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.
Pesher Habakkuk
[And justice does not emerge as the winner, for the evildoer accos]ts the upright man (Habakkuk 1:4). [Its interpretation: the evildoer is the Wicked Priest and the upright man] is the…
Talmudic Reference to Jesus’ Trial
[If, after the condemned man is returned to the courthouse, the judges] find [a reason to] acquit him, they [acquit him and] release him [immediately]. But if [they do] not [find a reason to acquit…
True Law
As we have just mentioned the passage about Peter and those who taught Christianity to people of the circumcision, I do not think it out of place to quote a certain utterance of Jesus from John’s…
Mention of the Gerousia in Official Letters
This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: “The high priest Jonathan, the senate [gerousia] of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people to…
Roman Jews Mourn Julius Caesar
At the height of the public grief a throng of foreigners went about lamenting each after the fashion of his country, above all the Jews, who even flocked to the place for several successive nights.
Tr…
God’s Blueprint for Creation
The great R. Hoshaya opened his exposition [of Genesis 1:1 with Proverbs 8:30]: I [Wisdom] was an ’amon to Him and a source of daily delight. [What is the meaning of ’amon?] ’Amon means “pedagogue.” ’…
Criticism of Scribes
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is…
The Samaritan Temple at Mount Gerizim
Now it happened that the Jews in Alexandria and the Samaritans who worshiped at the temple on Mount Gerizim, which was built in the days of Alexander, were in conflict. They were disputing about their…
Leading Priests Desert Jerusalem
Many of the upper class, though, were shaken by his [Josephus’] speech. Some of them were too frightened of the revolutionary police to make a move, despite recognizing that they themselves were…
A Jewish Perspective
Another time, [Rabban Gamaliel, R. Joshua, R. Eleazar ben Azariah, and R. Akiva] were ascending to Jerusalem. On reaching Mount Scopus, they tore their garments. When they reached the Temple Mount and…
Hodayot
[I give tha]nks to you, O Lord,
According to the greatness of your strength
and the multitude of your wondrous deeds,
forever and ev[er.
Many are the mercies] and…
The Requirement of Prayer
Another interpretation of and to serve Him: This refers to prayer. You might say, “This refers to prayer [according to you], but might it not refer to [Temple] service?” [The answer is no,] since…