Miscellaneous

How the Jewish community of Jerusalem was taken hostage by a cruel tyrant.

The historic Jewish community of Tiberias celebrates several mini “Purims,” each one tracing back to another miracle in its tumultuous history.

11 precious manuscripts held in the ancient synagogues of Damascus.

The fascinating world of Hebrew incunabula.

As the Jewish vernacular for centuries and the language of the Talmud, Aramaic significantly influences Jewish scholarship and culture.

The Jewish people have never stopped studying Torah, regardless of whether we’ve lived in times of prosperity or persecution . . .

The ancient language integral to Jewish history and life, used in prayers, texts, and as a primary vernacular for centuries.

Shemaya & Avtalyon, Rabbi Akiva, and Rabbi Meir were all descended from non-Jewish tyrants.

Learn about some of the Jewish leaders who were imprisoned throughout our history.

The beginnings of shtetl life go back hundreds of years, to before the 17th century.

The year: 1798. The person: a leading figure in the newly-established Chassidic movement. The crime: supporting Jewish settlement in the land of Israel

When languages die, whole cultures die with them, and communities lose their identity. Jewish languages are no different.

Apart from a small group of enthusiasts and academics, the Jewish world has taken little notice of Ladino's demise. What is Ladino? Where is it from? Why is it important? And why is it ignored by the Jewish world?

The Levites, descendants of Jacob’s son Levi, were selected to serve G‑d in the Holy Temple.

Answer these 9 questions and see how much you know about great rabbis who shaped Jewish history

A sample of local peasant culture can be found in certain phrases, often punchlines of poignant tales told by the Rebbes and chassidim, which have become part of everyday parlance.

Russian, Belarussian, and Ukrainian peasants were a source for beloved songs, sometimes with Hebrew or Yiddish added.

There is a historical connection between the Chabad movement and the Sephardic world.

Six songs that bring the fire and fervor of Chassidism into the English language.

The Midrash tells us that there are 10 songs of praise (shirot) in the history of our people, culminating with the song of the Final Redemption.

Rooted in France-Germany, Ashkenazim are the largest stream of Jewish people today, with unique customs, culture, language, and history.

Take a look at some amazing Jewish heroines spanning 3,000 years of history.

Throughout history the Jewish nation has been enriched by converts—upstanding men and women who opted to enter the covenant and become part of the Chosen Nation.

Meet 10 Jewish leaders who were orphaned at a young age and went on to add richness and beauty to Jewish life until this very day.

Time and time again, it appeared as if the plucky nation of monotheists would be swallowed up by the religion du jour

The 20th of Sivan commemorates a number of tragedies that befell the Jewish people over the centuries.

Sephardim originate in the Iberian Peninsula and the Arabic land, and contemporary Ashkenazim are Yiddish-speaking Jews and descendants of Yiddish-speaking Jews.

Learn how the Jews fared under the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Medians, the Greeks, and now under Western rule.

The Jewish calendar is the structure upon which all Jewish holidays are based. It follows the lunar cycle, which means that the year is comprised of 12 lunar months (of approximately 29.5 days each).

As strange as it may seem, the Israelites seem to have only observed Passover once during their 40-year sojourn in the desert.

The High Priest's role extended through history, from Aaron in ancient times until the destruction of the Second Temple.

Although the Jews did not require a king in their ideal state, Moses foresaw that the need for one would arise.

Can you explain why the lifespan of the early generations was incredibly long? According to Genesis, Adam died at age 930, Noah was almost 500 when he started building the ark (not bad!), and Methuselah lived a world record 969 years. So what happened? Why don’t we live that long anymore?

Why were the rabbis so hostile to the idea? Translating the Torah into other languages was nothing new!

What’s with the pious donkey of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair?

A parable by the Chassidic sage Rabbi Yechezkel Panet illuminates the geography of the Jewish calendar

The creation of rest . . . Sarah’s miraculous Shabbat lamp . . . Bread from heaven . . . “Work” defined . . . The invention of cholent . . . Sacrifice and martyrdom . . . Candle-lighting campaign . . . The World to Come . . .

The story of Jewish survival is so exceptional and unparalleled that it challenges the imagination. Perhaps we can take our explanation from the great empirical thinkers of our time, the scientists...

Enchanted by the majesty of the moment, my daughter quietly asked, "Will there be a splash when the sun falls into the lake?"

Where did these Jewish mothers find the courage? I don't know because I'm not one of them, but ask your mother and I'm sure she'll gladly tell you. When a need arises, the Jewish mother simply responds.

Napoleon of the Czar -- which is better (or less bad?) for the Jews? The debate between Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi and his colleagues on the Napoleonic wars, and the Lubavitvher Rebbe on the French and American revolutions

“Why have they stopped crying?” wondered the villager. “Are they no longer hungry?” Then he remembered the cholent . . .

Is there any evidence that Jewish thought and philosophy had an influence on the Greeks?

Judaism’s origins begin nearly 4,000 years ago in the Middle East with a couple named Abraham and Sarah, whom G-d selected to start a new people, the chosen nation.

According to tradition, the institution of the yeshiva predates even the giving of the Torah.

Is Mizrahi another name for Sephardic Jews?

From kings and High Priests to rabbis and communal leaders, here’s a curious look at the unique ways Jewish inaugurations have been marked throughout history.