Jewish history

Historic letters and eyewitness accounts reveal the private life, deep pain, and enduring greatness of Maimonides

How a 14th-century Jewish scholar mapped the land of Israel and laid the foundation for our contemporary understanding of biblical Israel

In honor of Israel's 77th Independence Day, join us as we uncover surprising and important facts about the pioneers who first settled the land. Historian Moshe Nachmani shares insights into these early trailblazers, who often differed from popular tales. Plus: How many of Tel Aviv's founders were religious?

Though his name is mentioned daily in Jewish study, the story of Rabbi Maimon, the father, teacher, and guide of the Rambam, remains largely unknown

The Jewish community refused to engage with the trial process, understanding it to be a predetermined farce. The Christians had already detailed the "event" that never happened, and the "trial" was merely a spectacle to coerce confessions.

When a vicious rumor spread through Prague, Rabbi Jonathan knew he had no time to waste. With a personal connection to the city's ruler, he decided to approach him directly and use his persuasive words to defuse the dangerous situation.

Wearing a kippah came with a penalty of 5 rubles a year. It was only allowed for rabbis. Additionally, attending synagogue in traditional Jewish attire was permitted on Shabbat, but not during the week.

The royal Praetorian guard roamed the palace, trying to restore order. In one of the rooms, they unexpectedly discovered Claudius hiding behind a curtain. As a relative of the emperor, he feared the conspirators might want to eliminate him too, so he hid for hours.

Jewish law forbade idol worship in Israel, leading to tensions with Roman Emperor Caligula, who took it as defiance. Discover how Petronius, a Roman consul, risked everything to protect the sanctity of the Jewish faith.

Discover the intriguing tale of Kaifeng's Jewish community—an ancient People thriving in medieval China. Unravel how they landed in distant Kaifeng and their enduring spirit.

After ten challenging days on the island, an Italian aircraft spotted the SOS signals left by the survivors. Two ships from Rhodes were dispatched for a rescue. However, the Italians, who were part of the Axis powers, detained them in a camp on Rhodes Island, where they lived in tents under harsh conditions for a long time.

The story of Cochin Jews is as long as it is intriguing. Like many Jewish communities, the origins of Jewish settlement in this region aren't precisely documented, but there are local traditions and fascinating testimonies.

Isaac ben Avraham's mother appealed to the rabbinical court, fearing her son might convert to Christianity. Despite the strict prohibition on intervening, the judges listened and decided the situation warranted consulting a leading rabbi of the era.

Nearly three hundred years ago, in the Jewish quarter of Padua, Rabbi Yeshaya Bassan followed two porters carrying a large, heavy wooden crate. What secrets lay inside, and why was it locked with such formality?

A secret childhood memory sparks a journey to uncover Jewish roots and history, leading to the miraculous discovery of a precious manuscript.

A body discovered near Speyer leads to unfounded accusations. Two carriages carrying Jewish passengers on their way to the city were ambushed by a frenzied mob, resulting in the cold-blooded murder of nine innocent people caught completely unaware.

In 19th-century Ukraine, a Hasidic leader built a royal court to uplift the spirit of his people—offering more than charity, he offered majesty

Discover how Mordechai’s faith, wisdom, and humility shaped Jewish history and still guide us today

In the Russia of those days, even the smallest act considered subversive could send a person to forced labor in Siberia for years. Hijacking a Soviet plane was tantamount to suicide! But these Jewish activists had decided their life in exile was devoid of meaning. Their mission would either succeed or fail, but it would make noise around the world.

With the blessing of the local sages, Rabbi Samson's wife, Rebbetzin Miriam of Speyer, was appointed the head of the yeshiva. Having grown up among scholars and learning Torah from her father and husband, she was invaluable and irreplaceable.