All Articles Byיהוסף יעבץ

Understanding the symbolism of the Hebrew letter 'Kuf': An exploration of existence, connection, and outward appearances.

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.

At a time when both scholars and sponsors for Torah study were scarce, who was the remarkable woman whose heart led her to make such a significant contribution?

He once walked out of a mansion to crowds and cameras—now he walks into a study hall to learn Torah, wearing a kippah and tzitzit.

Modern slavery may feel like a thing of the past, but in Sudan, it's a harsh reality. As a child, Simon Deng had no rights and could be beaten at will. He served his masters without any reward, likely to remain theirs forever.

Though Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's Cave is noted in the Midrash, the builder of the revered tomb's structure is a story waiting to be told, as it was during his lifetime.

The "Kings of the Hittites" mentioned in the Book of Joshua and the sons of Heth from the Torah were part of a powerful Hittite empire, comparable in strength to the Babylonian or Egyptian empires. The Hittites, however, were forgotten by history.

The discovery of Tanis unveiled a breathtaking yet terrifying landscape. As the sands parted, they revealed a ravaged cityscape as if mythical beasts from a fantasy had mangled its towers and reshaped its earth.

Deep within the ancient ruins of Tel Lachish, numerous artifacts help reconstruct the city's history from the Canaanite to the Israelite periods, up until its destruction.

Why did this ancient city vanish without a trace? What led to its disappearance from Egyptian culture? Ramses II, the grand king, had millions of slaves build a unique city that his son, Merneptah, later moved away from. Discover the enigma behind these ancient ruins.

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.

The entire city of Tiberias was submerged under 3 meters of water. Fragile homes fell apart, some flattened by rocks tumbling from the mountains. People clung desperately to bars and posts; those who couldn’t were swept away.

The name of the letter Tzadi stems from the word 'side'. This word, 'side', refers to a component that is not complete in itself, but forms a whole with its opposite, with each side revealing a different aspect of the complete entity. That's why we refer to directions in space as 'sides', because each dimension is comprised of two opposing directions.

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.

The unique structure of the Hebrew letter 'Peh' houses the letter 'Bet' within, symbolizing the juxtaposition of inner spirit and external form. Discover how these ancient symbols articulate profound spiritual truths.

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?