Book Club and Library - Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah

About Our Library

The Library Committee seeks to foster Jewish learning, Jewish literacy and the enjoyment of reading. Our goals include: 1) to provide Jewish materials covering ancient and modern history, politics, Israel Studies, fiction and biography not available in the public library system, 2) to hold educational programs on topics of Jewish literature and literacy and 3) to encourage learning about Israel

Library Hours and Location

Our lending collection of fiction, biography, memoir and popular non-fiction are housed in Chuck’s Room, the conference room on the first floor. Talmud and seforim are located in the Bobrow Chapel. These materials are for on-site study only and should not be removed. The Library Annex, located on the second floor across from the elevator is the repository for older reference works, history and other volumes for which there is no longer enough room in Chuck’s Room or the Bobrow Chapel.

Saturday during Shabbat morning Kiddush.

Self-service during BSCTT office hours. Ask office staff for entry. Borrow books under the honor system, signing them out in the office or, when the office is closed, on the pad located on the computer counter.

In conjunction with special events to be announced in the D’var and the weekly shul listserve Announcements e-mail.

By appointment with a library volunteer, contact Library@Bethsholom.org.

Borrowing Online

Select from our Catalog using instructions provided on the link to choose catalogs alphabetized by author, title and by call number. Find call numbers for your favorite subjects in the Weine Classification.

E-mail your request to Library@Bethsholom.org. You will receive e-mail notification within three business days that your books are ready for pickup.

Pick up and return your books at the BSCTT Office. Lending period is three weeks, renewable once by e-mail.

Online Judaic Studies Virtual Library:

As we all need access to the Jewish classics, Library committee member Meyer Katzper has developed an online Judaic Studies virtual library. Follow this links to primary Jewish sources and resources online. Included are sites in Hebrew and English and suited for the needs of beginning and advanced scholars.

Support our Library

The library project is funded entirely from donations and fundraising activities. It does not draw any funds from the shul budget. Readers can help support our library in the following ways:

Donate money to BSCTT directed for the Library Fund

Join us for the annual library fundraiser concert by the National Philharmonic Orchestra at The Music Center at Strathmore. Details of the winter concert are announced each year in autumn through the D’var, shul website and posters. Tickets to benefit the library must be purchased through the shul (i.e. not through the Strathmore box office).

Donate and dedicate new books from the library’s new purchase wish list. Contact Library@bethsholom.org for details.

Donate Books to Our Library:

The library accepts donations all year ‘round. Volumes needed for the collection will be catalogued and made available for lending. Duplicates and secular materials will be offered to our membership at periodic free book giveaways in the Atrium Lobby. Remaining books are then sold with proceeds used to buy new books. We accept books of almost all kinds: Jewish and secular, fiction and non-fiction, for adults and children. We prefer not to accept shemos as BSCTT already has a complete collection of sifrei kodesh. Tax receipts are available to donors in the BSCTT office.

Contact Us

For more information about the library, volunteering, community service hours, suggesting books for acquisition, donating books or money to support the library project, contact library@bethsholom.org.

Tanya Lampert and Bob Kurlantzick, co-chairs. Library Webpage revised June 26, 2018