The Gelman Library contains a rich set of collections documenting the Jewish experience in Europe, the United States, and in the Washington, D.C. area. The flagship collection for Judaica and Hebraica is the I. Edward Kiev Judaica Collection.
I. Edward Kiev Judaica Collection
The I. Edward Kiev Judaica Collection was established in 1996 with the donation of 
the personal library of Rabbi I. Edward Kiev, chief librarian of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. The original donation of about 18,000 books, pamphlets, and periodicals, as well as manuscripts, graphics, artifacts, maps and Jewish music, has grown to over 22,000 volumes. The majority of materials date from the 18th through the 20th century, but there are also works that date back to the 15th centuries. The collection covers the range of Jewish studies, from biblical exegesis and archeology to Jewish history and Modern Hebrew literature. These volumes are not only diverse in age and subject areas, but are written in several languages: About 45% of the works are in English, 30% in Hebrew, 20% in German, and a modicum in Hungarian, French, Latin, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and Farsi. The collection is housed in its own reading room in the Gelman library, suite 710.
Highlights of the collection include over 1000 pamphlets and gray literature with strengths in pre-statehood 
Israel, Jewish law/responsa, sermons, American Jewish life, Reform Judaism, Jewish book catalogs, and Anti-semitism.
The manuscript collection, although small, contains Kiev’s personal and professional papers, as well as correspondence, writings, and dairies from some of the most well known Jewish leaders American Reform movement such as Isaac Mayer Wise and Stephen S. Wise.
Additions to the collection have included first edition of Martin Luther’s, Von den Juden und ihren Lugen [Concerning the Jews and Their Lies] published in 1543, woodcuts from Weltchronik [Nuremberg Chronicles] in 1493, and rare prints form the 18th-20th centuries produced in Europe and the former Soviet Union. Current collecting involves Jewish graphic art, such as the works of Hermann Struck and E.M. Lilien.
Other Judaica Collections
In addition to the Kiev Collection, the Special Collections and University Archives contains a rich set of collections documenting the Jewish experience in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area, including the papers of journalist Murray Frank, the records of the Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington as well as the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington, and others. A list of Judaica and Hebraica collections in Special Collections is available online.
Research Tools
The Kiev Judaica Collection provides various access tools that allow researchers to locate useful materials. The tool used to locate non-book materials such as pamphlets and manuscripts is GENIE. To locate books and periodicals related to your topic use the Library’s online catalog ALADIN. In addition to these tools, Kiev Judaica Collection staff is available for reference consultations to discuss a research topic, help formulate search strategies, and locate useful materials.
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Search Archives and Manuscripts:
• Visit the Genie Search page for additional information.
Search Books and Other Formats:
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To limit your Aladin search to books housed in the Kiev Judaica Collection, use the "Set Limits" button on the right side of the page and choose "GW: GELMAN Kiev Judaica Collection" as the location field.
To further limit your results to books related to Judaica in the Kiev Judaica Collection, use the guided keyword search and use “Kiev Judaica Collection” as a keyword phrase in addition to the other keywords or subjects in your search.
For additional guidance use the ALADIN help.
