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.
Hecataeus on Moses and the Origin of the Jewish People
When in ancient times a pestilence arose in Egypt, the common people ascribed their troubles to the workings of a divine agency; for indeed with many strangers of all sorts dwelling in their midst and…
Pompey’s Conquest of Jerusalem
In this way, and without fighting, the Romans came to possess Cilicia and inland Syria and Coele-Syria and Palestine and all the regions of Syria bearing other names between the Euphrates, Egypt, and…
The Decline and Death of Herod
From that time on Herod’s disease spread to affect every part of his body with a range of symptoms. He had a fever (relatively mild), intolerable itching all over his body, constant…
Incitement to Revolt
So this boil [of the Egyptian false prophet] too was lanced, but, as happens in a sick body, another tumour broke out elsewhere. The charlatans and the terrorists joined forces to incite large numbers…
The Fate of Those Who Escape
Of those now deserting some had no choice but to move quickly and jump down from the wall: others sallied out with stones in their hands as if to do battle, and then fled to the Romans. But desertion…
Christian Interpretation of Bar Kokhba’s Defeat
[ . . . ] After the destruction which occurred under Vespasian and Titus, these Jews rebelled during the reign of Hadrian and tried to go back to the old commonwealth and way of life. What they failed…
Jewish Colonies in Babylonia and Its Environs
And not only are the mainlands full of Jewish colonies but also the most highly esteemed of the islands Euboea, Cyprus, Crete. I say nothing of the countries beyond the Euphrates, for except for a…
Torah Law versus Magian Law
R. Yoḥanan says, “Jerusalem was destroyed only because they adjudicated cases on the basis of Torah law.” Should they rather have adjudicated cases on the basis of magian law?!
Translated by Shai…
The Rise of King Herod
Herod was a servant in the house of the Hasmoneans. He put his eyes upon a particular girl. One day, [Herod] heard a heavenly voice that said: Whatever servant rebels now will succeed! [Herod] got up…
The Power of the Exilarch in Commerce
R. Dimi brought figs from Nehardea on a ship. The exilarch said to Rava, “Go and see. If he is a sage, give him first right of sale in the market.” Rava said to R. Ada bar Abba, “Go appraise his…
Punishment of False Witnesses
Perjuring witnesses are not to be put to death until [after] the end of the trial. Because the Sadducees say: [Perjurers were put to death] only after the accused had [actually] been executed, as it…
The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek
[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ] [ . . . ] And as for what he said: In [this] year of jubilee, [you shall return, each one, to his respective property (Leviticus 25:13), concerning it he said: Th…