TL;DR: For nearly three decades, the Jewish Virtual Library (JVL) has served as one of the world’s largest online resources on Jewish history, Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, and U.S.-Israel relations. But as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how people access information, the challenge is no longer just creating accurate content; it is ensuring credible information is the information AI systems surface first. JVL is now working on a new AI-focused initiative designed to help position authoritative Jewish and pro-Israel content within the next generation of search and discovery systems.

For years, when people wanted information online, they searched for a website. Today, increasingly, they ask an AI.

Whether through ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or other emerging platforms, millions of people are now receiving synthesized answers generated by artificial intelligence rather than clicking through traditional search results. That shift is transforming not only how information is consumed, but also how narratives are formed.

For organizations focused on Jewish history, Israel, antisemitism, and public education, this change carries enormous implications.

The Jewish Virtual Library (JVL), founded in 1997, contains more than 27,000 pages of vetted content, including primary documents, statistics, biographies, maps, timelines, and educational resources used by students, educators, journalists, researchers, and community members worldwide.

But in the age of AI, even the most authoritative information does not automatically surface.

AI systems do not simply “search the web.” They retrieve, interpret, summarize, and prioritize information algorithmically. In many cases, users may never see the source itself. That means the key question is no longer only whether accurate information exists online, but whether AI systems recognize it as authoritative enough to rely upon.

This challenge is particularly urgent when it comes to Israel and Jewish issues.

Topics such as Zionism, antisemitism, the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and accusations involving “apartheid” or “genocide” are increasingly shaped by highly emotional and often misleading online ecosystems. AI systems can unintentionally amplify inaccuracies if reliable sources are not properly structured and visible within these environments.

In response, JVL is currently working on implementing what we call the “mAImonides Project,” an initiative focused on helping position authoritative Jewish and pro-Israel content more effectively within AI-driven search and discovery systems.

The goal is straightforward: help ensure that when people ask AI systems questions about Israel, Jewish history, antisemitism, or related subjects, credible and rigorously sourced information has a far greater chance of informing the answer.

This effort involves more than simply publishing additional content. It requires rethinking how information is structured for AI retrieval and interpretation, including improving semantic organization, internal linking, and AI-readable content architecture.

Importantly, this initiative is not about manipulating AI outputs. It is about ensuring that accurate, sourced information remains competitive in a rapidly changing information ecosystem.

For decades, Jewish organizations invested in libraries, archives, and educational programs to preserve and share knowledge. Today, maintaining visibility within AI systems is becoming just as important. If authoritative information is absent from the platforms where people increasingly seek answers, misinformation fills the vacuum.

At the same time, AI presents enormous opportunities. A student researching Zionism, a journalist seeking historical context, or a community member responding to misinformation online can now potentially access trusted information faster than ever before, provided credible sources remain visible and accessible. As a member of the Global Jewry network, the Jewish Virtual Library’s mission is all the more significant. Providing trusted, easily accessible educational content to Jewish leaders and organizations makes for a stronger, more informed community.

The Jewish Virtual Library’s mission has always centered on accessibility: making serious, sourced information available to the broadest possible audience. As AI reshapes how societies learn and engage with information, ensuring that authoritative Jewish knowledge remains discoverable is no longer optional. It is essential.

Shavua tov, 

Mitchell Bard, PhD.

Executive Director, Jewish Virtual Library

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