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.
Memorial
Memorial, like many of Bak’s paintings, evokes the ruins incurred by the Holocaust, in this case symbolized by the shards of shattered Jewish tombstones, possibly hinting at the two tablets of law. A…
Razor
Weinfeld, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, produced artworks addressing the question of who she would have been if she had herself been a prisoner in a concentration camp? Would she have been…
Ve-lo ‘od ela’ (Moreover): On the Earthquake in Smyrna
Now since the episode of the earthquake has already been mentioned, in order that all those who come after us should be aware of it, I shall place on record what occurred in relation to the earthquake…
Sefer ha-zikhronot (The Book of Memories)
“Blessed be He who shows loving kindness to the undeserving, for he requited me with every kindness” in the dead of night, on Monday, in the early morning of the 9th of Kislew…
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…
Introduction: Simeon bar Tsemaḥ, Sefer ha-tashbets
This is both Sinai and the uprooter of mountains, the book Sefer Hatashbeṣ, which was composed by the king, the great eagle, the renowned sage, the grand prince, the light of…
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…