Welcome to Sefaria!
Sefaria is a large library of interconnected texts. What does that mean? It means that you can open any book in the Jewish library with just a few clicks.
To get an overall idea of Sefaria, watch the short video below.
Let's get started:
Clicking on any text will open a panel on the side that has links to connected texts. Click to open the connection that interest you and read it. For example, you might click on a verse in the Torah to read a commentary in the side panel. Want to see what’s connected to that text? Click on it for a new panel. Click and read, click and read. Don’t like the direction that you’re going in? Close some texts and start again. Each connection you open will give you a new path and a new opportunity for discovery.
Now it’s your turn:
(For each question, click on the + below it and write your answer in a comment box.
Choose a text to begin with from the library. Open it and begin clicking and reading.
But before you start...this is important!
There will be sources that you haven’t ever seen or heard of before, texts that you don’t understand, and texts that don’t have an English translation. Just like when you use Google, not all results are relevant to you. Feel free to ignore them and move on to the sources that interest you.
In the comment box below, write the names of three different books that you opened.
https://pixabay.com/es/vectors/mapa-mapa-del-tesoro-tesoro-piratas-162047/
Scavenger hunt
Now that you have seen some of what you can do with Sefaria, it is time for a scavenger hunt!
- Open Sefaria in a new tab and find Exodus Chapter 20, verse 2.
- Next, open the commentary called "Daat Zkenim" that is connected to the verse. What is the first question that he is asking? Write it (or copy and paste it) in the comment box below. (PS If you've never heard of Daat Zkeinim before....don't worry about it! You can find the information without knowing what it is. But if you're interested, click here to find out more!)
- Continuing with clicking and reading, click on the Daat Zkenim text to open the sidebar, and find the verse from Psalms that is connected to it. Write the first six words of the Psalm in the comment box below.
- One text from the Talmud is connected to the verse in Psalms. Open it and write the first four words below.
- For your final step, look in the midrash category for the text from Midrash Rabbah that is connected to the section of Talmud. Write the first three words of the text below.
Reflection
- What have you learned about Sefaria's library that you didn't know before?
- Share at least one way that Sefaria's library of interconnected texts might help you with your learning or your classes this year.