The Daily Sage

The online database of Spanish Jewish literature

The online database has collected hundreds of life stories, and thousands of sources have been accessed from the writings of the sages of Israel in recent generations, mainly the Sephardic sages and the Islamic countries. The sources are copied from the sages' letters, many of which were printed in old editions and are found in private libraries, and some are still in manuscript and are not accessible to the general public.

The online database 'The Daily Sage' opens a window into the world of the sages of Israel wherever they lived, and in particular the Sephardic sages in the communities of North Africa, the Balkans, the Mediterranean Basin, Yemen, the Persian Gulf, the Caucasus Mountains, India, Italy, Spain, France, and the countries to which they migrated. 'The Daily Sage' rebuilds the scattered memorial stones, and restores the heritage assets of all the communities of Israel to the Israeli public and the entire Jewish people as a 'voice of the lips of the old' and as part of today's Jewish and Israeli identity. The words of the sages are presented in an accessible and up-to-date manner, and are supplemented by the life story of each sage.

Every day, the website 'The Daily Sage - The Online Database for Sephardic Jewish Literature' uploads study pages of sages whose death anniversary or important event in their lives occurred that day. The study page includes the life story of each of the sages and sources from their words of wisdom as they appeared in their writings.

Social values and words

A Jewish identity centered on social values

The sages' words in the online database deal with seven areas concerning the lives of the individual and the community and propose a moderate and inclusive Jewish identity centered on social values:

• Charity and kindness – Acts of kindness, charity, concern for the poor and needy, social responsibility, and doing justice.
  Torah study – For each and every one, a midrash and commentary with an emphasis on the way of life that preceded the Torah.
  Love of Israel – To see the good in each and every Israeli, to judge fairly and to increase peace in the world.
  Customs of Israel – Respect for every custom of every community, even if its origin is unknown, as long as the custom of Israel is Torah.
  Ancestral heritage – Respect for the elders of the community, their parents, and their traditions, listening to their voice and learning from their teachings.
  The Redemption of Israel – The return of the people of Israel to their land, immigration to the land and settlement therein out of doing justice.
  Between Israel and the nations – The dignity of the human person created in the image of the protection of the foreigner and the resident and beneficial international relations.

Educational content and media on the 'Daily Wise' website

The 'Daily Wiseman' website, in addition to the sources, includes a variety of media platforms:
Digital textbooks that focus on one value and connect to additional content.
Videos in which men and women choose a wise man and tell how they connect with his words of wisdom.
The 'Weekly Sage' tractate in Eli Barkat's corner on Kobi Oz's Friday program on Channel 2.
Posters designed with short sentences from the sayings of the wise.
Cards with short sentences from the sayings of the wise combined with pictures for discussion and activity.

The website 'The Daily Sage' provides a solution for learners, educators, teachers and researchers who want to delve deeper into the words of the sages of Israel, especially the Sephardic sages, and get to know them and their wisdom up close. The database is a source of inspiration for creators, speakers, preachers, article writers and media and communications professionals. It enables the development of diverse educational content suitable for students, youth movements and informal education, seminaries and learning communities in the areas of Jewish-Israeli identity, spirit and society, educational excellence, social change processes and leadership.

You can stay connected to the Daily Wise by subscribing to the daily newsletter that arrives by email and allows for daily study.

To the Daily Smart website and newsletter subscription: www.hyomi.org.il

The Daily Sage works in partnership with the Posen Foundation.