The Jewish Guide to the Internet

Written by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, head of the Har Bracha Yeshiva in Israel, this site in English, Hebrew, Spanish, French and Russian is a searchable encyclopedia of articles about Judaism and Jewish life from a religious Zionist viewpoint. You can browse by subject or search for specific articles.

This browsable and searchable dictionary of terms defines Jewish words and provides links to material in the Chabad online library about them.

Created by Tracey Rich, this searchable site "is an online encyclopedia of Judaism, covering Jewish beliefs, people, places, things, language, scripture, holidays, practices and customs." Ms. Rich, who describes herself as an observant Jew, has written articles in sections on ideas, people, places, things, words, deeds, times, and life cycle. She provides links to reference resources and other relevant Jewish sites. Each of her articles is rated for beginners, intermediate, or advanced students. This is a rich resource for anyone looking for an explanation of Jewish principles and practices.

Funded by the Avi Chai Foundation, "The JER represents a mammoth 25-year effort, recently completed by the Society for Research on Jewish Communities, to produce an 11-volume Jewish encyclopedia for the Russian-speaking public." The Russian language site is searchable.

Edited by Ira Kasdan with assistance from Nathan Diament, the goal of this site is to examines halacha, Jewish issues, and secular law through articles, case summaries, commentary, law review articles, and legal brief. There are also sections on halachic forms, law and policy, statutes, and press releases as well as a law students question and answer line, a legal dictionary, and news announcements. You can also listen to lectures through the Jewish Law Audio link. The entire site is searchable.

From Aish HaTorah comes this extensive collection of articles on all aspects of Judaism.

From the OU comes this introduction to Judaism that includes biographies of famous rabbis, a glossary, information about leaders at various points in Jewish history, daily Jewish life, prayers and a collection of resources.

Created by Chabad, this seachable site offers information about mikvaot, a worldwide directory, details about mikvahs as they relate to marriage and childbirth, and a list of speakers. Of particular note is the online tour of a mikvah.

“My Jewish Learning is all about empowering Jewish discovery for anyone interested in learning more. We offer thousands of articles, videos and other resources to help you navigate all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life — from food to history to beliefs and practices.”

Created by Rabbi Amy Scheinerman, this site is part of a larger page on resources for Jewish family life and education. The virtual tour offers a highlights the whos who and whats what of the synagogue while describing the books, service structure, and history of the synagogue. You can see the Torah scroll and its ornaments and learn how to have an aliyah. There is also a photo gallery of bimas and arks and a glossary of terms.