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.
Rebuilding the Temple
When they heard the blast of the trumpets, the Samaritans, who happened to be enemies of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, came running together, wanting to learn the cause of the uproar. Perceiving…
Mishnah Yevamot
Though these [Beth Hillel] forbid and these [Beth Shammai] permit, and these disqualify and these make eligible, Beth Shammai did not refrain from marrying women from [the families of]…
Tosefta Avodah Zarah
3. One should dwell in the land of Israel, even in a town in which the majority of the inhabitants are gentiles, rather than dwell outside the land [of Israel], even in a town in which all the…
Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael
If a man gives to another an ass or an ox or a sheep [or any animal to guard] (Exodus 22:9). [ . . . ]
An ass or an ox or a sheep teaches me only about an ass, an ox, and a sheep. Where…
Pesikta de-Rav Kahana
1. Who can bring forth a clean thing out of an unclean thing? Is it not the One? (Job 14:4).
Like Abraham out of Teraḥ, Hezekiah out of Ahaz, Mordechai out of Shimei, Israel out of the nations, the…
Pompey’s Entry into the Temple
It was the practice each year to send gold to Jerusalem on the Jews’ account from Italy and all our provinces, but Flaccus issued an edict forbidding its export from Asia. Who is there, gentlemen, who…
Herod’s Relationship with Augustus
While Herod was engaged in these matters, Sebaste already having been built as a city, he decided to send his sons Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome to meet with Caesar. When they arrived, they lodged…
An Egyptian False Prophet
As well as these [the Sicarii] another group of criminals came into being, less bloodstained in action but with a more blasphemous agenda, who ruined the calm of the city just as much as the assassins…
Titus Besieges Jerusalem
Titus now held a conference with his officers. The more bullish recommended bringing up the entire army and launching a full-scale assault on the wall: so…
Bar Kokhba’s Defeat
The rebellion of the Jews once more progressed in character and extent, and Rufus, the governor of Judaea, when military aid had been sent him by the Emperor, moved out against them, treating their…
A Reference to the Patriarchate in Jerome’s Letter to Pammachius
At the outset before I defend my version, I wish to ask those persons who confound wisdom with cunning, some few questions. Where did you get your copy of the letter? Who gave it to you? How have you…
Battle between Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II
A man should not teach his son Greek. Our rabbis taught: When the Hasmonean kings laid siege to each other, Hyrcanus was outside [of the city of Jerusalem] and Aristobulus was inside [the city]. Every…