Hi, I’m Tamar. I’m a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat and have a Ph.D. in Medieval & Early Modern Jewish Studies. I believe in serious, meaningful Jewish learning. For everyone.
I’m building this website as a resource for lifelong learners, beginner to advanced.
Rishonim Knowledgebase
Short articles on medieval rabbis, including charts of their dates, places, teachers, students, and works.
In-Depth Articles
Torah topics, investigations in Jewish history, how-to resources, reading recommendations, and more.
Source Sheets
If you’ve been to a shiur of mine, you’ll find those source sheets here.
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Jewish Learning Starter Pack: A Book List and Guide for Beginners
New to Jewish learning? I was raised secular with just a little bit of Hebrew school, so I had to start nearly from scratch as an adult. I ended up with a Ph.D. in Jewish studies and learned full-time in yeshiva for four years. (You can read more about my story here.) I’m here to…
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The Western Wall Tunnels Guide
The Western Wall (Kotel) has been excavated by archaeologists since the mid-nineteenth century, but more recent, twenty-first century excavations have opened up the site anew to visitors, who can now experience the parts of the Western Wall beneath the built-up city in several proprietary tours. This guide discusses the various options and what you’ll see…
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36 Great Books on Jewish Women’s History
Having ventured to recommend 54 essential readings in Jewish history, I wanted to dedicate a list to Jewish women’s history specifically. My focus here is on history, as opposed to Jewish feminist thought or sociology, so expect historical writing, spanning antiquity to modernity. I’ve kept to books in English that are affordable and accessible, i.e.,…
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Apollonia National Park (Arsuf, Tel Arshaf, Arsur)
Apollonia National Park, which was excavated beginning in the 1950s (continuing to the present) and opened to the public in 2002, preserves the remains of multiple layers of human habitation from antiquity until the high Middle Ages, including Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Samaritan, Byzantine, Arab Muslim, and Crusader buildings, on a stunningly beautiful site perched above…
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Making Aliyah (with lots of books and kids)? Here are all my Aliyah Tips
My family made aliyah in the summer of 2024 with kids from upper elementary through high school—and a cat—after several years of planning. In terms of specific how-to instructions for the application process and general tips on how schools and healthcare work, there’s lots of up-to-date info to be had on the Nefesh b’Nefesh website…