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.
Aunt Joya
On rare occasions Aunt Joya di Pinso would come over, and whenever she came, the house would be full of good spirits. The minute she set foot on our threshold, pausing for a moment, as was…
He Walked through the Fields
Ruthka [checks the pile of clothes lying on the table]:You’ve given him enough clothes to last him for a year.Gita:When one of our members goes away for a while, I don’t want…
Buying a Calf
One calf, two years old, white, the top of its humpback is cleft (?). Haraa, daughter of Talimmu, sold to Neriyama, son of Ahiyakam, for 23 shekels of white silver, 1/8 per shekel impure, of average…
History of the Israelite Nation, from Abraham to the Present Time
On this occasion a singular event occurred, which gave a new impulse to the piety and energy of Joshiah. The original copy of the laws, supposed to be written by Moses himself was found in the temple…
Responsa binyan tsiyon (Responsa: Building Zion)
The Holy Community of Altona, Friday, 29 Marheshvan 5621[14 November 1860]
To my dear friend, father of my son-in-law, the distinguished rabbi, our Teacher, R. Shemaryahu Zuckerman, may his…
Imprisonment of Jewish Leaders
[To my brother PN, your brother Islah.
It is well for me here]. May the gods seek after your welfare at all times. And now, . . . PN son of PN went to Syene and did/made . . . .
Behold, these are the…
A Portrait of Karl Marx
It is not uncommon to find children of Jewish socialists with first names like “William Morris,” “Lassalle,” or “Bebel.” But we will definitely not find any children named after Karl Marx.
Morris…
Aramaic Proverbs: The Words of Ahiqar
The Words of Ahiqar are the teachings that Ahiqar, the wise scribe who was chief counselor to the kings of Assyria, imparted to his nephew and adopted son Nadin.
The Bramble and the Pomegranate (from The Words of Ahiqar)
The [bram]ble sent a message to the pomegranate as follows: “Dear Pomegranate, what good are all [your] thorns [to him who tou]ches your [fru]it?” The [pome] granate replied to the bramble, “You are…
Inscribed Limestone Basin
This basin from Kuntillet Ajrud is much too large to have been used for a practical purpose—it weighs more than 300 pounds (136 kg) and is large enough for two adults to sit in. The inscription…
Ceramic Offering Stand from Taanach
This 21-inch-high (54 cm) stand was made in the ajouré (open-spaced) style and finished to look like bronze. In the bottom register, a nude female with raised arms (a fertility goddess?) touches the…
Figurine of a Young Bull
This bull figurine, 7 × 5 inches (17.5 cm × 12 cm), was cast in bronze with considerable detail. It combines highly realistic features—horns and ears, genitalia, legs and hooves—with more stylized…