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.
Ge’ ḥizayon (Valley of Vision)
In a dream, in a night vision, while [I was] asleep upon [my] bed during my imprisonment, a voice called in my ears. The voice was the voice of Jacob, like the voice of my father, may his memory be…
Testament (Verona)
We the undersigned went in to visit R. David ben R. Moses Verlengo, may God preserve him, and found him ill, lying on his bed, but his words and speech were lucid and correct and orderly in his mouth…
Takkanot (Regulations)
Regarding Torah study it should be thus. Each one shall ensure that he learn what he can for at least one hour each day or pay a rabbi for this purpose. If he cannot, he should read the godly books…
Kuntres ha-semikhah (Notebook on Ordination)
This is a short essay on the debate concerning practical halakhic issues that took place between the sages of Safed and those of Jerusalem wherein the sages of Safed saw fit to implement the ruling…
Takkanot (Regulations)
Inasmuch as the association of balbirer [artisan barbers] have seen boys break away from their masters and think of themselves as expert physicians, and, on account of which, they have failed in…
Appointment of Samson Wertheimer as Imperial Court Factor in Vienna
We, Leopold, elected Roman Emperor by the grace of God, in the name [of the House of Hapsburg], the name of our heirs and our descendants, with this letter proclaim publicly that we have graciously…
Takkanot (Regulations)
1. When the leaders of the people assembled together, the heads of the holy community of Ludmir (Włodzimierz), in conjunction with all…
Letter of Approbation for a Preacher
Lo, here is seed [zera‘] for you (Genesis 47:23), blessed one of the Lord [berakh], his honor the eminent rabbi and great preacher and reprover, in honor of heaven, our teacher and rabbi, Berakh son…
Ketubah for Shavuot
In the Sephardic tradition, a “marriage contract” (ketubah), a symbolic betrothal of God and Israel, is read before the Torah reading on the first day of the holiday of Shavuot
An Impure Occurrence
On the Sabbath a few young girls were [playing] going up and down a ladder in the house of Bella Stella. One of them, Marchigiana, daughter of Aron di Joab, [tripped . . . and] fell; and her virginity…
Me’irat ‘enayim (Light of the Eyes)
Lo! I, the insignificant Joshua Falk, son of my Master, my father, the honorable R. Alexander ha-Kohen of blessed memory, was once young and am now aged (Psalms 37:25), and all my life I grew up among…
Sefer ha-ḥayim (The Book of Life)
As it is written in the Zohar, Shelakh lekha: Women are privileged to merit the joy of the righteous who do the work of the Lord. They establish merit for their portion among the righteous. Men and…