Convert Resources: Jewish Study Time!
I spend most of my life doing e-research anyways so here goes. This is for other converts who are like “????” but also hey, applies to anyone already Jewish too. Enjoy. This following list proves enough resources to obtain a free siddur, haggadah, the whole Torah (with commentary), free ways to learn hebrew, and no money spent to learn history, theology, or philosophy. Learning comes free of charge. :)
Where REF is Reform, C is Conservative, O is Orthodox, and REC is Reconstructionist. * Is a news source, and + is a practice/text/prayer resource.
Siddur Audio [C prayers] +
Jewish Telegraphic Agency *
Center for Jewish History
National Museum of American Jewish History
Jewish Study Network - Focus Readers
Coffee Shop Rabbi [REF/General]
You’re Not Crazy - Blog for Orthodox Converts
Convert Confidential blog
Kveller - parenting / relationship centered
NLE Orthodox educational resources (O)
Hebrew Union College LGBT resources
University/Academic databases and Research Guides (some limited access):
Yeshiva Jewish Studies Guide
AJS - Association for Jewish Studies
Shamash - a 20 year old directory of resources. Many no longer usable.
YIVO - Center for Jewish Research
JTSA - Research Study Guides
Center for Jewish History E-Resources
Podcasts, Itunes U, and MOOC:
For long commutes and drives!
UnOrthodox - Tablet/Slate Podcast.
“Stuff Jews Should Know” Podcast
Ancient Israel – Free Online Video & Resources – Free Online Video – Daniel Fleming, NYU
From Israelite to Jew – Free iTunes Audio, Michael Satlow, Brown University
Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) – Free Online Video –Christine Hayes, Yale. (Unknown if “Jewish” or Christian entirely)
Jerusalem: The Holy City from Ancient Canaan t0 Modern Israel – Free iTunes Video – Free iTunes Audio – Robert Cargill, UCLA
Jews and Christians Throughout History – Free iTunes Video – Rabbi Michael Signer, Notre Dame
Literature and World of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible – Free iTunes Video – Free Online Video – John Strong, Missouri State (Again, unknown if solely Christian view)
The Hebrew Bible – Free iTunes Video – Shaye J.D. Cohen, Harvard
The Hebrew Scriptures in Judaism & Christianity – Free iTunes Video –Shaye J.D. Cohen, Harvard
Modern Jewish History - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Modern European Mysticism and Psychological Thought - Hebrew University
The Fall and Rise of Jerusalem - Tel Aviv University
Rutgers: The Bible and History , Israeli Political System , Introduction to Rabbinic Literature , History of Zionism , Jews Under Islam , The Inquisition and the Jews
Jewish Public Media has a few podcasts I think?
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - itunes u/podcasts
Frankel Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies (U of Michigan)
Jewish Theological Seminary Parashat - Torah Commentary
Any of JTS’s other series!: Biblical readings for holidays, philosophy, sephardic history, what to wear, science, talmud, etc.
University of Washington - Intro to Judaism (emphasizes Contemporary US)
Salvador Dali’s Aliyah: The Rebirth of Israel
A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs
Matzoh ball Gumbo: Tales of the Jewish South video
Center for Israel Studies
Center for Jewish Studies - U of Wisconsin
New Books in Jewish Studies
American Jewish Archives - Podcast in American Jewish History
Learning Hebrew (not from Hebrew 4 Christians):
Ancient Hebrew Resources Center
Learn Hebrew with NEMO (app)
Tyndale Archive of Biblical Studies (TABS)
Northwestern Theological Seminary (NTS) Library - PDF of Basics in Biblical Hebrew charts
Most recommended starter books:
First: GO TO A LIBRARY!!!!! LIBRARY BOOKS ARE FREE, ISN’T THAT GLORIOUS? Then if you’ve asked the public library and they neither have anything on the shelf nor can they borrow a book from another branch for you, ask a Rabbi. Then: Check thriftbooks.com for cheap copies!
JPS Annotated Study Bible (Tanakh in English)
Living Judaism - Rabbi Wayne Dosick
Jewish Literacy - Rabbi Telushkin
Jewish Living - Washofsky [REF]
Choosing a Jewish Life - Diamant
CoffeeShop Rabbi’s Basic Books List
What are some good Jewish Book lists or print magazines (or ebooks)?:
Jewish Book Council Reading Lists
Top 100 Jewish Books (My Jewish Learning)
The Jewish Book Review (print, can be found in larger city bookstores, filed in the literary section of magazines)
Yiddish Book Center’s list of Books
HuffPo Books Every Jew Should Read
Jewcy’s 50 essential works of Jewish Fiction
JWeekly’s List 9 new books
FREE BOOKS FOR JEWISH CHILDREN PJ LIBRARY i just!!!!!! they are free books.
Go patron nice fellow tumblr-ers Shira Glassman and Rose Lerner for jewish protags in fiction and romance
Wait, I want a siddur (prayerbook):
Go to Open Siddur for free siddurim. The following are also popular purchases or PDFs free online:
Siddur B’chol L’vav’cha LGBT
Build your own at Build a Prayer
Beth Shalom Morning Siddur PDF
A link for more links and PDFs
Learning Hebrew Siddur (for Kids or anyone)
But where do I buy….(a Mezuzah, a havdalah set, lots of gelt….etc)?:
Koofsa - Israeli Food subscription Box
Contemporary Jewish Museum Store
Other places whose websites carry a selection of Judaica: Bed, Bath, and Beyond; Target; Wayfair.
ok i’m exhausted. This is what I’ve got for now!
stormborns
dailybridgerton
snowghoul
gummygunk
