Jewishcoman independent reference guide to the history, ideas and texts of the Jewish tradition

An independent educational reference on the history and ideas of the Jewish tradition. This is not the website of the Moscow Jewish Religious Community, the Moscow Choral Synagogue or any other religious organization; we do not give religious advice.

an independent reference guide to the history, ideas and texts of the Jewish tradition

Jewishcom: a guide to the history, ideas and texts of the Jewish tradition

The Jewish tradition spans thousands of years of history, a vast body of texts and many concepts that turn up in literature, museums and textbooks. This guide helps you find your bearings: what the Tanakh and the Talmud are, how the Mishnah differs from Midrash, who Rashi and Maimonides were, and when and why key events took place. We write in secular, respectful and neutral language, rely on encyclopedic sources and say plainly where scholars disagree.

A good reference work does not answer questions of faith. It helps you understand what is being discussed when others raise them.

— Editor's note

Where to start

I need dates

An annotated timeline, from the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE to 1948.

Reference sections

  • Historical context

    Six eras of Jewish history, from antiquity to the 20th century, summarised from encyclopedic sources.

  • Key ideas

    A glossary of key terms, from Aggadah to Shema, with neutral reference definitions.

  • People

    Historical figures: Rashi, Maimonides, the Baal Shem Tov and Moses Mendelssohn.

  • Texts and sources

    The body of texts (Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, commentaries) and how to work with a source.

  • Analysis

    Methods for working with traditions and sources, plus the catalogue of articles.

  • Timeline

    A timeline of key dates, from the destruction of the Second Temple to 1948.

  • FAQ

    Answers to common questions about this guide, the texts and the history.

How to use this guide

  1. Start with a term

    If you meet an unfamiliar word in a book or article, such as "Mishnah" or "Haskalah", look it up in the Key ideas section. The definition will tell you which field it belongs to.

  2. Move on to the text

    Many concepts are tied to particular texts. The Texts and sources section explains what each text is, how it is structured and where to begin reading.

  3. Place the text in its era

    The Historical context section shows when a text took shape and which events influenced it, for example how the era of the Mishnah relates to the period after the destruction of the Second Temple.

  4. Check the timeline

    The Timeline section brings the dates together in a single sequence. Watch for the word "about": many ancient and medieval dates are approximate.

  5. Verify against the sources

    Each page ends with a list of the encyclopedic works we draw on. For deeper study, turn to them and to the methods described in the Analysis section.

Common questions in brief

Is this the website of a Jewish community or synagogue?

No. This is an independent educational reference. It is not the website of the Moscow Jewish Religious Community, the Moscow Choral Synagogue or any other religious organization.

Can I ask you a religious question?

No. We do not give religious advice or rulings, do not answer on behalf of rabbis and do not publish service times. This guide explains concepts and history.

Where does your information come from?

From encyclopedic works: the Great Russian Encyclopedia, the Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia, the Encyclopaedia Judaica and the YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. Bible quotations follow the King James Version.

Where can I find up-to-date community information?

On the community's own official channels. We do not publish addresses, contact details or schedules of religious organizations.

About the project

This domain once belonged to a religious community's website. The current project has no connection with that community, does not reproduce its materials and does not speak on its behalf. For up-to-date community information, please consult its official channels.

Jewishcom is an independent educational reference for the general reader. We cover the history, key concepts, historical figures and texts of the Jewish tradition in secular, neutral language. We do not issue religious-legal rulings, do not write about politics or current conflicts, do not publish information about living people and do not pass judgement on faith. Where scholars disagree, we set out the positions without choosing between them.

  • Historical context

    Six eras of Jewish history, from antiquity to the 20th century, summarised from encyclopedic sources.

  • Key ideas

    A glossary of key terms, from Aggadah to Shema, with neutral reference definitions.

  • FAQ

    Answers to common questions about this guide, the texts and the history.

Sources

  • Great Russian Encyclopedia
  • Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia (EJE)
  • Encyclopaedia Judaica
  • YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe

This guide draws on encyclopedic reference works. Dates for ancient and medieval events are often approximate, and scholars do not always agree; where that is the case, we say so in the text.