Jewish Texts

King David's wife and King Solomon's mother came on the scene because of David's wandering gaze.

These writings, which fill in gaps in biblical texts, falls into two categories: halacha and aggadah.

This section of the Bible includes a feminine depiction of wisdom and the text of the "Eshet Chayil" blessing.

Read during the week of Passover, this biblical text is an unabashedly sensuous paean to love.

The second-century sage was the inspiration for many legends and may have died as a martyr.

The kabbalistic false messiah gained a mass following in the 17th century — until he converted to Islam.

This 16th-century text by Joseph Caro is the ultimate code of Jewish law.

Written by hand, a sefer Torah is produced according to strict specifications.

This section of the Mishnah is one of the best-known and most cited of Jewish texts.

When an oppressed group massacres others.

Halakhah is the "way" a Jew is directed to behave, encompassing civil, criminal and religious law.

The most widely read Jewish Bible commentator, he also wrote a running commentary to the Babylonian Talmud.