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.
Roman Losses during the Revolt
On the Parthian War
To the Emperor Antoninus.
. . . . The God who begat the great Roman race has no compunction in suffering us to faint at times and be…
Tensions in Parthian Babylonia and the Rise and Fall of Asineus and Anileus
A terrible, most severe disaster now took place among the Jews in Mesopotamia, especially those…
The Law of the Kingdom Is the Law
Samuel said, One who took possession of [land on a] riverbank is an impudent person, but we certainly do not remove him. But nowadays that the Persians write…
The Famine in Jerusalem
[The Roman authorities then] sent Nero Caesar against [the Jews]. When he came [to Jerusalem, he wished to test his fate]. He shot an arrow to the east [and the arrow] came [and] fell in Jerusalem.…
The Judicial Power of the Exilarch
Rav said: One who desires to judge and be exempt if he errs should ask permission from the exilarch. Similarly, Samuel said: He should ask permission from the exilarch. Obviously! From here to here…
The Birth of Jesus
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be…
John Questions Jesus’ Identity
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for…
Abraham as Emblem of Faith
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the…
Letter from Jonathan on Behalf of the Gerousia to the Lacedaemonians (Spartans)
The [Roman] Gerousia then confirmed what had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with the Jews and gave them letters to convey to all the kings of Asia and Europe, and to the governors…
Royal Inscriptions from Ḥimyar
Malkīkarib Yuha’min and his sons Abīkarib As‘ad and Dhara’’amar Ayman, ki[ngs of Sa]ba’, dhū-[Raydān], Ḥadramawt, and Yamanat built, laid the foundations…
A Tannaitic Book List
The sages taught: The order of the [books of the] Prophets [when they are attached together is as follows]: Joshua and Judges, Samuel and Kings, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, [and] Isaiah and the Twelve…
Dividing, Combining, and Binding Scrolls
Abaye said to R. Joseph: That [statement] of R. Judah is [actually the opinion] of Samuel, [his teacher,] as we learned [in the Mishnah]: But [in the case of] sacred writings, [i.e., a scroll of any…