All Articles Byיהוסף יעבץ

In Roman times, Jews in Cologne thrived and were recognized as a permitted religion, long before Christianity became dominant. Their community was influential enough to participate in city council elections, and their intellectual leaders were exempt from military and civil service.

Jericho's large stockpiles of food suggest the city fell swiftly at its peak, not through a siege as typical with Egyptian tactics.

Herod watched from the sidelines, horrified. Could it be that the stubborn Jews want to make Aristobulus king and depose him?

In 922, a major event occurred in Jewish history. The Geon of Israel sent out a calendar to Jewish communities, only to face public opposition from the Geon of Babylon: The calendar was wrong, and Rosh Hashanah and Passover were to be celebrated on Tuesday, not Sunday, as the Israeli Geon declared!

Herod sheltered his family in the stronghold of Masada while Antigonus laid siege. Escaping yet again, Herod aligned with the Roman legion to capture Jerusalem.

Herod, arrogant and clad in noble purple robes, arrived with a sword at his side and surrounded by bodyguards. The sages of the Sanhedrin were too afraid to speak, fearing for their lives. Only the president, Shmaya, stood up to the tyrant, rebuking his fellow sages for allowing fear to silence them.

Exploiting Shabbat's serenity, Romans breached the city, claiming 12,000 lives and leading Pompey into the Holy of Holies, marking a historic desecration.

Hyrcanus was truly soft-hearted. Aristobulus knew he wouldn't harm his family, so he spoke gently to him, leading him to Jerusalem and the Temple, where Aristobulus convinced him to relinquish the throne and the priesthood.

Queen Salome ruled with wisdom, choosing not to wage war but instead investing in a strong army, which kept enemies at bay. Her strategic diplomacy maintained a peaceful and prosperous Judea.

Last week, a surprising discovery was made in the city of Ramanathapuram, India: within an ancient well, a large stone was found, appearing to be a part of an old gravestone. Though the farm workers couldn't decipher the script or showed much interest, a student named Hatim Ali recognized the Hebrew letters.

For years, the source of a significant earthquake in Israel remained a mystery, but recent archaeological excavations in the Judean region have uncovered relevant remains in Jerusalem, Hebron, Gezer, and other sites.

When King Yannai found himself without a Torah scholar to lead a blessing after dinner, his wife, Shlomtzion, had a surprising solution. This incident marked the beginning of a shift in his reign.

*Tuvia* heard that in Padua, Italy, Jews aren't discriminated against, and he could earn a doctorate there. He traveled, completed his studies, and even received medical certification. At the same time, he was offered the position of personal physician to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV, and he accepted.

Following Rabbi Menach Hendel's advice, a divorce was arranged, and Isaac divorced his wife. He was promised that if he recovered, they could remarry. Isaac did indeed recover, unwittingly igniting a significant debate within the Torah world that persisted for years.

King Yannai anticipated a fierce backlash when challenging the heart of the people, and preemptively stationed thousands of foreign mercenaries who emerged to massacre Jews. On that day, 3,000 innocent Jews perished to prove that Yannai was in charge, not religious law or the Oral Torah.

Over the years, archaeological evidence has emerged for each part of the biblical story. In 1830, Sennacherib's Prism was discovered in his palace at Nineveh, detailing his campaign in the land of Judah.

Raphael Levy heard about the incident while at home. Though he could have saved himself by moving to another duchy, he knew it would bring disaster upon the Jews of Metz. So, he voluntarily surrendered for questioning, hoping the judges would see he had no connection to the disappearance.

Cleopatra's ambitions could have changed everything, but a daring military strategy ensured Israel's survival as a standalone entity.

The entire sukkah burned down, and Menachem Mendel was nowhere to be found. The people of the town and his family worked tirelessly to uncover the truth and free Hinda from her uncertain status.

Aristobulus, who quickly developed a tyrannical personality, began to fear Antigonus would take his place. His advisors and those around him decided to 'help' him get rid of his brother.