Torah MCP

What torah-mcp does

torah-mcp is designed for source-based Jewish text study through MCP. It connects to the Sefaria API for references, translations, linked commentaries, full-text search, and study calendars. A separate HebrewBooks integration searches a catalog of approximately 65,000 scanned seforim through the official API.

The server includes a study method that MCP clients load during initialization. Its instructions tell the model to consult the underlying texts before answering religious questions, quote the material it read, mark disagreements between authorities, and provide HebrewBooks reading links where relevant. The project states that it does not collect data and can be used without an account.

How it works

The hosted endpoint uses streamable HTTP at https://torah-mcp.com/mcp. MCP clients can connect to that URL, while Claude Code can add it with an HTTP transport. A self-hosted deployment runs as a Cloudflare Worker.

Sefaria requests include an identifying user agent and are cached at the edge. Texts and linked sources use a 24-hour cache, while calendar results use a one-hour cache. The public endpoint applies a limit of 60 requests per minute per IP. Responses include text-license information.

The server also exposes five MCP prompts for study workflows, including HebrewBooks-based study, havrouta, parasha study, beginner learning, and advanced learning. It can be paired with Sefaria’s official MCP server when deeper library access is needed alongside torah-mcp’s study instructions and workflow tools.

Setup and configuration

For a hosted connection, add https://torah-mcp.com/mcp as a custom connector in Claude or configure it as an HTTP MCP server. The repository also supports deployment through Cloudflare or with npm install followed by npx wrangler deploy.

No secret is required for a basic deployment. HEBREWBOOKS_API_KEY is needed specifically for HebrewBooks catalog searches and must be requested from developers@hebrewbooks.org. Self-hosted operators can optionally set BEARER_TOKENS as a comma-separated secret to restrict access. The website’s optional ANTHROPIC_API_KEY and STATS_PASSWORD apply to its web features, not the core MCP connection.

Tools and capabilities

The torah-mcp MCP server provides these study functions:

• Retrieve Sefaria passages in Hebrew with a translation, preferring French when available and otherwise using English.
• Find linked commentaries and sources, and search Sefaria’s library in Hebrew or English.
• Look up weekly parasha, haftarah, Daf Yomi, and daily Rambam information.
• Search HebrewBooks by title or author when an API key is configured.
• Choose beginner French, bilingual classical, or advanced beit-midrash study registers.
• Run a havrouta mode where the model asks questions and requires the learner to defend interpretations.
• Generate a parasha guide with aliyot, textual questions, contrasting commentators, haftarah connections, and Shabbat-table prompts.
• Display an interactive Vilna daf with Gemara, Rashi, Tosafot, and click-to-translate behavior.
• Provide Hebrew dates, zmanim, gematria, nikoud, and source-card utilities.

Limitations and notes

The study method depends on the referenced source services, and HebrewBooks search has an additional API-key requirement. French output is available first when Sefaria supplies a French translation; otherwise the tool returns English alongside Hebrew. The project identifies its server and bundled study method as unaffiliated with Sefaria and HebrewBooks.org. The software is licensed under MIT.