Jewish history

Exploring the intricate details of the arks in Jewish tradition reveals deeper meanings and connections, much like understanding the buttons of a complex machine.

How the first Chief Rabbi of the Ottoman Empire shaped Jewish law, battled internal threats, and set a precedent for generations

From charting the course of the explorers to shaping Jewish prayer, the legacy of the Zacuto family spans oceans and centuries.

Caught in a sinister plot by the noble Salim, Rabbi Jacob was wrongly accused of attempting to harm the sultan's wife. Proving his innocence was out of reach.

Conditions on the ship worsened. Some passengers were in dire straits, while others clung to sanity. A couple decided to marry. Crumbs of stale bread were collected, kneaded with water, and fried in a pan. An anonymous passenger contributed jam to spread on the prized creation, and thus the wedding took place.

In 1792, the community was miraculously saved when a Russian attack on the synagogue, mistakenly thought to be a fortress, led to an intact shell breaching its walls.

During World War II, the Jewish community of Djerba faced peril under Nazi occupation. With clever negotiation and a stroke of divine luck, they evaded disaster.

Rabbi Yosef chronicled the ordeals faced by him and the Jews of his city in his famed book, "Emek Habakha." The book became so well-known that it became a tradition among Italian Jews to read it on Tisha B'Av, much like the Book of Lamentations.

The unique song sung in the Prague community was penned by Rebeka Tiktiner. Composed in a poetic, alphabetical style, it boasts eighty lines. One woman would read it aloud, while the others joined in song.

What the Nazis couldn’t destroy, others did. Jews were told it was a 'temporary evacuation,' but it was the end of a centuries-old community in Tripoli.

To build a home, they dug a large pit, divided it into rooms, left two chimneys, built stairs going down, and covered it with beams topped with a thick layer of clay. These homes provided excellent protection from thieves, cold, and heat. The climate inside was temperate, and so the Jews of Gharian lived for many years.

Authorities viewed coin shaving as a crime punishable by death, as there was no other way to protect their currency. It was nearly impossible to identify the shaver, as anyone could claim they received the coin in that state. Thus, when a coin 'shaver' was caught, the punishment was severe.

From Cordoba to Cairo, from Torah to Medicine: The Remarkable Journey of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon

For 350 years, no Jewish foot touched English soil following the expulsion in 1290. The English people essentially had no idea what Jews even looked like.

As the sun began to set, a mysterious man appeared and joined them for the minyan. Following the holiday, he blew the shofar and vanished. The next day, the synagogue's gabbai dreamt of the man, who declared, 'I am Abraham, your father, and I saw your distress; thus, I came to join you for Yom Kippur prayers.'

When I asked him, 'What's the fuss over Jews buying a village?' he replied, 'It's certain, as we've been told by our ancestors, that if the Jews buy four paces and take a step in the Emeq Ibn Amar (Jezreel Valley), eventually the whole valley will be in their hands!' So, why was the purchase of the land in Fula such a big deal?

From her miraculous birth to her role as the mother of Moshe, Yocheved stands as a timeless symbol of courage, faith, and Divine purpose

The final prophet of his era, Malachi communicated rebuke, hope, and a promise of redemption that still echoes today

After their prayers and pleas, the Jewish community returned home to prepare for Shabbat, unaware of the dark and turbulent skies that were gathering—a phenomenon unseen for years.

Brilliant commentator, defender of Hebrew, and lover of Israel, Rabbi Tanchum’s writings reveal a rare glimpse of Jewish life and scholarship in Egypt and the Land of Israel in the 13th century