Jewish history

Joseph son of Tovia, descended from Tovia the Ammonite, aspired to the high priesthood. Through his connections, he ousted the High Priest Honio. As High Priest, he dabbled in tax collection, marking the start of the decline of the sacred role.

When King Gunthar of France took the throne, the Jewish community extended a dignified welcome. Yet, he responded with curses, immediately intensifying restrictions against them.

When Moulay sought funds from wealthy Jews to battle his father, the sultan, and was refused, his revenge was to wage war on the Jewish community upon gaining power.

One morning, Rabbi Kalonymus found a manuscript on his desk, known back then as a "Kuntres." Flipping through it, he discovered an incredible idea—a commentary on the Talmud! Although unaware of the author, Rabbi Kalonymus began using the Kuntres that very day to teach the Talmud.

In an exclusive interview, Ovadia Yerushalmi recounts the torment and abuse he endured in an Egyptian detention center until his personal exodus.

On Shavuot, we received the Torah. Our sages said Mount Sinai was named for the hatred it brought from the nations of the world. They hate us and try to seize the Torah through distortion and by opposing the Oral Torah.

Before World War II, the Great Synagogue of Vilnius featured a rather curious sight: a massive cannonball lodged into the roof. Despite its intimidating presence, this relic of war sparked more intrigue than fear. So, what was it doing there?

Experts gathered around the discovery site, slowly revealing the full inscription. Found to be part of a mosaic floor of Ein Gedi’s ancient synagogue, the text carried warnings, threats, and a secret.

Today, everything unfolds in seconds. Back then, a car theft was front-page news. Today, due to more significant news, such events barely get published.

For thousands of years, numerous conquests and battles occurred over this land, yet no permanent settlement took hold. Unlike any other nation, much of it remained desolate and seemingly uninhabitable.

"And you shall not place a decorative stone upon which to bow in your land." What exactly is a decorative stone? And what's the prohibition?

Delve into the rich history of Honi the Circle Maker's cave, once a pilgrimage site for rain prayers in Israel. Join us as we uncover its fascinating past and cultural significance.

In 1837, a devastating earthquake hit Safed. While the Abuhav Synagogue was destroyed, the southern wall with the ancient Torah remained intact.

Visitors to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's tomb encounter a small display case holding a piece of an ancient olive tree labeled "Idra Tree." What's the story behind it, and how does it connect to Rabbi Shimon's mystical Idra?

A ruthless king, aware of the consequences, hid foreign mercenaries behind the walls. They entered and killed many. Thousands lost their lives that day.

The Golden Age under Muslim rule is remembered as a unique period in Jewish history, where great Torah scholars emerged, guiding the nation and contributing their wisdom across all facets of thought, society, and governance.

The construction style described by the prophets—"three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams"—was not understood until ruins from that era were unearthed. Recently, new findings emerged in Dan, in a site linked to the Golden Calf from Solomon's Temple era.

Before archaeology, myths reigned supreme—no Jerusalem, no Temple, no anything. Now, evidence surfaces confirming a city dating back to King David. What do the deniers have left?

Most Jews endured unimaginable torture and confessed to nothing. However, a few, nearly driven insane, had no choice but to "confess" under duress to the absurd accusations.

While Yemen's Houthis accuse Israel of being an artificial entity on ancient Arab land, they may not realize they reside on land that was once the powerful Jewish kingdom of Himyar 1,500 years ago.