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.
A Wisdom Poem
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel;
give ear, and learn wisdom!
Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies,
that you are growing old in a foreign…
Scribes Slain by Seleucids
Then there came to him [Demetrius son of Seleucus] all the renegade and godless men of Israel; they were led by Alcimus, who wanted to be high priest. They brought to the king this accusation…
The Altar as Source of Life
Both the stones of the altar ramp and the stones of the altar were from the valley of Beth Kerem. They dug from the virgin ground below and brought whole stones [to the Temple] over which no iron had…
Priestly Politics and the Cause of War
At the same time things were happening in the temple. Eleazar, the son of the high priest Ananias, a young radical who was Captain of the Temple at the time, persuaded the ministers in charge of…
The Sale of the Priestly Service
Thus shall Aaron enter [the holy place] (Leviticus 16:3): R. Berekhiah [said] in the name of R. Levi: Thus [be-zot]: Scripture makes known that [Aaron] lived 410 years [the numerical equivalent of the…
The Relative Sanctity of the Synagogue and the Study Hall
And R. Pappi said in the name of Rava: [To convert a building] from a synagogue into a study hall [is] permitted, [but] from a study hall into a synagogue [is] prohibited, [as he…
Magnificat and Benedictus
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will…
Jesus’ Prayer on Jewish Models
But do not let your fasts fall on the same days as “the hypocrites,” who fast on Monday and Thursday. Rather, you should fast on Wednesday and Friday. Nor should you pray as “the hypocrites” do, but…
Rabban Gamaliel’s Prayer at Sea
Rabban Gamaliel was aboard a ship. A huge wave came up to drown him. He thought: “It seems to me that this is only happening on account of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus” [who had been put under a ban].…
Vanity of Vanities
The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under…
Jews as Servants or Sons of God
It was taught, R. Meir used to say: A litigant might respond to you and say, “If your God loves the poor, why does God not sustain them?” [If so,] say to [the litigant], “In order that we might be…
Rabbinic Study Sessions
And how many benches were there? R. Jacob b. Sisi said: Eighty benches were there for the disciples of sages, besides those who were standing beyond the fence. R. Yosi b. R. Abun said: Three hundred…