Library Resources

The Lafayette Libraries maintain a robust collection of print, electronic, and rare/archival material supporting Jewish Studies research. This page features a selection of databases provided and/or recommended by the Libraries. It is by no means exhaustive. For further assistance in conducting research for Jewish Studies, please contact Ben Jahre or consult another reference librarian.

In addition, Special Collections maintains a range of archival collections and rare books supporting Jewish Studies at Lafayette. Please stop by Special Collections or contact archives@lafayette.edu to arrange a consultation or view the material.

Compact Memory: Internet Archive of Jewish Periodicals
Digital archive of German-language Jewish newspapers and periodicals, ca. 1768 – 1938, in Germany, Austria, and elsewhere in Central Europe. Covers religious, political, social, cultural, and academic aspects of Jewish life.

Encyclopaedia Judaica
Second edition (2007) of a scholarly encyclopedia covering Jewish history and culture from the time of the Second Temple to the present.

Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Culture Online
Covers the history of the Jews from 1750 to the 1950s. Translation still in progress (‘A’-‘L’ as of January 2021) from the completed encyclopedia in the original German.

Encyclopedia of Jewish-Christian Relations
Covers theological concepts, religious practices and rituals, and political and historical issues from the perspective of Jewish-Christian relations. Currently in pre-release format with limited entries, but when complete will contain over 200 entries.

Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World
Covers the Jews of Muslim lands particularly in the late medieval, early modern and modern periods.

Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception Online
A searchable “guide to the current state of knowledge on the background, origins, and development of the canonical texts of the Bible as they were accepted in Judaism and Christianity.” Includes extensive bibliographical information for each entry.

Jewish Life in America
Archive of documents highlighting the Jewish American culture, identity, and experiences, sourced from the American Jewish Historical Society.

Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia covering the history of Jewish women. Includes thematic essays (e.g., abortion, Hadassah) as well as biographical entries.

JTA Jewish News Archive
Digital archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, containing some 250,000 articles covering Jewish news around the world from 1923-present. Coverage of anti-semitism, the Holocaust, the story of Soviet Jews, Israel, and other topics of interest to students of modern Jewish life.

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion
Overview articles on topics relating to the study of religion. Written by scholars and peer-reviewed.

Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization
Collection of Jewish literature, artwork, and works of intellectual and religious culture. Will eventually cover biblical times to the 21st century, but is still a work in progress. Note that you must register for a free account to access content.

RAMBI – Index of Articles on Jewish Studies
Selective index of thousands of journal articles, articles in collections, and chapters in books from primary and secondary sources in Hebrew, Yiddish, and European languages, offering worldwide coverage of Jewish studies and the land of Israel. From the holdings of the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem.

Yiddish Sheet Music
A collection of public-domain scores from the John Hay Library of Brown University focusing on Yiddish-language music for the stage. Also includes art songs, folk songs, and sacred music in Yiddish and Hebrew.

YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe
This online encyclopedia covers the history and culture of Jews in Eastern Europe from the beginnings of their settlement in the region to the present day. Includes primary documents, images, audio, video, and maps.