PAK ADV What Can I Find On 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.

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.

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.

(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.

In the comment box below (click the + sign, and then choose the "comment" option), write the names of three different books that you opened.

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 מלכים א א:א (I Kings Chapter 1, verse 1). How many commentaries are available in English? List them here.

Now navigate to Rashi's commentary. Open Rashi's comment in its own tab (using the "open" button under his comments). There are three footnotes to Rashi's commentary. Copy them here.

Next, open the commentary called "Ralbag" that is connected to the verse. What verse does he connect to this first verse in the book of מלכים א (I Kings)? Write the citation in the comment box below. (PS If you've never heard of Ralbag 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 Ralbag text to open the sidebar, and open the verse that is connected to it in a separate tab. You should now have three tabs open - your initial verse from I Kings, the Ralbag's commentary, and the new verse. Write the last four words of the connected verse in the comment box below.

While still on that connected verse, copy and paste the word with the "trope" or cantillation mark that looks like a diamond above the word. (If you do not know what I am talking about, look here) If there are no trope marks displaying on the verse, adjust the settings by clicking on the א/A button on the top of the tab and looking under "vocalization."

One text from the Talmud is connected to the verse you found. Open it and write the first four words below.

In the Talmud's discussion of our verse, what answer does the Gemara provide? (Do not worry if the answer is confusing or out of context, we are 'dropping in' on the middle of a longer conversation)

For your final step, look in the #Topics category that is connected to the section of Talmud. What four topics arise in this Talmudic passage?

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.