What is Sifrei Kodesh?ספרי קודש
Sifrei kodesh means 'holy books' — the formal term for the body of sacred Jewish literature, used when distinguishing religious works from secular ones.
Also written: Sifrey Kodesh, Sifre Kodesh, Sifrei Kodesh seforim
Sifrei kodesh is a slightly more formal register than seforim, and it is the phrase used when the sacred status of the books is the point being made — in discussions of how they must be handled, how they are stored, and how they are given over to a genizah when they wear out.
As a search term it tends to be used by people looking for the category as a whole rather than a specific title, which makes it a common entry point for someone furnishing a home library or a shul from scratch.
Related terms
- Seforim — Seforim are Jewish religious books — the plural of sefer — covering Torah, Talmud, halacha, mussar, chassidus, and the full range of sacred Jewish literature.
- Sefer — A sefer is a Jewish religious book — a work of Torah, Talmud, halacha, or related sacred literature, as distinct from an ordinary secular book.
- Judaica — Judaica refers to Jewish ritual and ceremonial objects — items such as menorahs, kiddush cups, mezuzah cases, and Torah ornaments — as distinct from printed seforim.