As educators, we’re always looking for (and finding) new ways to bring Jewish learning to life. This month, I’m happy to share some tools developers have built to support a variety of learning goals and experiences. Sefaria’s data and codebase are totally free, allowing developers to build apps, websites, and other useful digital learning resources.
Below, you’ll find some interesting examples of these, but it’s really the tip of the iceberg. If you take a peek at our Sefaria Developer Portal, you’ll see a whole long list of tech projects that are powered by Sefaria. They range from a tool to make Sefaria readable on a Kindle e-reader to a tool for making a personalized learning schedule — and much more! It’s a wide world of Torah and technology.
Educator Spotlight
Rabbi Tzvi Uses Sefaria to Build Torah Tech
Who? Rabbi Tzvi Hametz, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland.
How? I love bringing Torah and technology together and Sefaria’s open-source code makes it easier than ever. My Coding Team uses Sefaria’s open API (which you can find with clear explanations on their Developer Portal) to integrate Jewish texts into a whole slew of interactive projects.
Just one example is a chatbot one group built — it responds with Talmudic insights based on keyword prompts by pulling sources from Sefaria’s library! Another group developed a procedural text generator that can pull randomized verses of Tanakh texts to inspire creative storytelling.
Rabbi Tzvi’s Top Tip: Even if you’re nervous about using tech in your teaching, I think it’s definitely worth a try. Various AI assistants like ChatGPT can write code and explain the basics of tech-building, making this leap easier to make than ever before. Plus, you can always ask for help! The overlap of tech and coding nerds and folks who love Torah is bigger than you might realize, and Sefaria’s team is always happy to answer questions about how to use their code and data.
Did You Know?
Powering a World of Torah Tech
Sefaria is best known for providing free access to a digital Jewish library, but our data and codebase are also completely free to use. The project of bringing Jewish text study into the digital age is a collective one, which is why we’re so thrilled to see the incredible study apps and sites developers have created with our digital tools. Here are a few to explore:
Sefaria is best known for providing free access to a digital Jewish library, but our data and codebase are also completely free to use. The project of bringing Jewish text study into the digital age is a collective one, which is why we’re so thrilled to see the incredible study apps and sites developers have created with our digital tools. Here are a few to explore:
- All Daf: This comprehensive and technologically advanced platform provides learning materials to Daf Yomi learners of every level and can be accessed both in a web browser or mobile app format.
- The People’s Talmud: A comprehensive online project that provides multiple entry points into talmudic literature with the aim of making the text accessible and understandable to a modern audience.
- Torah Summary: Bite-sized versions of texts from the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets, and Gemara make reviewing material easy for teachers and students alike.
Teaching Tanakh With Online Interfaces
Many projects use Sefaria’s code to support Tanakh learning, from the simple to the complex. Two great places to start exploring are:
Teaching Talmud With Modern Tech
Looking for a fresh way to explore the Talmud with students — and even check their comprehension? Check out these two tools:
On the Jewish Calendar: Get Your Candles Ready!
Can you believe the month of Kislev is almost here? If you’re beginning to prepare Chanukkah lessons, these resources may come in handy.
- Topic Pages: Explore curated pages of sources from across the library, compiled according to a specific Topic, such as Chanukkah, Hasmoneans, and Chanukkiah.
- Chanukkah on Sefaria: This Source Sheet Collection features Chanukkah sheets created both by Sefaria's Learning Team and users from around the world. Includes a wide breadth of topics, from the basics of how to light a menorah and what we celebrate on Chanukkah to unsung heroes of the holiday and lesser known customs.
SEFARIA TOOLS TO KNOW
Seamlessly add and format any source from the library to a Google doc with a single click. Now including verse numbers!
Mix and match sources from Sefaria’s library of Jewish texts, and add your comments, images and videos.
Useful Links The Sefaria Classroom | Teach with Sefaria | Webinar: Sefaria + Google Docs | About Sefaria