Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins tonight. The liturgy is now thoroughly rabbinic, but over 100 years ago, a fragmentary Hebrew papyrus was discovered at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, which dates to around the 4th century CE. It contains some form of liturgy for Yom Kippur. 1/4

In 1870, the Italian Army conquered Rome and all of its territory. The Jews had full emancipation.The community was able to erect their monumental Synagogue in the very spot in the ghetto where they had been locked in for centuries.

New photograph of the Chofetz Chaim possibly uncovered. May his merit and love for the Jewish People serve as a merit for us. ❤️

Auschwitz Exhibition 6/ Zalmen Gradowski was a Sonderkommando at Auschwitz. He also became a significant chronicler. He was killed during an uprising on 7 October 1944. His manuscripts were found buried next to crematorium III.

80 years ago on Oct. 7, Jewish Sonderkommando workers staged a failed revolt at Auschwitz timesofisrael.com/80-years-ago-o… via @timesofisrael

Marek Tuszewicki examines folk healing practices performed by Eastern European Jews and their intersection with modern medical knowledge, in a discussion led by cultural critic and playwright Rokhl Kafrissen.

There was a long period in Jewish history when wearing tefillin was neglected by the mainstream Jewish community. Tosafos writes about this explicitly. One reason people stopped is because they felt they weren’t holy or righteous enough. The Sefer HaChinuch lived during this

Shabbtai Tzvi’s last letter was a request for a High Holidays machzor. He died on that Yom Kippur of 1676.

Wait a minute, weren’t the Jews supposed to be in Poland during that time? jns.org/edited-pub-fri…

This remarkably well-preserved sukkah from the 19th century Austria, is located in the Museum of Jewish Art and History in Paris. The panels are decorated with paintings of an Austrian village, and a view of Jerusalem.

In the Israel Museum in Jerusalem there is a decorated sukkah from the early nineteenth century. It was built for the Deller family in the Bavarian town of Fischach not far from Augsberg, Germany. Jews lived in Fishach since 1573.

A very sweet letter reminiscing on a visit to the house of Maimonides, who is depicted here enjoying lemon drops and playing with a cute toddler. "I kissed his noble hand, and he received us with a most cordial welcome. He said to me, 'Come and sit...'" geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1…

The Jewish hat of the Middle Ages is often seen in illustrated Hebrew manuscripts, and was later included by German Jews in their seals and coats of arms,suggesting that initially it was regarded by European Jews as a traditional garb rather than an imposed discrimination.

Thoroughly enjoyed Dovi Safier’s feature article on Radomsk in Mishpacha Magazine

israelhayom.co.il/judaism/articl…

An illuminated Hebrew prayerbook from Italy, often referred to as the Forlì Siddur written in 1383 contains various whimsical illustrations of the holiday of Sukkot and two jousting knights.

I enjoyed speaking with Alan Rosenbaum of the Jerusalem Post who cites me in his fascinating piece on pilgrimage and Sukkot in the ancient world. For anyone looking for an edifying distraction from current events, you might enjoy this article - not least because it speaks to the

Marek Tuszewick sheds light on Jewish folk medicine in Eastern Europe, revealing little-known aspects of Ashkenazi culture and how the need to treat sickness brought Jews and their neighbors together.

3 Cheshvan: R'Yisrael Friedman of Ruzhin (1797-1850). Great grandson of Maggid MiMezerich. Though he was the first & only Ruzhiner Rebbe, he began the "House of Ruzhin" through his 6 sons who all established dynasties - Sadigura, Boyan, Chortkov, Husyatin, Bohush, & Shtefanesh.

On this day 85 years ago, the Mir Yeshiva hastily departed its home of over 120 years—heading toward Vilna—and setting in motion a miraculous journey that would not only save their lives, but helped ignite a Torah revival that continues to illuminate the Jewish world.