Shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple, with Jerusalem under siege by the Romans, Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai made a very difficult decision, leaving his beloved and holy city behind to its fate. Feeling he could not save it, he decided to try something different in an attempt to keep the Jewish People alive.
Martha, Daughter of Boethus, Who Died From Stepping Out Onto Jerusalem’s Streets
More delicate than the princess from “The Princess and the Pea”, more spoiled than a Kardashian. Among the Talmudic legends surrounding the destruction of ancient Jerusalem is the strange story of a wealthy woman who was unaccustomed to contact with the outside world. Why did the Talmudic sages choose to focus on this particular tale, and is there a modern lesson to be learned from it?
Did an Illicit Relationship Lead to the Expulsion of England’s Jews?
The story of two courageous converts, their Jewish wives and institutional anti-Semitism
The National Day of Mourning… and Fundraising?
In the early 20th century, Zionists rallied around Tisha B’Av
How the Western Wall Became One of Judaism’s Holiest Sites
When and how did Jews begin praying at the Western Wall?
