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Jewish Studies Resources from the UCSC Library

JEWISH WOMEN / WOMEN IN JUDAISM

Getting Started | Reference Sources | CRUZCAT | MELVYL | Subject Headings | Finding Articles | Web Resources

GETTING STARTED

SCOPE: This guide provides starting points for research both into the issues concerning Jewish women and in the roles of women within Judaism. Though interrelated and sometimes overlapping, these approaches can be distinguished by their perspective. The first addresses the spectrum of issues confronting Jewish women, both within their communities, religion and culture, but also within the wider world (e.g. "Jewish women in the workplace"). The latter approach addresses how Judaism has defined women's roles, with some emphasis on the recent movement to reexamine and enlarge the place women hold within Jewish religious and cultural life.

OTHER RESOURCES: For a more general approach the Jewish Studies guide. To approach this subject through the women's studies literature, see the Feminist Studies guide. For a basic introduction to Library research methods, see "How to Do Research in the Library". A visit to the Reference Desk or Ask A Librarian can help you get started. Make an appointment with one of the Library's Subject Specialists for more in-depth assistance.

REFERENCE TITLES

Reference works are good starting points for any research project, helping to identify key aspects and refine your strategy. Below are examples of sources about Jewish Women/Women in Judaism available in the McHenry Library Reference collection:

LIBRARY CATALOGS

CRUZCAT - the UCSC library catalog

CRUZCAT (http://cruzcat.ucsc.edu/) lists books, journals, and other materials by the UC Santa Cruz Library. (Note: CRUZCAT does NOT index articles within journals: See Finding Articles below.)

A KEYWORD search is a more flexible way to begin to look for items by subject. Subject Headings included in item records will provide leads for refining your search.

Examine the likely items you have found first-hand to assess their usefulness to your project. Look at bibliographies and notes included in these items and browse the shelves while you are there to get leads about additional sources. Expect to go back to the CRUZCAT (or expand your search to MELVYL) as your research experience helps refine your approach.

MELVYL

The MELVYL catalog (http://melvyl.cdlib.org/) lists books, journals, and other materials held by all ten UC libraries, providing access to titles not held at UCSC. Current students, faculty and staff borrow can items held by other UC libraries using MELVYL's REQUEST function. (See How to Use Request with Melvyl.)

Aside from including items owned elsewhere in UC, MELVYL's added features provide other approaches useful for certain, more complicated searches. For tips using MELVYL see http://melvyl.cdlib.org/F/?func=file&file_name=help-1.

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subject headings found in both CRUZCAT and MELVYL are derived from the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). The following examples are a highlight some of the headings relevant to research about Jewish women / women in Judaism used by CRUZCAT and MELVYL.

  • Abortion (Jewish law)
  • Bible. O.T. -- Feminist Criticism
  • Bible. O.T. Pentateuch -- Feminist criticism
  • Divorce (Jewish law)
  • Feminism -- Israel
  • Feminism - Religious Aspects - Judaism
  • Homosexuality -- Religious Aspects -- Judaism
    •
  • Jewish families
  • Jewish fiction -- women authors
  • Jewish lesbians
  • Jewish women
  • Jewish women authors
  • Jewish women in the Holocaust
  • Jewish women in literature
  • Jewish women -- Religious life
  • Jewish women -- United States
    •
  • Marriage (Jewish law)
  • Mikveh
  • Purity, Ritual -- Judaism
  • Sex - Religious aspects - Judaism
  • Talmud -- Feminist criticism
    •
  • Women in Judaism
  • Women in rabbinical literature
  • Women in the Bible
  • Women -- Israel -- Social conditions
  • Women -- Legal Status, Laws, Etc. -- Israel
  • Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. (Jewish law)
    •

    FINDING ARTICLES

    To find journal articles you will need to search indexes covering your research topic. Most article indexes useful in academic research are available as online databases: many provide access to the full-text of the articles. See the How to Find Articles guide.

    Jewish Studies Indexes Women's Studies Indexes
    Available to UCSC students, faculty, and staff. General indexes covering Jewish women/women in Judiasm
    Available to UCSC students, faculty, and staff.     		Selected online journals
    Available to UCSC students, faculty, and staff. To find other online journals, see the UCSC eJournals directory
    http://ucelinks.cdlib.org:8888/sfx_ucsc/a-z/default
    For help connecting to UC-sponsored online databases and journals from off-campus, see the Off-Campus Access FAQ at http://library.ucsc.edu/services/oca/faq.html.)

    WEB RESOURCES AND TOOLS

    Scholarly Archives and Guides
    Other Guides and Sources

    Updated 8 March 2009 || Contact Lee Jaffe (ldjaffe@ucsc.edu) || Text Version

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