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.

A fragment of an ancient, weathered scroll with rows of Hebrew text. The parchment edges are torn and uneven, showing signs of age and wear.

Commentary on Habakkuk (1QpHab)

Among the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls to be discovered, this text comprises a continuous interpretation of the first two chapters of the book of Habakkuk, reinterpreting them in reference to the…

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Ancient stone tablet with engraved Greek inscription in several lines, showing clear and well-defined letters.

Proseuchē Inscription, Schedia, Egypt

Proseuchai (“houses of prayer” or “prayer halls”) seem to have served as focal points for Jewish communities in Egypt in antiquity. Inscriptions from the proseuchai highlight the good standing of…

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A broken piece of pottery with ancient Hebrew script written in black ink across its surface.

Scribal Exercise

Part of the process of scribal training in antiquity involved writing abecedaries, or practice alphabets. This Hebrew abecedary was found at Qumran, the archaeological site associated with the Dead…

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A round, stone-lined pit with built-in stone steps leading down to a dirt floor. The structure is surrounded by rocks and sparse vegetation.

Round Mikveh, Gamla

This round mikveh was found near the Gamla synagogue in the Galilee. As in many mikvaot, seven steps lead down into the pool.

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Black-and-white floor plan of an ancient house with labeled areas: entrance to the house, large room, north courtyard, and south courtyard. Stone wall outlines and a scale bar are shown.

Capernaum House

Plan of a first-century house in the village of Capernaum, in upper Galilee. Drawing by V. Corbo, from V. Corbo, Cafarnao I: Gli edifici della città (Jerusalem: Franciscan…

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