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.
In Praise of Wisdom
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
The man who attains understanding.
Her value in trade is better than silver,
Her yield, greater than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
All of your goods…
Job’s Final Speeches
Job again took up his theme and said:
O that I were as in months gone by,
In the days when God watched over me,
When His lamp shone over my head,
When I walked in the dark by its light…
Isaac Blesses Jacob and Esau
[To Jacob, thinking that he is Esau:] And he smelled his clothes and he blessed him, saying, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of the fields that the Lord has blessed.
“May…
Solomon’s Senior Officials and His District Prefects
These were his officials:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;
Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha—scribes;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;
Benaiah son of Jehoiada—over the army;
Zadok and…
Alexander’s Death and His Successors
When Alexander, king of Macedon, had put an end to the dominion of the Persians and had settled affairs in Judaea in the manner described above, he died [in Babylon]. His empire fell among many…
Antipater’s Campaigns and Advance to Power
After Pompey’s death Antipater changed sides and began to curry favour with Caesar. When Mithridates of Pergamum, leading an army against Egypt, was held up at Ascalon by notice that the frontier…
Archelaus’ Rise to Power
Archelaus’ obligation to travel to Rome exposed him to a fresh outbreak of disorder. He had kept seven days’ mourning for his father and provided the usual…
Roman Corruption
Felix’s successor as procurator, Festus, set out to deal with the main plague affecting the country: he captured large numbers of the terrorizing bandits, and put a good many to death. But his…
A Mother’s Cannibal Infanticide
Meanwhile in the city the victims of famine were dropping in their thousands, and there was suffering beyond description. In every house the mere flicker of a sight of food…
Bar Kokhba Letters
From Shim‘on, son of Kosiba’ to the men of ‘Ein Gedi; to Mesabala’ and Yehonathan, son of Ba‘yan: Peace! In good (circumstances) you are dwell[i]ing; eating and drinking…
Queen Helena of Adiabene
Around this time [during the reign of Herod], Helena, queen of Adiabene, and her son Izates converted to the Jewish religion on account of the following: Monobazus, the…
The Exilarch and Rabbinic Judicial Authority
Rav said, “Whosoever wants to rule as judge and if he errs, to be exempt [from liability] and not pay, he should receive authority from the exilarchate.” And so said Samuel, “He should receive…