Sefaria Library MCP

Access Jewish texts, commentaries, and learning schedules via AI

Overview

The Sefaria MCP (Model Context Protocol) server provides access to the Sefaria library — a comprehensive digital collection of Jewish texts, commentaries, and learning resources.

Server Details

  • Name: dev.workers.shimonkolodny.sefaria-mcp/sefaria
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Type: Streamable HTTP (Remote MCP)
  • Endpoint: https://sefaria-mcp.shimonkolodny.workers.dev/mcp
  • Platform: Cloudflare Workers

Features

  • Access 500,000+ texts in Hebrew and English
  • Retrieve any passage by citation or search
  • Explore commentaries and cross-references
  • Look up daily learning schedules (Daf Yomi, Parasha, etc.)
  • Browse complete table of contents

Available Tools

get_text

Retrieve the text and metadata for a specific reference.

get_text(ref="Genesis.1.1", context=0)

Parameters:

  • ref (required): Citation reference (e.g., "Genesis.1.1", "Berakhot 2a")
  • context (optional): 0 for just the text, 1 to include surrounding context

search_texts

Search the Sefaria library for a query string.

search_texts(query="teshuva", type="text", size=10)

Parameters:

  • query (required): Search query
  • type (optional): "text" or "sheet" (default: "text")
  • size (optional): Number of results to return (default: 10)

get_index

Get metadata for a specific text, including section names and categories.

get_index(title="Genesis", v2=true)

Parameters:

  • title (required): Text title (e.g., "Genesis")
  • v2 (optional): Use v2 index for detailed records (default: true)

get_toc

Get the table of contents for all texts, grouped by category.

get_toc()

No parameters required.

get_links

Get known connections (commentary, citations, etc.) for a specific text segment.

get_links(ref="Rosh Hashanah 16a", with_text=true)

Parameters:

  • ref (required): Text reference
  • with_text (optional): Include the text of linked sources (default: true)

get_topics

Get a list of topics with metadata in the database.

get_topics()

No parameters required.

get_calendars

Get daily learning schedules for a specific date.

get_calendars(date="2025-05-14", timezone="America/New_York", custom=1)

Parameters:

  • date (optional): Date in YYYY-MM-DD format (defaults to today)
  • timezone (optional): Timezone name (default: "America/New_York")
  • custom (optional): 1 for diaspora, 0 for Israel parasha scheme (default: 1)

get_versions

Get available text versions for a specific reference.

get_versions(ref="Genesis.1.1")

Parameters:

  • ref (required): Text reference

get_shape

Get the structure and section counts for a specific text reference.

get_shape(ref="Genesis")

Parameters:

  • ref (required): Text reference

Usage Examples

Get the Weekly Parasha

get_calendars()

Returns today's learning schedule including Parashat Hashavua, Haftarah, and Daf Yomi.

Search for a Topic

search_texts(query="tikkun olam", size=5)

Find the 5 most relevant texts about tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Explore Commentaries

get_links(ref="Pirkei Avot 1:14")

Get all commentaries and citations linked to a specific Mishna.

Get Text with Context

get_text(ref="Berakhot 2a", context=1)

Retrieve a Talmudic passage with surrounding passages for context.

Browse a Text's Structure

get_index(title="Mishneh Torah")

Get the structure of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah.

Technical Details

Data Source

All content is powered by Sefaria.org, an open-source digital library of Jewish texts. The MCP server acts as a bridge between Claude and Sefaria's REST API.

Response Format

All responses are returned as JSON. The exact structure varies by endpoint but typically includes:

  • Text content (in English, Hebrew, or both)
  • Metadata (citations, dates, translations, etc.)
  • Cross-references and links
  • Section information and structure

Rate Limiting

The server respects Sefaria's API rate limits. Requests are processed through Cloudflare Workers for optimal performance.

Supported Languages

  • English translations (default)
  • Hebrew text (original languages)
  • Transliterations

Support & Resources