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Jewish law: Books

Introduction

The majority of books held by the Bodleian Libraries, in both physical and electronic formats, can be searched via SOLO. On this page you will find recommended books, guidance on how to search for and access print and ebooks, and libraries in the University that might be relevant for your studies and research.

Finding ebooks and books in the Bodleian Law Library

Use the tabs above to understand how the Law Bod's collection is arranged. There is an Enquiry Desk on Level 2, just as you enter the main Reading Room: please do come and have a word if you are having any difficulty in using the library..

Help with finding books

The Law Library's collection is fully catalogued on SOLO, Oxford  University's online resource discovery tool.

To start a subject search use

Jewish law  

If you are interested in the relationship between law and religion in the modern state of Israel, suggestions are available on another page in this guide.

For those wishing to learn more about using searches, we recommend the following:

The principal collection of books on Jewish law in the Bodleian Law Library will have shelf marks beginning Jewish. This collection is shelved on Level 3, the floor above the entrance level to the library. It is accessible by both stairs and the lift.
If your SOLO search results reveal an interesting looking book with a shelf mark starting Israel you will find it on Level 1, the floor beneath the entrance level. Again this connected to all floors by the stairs and the lift.

Both these collections are arranged internally by the last name of the author/editor there is no subject arrangement.

However it is possible to use narrower subject search in SOLO, such as

Jewish courts
Rabbinical courts
Judges (Jewish law)

Marriage (Jewish law)
Personal injuries (Jewish law)
Conflict of laws (Jewish law)

It has been common to divide the legal systems of the world into various traditions

On Level 2, the level at which you enter the Law Library, an area of the open shelf collection has books with shelf marks beginning General. 
This is where you will find comparative studies, and works surveying the response to legal problems in two or more jurisdictions. 

Please ask at the Enquiry Desk on Level 2 if you are having difficulty finding your way round our collection.

Most of the books in the Bodleian Law Library in this area of study will have shelf marks beginning Jewish. This means they are on Level 3, one floor above the entrance level to the Law Library.

Depending on the nature of your research interests, your SOLO searches may reveal that other parts of the Bodleian have useful materials

Recommend a book

If the Bodleian Libraries don't have the print or ebook you are looking for, you can make a recommendation by completing the form below (Oxford Single-Sign On required).

Inter-library requests

If the Bodleian Libraries don't have the book you are looking for, we may be able to source it through Oxford's inter-library request service.