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.
Ezra Reads from the Law of Moses
The priests and the Levites and the Israelites settled in Jerusalem and in the country. On the new moon on the seventh month, when the people of Israel were in their settlements, the whole…
Scribes as Descendants of Levi
And they said to me, “Levi, your posterity shall be divided into three offices as a sign of the glory of the Lord who is coming. The first lot shall be great; no other shall be greater than it.
Synagogue Behavior
And [in a similar vein], R. Zeira says [that] R. Ḥisda says: The congregation is not permitted to answer amen [to the blessing recited over the Torah reading] until the blessing of the one reading…
Priests in the Political Leadership
In the Community council (there shall be) twelve men and three priests, perfect in everything that has been revealed from all the law to implement truth, justice, judgment, compassionate love and…
The Heavenly Temple
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from…
Prayer Salutation in Letter
The Jews in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea,
To their Jewish kindred in Egypt,
Greetings and true peace.…
Levi’s Prayer on Occasion of Drought
Levi ordained a fast, but no rain fell, so he exclaimed:
Master of the Universe!
You have ascended and taken Your seat on high, and You will not show mercy…
The Martyrdom of R. Simeon ben Gamaliel and R. Ishmael ben Elisha
When they captured Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Ishmael to be killed [ . . . ] Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel sat and was deep in thought. [ . . . ] He said: Woe unto us that we are being killed…
Jewish Seafarers
Hear my story then, that you may have no further leisure for your mocking wit, and I will tell you first of all how our crew was made up. Our skipper was willing to die on account of his bankrupt…
Passover Observance
Now, the appointed time had drawn near for the festival during which the Jews have as their ancestral law to serve unleavened bread, whose feast is called Passover and is a memorial of their…
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…