Jewish Studies: Judaism

An 'online encyclopedia of Judaism, covering Jewish beliefs, people, places, things, language, scripture, holidays, practices and customs.' Searchable and browsable.

Anyone interested in the Bible will want to see this site. Enter it by selecting a language. The Pentateuch section includes the text of the Five Books of Moses along with commentaries and each verse sung by a cantor (in Real Audio). For further study use the Glossary to aid your knowledge of people, places, animals, plants, etc. which occur in the Bible. There's also a genealogy chart showing the family lines of the main characters in the Bible.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, which include the oldest known biblical manuscripts in existence, have been digitized and are now accessible online.

The largest freely available archive of online books about religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric on the Internet, dedicated to religious tolerance and scholarship. Click on "Judaism" on the left to find Tanakh, Talmud, Pirke Avot, Haggada, Midrash, Kabbalah and more, some available in Hebrew as well as English translation.

'Cyberspace Super Highway To Jewish Learning' with study pages on Parsha, Gematria, holidays, and more, from the B'nai Noach Torah Institute in Colorado.

The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel provides opportunities for Jewish students to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity through its global network of centers, campus foundations and Hillel student organizations.

Hundreds of lectures on all aspects of Judaism available to listen to with free registration, from the Lidrosh Institute of Jewish Education. Lectures cover topics such as Talmud, Halachah, Parshah, Philosophy, Spiritual Growth, Holidays, Relationships, and Judaism and Modern Society. Rabbi Elazar Meisels, lead educator, also serves as Hillel Rabbi of Michigan State University.

'Torah on the spot for people on the go!' Torah Fax is published daily (except Shabbat & Sunday).

The Project Genesis Web Site, an outreach program which promotes education about Judaism through free online classes in Jewish philosophy, liturgy, ethics, law, and daily Torah readings. Searchable.

Jews for Judaism is an international organization that provides a wide variety of counseling services, along with education, and outreach programs that enable Jews of all ages to rediscover and strengthen their Jewish heritage.

Chart showing Orthodox, Conservative and Reform groups, compiled by Prof. Eliezer Segal.

A branch of Hasidism, today Chabad's 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250 year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,300 institutions (and a workforce that numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union) is 'the central address and spokesman for 1,000 synagogues; a not-for-profit educational, outreach and social service organization which serves the burgeoning North American Orthodox Jewish community.' Its services include certifying kashruth of restaurants and food companies, assisting Orthodox congregations, promoting education and observance, and speaking out on issues affecting Jews in North America.

A web site dedicated to the ideology and values of modern Orthodoxy.

The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Yeshiva University, is the Western Hemisphere's largest center for Orthodox higher Jewish learning. This site also hosts YU Torah Online featuring live webcasts and downloadable MP3 files.

The major groupings of Orthodoxy from its inception until the present day are represented in and html image map by Prof. Eliezer Segal.

Answers to basic questions from a Conservative Jewish point of view.

Although this seminary trains Conservative rabbis and cantors, the site has a great deal to offer for anyone interested in Judaism. The catalog of one of the finest Judaica libraries in the world - over 300,000 volumes is available. There are also recommended reading lists from the faculty and librarians; opportunities for distance learning (free and paid); commentaries and texts of the weekly Torah and Haftorah portions; and statistics and facts about Judaism.

Reform Judaism is the oldest and largest Jewish movement in North America. The site defines Reform Judaism, offers information on affiliating with the movement, provides resources for study, and more.

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, the seminary of Reform Judaism, offers a wealth of library, museum and archival resources (including the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives), online exhibits and more on its website. While the main campus is in Cincinnati, check the pages for the Klau Library branch and the HUC-JIR Museum in Manhattan.

The Union for Reform Judaism, the central body of the Reform Movement in North America, was founded in Cincinnati in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. It has more than 900 congregations in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It is the largest Jewish movement in North America and represents an estimated 1.5 million Jews.

Reconstructionism formally became a separate denomination with the foundation of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Seminary in 1968. This organization serves more than 100 affiliated congregations and havurot.

The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, PA, prepares men and women for leadership and service in Jewish communal life-synagogue, university, havurot, communal agency. Its library has an excellent collection of Judaica and Hebraica resources and Reconstructionist movement publications and is open to the public.

Kulanu means 'all of us' in Hebrew. This Web site has information about Jewish communities all over the world. There are articles and links to sites about the Lembas of South Africa, the Beta Israel of Ethiopia, Jews in India, and communities in China, Cuba, and Uganda. Kulanu is more interested in historical claims to Jewish heritage than Jewish law, 'dedicated to finding lost and dispersed remnants of the Jewish people and assisting those who wish to (re)join the Jewish communit

'The World Congress holds conferences and workshops representing the interests of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Jews around the world. The focus of these sessions varies from regional, national, continental, to global.' Includes events, and a directory of member congregations and organizations.