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.
Last Will and Testament
O most high and sovereign Creator of heaven and earth, not one of Your countless creatures can resist Your will. Without it neither men nor birds nor brutish beasts could live upon the earth. Unless…
Testament (Jamaica)
In the name of God Amen I Judith Baruh Alvares of the parish of Port Royal in the island of Jamaica widow being in an ill state of health but of sound mind and disposing memory thanks be to my eternal…
Pinkas Lita (Register of Lithuania): On Excommunication
If one who has been excommunicated does not act to have his excommunication removed within thirty days, and the local rabbinic court sees and observes that he remains in his state of rebellion when he…
Acordos (Regulations): On Unruly Boys
On the 28th of Tisry, yr. 5468 [1707], the gentlemen of the Mahamad and their councillors met to correct the disorders caused in this Holy House by the big boys and lads who do not attend the Medras…
Community Register
We the undersigned hereby declare that to sustain the community and for the welfare and the peace of the communities of our city, of common accord we have issued for twenty years the following…
Regulations
With the help of the Almighty; this is a true copy of the original.
We, the undersigned, hereby confirm that the guild of kayīkjis [caique-owners; boatmen] of Ortaköy have undertaken the obligation to…
Takkanot Fez (Regulations of Fez): On Financial Matters
Since there have been a great many requests about matters of taxes, and the gates of wealth and influence are limited, and we have seen that the…
El libro des los acuerdos (The Book of Accounts)
43. To avoid the scandal and hindrance that it causes in this Kahal Kados on the occasions when English ladies come to see the ceremonies of our religion…
Seder mitzvot ha-nashim (The Order of Women’s Commandments): On Marital Relations
It should be known that after her immersion, every woman should persuade her husband and see to it that he study before he lies with her. And so we find it written regarding Boaz, “And Boaz ate…
Ginat veradim (Rose Garden)
There was an incident involving a woman who came before the court to get a divorce. Her name was Melok, and she had no other known name at all. It occurred to me in this regard that the name…
Letter to Her Son
Dear HeartSey
I have Severall of yours bearing Variety of Dates as well as Subiect, In Wich I have had Vast deall of Delight relating to Some matters, Especialy that wich Concerns Your Self. Nothing…
A Song That Ought to Be Sung Every Day
I have experienced in yishuvim [Jewish communities—Ed.] that old women are unable to keep the commandment of nido [menstrual purity—Ed.] properly. When they examine themselves and find a spot of blood…