named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Sefaria Library
Digital repository of Jewish texts including Tanakh, Talmud, and classical commentaries in bilingual format, freely accessible online and via apps
Text Integration Platform
Open-source infrastructure enabling publishers, educators, and developers to integrate and build upon Sefaria's text library
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Jewish Textual and Educational Publishing 6 activities
- Builds and expands open-source infrastructure for Jewish textsDevelops and maintains an open API and Developer Portal that enable third-party developers to build applications using Sefaria’s structured database of Jewish texts. Supports 12 third-party apps and provides live access to text interconnections for innovation in Jewish learning technology.
- Conducts AI and technology research for Jewish learningPartners with AppliedAI and the Technical University of Munich to explore AI-driven access to Torah, and develops AI-powered learning tools such as a co-developed model for Pirkei Avot study. Also uses AI (Claude 3.7) to generate draft translations, followed by human editing and review.
- Develops and maintains digital learning tools and applicationsOffers a suite of digital tools including mobile apps (iOS and Android), a Google Docs citation extension, a browser extension (Torah Tab), and the Sefaria Linker, which integrates Jewish texts into external platforms. These tools support citation, daily learning, and seamless access across devices, with offline functionality and cross-device syncing.
- Digitizes, translates, and publishes classical and contemporary Jewish textsExpands the digital library by digitizing and releasing public domain works, commissioning new translations (including AI-assisted and human-edited translations), and adding major commentaries and scholarly works. Includes the addition of Rashi, Steinsaltz Talmud, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, Midrash Rabbah, Mishneh Torah, and works by female scholars like Dr. Judith Hauptman and Nechama Leibowitz.
- Enhances text navigation and study through data visualization and search toolsDevelops interactive tools to visualize textual connections, including Tanakh-Talmud citations, Rashi’s intertextual links, and Mitzvot relationships in Sefer HaChinukh. Also launched topical search and improved navigation for beginners, with access to over 30,000 Talmudic citations of Tanakh.
- Hosts a comprehensive digital library of Jewish textsProvides free online and offline access to a vast, multilingual library of Jewish texts, including Torah, Talmud, Mishnah, Kabbalah, Siddur, and classical commentaries in Hebrew and English, with translations in French and German. The library contains over 183 million words and is accessible globally through web and mobile platforms.
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Open Research Infrastructure & Publishing 1 activity
- Enables user-generated content and collaborationProvides tools for users to create, save, and share source sheets, with over 200,000 user-created source sheets in the database. Offers search and discovery features for source sheets by topic or contributor, and supports research and classroom use through collaborative digital tools.
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History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
- Partners with educational institutions and governments to expand accessCollaborates with day schools, the Israeli Ministry of Education, and other institutions through pilot programs and teaching material development. Provides curated lesson plans, research guides, and a student course to support classroom integration of Sefaria resources.
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Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 1 activity
- Supports structured daily and weekly learning programsOffers multiple guided learning cycles including Daf Yomi (one Talmud page per day), 929 (five Tanakh chapters per week), Mishnah Yomit (two Mishnahs per day), and annual programs for Tanya and Tanakh, enabling users to complete major Jewish texts over set periods ranging from one to seven and a half years.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.53M
Contributions & grants$4.73M104%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$144K3%
Other revenue$-343K
expenses
Total expenses$7.76M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$3.11M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.56M
Cash$3.73M
Investments$0
Liabilities$341K
Net assets$7.22M
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -63.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 8
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL SEPTIMUS | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $329K |
| LEV ISRAEL | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER | 40 | $235K |
| ANNE LUMERMAN | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $215K |
| SARA WOLKENFED | CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER | 40 | $176K |
| HANNAH GOLDBERGER | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $141K |
| TALI HERENSTEIN | CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER | 40 | $141K |
| CHAVA ANDERSON | SR. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $131K |
| SHANEE ROSEN | SR. SOFTWARE ENGINEER & DATA ANALYTICS LEAD | 40 | $113K |
board members · 13
- BRETT LOCKSPEISER — SECRETARY
- DEBORAH SHAPIRA — DIRECTOR
- ELANA STEIN HAIN END 1224 — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN KOSCHITZKY — DIRECTOR
- JOSHUA FOER — DIRECTOR
- KENDEN ALFOND — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL ENGLANDER — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL RADWIN — DIRECTOR
- MOSHE KOYFMAN — TREASURER
- RAANAN AGUS — DIRECTOR
- RACHEL KRAUS — DIRECTOR
- RONA SHERAMY END 1224 — DIRECTOR
- SAMUEL MOED — CHAIR
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- 929 Partner — Features current readings from the 929 project in its daily calendar.
- Abarbanel Network — Distributes Abarbanel’s 15th-century commentary on the Torah and Prophets.
- Aleph Society Partner — Partnered to digitize and release Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s complete works of commentary
- AppliedAI Partner — Research partnership to explore AI applications for Torah access
- Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Partner — Integrates Sefaria’s educational features into Judaic studies curriculum to enhance student learning.
- CAF Canada Partner — Partnership enabling Canadian donors to receive tax receipts
- CCAR Press Partner — Provided The Torah: A Women’s Commentary for inclusion in the digital library
- Farber Hebrew Day School Partner — Uses Sefaria in classroom instruction, with teacher Sarit Anstandig guiding students in source sheet creation and research.
- Firefox Partner — Platform for hosting Sefaria's Torah Tab browser extension.
- Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Partner — Collaborates with Sefaria through educator Shifra Elman, who integrates Sefaria resources into ninth-grade Torah study.
- Google Chrome Partner — Platform for hosting Sefaria's Torah Tab browser extension.
- Ibn Ezra Network — Provides access to Ibn Ezra’s classical commentary on the Tanakh.
- Jim Joseph Foundation Funder — Provided crucial early funding
- Jonathan and Tamar Koschitzky Funder — Provided crucial early funding
- Koren Jerusalem Partner — Collaborated to bring Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’s literary legacy online
- Minchat Shai Network — Hosts Minchat Shai’s 17th-century work on biblical textual accuracy.
- Ministry of Education (Israel) Government — Collaborated on two pilot programs in Israel
- Natan Fund Funder — Provided crucial early funding
- Ramban Network — Includes Ramban’s 13th-century commentary on the Tanakh in its digital library.
- Rashi Network — Hosts Rashi's biblical commentary as part of its classical text collection.
- Sefaria Developer Portal Partner — Hosts the Sefaria API to support developers building applications using Sefaria's data.
- Steinsaltz Center Partner — Partnered to digitize and release Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s complete works of commentary
- Technical University of Munich Partner — Research partnership to explore AI applications for Torah access
- The Frisch School Partner — Uses Sefaria to expand student access to commentaries and support sophisticated, project-based learning in Torah study.
- The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Partner — Collaborated to bring Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’s literary legacy online
- Urim Publications Partner — First major Jewish publisher to partner with Sefaria to digitize and release translations into the public domain
- WRJ Partner — Co-publisher of The Torah: A Women’s Commentary included in the digital library
- Wired Partner — Featured Sefaria's data visualization work in a published article.
- Yeshivat Har Etzion Partner — Collaborated to publish the first volume of Minchah Chadashah, a contemporary scholarly encyclopedia compiled from the work of Dr. Zechariah Haber
- המכון הרטמן (Shalom Hartman Institute) Partner — Educators affiliated with Hartman Institute’s "Bari" program, including Yoram Galili and Izak Rabi, use and promote Sefaria in teacher training and classroom instruction.
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strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- AI-Augmented Torah Studymethodology: ai_augmented_learningBy combining AI-generated content with human scholarly oversight, we create accessible and engaging entry points into classical Jewish texts because this hybrid model preserves textual fidelity while scaling personalized learning.
- Digital Interlinking as Pedagogical Frameworkmethodology: interconnected_learningBy digitally interlinking Jewish texts and commentaries, we foster deeper understanding and active learning because visualizing intertextual relationships mirrors the dialectical nature of traditional Torah study and supports critical engagement.
- Technology-Enabled Access to Jewish Textsmethodology: digital_access_modelBy leveraging digital tools like AI, open APIs, and intuitive search interfaces, we increase engagement with Jewish texts because technological accessibility lowers barriers to entry, especially for beginners and decentralized learners.