Digital collections

Digitale Sammlungen erleichtern Forschenden und der interessierten Öffentlichkeit den Zugang zu zentralen Quellen der jüdischen Geschichte und Kultur. Hier stellen wir einige der wichtigsten digitalen Sammlungen für die Jüdischen Studien und Israel-Studien vor.

The Frankfurt Digital Judaica Collections

The Frankfurt Digital Judaica Collections

For more than 20 years the University Library Frankfurt am Main has been digitizing holdings from its Hebraica and Judaica division, in part in close collaboration with partner institutions in Germany and beyond. The Digital Judaica Collections are part of the largest library collection of its kind in Germany. 

  • Compact Memory | More than 500 digitized Jewish newspapers and magazines, from the mid-18th century; predominantly from German-speaking countries.
  • Freimann Collection | Virtual reconstruction of Frankfurts historical Judaica collection based on Aron Freimann's catalogue. Contains more than 10,000 titles, 16th-20th centuries; includes a comprehensive collection of the literature of the Wissenschaft des Judentums' movement.
  • Hebrew Manuscripts | More than 400 Hebrew manuscripts and fragments of manuscripts, 13th-17th centuries.
  • Hebrew incunabula | 72 works.
  • Yiddish Literature | approx. 800 publications in Yiddish and German in Hebrew letters; 16th-20th centuries.
  • Judaica Frankfurt | approx. 2,000 Judaica and Hebraica publications, 13th-20th Century.
  • Rothschild Collection | Newspaper clippings on the Rothschild Family.
Collections of the German National Library

Collections of the German National Library

The German National Library (DNB) is the is Germany's central archival library, and therefore also preserves holdings relevant to Jewish Studies. The German Exile Archives (1933-1945)</a is of particular importance in this regard.

Parts of the historical collections of the DNB are accessible online, including two collection of Jewish periodicals (1930s-1940s):

Collections of Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin

Collections of Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin

The Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin (LBI NY) is dedicated to the preservation and research of German-Jewish cultural heritage. It maintains an extensive archive and library of which large parts have been digitized and are accessible via the following collections:

  • DigiBaeck | Main Access point to the Digital Collections of the LBI NY.
  • Periodicals | More than 1,600 historical periodicals covering various aspects of German-Jewish life.
  • Photograph Collection | Over 25,000 photographs documenting the history of German-speaking Jewish communities, families and businesses from all over the world.
Collections of the National Library of Israel

Collections of the National Library of Israel

The National Library of Israel is tasked to collect, preserve, cultivate and endow the treasures of knowledge, heritage and culture in general, with an emphasis on the Land of Israel, the State of Israel and the Jewish people in particular.​​

The NLI has digitized large parts of its holdings and has made them freely accessible. In addition, the NLI coordinates important international digital collections:

  • Eran Laor Cartographic Collection | Virtual maps collection including historical maps of Jerusalem, the Holy Land and various world regions.
  • Historical Jewish Press | Digital collection of Jewish and Israeli newspapers and periodicals.
  • Ketubot | Collection of more than 4,200 Ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts).
  • Ktiv | International Digital Library of Hebrew Manuscripts.
  • Photo Collection | Historical photographs documenting the history of Israel and Palestine. Includes The Photohouse, which presents the archive of the Tel Aviv photographer Rudi Weissenstein.
  • Time TravelTime Travel | Collection of Israeli ephemera.
Additional Collections

Additional Collections

Following, you will find a selection of other digital collections: