* Akdamut

The Phenomenon of Targum

(ד) הַקּוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה לֹא יִפְחֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה פְסוּקִים. לֹא יִקְרָא לַמְּתֻרְגְּמָן יוֹתֵר מִפָּסוּק אֶחָד, וּבַנָּבִיא שְׁלֹשָׁה.

Mishnah Megillah 4:4

(4) One who reads from the Torah in the synagogue should not read fewer than three verses. And when it is being translated, he should not read to the translator more than one verse at a time, so that the translator will not become confused. And with regard to the Prophets, one may read to the translator three verses at a time.

תלמוד ירושלמי מגילה ד׳:א׳:ד׳

רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק עָאַל לַכְּנִישְׁתָּא. חֲמָא חַד סְפַר מוֹשִׁט תַּרְגוּמָא מִן גַּו סִיפְרָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. אֲסִיר לָךְ. דְּבָרִים שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בַפֶּה בַפֶּה וּדְבָרִים שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בִכִתָב בִּכְתָב.

Jerusalem Talmud Megillah 4:1:4

Rebbi Ḥaggai said, Rebbi Samuel bar Rav Isaac went to a synagogue. He saw a teacher delivering the translation from a book. He said to him, this is forbidden to you; matters which were said orally orally, matters which were said in writing in writing.

Akdamut

David bar Pesach Machzor, 14th century, Germany. Donated to the New York Public Library

Shavuot Ketuba

This is a ketubah for Shavuot, commemorating the mystical union between Israel and God / the Torah. This spiritual wedding takes place on the holiday of Shavuot, the Heavens and the Earth are marked as witnesses. Italy, 17th century. Donated to the Jewish Museum, NY

Sambatyon River

בראשית רבה י״א:ה׳

הֲרֵי נְהַר סַמְבַּטְיוֹן... מּוֹשֵׁךְ אֲבָנִים כָּל יְמוֹת הַשַּׁבָּת, וּבְשַׁבָּת הוּא נָח.

Bereshit Rabbah 11:5

...

96. Now Titus... saw a river as he went along, of such a nature as deserves to be recorded in history... for when it runs, its current is strong, and has plenty of water; after which its springs fail for six days together, and leave its channel dry, as anyone may see; after which days it runs on the seventh day as it did before, and as though it had undergone no change at all; it hath also been observed to keep this order perpetually and exactly; whence it is that they call it the Sabbatic River, that name being taken from the sacred seventh day among the Jews. [Josephus, Wars, 7.96]