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.
John Questions Jesus’ Identity
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered…
Abraham as Emblem of Faith
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the…
Letter from Jonathan on Behalf of the Gerousia to the Lacedaemonians (Spartans)
The [Roman] Gerousia then confirmed what had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with the Jews and gave them letters to convey to all the kings of Asia and Europe, and to the governors…
Royal Inscriptions from Ḥimyar
Malkīkarib Yuha’min and his sons Abīkarib As‘ad and Dhara’’amar Ayman, ki[ngs of Sa]ba’, dhū-[Raydān], Ḥadramawt, and Yamanat built, laid the foundations, plastered, and roofed their Kl…
A Tannaitic Book List
The sages taught: The order of the [books of the] Prophets [when they are attached together is as follows]: Joshua and Judges, Samuel and Kings, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, [and] Isaiah and the Twelve…
Dividing, Combining, and Binding Scrolls
Abaye said to R. Joseph: That [statement] of R. Judah is [actually the opinion] of Samuel, [his teacher,] as we learned [in the Mishnah]: But [in the case of] sacred writings, [i.e., a scroll of any…
The Priestly Service
Now the service of the priests is not to be surpassed by anything in physical strength or in its state of decorum and silence. For all, of their own accord, work diligently at a greatly laborious…
The Temple Vessels Are Buried
And Jeremiah said, “Behold, Lord, we know now that you are delivering the city into the hands of its enemies, and they will carry the people off into Babylon. What do you want me to do…
Prayer Is like Sacrifice
R. Phineas in the name of R. Hoshaiah: He who prays in the synagogue is as if he had sacrificed a pure flour offering. What is the reason? As the children of Israel bring flour offering in a pure…
Qumran Daily Blessings
[When the sun] ris[es to shine on the earth they shall bless. They shall recite saying: Blessed is the God of Israel] who makes kno[wn . . . ] for…
Tobit’s Prayer of Confession
Then with much grief and anguish of heart I wept, and with groaning began to pray:
“You are righteous, O Lord,and all your deeds are just;all your ways are mercy and truth;you judge the world.And…
Poetic Fragment for the Sabbath Morning Tefillah
Moses rejoiced in the gift of his portion,
for You called him a faithful servant.
A glorious crown You placed on his head
as he stood before You on Mount Sinai.
Stone tablets he brought down in his…