Free Jewish catalogs exist as publicly accessible finding aids that allow individuals, genealogists, organizations, and researchers to locate manuscript collections, liturgical materials in accessible formats, cultural reference books, and library system listings without cost. The catalogs referenced here are maintained by the American Jewish Historical Society, JBI Library, the First Jewish Catalog publishing project, and the Hebrew University library system. Each catalog serves a distinct user community while sharing a common principle of free access to information that supports Jewish life, scholarship, and preservation.
The American Jewish Historical Society Manuscript Catalog is a free electronic database that contains catalog information on over 1,100 manuscript collections held by the American Jewish Historical Society. The American Jewish Historical Society was founded in 1892 and is described as the world's leading institution for the preservation of original materials on Jewish life and culture in the Americas. The Society is currently located at the Center for Jewish History in New York City and on the Hebrew College campus in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. The Society holds more than 40 million manuscripts, 30,000 books, and thousands of newspapers, magazines, paintings, photographs and other artifacts that document the growth and accomplishments of American Jewry.
The manuscript catalog database contains descriptions of 1,168 manuscript collections. The collections range in size from one page to hundreds of boxes each and in dates from the sixteenth century to the present. The collections are organized into categories. The AJHS possesses a few other manuscript collections not included in this database, namely, vertical files for Jewish schools, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations.
For an overview of the genealogically relevant holdings of the AJHS, the article "Genealogical Resources at the American Jewish Historical Society", by Fred Davis and Warren Blatt, in Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy, Volume XI, Number 3 (Fall 1995), pages 33-41, is cited. This article is also available online. For more details, Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area (Boston: Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston, 1996), pages 33-54, and Appendix E, pages 254-266, are cited.
The database was a joint project between the AJHS and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston. The concept was initiated in June, 1994, and the data made available at the AJHS in March, 1996. When the database was first developed, it was derived from then-current catalog cards, which had not been updated or revised for some time.
Prior to coming to the Society to conduct research or before requesting that the Society staff conduct research for you, the user is advised to call the Society's Reference Service at (781) 891-8110 to determine whether the description provided herein matches the actual catalog.
The catalog is searchable via a full-text search, or the collections may be browsed, using the category links. Using full-text search, any occurrence of your search term found anywhere in the collection's description will result in a match. There is no soundex search available for this database, because is a full-text database. So searching for "Coh" will find "Cohen" and "Cohn" as well as "coherent", but not "Cone" or "Kohen".
Note that non-manuscript material, such as books and periodicals, are not included in this database; the AJHS card catalogs (on-site, non-electronic) must be consulted. Note also that the collections themselves are not available in any electronic form, on this website or elsewhere. The AJHS has been collecting this material for over 100 years, and preserves them in its archives in the original format, be it handwritten, typewritten, or printed. All collections must be accessed in person on-site. For information on how to research the AJHS archival collections, essential information about their Reading Room and Regulations can be found at http://www.ajhs.org/reference.
The database is dedicated to the memory of Malcolm Stern.
Acknowledgments for the genealogical resources research at the AJHS include Eugene Hirshberg (Boston HIAS); Karen Kushner (New York City Childcare Association institutions); David Kohen (New York Court Papers); Seth Korelitz (Baron de Hirsch Fund); Elana Horowitz and Brian Ferber (World War I Records); David Rosen (vertical files Landsmanschaftn records).
Free Liturgical and Accessible Materials Catalogs for Organizations Serving Jewish Individuals
JBI Library provides culturally relevant, accessible materials from sacred texts to leisure reading and community programming for organizations that support individuals within the general Jewish community. The materials and programming are offered to meet the spiritual, cultural, educational, and informational needs of those who are blind, have low vision, or have print disabilities that makes reading standard print difficult.
JBI Library offers a variety of free, in-person and virtual programs that enhance connection and build community. Programs include discussions around Jewish poetry, Jewish holidays, Jewish food, and book groups. The programming is described as engaging and accessible and open to everyone.
Organizations can become an Institutional Member of JBI Library free of charge. Interested organizations can receive ongoing free recreational, worship, and engagement needs for their community, including free large print, audio, and braille Siddurim, Machzorim, Chumashim, Benchers, and other liturgical texts. Institutional membership includes continuing support from JBI Library to make your organization more inclusive and welcoming, including easier ordering of JBI materials for members of your community and free bi-monthly publications "JBI Voices" (in large print, audio, and email) and "The Jewish Braille Review" of Jewish-related news and culture ranging from science and technological, biblical archeology, worldwide communities, famous and not-so famous Jewish Lives, Rabbinic voices, and patron-submitted jokes and poems. All is free of charge to both you and them.
Liturgical Materials are available for free to organizations serving the Jewish community and to individuals with a visual or print disability. JBI Library has a wide range of liturgical works available in braille and large print including Haggadot, Siddurim, Machzorim, Five Books, and Megillot. Materials are available for free to organizations serving the Jewish community and to individuals with a visual or print disability. View a catalog of current liturgical materials here and contact librarians at 212-545-8025 or to order copies.
The catalog includes a few examples of specific prayers or readings, Torah portions, song books, and educational materials. To request customized materials for members of your Jewish organization, contact librarians at 212-545-8025.
B'nai Mitzvah and Volunteer Projects are offered. JBI Library has a variety of volunteer and fundraising opportunities for students becoming b'nai mitzvah, including serving as ambassadors for JBI Library or hosting a fundraiser. Have a student who is interested? Please reach out at or 646-616-3929.
Customized Materials are fulfilled to help organizations meet the needs of individuals who are blind, have low vision, or have a print disability to help them participate fully in Jewish life and learning.
Opportunities listed for organizations include Liturgical Materials, B'nai Mitzvah and Volunteer Projects, and Customized Materials.
The First Jewish Catalog as a Free Reference Work
The First Jewish Catalog is presented as a book that answers questions on celebrations, ceremonies, customs, and rituals. The tagline states: When no one else can answer your questions on celebrations, ceremonies, customs, and rituals, The First Jewish Catalog can.
The book is positioned as a reference for cultural practice.
Hebrew University Other Catalogs Listing
The Hebrew University Libraries system provides a listing of Other Hebrew University Libraries, Archives and Information Centers. The list includes:
- Younes and Soraya Nazarian Pre-Academic Library of the Ima Foundation
- Rothberg International School Library
- Hebrew University Archive
- Einstein archives - beta version Old website: Albert Einstein archives
- Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry, Oral history division: Catalog
- Sassoon International Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism Databases
- The Spielberg Jewish Film Archive: Catalog
- Israel Social Science Data Center (transferred to the Central Bureau of Statistics)
- The Authority for Research and Development: Research funding sources database
- Learning Center for the Blind (in Hebrew)
- Faculty of Science Online Exams
The listing also includes Israeli Academic Libraries:
- Ariel University library
- Bar Ilan Libraries & information system
- Ben-Gurion University The Zalman Aranne Central Library
- Haifa University The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Library
- Open University of Israel
- Technion libraries portal
- Tel Aviv University Libraries
- Weizmann Institute of Science Libraries
The catalog of other Hebrew University libraries and archives provides a free finding aid to researchers seeking specialized Jewish collections in Israel.
Comparative Overview of Free Jewish Catalogs
A comparative view of the catalogs shows distinct scopes and access models.
| Catalog Entity | Maintainer | Primary Content Type | Access Cost | Physical Access Requirement | | American Jewish Historical Society Manuscript Catalog | American Jewish Historical Society | Manuscript collection descriptions | Free | In-person on-site access for collections | | JBI Library Liturgical and Accessible Materials Catalog | JBI Library | Braille, large print, audio liturgical texts and programming | Free | Materials provided free to eligible organizations | | The First Jewish Catalog | Publishing project | Celebrations, ceremonies, customs, rituals reference | Free reference | Book format | | Hebrew University Other Catalogs | Hebrew University Libraries | Library and archive listings | Free | Varies by institution |
The American Jewish Historical Society catalog provides genealogical and historical research guidance with full-text search but no soundex. The JBI Library catalog emphasizes accessibility and community programming with free institutional membership and bi-monthly publications. The First Jewish Catalog focuses on cultural practice questions. The Hebrew University listing aggregates multiple institutional catalogs for academic research.
Impact and Use Considerations
The free availability of the AJHS Manuscript Catalog reduces research barriers for genealogists seeking American Jewish history. The catalog's description that collections range from the sixteenth century to the present and from one page to hundreds of boxes signals the breadth of material available for family history and social history inquiry. The requirement to access collections in person on-site at Center for Jewish History in New York City or Hebrew College campus in Newton Centre, Massachusetts preserves original format integrity while limiting remote access.
The JBI Library catalog impacts inclusion by providing free large print, audio, and braille Siddurim, Machzorim, Chumashim, Benchers, and other liturgical texts to organizations serving Jewish individuals. The free institutional membership model with bi-monthly publications "JBI Voices" and "The Jewish Braille Review" sustains ongoing community connection. The phone contacts 212-545-8025 and 646-616-3929 provide direct ordering channels.
The First Jewish Catalog serves as a cultural reference point for celebrations, ceremonies, customs, and rituals when no other resource answers questions.
The Hebrew University Other Catalogs listing supports researchers locating specialized archives such as the Einstein archives, Harman Institute Oral history division, Sassoon International Center databases, and Spielberg Jewish Film Archive catalog, alongside Israeli academic libraries.
Conclusion
Free Jewish catalogs operate as gateways to manuscript heritage, accessible liturgical life, cultural knowledge, and academic research. The American Jewish Historical Society Manuscript Catalog offers over 1,100 manuscript collection descriptions from the sixteenth century to the present, accessible via full-text search with in-person on-site consultation required and reference service at (781) 891-8110. JBI Library offers free braille, large print, and audio liturgical materials, institutional membership, community programming, and customized materials for organizations serving individuals with visual or print disabilities, with librarian contact at 212-545-8025. The First Jewish Catalog provides a reference work for celebrations, ceremonies, customs, and rituals. The Hebrew University Libraries list provides free access points to numerous archives and Israeli academic libraries. Together these catalogs create a layered ecosystem of free Jewish information resources that support genealogy, accessibility, cultural practice, and scholarship without cost barriers.