jews, was advancing…
Alexandra
Herod [ . . . ] heard of the arrest of his brother from others, and on the advice of the daughter of Hyrcanus, to whose daughter he had been betrothed, he became…
Josephus Goes over to the Romans
“Our best course then, my friends, is to take the sensible view and not compound our human predicament with impiety towards the God who created us. If our lives are…
The Fortress at Masada
So the Roman general arrived with his forces to take on Eleazar and the Sicarii occupying Masada with him. Silva quickly established control of the whole surrounding area, set…
Conflicts between Christians and Jews at Alexandria
About this same time, it happened that the Jewish inhabitants were driven out of Alexandria by Cyril the bishop, on the following account. The Alexandrian public is more delighted with turmoil than…
Kartīr’s Smiting of Religious Minorities
And from province to province, place to place, and throughout the empire, the services to Ohrmazd and the gods increased. And the Mazdayasnian [Zoroastrian] tradition and the magi received great honor…
Alexander Tries to Enter the Jerusalem Temple
[Alexander the Macedonian] desired to go up to Jerusalem. The Samaritans said to him, “Beware, for they will not let you enter their holy of holies.” When Geviah the son of Kosem discovered this, he…
Rejection of Bar Kokhba as the Messiah
Bar Koziba ruled for two and a half years. He said to the rabbis, “I am the Messiah.” They said to him, “About the Messiah, it is written that he smells and judges.” Let us see if he is able to smell…
Rava Accepts Money from Ifra Hormiz, the Mother of Shapur II
[It is related that] Ifra Hormiz, the mother of King Shapur, sent four hundred dinars to R. Ami, but he did not accept them. She [then] sent them to Rava, and he accepted them for the sake of peace…
Simplicity, Pacifism, and Virtue
Palestinian Syria, too, has not failed to produce high moral excellence. In this country live a considerable part of the very populous nation of the Jews, including as it is said, certain persons…