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.
Legumes and Barley
Greetings, Islah.
Now, I shall dispatch legumes tomorrow. Meet the boat tomorrow on Sabbath. Lest, if they get lost, by the life of YHH, I swear that I will take your life. Do not rely on Meshullemeth…
Instructions Regarding Children and Inquiry about Passover
To Hoshaiah. Your welfare (may DN seek after at all times).
Now, look after the children by yourself until Ahutab comes. Do not entrust them to others.
If their bread is ground, knead for them 1 qab,…
Adoption
On the 6th of Tishri, that is day 22 of Payni, year eight of Darius the king, then in Syene the fortress, Uriah son of Mahseiah, an Aramean of Syene, said before Vidranga, the Guardian of the Seventh…
Imposition of a Judicial Oath
On the 18th of Phaophi, year four of Artaxerxes the king in Elephantine the fortress, Malchiah son of Jashobiah, an Aramean, hereditary-property-holder in Elephantine the fortress of the detachment of…
A Property Dispute Settled by Oath
On the 18th of Kislev, that is the 17th day of Thoth, year 21 (of Xerxes the king), the beginning of the reign when Artaxerxes the king sat on his throne, Dargamana son of Khvarshaina, a Khwarezmian…
Renting a House
This is concerning a house that is in Judahtown, below the . . . on the street, that is adjacent to the house of Si-, . . . and adjacent to the house of Matan-Yama (Mattaniah), which Shalammu, son of…
Inheritance Division among Jews
These are the slaves, the share in the paternal estate that Nir-Yama and Yahu-azza, sons of Ahikam, and Hagga, Yahu-izri, and Yahushu, sons of Ahikam, divided among themselves:
The slave woman Nana…
Rental of a Slave
Tsidki-Yama, son of Shillimu (Shillem), voluntarily placed Puhulla, his slave, at the disposal of Shikin-Yama, son of Hinnamu, for his wages of six shekels of silver from the first day of Abu (Ab)…
Legal Order Forbidding a Couple to Meet
On the day that Tabat-Ishar, daughter of Yashe-Yama, is seen with Kulu, son of Kalba, or he takes her away by deceit, if she does not put up resistance and does not say to the head of the family:…
Purchase of Woman in Gozan
On the day of the new moon of Kislimu (Kislev), Bil-barakki, son of Nani, will bring Dayana and hand her over to Hoshea. If he does not bring and hand over the woman, Bil-barakki will pay Hoshea 3…
Redemption of an Israelite
Instead of their seals, they placed their fingernails.
Fingernail of Zakuri, fingernail of Dukur-ili, owners of the man being sold.
Mannu-ki-Arba’il, son of Ahiyau—Bahianu contracted from Zakuri and…
Synagogue in K’ai-fêng (Kaifeng, China)
Jews first settled in Kaifeng, the capital of Henan province in central China, before 1127. According to scholars, they had come from India or Persia, spoke Persian, and worked as cotton dyers and…