Resources

Library

The combined collections of the University library system, including the library of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies (Katz Center), comprise a source of exceptional richness for Jewish Studies, in general, and for the thought and literature of Judaism (Judaic Studies) in particular.

The Van Pelt collection is especially strong in modern Hebrew literature. Van Pelt also maintains a Judaica/Ancient Near East Seminar Room (on the fourth floor) for heavily used materials in Judaic Studies, including Biblical Studies, and ancient Near Eastern culture. The Henry Charles Lea Collection (Special Collections on the sixth floor) is a rich source for materials on Jews and the Inquisition.

The Library of the University Museum is the major campus repository for works on the anthropology and archaeology of the ancient Near East and the Biblical world, and the Biddle Law Library has a collection on Talmudic law.

The largest component of the University's collection in Jewish Studies can be found at the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. The general collection at the Katz Center comprises approximately 150,000 volumes, but in addition includes rare books, manuscripts and artifacts. The collection is especially strong in Hebraica and in archival collections of American Judaica.

For questions about the collection, contact Penn's Judaica Collections Curator: Dr. Arthur Kiron.

The Penn library has launched a new website for its Judaica collections, as part of its Area Studies initiative. This website provides an integrated picture of Penn's entire Judaica holdings, services, and resources, both on campus - including the Weigle Judaica and Ancient Near East Seminar Reading Room in Van Pelt - and at the Katz Center library. You will find descriptions of our different print, manuscript and archival collections, links to our multi-media holdings, and information about how to conduct on-line computing in Hebrew and other non-Roman character sets. The new site is located at: http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/judaica/

The Freedman Jewish Sound Archive is located in Penn's Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, Room 453, This musical research library -- international, and multi-lingual in scope -- is a collection of approximately 5,300 Judaic sound recordings, in various formats (78, 45 and 33rpm, reel to reel and cassette tapes, compact discs, videos and DVDs). The website is http://sceti.library.upenn.edu/freedman/

Van Pelt Library
3420 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
(215) 898-7555
For the University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt Library, click here. 

Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies Library
420 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3703

(215) 238-1290The Library is open to UPenn Faculty, Students, and Employees. General Public Admitted by Appointment Only. Please note that a photo ID is necessary. For additional information, or to make an appointment please call: (215) 238-1290. For the University of Pennsylvania Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies Library, click here. 

 

Museum Library
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324
(215) 898-4021 
For the University of Pennsylvania Museum Library, click here.

Biddle Law Library
3460 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3406
(215) 898-7853 
For the University of Pennsylvania Biddle Law Library, click here.

 

 

Links

CAUTIONARY NOTE: Some Internet websites contain reliable information while others do not, and it is impossible for us to screen them all for quality. Users are therefore advised to be very careful in using information for research purposes, and for quotation in papers and publications it is absolutely essential to verify that the information comes from a competent and reliable source. Before citing websites in papers, students should ask their instructors if they have permission to do so. 

For suggestions on how to evaluate internet resources, see Evaluating Internet Research Sources.   

For further bibliography on the subject, see Evaluation of Information Sources. 

NOTE: Electronic addresses periodically change or become defunct. If you find that to be the case with any of those listed here, kindly inform the Jewish Studies Program office.

Archaeology and Manuscript Discoveries

Holocaust

Library Resources in Jewish Studies

Bible, Ancient Near East, and Related Ancient Websites 

Israel and Zionism 

Periodicals 

Book Dealers and Other Vendors 

  • William H. Allen, Philadelphia (used and out-of-print Bible and Judaica) - E-mail
  • Association of Jewish Book Publishers (lists many publishers) - Website
  • Bala Judaica, Bala Cynwyd PA (general Judaica; not a large stock, but local) Tel. 1-610-664-1303
  • Biblical Archaeology Society, Washington (books, slides, videos) Tel. 1-800-221-4644
  • J. Biegeleisen, Brooklyn (traditional Judaica) Tel. 1-718-436-1165
  • B. Blackwell, Oxford (Bible and ancient Near East) - E-mail
  • E.J. Brill, Leiden - Website  E-mail for Leiden office  E-mail for U.S. office
  • Christian Book Distributors (Bible, Early Judaism, Early Christianity, etc.; discount prices - Website 
  • Dan Wyman Books (We Find Good Homes For Nice Jewish Books) Website
  • ph: 413-846-6357 e-fax: 208-567-8926
  • Davka Corporation (Judaica software on CD-ROMS, etc.) - Website
  • Dove Books (Bible and ancient Near East; discount prices) - Website
  • Eisenbrauns (Bible and ancient Near East; discount prices) - Website
  • O. Harrassowitz, Stuttgart - E-mail
  • Ideal Book Store, New York (Used and New Judaica) -  Website
  • Israel Bookshop, Boston (traditional Judaica, distributors of Soncino and Judaica Press books) Tel: 1-800-323-7723 Fax: 617-566-0006
  • Israel Exploration Society, Jerusalem (archaeology of Israel) - E-mail
  • Jerusalem Books, Jerusalem (for Israeli publications) - E-mail
  • JPS (Jewish Publication Society), Philadelphia (discounts for members) 1-800-355-1165
  • JTS (Jewish Theological Seminary) Publications - Website, Tel: 1-212-678-8842
  • KTAV Publishing House, Hoboken (reprints of classic scholarly works) - Website
  • Mosad Harav Kook, Jerusalem (traditional Judaica) POB 642, Jerusalem, Israel Tel: 011-972-2-652-6231 Fax: 011-972-2-652-6968
  • The National Yiddish Book Center Tel: 1-888-4-Bikher
  • J. Robinson and Co. Booksellers, Tel Aviv (current and out-of-print Judaica) - E-mail
  • Rosenberg Hebrew Book Store Jenkintown: tel. 215-884-1728 Northeast Philadelphia: Tel: 215-744-5205
  • Scholars Press, Atlanta (Bible, religion, archaeology, etc.; discounts for members of constituent organizations) - E-mail
  • Stein Books, 52 King George St., Jerusalem (current and out-of- print Judaica) Telephone and fax: 011-972-2-624-7877
  • West Side Judaica and Bookstore, New York 1-212-362-7846

Scholarly Organizations

  • American Academy for Jewish Research 51 Washington Sq. South New York NY 10012-1018 Tel: 212-998-8980
  • American Academy of Religion - Website
  • American Oriental Society
  • American Schools of Oriental Research - E-mail
  • Association for Jewish Studies - Website 
  • Society of Biblical Literature -  Website
  • YIVO Institute for Jewish Research - E-mail
  • Academic Jewish Studies Internet Directory - Website

Student Organizations

  • Penn Hillel
  • Jewish Law Students Association
  • Kedma: Penn's Journal on Jewish Thought, Jewish Culture, and Israel

Jewish History

  • Center for Jewish History, New York (American Jewish Historical Society, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institure for Jewish Research)

Miscellaneous

For various other topics of interest, see Internet Resources for the Study of Judaism and Christianity, by Jay C. Treat. The home pages of Religious Studies and History also have many valuable links.

 

 

Financial Transactions in the Jewish Studies Program

Note: If you are a member of the Penn community (student, faculty or staff), you must submit all receipts for reimbursement into Penn's new online travel and expense management system, Concur Expense, at http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/penntravel/  

Contact Chrissy Walsh in the Jewish Studies Program at 215-898-6654, with questions about your financial transactions.

Travel Reimbursements

For receiving funds before or after travel

1) Write brief memo that includes:

  • Destination
  • Start/Stop Dates
  • Summary of expenses (air, lodging, meals, etc.) and the conversion to US dollars, if applicable. Meaning that expenses should be broken down by 'type.' For example, $300 = airfare, $60 = taxis, $10 = books, etc. 
  • Brief reason for travel
  • Traveler's signature 

2) Original receipts should be taped onto a sheet of blank 8-1/2 x 11 white paper (Receipts should not overlap one another and should fit within the sheet of paper)

3) Complete the WHBAS "Individual" Transaction Request Form ("Payee Section" only) with local address for receiving payment.

4) Complete W-9 with permanent address, sign and date.

5) If you are a student, Complete a Statement of Business Connection Form.

Notes:-An acceptable receipt for an electronic ticket purchased through an agency or on the web, is the printed itinerary/invoice. The itinerary/invoice should show the airline, flight numbers, times and destinations, class of service, amount and that a payment has occurred. If the itinerary/invoice is not available travelers should use, as supporting documentation, boarding passes and copies of credit card statements showing the cost of a ticket and any service or booking fees. The printed itinerary/invoice must be printed from the airline or travel site itself. It cannot be submitted in email form as emails can be altered. 

-Faculty and staff cannot be reimbursed for prepaid travel expenses (the way that students can). They must wait until the completion of the trip. 

-Per University policy, international students must also submit a copy of their passport, visa, I-94 card, and SS card to receive their reimbursement. 

-If attaching receipts in foreign currency, the traveler should use the exchange rates at the time of travel. Each receipt needs to be individually converted (= x.xx USD) and a converter page showing each conversion for each receipt must be included. A good currency converter site to use is:http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

 

Entertainment Reimbursements

For receipts over $50

1) Write brief memo that includes:

  • Indicate reason for entertainment and who was entertained.
  • Indicate the account to be charged.
  • Indicate if alcohol was consumed.

2) Provide itemized receipt(s) from restaurant, grocery store, etc. and credit card receipt.

Original receipts should be taped onto a sheet of blank 8-1/2 x 11 white paper (Receipts should not overlap one another and should fit within the sheet of paper).

3) Complete the WHBAS "Individual" Transaction Request Form ("Payee Section" only) with local address for receiving payment.

4) Complete W-9 with permanent address, sign and date.

Note: Per University policy, international students must also submit a copy of their passport, visa and I-94 card to receive their reimbursement

 

Reimbursements Other Than Travel

1) Write brief memo that includes:

  • Expenses which should be broken down by 'type'. For example: $100 = books, $200 = computer supplies, etc. 
  • Indicate the account to be charged.

2) Original receipts should be taped onto a sheet of blank 8-1/2 x 11 white paper (Receipts should not overlap one another and should fit within the sheet of paper.) No staples please.

 

  • Also, be sure to submit the 'on-line invoice/receipt' and not the 'order confirmation'. The latter is not adequate proof of purchase.
  • Adequate proof of purchase is an invoice showing that payment has been made, the original cancelled check (or a printout from your bank showing both the front and back), or your credit card statement w/ the charge highlighted.

 

3) Complete the WHBAS "Individual" Transaction Request Form ("Payee Section" only) with local address for receiving payment.

4) Complete W-9 with permanent address, sign and date.

Notes:-The University will only pay invoices, not statements.

-The University will not reimburse for sales tax.

-Be sure to comply with University policy. Please purchase computers, printers, supplies from a University-approved vendor using a purchase order. Provide supplier, descriptions and price information to JSP, and indicate the account to be charged.

 

Memberships, Subscriptions, Other Payments

For things that can be paid on a Procard, Bookstore or Computer Connection requisition

  • Memberships and Subscriptions: Provide completed forms from organizations
  • Other payments: Provide original invoice
  • Weblink order: Email JSP with ordering information. Create an Amazon wish list, if applicable
  • Penn Bookstore and Penn Computer Connection requisitions: Send request to JSP via email
Note: Indicate the account to be charged.

 

Lecturer Expenses: Honoraria and Travel

1) Complete the WHBAS "Individual" Transaction Request Form ("Payee Section" only) with local address for receiving payment.

2) Complete W-9 with permanent address, sign and date.

Notes:If the person who gave the presentation is a University employee, then payment is done via Payroll.
-If paying for travel, the speaker will have to mail the plane ticket and original receipts to JSP for reimbursement. The speaker should write a brief letter that includes: reason for visit, start/stop dates, summary of expenses (air, lodging, meals, taxis), signature, Social Security number, and address to which check should be mailed.Re: Payment to Foreign-National:
  • -For honoraria, complete additional forms from the Tax Office.
  • -For travel reimbursement, follow procedure for US citizens.

 

Petty Cash

For receipts up to $50

1) Bring original receipts to JSP and indicate account to be charged on receipt.

Note
:Alcohol purchases cannot be reimbursed with petty cash. Please follow procedures for "Entertainment Reimbursement" for these purchases.
-Perry cash can only be used for local travel. 

 

Prizes and Stipends

1) Complete the WHBAS "Individual" Transaction Request Form ("Payee Section" only) with local address for receiving payment.

2) Complete W-9 with permanent address, sign and date

Note:If the person who is getting the award money is a University employee (this applies to work-study), then payment is done via Payroll, and payroll taxes are removed.
AttachmentSize
Statement Business Connnection.pdf17.05 KB
W-9.pdf27.73 KB
TRF Indivdual.pdf131.31 KB
PastLehmanWorkshops.pdf84.6 KB
Jewish Studies Program
711 Williams Hall, 255 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305
215-898-6654 / 215-573-6026 fax / jsp-info@sas.upenn.edu