Library

The Or Zarua library, located on the fourth floor of our building, fulfills the three functions which define a synagogue: Beit Midrash, a house of study; Beith K'nesset, a community space; and Beit Tefilah, a house of prayer. Every week our Library is the site of a variety of educational activities and study sessions; meetings of the synagogue's committees; and youth and other religious services.

The lending and reference books number in the hundreds, arranged in two sections: Hebrew religious texts, such as several editions of the Talmud, siddurim (prayerbooks), chumashim (Torah), mikra'ot gedolot and perushim (Torah with commentary), and various halakhic (legal) texts, such as the Shulkhan Arukh and Mishneh Torah; and books in English having Jewish content and interest, including Jewish history, the Holocaust, the history of the State of Israel, theological works, and novels and fiction with Jewish themes. The Library is currently available during regular synagogue hours. If there is sufficient interest, the Library can be opened on regularly scheduled hours, staffed by a librarian, for browsing, borrowing, and consultation. When Congregants borrow books they are requested to enter information in the signout book located on the computer table. A computer catalogue is in the process of being created. Specific titles or sections of the Library's holdings are frequently highlighted in the Or Zarua newsletter. Please contact the synagogue office if you want more information or if you wish to make a donation. An internship program may be established for teenagers interested in working in the Library.