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.
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.
Babylonia to Zion: Salman Shina on Iraqi Jews in Early Israel
Salman Shina’s 1955 memoir recounts how Iraqi Jews adapted to new realities in Israel amid loss, struggle, and renewal.
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.
Report on Isfahan’s Jews: Hardship and Resilience in Qajar Iran
A German Jewish journal recounts the words of Isfahan’s chief rabbi, describing poverty, persecution, and endurance within Iran’s longstanding Jewish community.
Victoria Danon’s Appeal: Jewish Women’s Education in Ottoman Istanbul
Learn how Ottoman Jewish teacher Victoria Danon fought to open a Turkish-language school for Jewish girls in 1890s Istanbul, challenging local opposition.
Jewish Military Service in the Ottoman Empire: A New Era of Inclusion
Reports that Jews might be drafted into the Ottoman army sparked debate on equality and belonging, with Ben-Yehuda urging Jews to embrace service.
Medal Honoring Moses Montefiore: The 1840 Damascus Affair
This Berlin-struck medal commemorates Moses Montefiore and Adolphe Crémieux’s 1840 mission, which freed Jews falsely accused in the Damascus Affair.
Alliance Israélite Universelle: Jewish Education in North Africa
Discover Ladino letters from Alliance Israélite Universelle schools in French North Africa, revealing Jewish education, culture, and politics in the 1920s and 1930s.
The Bensaïd Family: Irma Ychou’s Portrait of Algerian Jews under French Rule
Irma Ychou’s 1947 novel explores Algerian Jewish life under French colonial rule, revealing generational change and cultural transformation.
Baghdad, Yesterday: Sasson Somekh’s Memoir of Jewish Life in Iraq
Sasson Somekh’s memoir reflects on Jewish life in 20th-century Iraq—its culture, turmoil, and the mass migration to Israel.
Menena: An Egyptian Jewish Pastry
Claudia Roden’s recipe for an Egyptian-Jewish treat recalls a time when Jews and Muslims shared a rich, cosmopolitan Egypt.