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.
Honor and Authority in the Jerusalem Talmud
In y. Bikkurim 3:3, 65c–d and y. Horayot 3:9, 48c, the rabbis reshape Roman customs of honor, redirecting respect from rulers to Torah and the sages who embody its wisdom.
Lifelong Torah Learning
Mishnah Avot 5:22 defines a lifetime of Torah study, linking each stage of life to learning and making study the essence of Jewish living.
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…
Iranians Visiting the Synagogue at Dura-Europos
The Sasanians conquered and destroyed the Roman garrison town of Dura-Europos in 256 CE. Dura-Europos was a multicultural city and the home of a sizable Jewish community that worshiped in a stunning…
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…
Antoninus and Judah the Prince
[Antoninus] had a certain daughter whose name was Gira, [who] performed a prohibited action, [i.e., she engaged in promiscuous intercourse. Antoninus] sent a rocket plant [gargira] to [Rabbi, to…
Sadducee Rejection of the Law of Eruv
1. One who lives in a courtyard with a non-Jew or with one who does not acknowledge the [principle of] eruv, that [person] restricts him [from making use of the eruv]—the words of R. Meir. R. Eliezer…