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.
Scroll of the Book of Esther
Moses ben Abraham Pescarol’s illuminated scroll of Esther, completed in Ferrara, constitutes one of the oldest and most unusual examples of illustrated manuscripts of this biblical book, which is…
Silver Purim Cup
On this silver Purim cup from Augsburg, Germany, a quotation from the Talmud (b. Megillah 7b) inscribed around the rim advises its bearer to drink in celebration of Purim until unable to distinguish…
Cabbalistic Sphere
Cabbalistic Sphere, a sculpture made from polished aluminum, is one of Kaish’s many works inspired by ancient Jewish texts. Some of her works with spiritual and metaphysical themes are abstract…
Indoor Sukkah
Wexler is an artist and architect who also makes furniture. Over the years, he has often reinvented the sukkah, the booth in which Jews eat meals during Sukkot, an autumn holiday commemorating the…
Lev tov (A Good Heart): Ten Commandments for the Married Woman
This is the story of a queen who gave her daughter in marriage to a young king and then gave her the following instructions, inasmuch as she was about to be married. Since she was sending the daughter…
Tif’eret Yisra’el (The Beauty of Israel)
Since animals do not use these faculties [strength, speed, or cunning] for the purpose of [gaining] their livelihood, this shows that that which a man does with the strength of his body, and the sweat…
Tekhine imohos (Women’s Supplication of the Matriarchs)
Riboyne shel oylem, Almighty God, You created heaven and earth and all creatures with great compassion within six days and with only ten words. And on the seventh day, which is shabes koydesh, You…
Tsurat bet ha-mikdash (Shape of the Temple Sanctuary)
The Lord to the prophet Ezekiel (may he rest in peace): you, son of man, show the House to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the…
Printer’s Introduction: Bomberg Bible, Second Edition
Thus saith the humble Jacob ben Chajim ben Isaac Ibn Adonijah: “He entereth in peace, where the righteous rest upon their couches, who walked in uprightness.”
Praised be the Creator, who exists and…
Editor’s Apology: She’elot u-teshuvot Maharil
Thus said the editor [megihah], who bursts forth [megi’aḥ] in prostration from his place, and offers his greeting of peace with a bow and while kneeling. His labor is for all those who are wise of…
Introduction: Ladino Translation of the Bible
The Master of the Universe gave us the holy and blessed law so that we would enjoy l’olam haba [the world to come], so that we would know and see the light of eternal life. Study and a good…
Dod Mordekhay (Uncle of Mordechai)
Before we write the answers to the wise man’s questions we will cite the questions he posed in his writings, so that the answers can be positioned opposite the…