Rome

Western civilization shares the values and worldview of ancient Rome.

On the 12th of Iyar, 1402, the Jews of Rome were granted "privileges" by Pope Boniface IX. They were given legal right to observe their Shabbat, protection from local oppressive officials, their taxes were reduced and orders were given to treat Jews as fu...

The church and the government of Rome set Wednesday, March 6, 1430, as the day when all the Jews of Rome must convert or face death. On that day a great earthquake shook Rome and many of the archbishops and priests who conceived the decree were killed. Fo...

In the portion of Bo, we read about the korban Pesach, the Paschal sacrifice, which was a yearling male lamb or goat. The korban Pesach in Egypt differed from the sacrifices brought in subsequent years, in that it had to be brought into the home four days...

Learn how the Jews fared under the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Medians, the Greeks, and now under Western rule.

The Protestant reformation and the first ghettoes.

Even after the destruction of the Second Temple, the Roman persecution of the Jewish people continued. In this class we learn about the Bar Kochba revolt, as well as some of the important rabbinical leaders of the era such as R. Akiva, R. Meir and R. Shim...

After the Hasmonean victory in the times of Chanukah, there was a period of in-fighting within the Hasmonean dynasty. Much of this conflict broke along ideological lines of Pharisees and Sadducees. Ultimately, this gave rise to the rule of the usurper Her...

I'm at the airport in Athens en route to Spain, with a stop-over in Rome. I have a few minutes before boarding and I'm seeking souvenirs.