Library

The library of the IGdJ currently holds around 70,000 volumes. It is a scientific reference and research library, one of the largest special collections on German-Jewish history in the Federal Republic of Germany. Its focus is on the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. In addition to its extensive holdings of Judaica, the library has an important collection of Hebraica and more than 900 domestic and foreign periodicals.

The library is open to everyone (please bring a valid identification document!). The entire holdings are stored in stacks and made available for use in the reading room after an order has been placed. Via the catalogs of the Hamburg State and University Library, you can find the call number you need to order from us after specifying the book title (see Campus Catalog or Catalogplus).

About 150 journals are subscribed on a continuous basis. The entire periodicals holdings are listed in the Zeitschriftendatenbank (ZDB).

A scanner is available on site for you to make copies. If you wish to use the scanner, please bring along a USB flash drive.

The Coordination Office for the Preservation of Written Cultural Heritage (KEK) approves funding for the institute library

On 15 August 2024, the project to secure and preserve the Hebraica I collection at the Institute for the History of German Jews was approved by the Coordination Office for the Preservation of Written Cultural Heritage (KEK). The project is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM) and by special funds from the state for the preservation of written cultural heritage in Hamburg. It is dedicated to the conservation of part of the Hebraica collection in the institute's library.

The predominantly religious publications in Hebrew are of great cultural and historical importance to the IGdJ, especially as they are rarely found in other libraries. The collection also reveals the provenance during the National Socialist persecution in Europe and bears witness to former Jewish institutions and the private possessions of Jewish collectors. This is of significant value for research and education as well as being of great public interest.

The actions of this project focus on the small-format and older works from the 16th century to the end of the 1940s. There are 1,025 volumes to be treated. A company specialising in conservation measures carries out the following work: on the one hand, gentle dry cleaning, which focuses primarily on the bindings, and on the other hand, the inspection and documentation of the individual damages in order to be able to initiate further necessary conservation steps.

At the reference library, a limited number of work spaces are available in the reading room from Monday to Thursday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), assigned by appointment. Appointments are made by pre-confirmed e-mail. 

Ordering materials: Beate Kuhnle, e-mail: Geschaeftszimmer[at]igdj-hh.de, Phone: +49 (0)40 42838-2617

Library information: Susanne Küther, e-mail: susanne.kuether[at]igdj-hh.de