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.
Josephus Rescued from the City
Meanwhile Josephus, still insistently going round outside the city to reiterate his appeals, was struck on the head by a stone and dropped senseless on the spot. The Jews made a dash for his body, and…
Ban on Circumcision
At this time also the Jews began war, because they were forbidden to practice circumcision.
Epiphanius on a Certain Joseph and the Patriarch
One of them was Josephus—not the ancient Josephus, the author and chronicler, but Josephus of Tiberias, [born] during the old age of the…
King Yannai and the Pharisees
[I]t was taught: It once happened that King Yannai [Janneus] went to Kokhalit in the desert and conquered sixty towns there. On his return he rejoiced exceedingly and invited all the Sages of Israel…
Rabban Gamaliel Is Deposed
There was a case in which a certain student came and asked R. Joshua, “What is the law concerning the evening prayer?” [R. Joshua] said to him, “It is optional.” [The student] went and asked Rabban…
Pesher Habakkuk
[And justice does not emerge as the winner, for the evildoer accos]ts the upright man (Habakkuk 1:4). [Its interpretation: the evildoer is…
Talmudic Reference to Jesus’ Trial
[If, after the condemned man is returned to the courthouse, the judges] find [a reason to] acquit him, they [acquit him and] release him [immediately]. But if [they do] not…
True Law
As we have just mentioned the passage about Peter and those who taught Christianity to people of the circumcision, I do not think it out of place to quote a certain utterance of Jesus from John’s…
Mention of the Gerousia in Official Letters
This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: “The high priest Jonathan, the senate [gerousia] of the nation, the priests, and the rest…
Roman Jews Mourn Julius Caesar
At the height of the public grief a throng of foreigners went about lamenting each after the fashion of his country, above all the Jews, who even flocked to the place for several successive nights.
God’s Blueprint for Creation
The great R. Hoshaya opened his exposition [of Genesis 1:1 with Proverbs 8:30]: I [Wisdom] was an ’amon to Him and a source of daily delight. [What is the meaning of ’amon?] ’Amon means “pedagogue.” ’…
Criticism of Scribes
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is…