Torah database
Encyclopedia
A Torah database is an electronic collection of classic Jewish texts in electronic form, the kinds of texts which especially in Israel
are often called "The Traditional Jewish Bookshelf" (ארון הספרים היהודי); the texts are in their original languages (Hebrew or Aramaic). These databases contain either keyed-in digital texts or a collection of page-images from printed editions. Given the nature of traditional Jewish Torah study
, which involves extensive citation and cross-referencing among hundreds of texts written over the course of thousands of years, many Torah databases also make extensive use of hypertext
links.
A Torah database usually refers to a collection of primary texts, rather than translations or secondary research and reference materials. For the latter, see Judaica database.
, which began in 1963 at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, migrated to Bar-Ilan University
soon thereafter, and was up and running by 1967. It became available in time-sharing mode from university terminals in 1979, was transferred to CD-ROM in 1990, and version 1.0 was offered for sale to the public in 1992. The current version is number 17 or 17+ (the "plus" version contains an important secondary reference called the Encyclopedia Talmudit
).
http://www.biu.ac.il/jh/Responsa/history.htm
The Responsa Project tries to base its electronic texts on the most accurate printed editions (though it seems that it is sometimes prevented from doing so because of copyright considerations), and it has a reputation for relatively error-free electronic texts based upon those editions. It also features approximately 360,000 hypertext links between the various collections within the database, as well as a topical halakhic index for the Shulchan Aruch
and selected responsa. Since its early years it has employed a sophisticated search-engine specifically designed for Hebrew language texts.
In recent years (at least since version 10 in 2002), the Responsa Project has made updates available once a year, between the Passover
and Shavuot
holidays.
In January, 2007, the responsa project became available in an online edition found at www.responsa.co.il.
In April, 2007 the Responsa Project won the Israel Prize
for Jewish studies.
and hardly any responsa
, but it includes far more in the following areas: Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah, Hasidut, biblical commentaries, and late halakhic works. The major subcollections within DBS are also sold individually.
DBS contains a good number of Hebrew texts with vowels (niqqud); see below. Criticisms: It does not have extensive hypertext
links between its various large collections, and it has also been criticized for poor proofreading and error-laden texts.
's project to produce an entirely new critical edition of the Mikra'ot Gedolot is also being made available not only in printed volumes,http://www.biu.ac.il/Press/mikraot.html but also in electronic form. The project contains four main elements:
The CD-ROM is currently in version 2.0 (beta).
(Note: Although also under the auspices of Bar-Ilan University, this project is unrelated to the Bar-Ilan Responsa Project.)
is available as a keyed-in digital Hebrew text with vowels (niqqud) in all of the above software packages.
The Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer package includes not only the vowels, but also cantillation
signs. Tanakh with both vowels and cantillation is also available as online freeware from Mechon Mamre (see below). Both versions are based on the Aleppo codex
, but Mechon Mamre's edition is based on the editing method of Rabbi Mordecai Breuer, which differs slightly from the Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer edition in some small details.
on the Torah
and Targum Jonathan
on Nevi'im
are vowelized (based on Yemenite manuscripts) in the digital texts of Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer. Targum Onkelos
is vowelized in the Judaic Bookshelf package.
: Digital siddurim with vowels (according to various customs) are included in DBS (Ashkenaz, Sefard, Sefaradi/Edot Mizrah), Judaic Bookshelf (Ashkenaz, Sefard), and Ariel (Ashkenaz, Sefard, Sefaradi/Edot Mizrah). The latest version of DBS (version 10) also includes mahzorim, selihot, and the Passover Haggadah.
Talmud is available as searchable PDF images on CD-ROM. All material from the printed edition is included, but it can be copied and pasted only as images and not as digital text.
Wikimedia Torah study
Text study projects at Wikisource allow contributors to help build free content
Torah databases at Wikimedia through volunteer typing and editing. Please note that in most instances, these projects proceed much faster in Hebrew than in English.
Torah texts in a digital library that is continually being expanded and improved by volunteers.
The ארון הספרים היהודי (Aron Ha-Sefarim Ha-Yehudi) project at Wikisource has hundreds of texts available online.
in the United States
, they may not be in the public domain
in other countries. Additionally, there are also many copyrighted works that have been submitted by the original authors or their families for inclusion within this website.
(but claims a copyright on them):
The digital texts available at Snunit http://kodesh.snunit.k12.il/ are taken (with permission) from Mechon Mamre.
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
are often called "The Traditional Jewish Bookshelf" (ארון הספרים היהודי); the texts are in their original languages (Hebrew or Aramaic). These databases contain either keyed-in digital texts or a collection of page-images from printed editions. Given the nature of traditional Jewish Torah study
Torah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
, which involves extensive citation and cross-referencing among hundreds of texts written over the course of thousands of years, many Torah databases also make extensive use of hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
links.
A Torah database usually refers to a collection of primary texts, rather than translations or secondary research and reference materials. For the latter, see Judaica database.
The Bar-Ilan Responsa Project
The very first such database was the Bar Ilan Responsa ProjectBar Ilan Responsa Project
The Bar Ilan Responsa Project is a collection of Jewish texts in Hebrew, released on CD by the Bar-Ilan University .- Background :...
, which began in 1963 at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, migrated to Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is a university in Ramat Gan of the Tel Aviv District, Israel.Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is now Israel's second-largest academic institution. It has nearly 26,800 students and 1,350 faculty members...
soon thereafter, and was up and running by 1967. It became available in time-sharing mode from university terminals in 1979, was transferred to CD-ROM in 1990, and version 1.0 was offered for sale to the public in 1992. The current version is number 17 or 17+ (the "plus" version contains an important secondary reference called the Encyclopedia Talmudit
Encyclopedia Talmudit
Encyclopedia Talmudit is a Hebrew language encyclopedia that aims to summarize the halakhic topics of the Talmud in alphabetical order. It began in 1942 and is still an active project as of 2011.-Formation of the encyclopedia:...
).
http://www.biu.ac.il/jh/Responsa/history.htm
The Responsa Project tries to base its electronic texts on the most accurate printed editions (though it seems that it is sometimes prevented from doing so because of copyright considerations), and it has a reputation for relatively error-free electronic texts based upon those editions. It also features approximately 360,000 hypertext links between the various collections within the database, as well as a topical halakhic index for the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
and selected responsa. Since its early years it has employed a sophisticated search-engine specifically designed for Hebrew language texts.
In recent years (at least since version 10 in 2002), the Responsa Project has made updates available once a year, between the Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
and Shavuot
Shavuot
The festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
holidays.
In January, 2007, the responsa project became available in an online edition found at www.responsa.co.il.
In April, 2007 the Responsa Project won the Israel Prize
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
for Jewish studies.
DBS Master Library
DBS rivals the Bar-Ilan Responsa project in size. It has less in the overall area of HalakhaHalakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
and hardly any responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
, but it includes far more in the following areas: Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah, Hasidut, biblical commentaries, and late halakhic works. The major subcollections within DBS are also sold individually.
DBS contains a good number of Hebrew texts with vowels (niqqud); see below. Criticisms: It does not have extensive hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
links between its various large collections, and it has also been criticized for poor proofreading and error-laden texts.
The Torah Bookshelf ("Halamish")
Otzar ha-Poskim (also see below) produces "The Torah Bookshelf," a large digital collection of basic texts called "Halamish" (Ha-Sifriyah ha-Toranit) in Hebrew, currently in version 3.0.Ariel
Ariel (currently version 2.1) uses the same software as Otzar Haposkim’s "Torah Bookshelf" and is similar to it in scope (a large basic collection), but many of the titles in the two collections are not the same.Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer
Bar-Ilan UniversityBar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is a university in Ramat Gan of the Tel Aviv District, Israel.Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is now Israel's second-largest academic institution. It has nearly 26,800 students and 1,350 faculty members...
's project to produce an entirely new critical edition of the Mikra'ot Gedolot is also being made available not only in printed volumes,http://www.biu.ac.il/Press/mikraot.html but also in electronic form. The project contains four main elements:
- The biblical text (based on the Aleppo codexAleppo CodexThe Aleppo Codex is a medieval bound manuscript of the Hebrew Bible. The codex was written in the 10th century A.D.The codex has long been considered to be the most authoritative document in the masorah , the tradition by which the Hebrew Scriptures have been preserved from generation to generation...
and a careful reconstruction of its missing parts) is keyed-in, including vowels and cantillationCantillationCantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
signs, allowing for sophisticated research on details of grammar. - The masorahMasoretic TextThe Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
is also keyed in (also based on the Aleppo codexAleppo CodexThe Aleppo Codex is a medieval bound manuscript of the Hebrew Bible. The codex was written in the 10th century A.D.The codex has long been considered to be the most authoritative document in the masorah , the tradition by which the Hebrew Scriptures have been preserved from generation to generation...
and supplemented by a special commentary). - The TargumTargumTaekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
is included with vowels, based on the Yemenite Taj. - The biblical commentaries are also keyed-in as fresh new critical editions, including textual variants from manuscripts.
The CD-ROM is currently in version 2.0 (beta).
(Note: Although also under the auspices of Bar-Ilan University, this project is unrelated to the Bar-Ilan Responsa Project.)
Tanakh
TanakhTanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
is available as a keyed-in digital Hebrew text with vowels (niqqud) in all of the above software packages.
The Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer package includes not only the vowels, but also cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
signs. Tanakh with both vowels and cantillation is also available as online freeware from Mechon Mamre (see below). Both versions are based on the Aleppo codex
Aleppo Codex
The Aleppo Codex is a medieval bound manuscript of the Hebrew Bible. The codex was written in the 10th century A.D.The codex has long been considered to be the most authoritative document in the masorah , the tradition by which the Hebrew Scriptures have been preserved from generation to generation...
, but Mechon Mamre's edition is based on the editing method of Rabbi Mordecai Breuer, which differs slightly from the Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer edition in some small details.
Targum
Both Targum OnkelosTargum Onkelos
right|thumb|Interlinear text of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 6.3–10 with [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] Targum Onkelos from the [[British Library]]....
on the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and Targum Jonathan
Targum Jonathan
Targum Jonathan - otherwise referred to as Targum Yonasan/Yonatan is the official eastern targum to the Nevi'im. Its early origins, however, are western i.e. from the Land of Israel, and the Talmudic tradition attributes its authorship to Jonathan ben Uzziel...
on Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
are vowelized (based on Yemenite manuscripts) in the digital texts of Mikra'ot Gedolot Haketer. Targum Onkelos
Targum Onkelos
right|thumb|Interlinear text of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 6.3–10 with [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] Targum Onkelos from the [[British Library]]....
is vowelized in the Judaic Bookshelf package.
Mishnah
The Mishnah is included as a keyed-in digital Hebrew text with vowels in all of the general software packages above except for the Bar-Ilan Responsa Project. The vowels in the "Halamish" package seem to be based upon the Albeck edition of the Mishnah (see Mishnah).Siddur and liturgy
SiddurSiddur
A siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
: Digital siddurim with vowels (according to various customs) are included in DBS (Ashkenaz, Sefard, Sefaradi/Edot Mizrah), Judaic Bookshelf (Ashkenaz, Sefard), and Ariel (Ashkenaz, Sefard, Sefaradi/Edot Mizrah). The latest version of DBS (version 10) also includes mahzorim, selihot, and the Passover Haggadah.
Popular ethical works (musar)
Popular ethical works are normally vowelized in published editions. DBS's collection of such works includes vowels in the electronic editions.Otzar HaHochma
This project is based on page-images of over 47,000 scanned Jewish books . The search engine allows to search in over 40,000 of these volumes. The system has features which turns it to a learning tool.Otzar ha-Shut
Otzar ha-Poskim produces "Otzar ha-Shut" (hyperlinked images of individual responsa indexed according to the order of the Shulhan Arukh). This package also includes "Halamish" (see above).The Steinzaltz Talmud on CD-ROM
The SteinsaltzAdin Steinsaltz
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz or Adin Even Yisrael is a teacher, philosopher, social critic, and spiritual mentor, who has been hailed by Time magazine as a "once-in-a-millennium scholar". He has devoted his life to making the Talmud accessible to all Jews...
Talmud is available as searchable PDF images on CD-ROM. All material from the printed edition is included, but it can be copied and pasted only as images and not as digital text.
Wikimedia Torah studyTorah studyTorah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
projects
Text study projects at Wikisource allow contributors to help build free contentFree content
Free content, or free information, is any kind of functional work, artwork, or other creative content that meets the definition of a free cultural work...
Torah databases at Wikimedia through volunteer typing and editing. Please note that in most instances, these projects proceed much faster in Hebrew than in English.
- Mikraot GedolotMikraot GedolotThe Mikraot Gedolot "Great Scriptures," often called the "Rabbinic Bible" in English, is anedition of Tanakh that generally includes four distinct elements:...
(Rabbinic Bible) in Hebrew (sample) and English (sample). - CantillationCantillationCantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
at the "Vayavinu Bamikra" Project in Hebrew (lists nearly 200 recordings!) and English. - MishnahMishnahThe Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
in Hebrew and English (sample). - Shulchan AruchShulchan AruchThe Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
in Hebrew and English (Hebrew text with English translation). - Aruch HaShulchanAruch HaShulchanAruch HaShulchan is a chapter-by-chapter restatement of the Shulchan Arukh...
is available in a newly formatted, digital Hebrew version at Hebrew Wikisource (over 600 chapters are currently available). See also Orach Chaim index.
Free Torah Libraries Online
All of the databases listed in the main article are patented commercial products, and may not be used without permission of the copyright holders. There are also some online projects that make either digital texts, or public domain images of old books, available to the public for free:Hebrew Wikisource
Contains thousands of free contentFree content
Free content, or free information, is any kind of functional work, artwork, or other creative content that meets the definition of a free cultural work...
Torah texts in a digital library that is continually being expanded and improved by volunteers.
The ארון הספרים היהודי (Aron Ha-Sefarim Ha-Yehudi) project at Wikisource has hundreds of texts available online.
HebrewBooks.org (public domain images)
This website concentrates on the works of North American rabbis (in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English), but now contains thousands of older works. About 40,000 out-of-print books and journals may be downloaded as PDF images. While many titles are in the public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, they may not be in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
in other countries. Additionally, there are also many copyrighted works that have been submitted by the original authors or their families for inclusion within this website.
Mechon Mamre (digital freeware)
Mechon Mamre makes the following digital Hebrew texts available as freewareFreeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
(but claims a copyright on them):
- TanakhTanakhThe Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
(including versions with vowels and cantillationCantillationCantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
signs) - Four major sources of the Oral Law:
- MishnahMishnahThe Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
(without vowels, based on Maimonides' version) - ToseftaToseftaThe Tosefta is a compilation of the Jewish oral law from the period of the Mishnah.-Overview:...
- Jerusalem TalmudJerusalem TalmudThe Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
- Babylonian TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
- Mishnah
- Mishneh TorahMishneh TorahThe Mishneh Torah subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka is a code of Jewish religious law authored by Maimonides , one of history's foremost rabbis...
of Maimonides (based on Yemenite manuscripts)
The digital texts available at Snunit http://kodesh.snunit.k12.il/ are taken (with permission) from Mechon Mamre.
Sages of Ashkenaz (digital freeware)
Sages of Ashkenaz provides free digital text to various Ashkenazi seforim.Seforim Online (public domain images)
"Seforim Online" ("seforim" means "books") provides PDF images of several hundred classic rabbinic texts for downloading. Many or most of them are hard-to-find or rare editions, and all are in the public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.
The Daat Library (digital freeware)
A wide variety of primary texts, including many of R' Yosef Qafih's ("Kapach") and other more critical editions.TorahTexts.org (searchable Torah Texts)
Provides single point of search and access to many Hebrew and English texts available on the InternetSifrei Kodesh Search - (Firefox add-on for searching texts)
A convenient way to search through many Hebrew texts directly from your browser. It also allows you to narrow your search down to a specific text or genre of texts.Torat Emet
Program that may be downloaded freely containing a major library of Torah texts.Commercial software packages
- The Bar-Ilan Responsa Project
- DBS
- Judaic Bookshelf - Master Library (TES)
- Ariel
- Otzar Haposkim (Halamish and Otzar ha-Shut)
- Otzar HaHochma
- Otzrot Hatora
Free Torah Libraries Online
- PsychoMystic - This blogsite links to many basic seforim and books. It also concentrates greatly on the works of the Kabbalists(mekubalim) and of Kabbalah (English, Hebrew, Audio and Palm Pilot links ). All are in the public domainPublic domainWorks are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
. - Mechon Mamre
- ספרות הקודש
- Seforim Online
- Sages of Ashkenaz Database
- HebrewBooks.org
- JNUL Digitized Book Repository - Online images of many dozens of rare books from the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem.
- www.otzar770.com - Searchable database of the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Hebrew, Yiddish, English)
- TorahTexts.org - provides access to many texts available on the Internet
- Sifrei Kodesh Search - Firefox add-on for searching texts
- Siddur.org - complete transliterated Siddur online