As more and more people around the world incorporate AI assistants like Claude.ai and ChatGPT into their work, we want to make sure you have the tools you need to explore the Jewish texts in our library. That's why we've built two add-ons you can use to connect your AI assistant of choice to the texts in our library and the code in our database. Keep reading for information about how the Sefaria MCPs can support your learning and coding efforts.

What is an MCP?
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) is like an adaptor cable that lets your AI tools connect seamlessly with an external collection of information — like the books in the Sefaria library or Sefaria’s codebase.

How do the Sefaria MCPs support learning?
Each of our MCPs serves a distinct purpose: The Sefaria Texts MCP connects an AI assistant to the library stacks, while the Sefaria Developers MCP connects an AI assistant to our codebase.

When you connect one of the Sefaria MCPs to an AI assistant, it creates a direct line between the AI model and our library stacks or codebase. When the MCPs are enabled, you can ask the AI assistant to prioritize information in Sefaria's collection when searching.

Instead of asking: “Is there a midrash from Bereshit Rabbah about Genesis 15:7?” Try this: “Can you use the Sefaria MCP to check if there’s a midrash from Bereshit Rabbah about Genesis 15:7?” With our MCP installed, you can focus your queries and get the AI to prioritize information directly from Sefaria.

What’s the difference between the two MCPs?
As described above, the two Sefaria MCPs serve different user needs — either searching for answers found in texts or utilizing our codebase and documentation.

The Sefaria Texts MCP allows an AI assistant to converse directly with the Sefaria library in order to search and retrieve texts and return a response with precise citations to specific sources.

The Sefaria Developers MCP allows an AI assistant to converse directly with the Sefaria API. This means your LLM can search and retrieve any data and write the code you need to build tools and programs based on Sefaria’s indices.

1. Copy the relevant MCP URL:

• Sefaria Texts MCP https://mcp.sefaria.org/sse
• Sefaria Developers MCP https://developers.sefaria.org/mcp

2. Add to Your AI Tool:

• In Claude:

- Navigate to settings
- Add as a Custom Connector
- Enable

• In ChatGPT:

- Navigate to settings
- Click on Advanced settings
- Click the toggle button to enable Developer mode
- Navigate back to Apps and Connectors
- Click Create (top right corner)
- Paste the above link for a Sefaria MCP into the indicated text box
- Select No Authorization
- Click Create

3. Start Exploring:
- Click the + icon at the bottom of the text box to enable the MCP.
- Ask whatever is on your mind!

For example:
Using the Sefaria Texts MCP, ask your questions about Jewish text, such as "What does Genesis 1:1 say?" or "Find me talmudic discussions about kindness."

Using the Sefaria Developers MCP, ask the AI assistant to write code by pulling from our API, such as “Help me build a GUI which uses the Sefaria API to study Sforno's commentary on Genesis.”