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.
Repentance
Good and upright is the Lord because He instructs sinners in the way (Psalm 25:8). When Wisdom is asked, “The sinner—what is to be his punishment?” Wisdom answers: Evil pursues sinners (Proverbs 13:21…
Hadrian’s Prohibition of Circumcision
R. Nathan says: Of them that love Me and keep My commandments (Exodus 20:6) refers to those who dwell in the land of Israel and risk their lives for the sake of the commandments. “Why are you being…
Michael, the Great Prince
At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that…
Pharisees’ Belief in Immortality
They also believe that souls have an immortal power within them, and that under the earth there will be rewards or punishments, according to how they have pursued either virtue or vice in this life…
Description of Hell
[Here they showed Enoch the frightful place and various tortures. Word “9.”a]
And those men carried me to the northern region; and they showed me there a very frightful place;
Plants and Knots
The boys go out with knots, and the son of kings with bells.
[Aramaic] What [are these] knots? Ada Mari said [in the name of] R. Naḥman bar Barukh, [in the name of] R. Ashi bar…
Who Is Considered a Sorcerer?
The sorcerer [mekhashef] who performs a deed is liable [to death by stoning] but not he who creates an optical illusion. R. Akiva said in the name of R. Joshua: [What is a scenario in which] two men…
Abraham and the Idols
Haran died in the presence of Terah, his father (Genesis 11:28). R. Ḥiyya taught: Terah was a maker of idols. He once went away to a certain place and placed Abraham in charge in his stead. A man came…
Solomon and the Demons
I got myself sharim and sharot, and human pleasures, shidda and shiddot (Ecclesiastes 2:8). [ . . . ]
The Master said: Here they interpreted [shidda and shiddot as—Ed.] male…
Baruch’s Prayer for Enlightenment
And I asked the Mighty One and said:
You alone, O Lord, knew the heights of the world beforehand and that which will happen in the times which you bring about by your word. And…
Terah Blesses Abraham
In the seventh year of the sixth week, he spoke with his father and told him that he was leaving Haran to go to the land of Canaan to see it and return to him. His father Terah said to him:
“Go in…
Rebekah Blesses Jacob
Then she lifted her face to heaven, extended her fingers, and opened her mouth. She blessed the Most High God who had created the heavens and the earth and gave him thanks and praise. She said,…