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.
Minḥat Yehudah (The Offering of Judah): Commentary on Ma‘arekhet ha-elohut (The Divine Hierarchy)
When I Judah, the son of my master, the wise and righteous R. Jacob ḥayyat, peace be upon him, was in Spain, I tasted a little honey, and my eyes were enlightened. And I took it upon myself to seek…
Derashot (Sermons)
And now I will reveal to you why we call the Sabbath before Passover “the Great Sabbath.”
Know that the minister of Egypt is Aries [the ram], and Scorpio, which is with Aries, and its angel is Samael…
Sefer ha-tsava’ah (Book of the Testament): Ethical Will
Now I will give instructions concerning how to look after me from the beginning of my final illness—when the day of judgment comes, during all the period of my illness, and the time of my death, when…
Gelilot erets Yisra’el (Regions of the Land of Israel)
First, we will describe how to travel from one’s land to Israel. There are many ways by which one can travel. One route is from Venice and another is from the city of Ofen [Budapest], but there is no…
Bylaws
The Parnassim of the Kehillat Kodesh dei Tedeschi (Ashkenaz), Moise di Tardiola and . . . . [blank] give full authority to Rabbi Azriel to make taqqanot (ordinances or statutes):
- All members must pray…
Register of Proceedings: Articles of Governance
In the name of God.The parnasim [community leaders] and the gabbai general [warden] of this holy congregation together with the elders all present, as well as the ḥakhamim Joseph Falcon, rabbi…
Minute Book
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalms 111:10)
1. The rabbi shall be permitted to retain in his exalted academy ten members of the community, fifteen outstanding students and…
Re’shit ḥokhmah (Beginning of Wisdom): On the Synagogue
Furthermore, with regard to a synagogue, one should be careful when leaving the synagogue not to leave with one’s back to the altar, where the Torah scroll is placed. Rather, one should face the holy…
Begging Letter
For Joseph Kohen Balarin of blessed memory, to his brother, in Prague.
Wisdom brings strength to the wise, dear brother from a city of strength, elevated leader and rabbi, my brother and head, may…
Tsori la-nefesh u-marpe’ la-‘etsem (Balm for the Soul and Healing for the Bones)
To the princes and the honored ones, rulers of the people, the members of the charitable association in the ghetto of the holy community of Venice, may their Rock and Redeemer protect those who…
Re’shit ḥokhmah (Beginning of Wisdom): On Love
The concept of Love is further explained in the Zohar [II, Ki Tissa, 190b], where it is stated as follows: The Torah contains within it love and brotherhood and truth. Abraham loved…
Sefat emet (True Speech)
However, in our many sins, she is Zion, there is none who cares for her (Jeremiah 30:17). Consider the question you asked, speaking like an enemy without knowledge [see Job 34:34]. For it follows the…