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.
Samuel and the Destruction of Caesarea Mazaca
They said to Samuel, “Shapur the king killed twelve thousand Jews in Caesarea Mazaca.” And he did not rend [his garments. . . .]
And did Shapur kill the Jews? Behold, Shapur the…
Torah Law versus Magian Law
R. Yoḥanan says, “Jerusalem was destroyed only because they adjudicated cases on the basis of Torah law.” Should they rather have adjudicated cases on the basis of magian law?!
Babylonian Rabbinic Descriptions of Arab Life
What does it mean [when the Mishnah states that] one may not force-feed [a camel on the Sabbath]? R. Judah said: One may not [feed it until it] creates a manger…
Oven of Akhnai
In the talmudic tale of the Oven of Akhnai (b. Bava Metsi‘a 59a–b), divine voices yield to human interpretation and rabbinic authority defines Torah.
Rabban Gamaliel’s Prayer at Sea
Rabban Gamaliel was aboard a ship. A huge wave came up to drown him. He thought: “It seems to me that this is only happening on account of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus” [who had been put under a ban].…
Law as Story and Prayer in Leviticus Rabbah
Leviticus Rabbah 27:6 turns a legal question into narrative, showing that the Shema‘ can be recited anywhere.
The Sack of Jerusalem
Now masters of the walls, the Romans planted their standards on the towers and clapped and sang in joyful celebration of their victory. They had found the final stages of the war much easier…