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.
When Congress Debated Whether “Jew” Meant Faith or Race
Before Congress in 1909, Simon Wolf argued against labeling immigrants by religion or race, insisting that Jews be recognized simply by the nation from which they came.
Maryland’s “Jew Bill” and Jewish Petitions for Equality
Maryland once required belief in Christianity if one were to hold office. Jewish leaders petitioned for decades until the 1826 “Jew Bill” secured equal citizenship rights.
Amsterdam Jews Petition for Rights in New Amsterdam (New York)
In 1655, Amsterdam’s Jews petitioned the Dutch West India Company to let them remain after they were barred from New Amsterdam, the colony that became New York.
Jewish Community of Ifrane, Morocco: A Vanished Legacy
Zédé Schulmann’s “Membres de la communauté juive d’Ifrane” captures one of the last Jewish communities in Morocco, tracing its ancient roots to Israelite exiles.
“To Bigotry No Sanction”: George Washington and Newport’s Jews
George Washington’s 1790 letter to Newport’s Jewish congregation affirmed liberty of conscience for all—a cornerstone of American religious freedom.
How the Fourteenth Amendment Redefined American Equality
One among the Reconstruction Amendments, the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection for all citizens.
Jewish Voices Divided: Slavery and Morality in 1861 America
As the Civil War loomed, Jewish leaders clashed over the morality of slavery—one invoking scripture to defend it, another proclaiming divine justice to oppose it.
A Biblical Justification of American Slavery
A rabbi in 1861 argued that slavery was sanctioned by scripture, revealing how faith and politics collided before America’s Civil War.
“Weekend Update” Ridicules Trump’s Approach to Antisemitism
Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” pokes fun at Trump’s executive order on combating antisemitism.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title VI’s Jewish Dilemma
Passed amid civil rights reforms, Title VI banned racial bias in federally funded institutions but excluded religion—leaving Jews in legal limbo.
Jewish Communities of the Islamic World: A Historical Map of MENA Jewry
Explore the map of Jewish life across Islamic-ruled empires, from North Africa and the Middle East to Persia and Iberia, revealing centuries of shared history.
Persian Jewish Marriage Contract (Ketubah) from Isfahan, Iran
Explore a decorated 17th-century ketubah from Isfahan, Iran, written in Aramaic and Judeo-Persian and adorned with Persian royal symbols.