Celia Gurevitch Jewish Community Library

On the evening of Tuesday, January 27, the first copy of the privately published autobiography of the late Joseph L. Zygielbaum will be presented to his widow, Adele Zygielbaum, a Santa Rosa resident. The public is invited to this presentation of Odyssey of a Partisan, which will take place 7-9 pm on the bottom floor of the Doyle Library at Santa Rosa Junior College, on Elliott Avenue in Santa Rosa.

Odyssey of a Partisan describes Mr. Zygielbaum’s tragic experiences and heroic struggles as a Jewish partisan leader in the Second World War, including the loss of his first family, his captivity in the Soviet Union, his military action in Poland, Russia, Belarus, Yugoslavia, and Finland, and his survival to become an American military intelligence analyst and contributor to America’s early space program.

Following is an excerpt from the editor’s preface to Odyssey of a Partisan:

“This book is a true story… I found myself in the forests in Belarus, wandering with the partisans as I read. I found myself understanding a perspective of the Second World War that is not well known. I found myself in awe of a man who could not only live through such ordeals, but live to tell them, to tell us what happened. That was what he wanted. He wanted people to know how it really was for Jews in Poland during the occupation. He wanted people to know about the hide-aways of partisans in the forest. He wanted his story told so that we would not forget… I… asked myself: what and where are the similarities today? I believe that is what Joseph Zygielbaum wants his readers to ask. He wants a story told so that history remains in the past and does not repeat itself. Odyssey of a Partisan is his story, in his words.”

The narrative also relates the ordeal of Mr. Zygielbaum’s father, Szmul Zygielbojm, the famous Polish labor leader, who defied Nazi authority and became a martyr to the effort to save the remaining Jews of Poland during the Warsaw Uprising. The presentation will touch upon this aspect of the family’s history.

Mrs. Zygielbaum will be joined by her sons, Paul, also of Santa Rosa, and Arthur, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who together oversaw completion of the book’s publication, and by Krista Burlae, editor of the manuscript. They will present their perspectives on the tragedies and triumphs of Joseph Zygielbaum’s remarkable life and the completion of his autobiography.

Following the presentation of the book, Mrs. Zygielbaum, who frequently speaks to community groups, will go on to describe and discuss her own experiences as a concentration camp survivor.

For further information, contact Paul Zygielbaum at psz@mpzyg.com

(While the Librarian is on vacation)

Monday, January 22          4-6 PM
Sunday, January 23            9 AM –noon
Monday, January 26          4-6 PM
Tuesday, January 27          4-6 PM
Wednesday, January 28      4-6 PM
Thursday, January 29          4-6 PM
Sunday, February 1            9 AM –noon
Monday, February 2          4-6 PM

Another book we won is not for the faint hearted. “Jewtopia: The Chosen Book for the Chosen People” by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson, is a funny, irreverent, in-your-face kind of guide to Judaism, written by two Jewish comedians from New York, based on their hit show. If you are not ashamed to have some fun reading internal reflections on stereotypes you will find the jokes here hilarious. If nothing else browse through the pages to see the pictures. After all the book is published by Warner books and if they know one thing that is how to make something look good. For further guidance check the table of contents for the table of contents page of the book’s website, where you can see some of the art work too:

1. History Part I Where It All Began
2. History Part II Oh For Christ Sakes!
3. Holidays: Celebrate Bad Times!
4. Food: Anyone Have Some Zantac?
5. Jewtopia’s Guide to Life: From Bar Mitzvahs
6. Travel: Planes, Trains, and Diarrhea
7. Stereotypes: Look Ethell I Found a Penny
8. Conspiracy Theories: Do Jews Control the World?
9. Conversations with Jewish Mothers Part One

Having joined the library a year ago, it is time to take stock of my experiences. They include so many positive areas it is hard to know where to start.

First of all, I enjoyed being surrounded by books, many of which I am interested in, some I actually read. The process of getting to know the collection will take many years, but I dove into the process head first. What can I say? I love books, learning from them, being entertained by them, touching the textures of the pages, admiring the illustrations. I also love to spread the word when I find a good one.

I take pleasure in writing, as you might have noticed if you read any of the 300 hundred blog entries I wrote. The purpose of my posts is to let you know about the offerings we have, whether they are new or old books, events we put on or anniversaries worthy of remembering. If you haven’t checked it out, maybe it’s time. (The address is at the top of this article)

My thirst for technology is also met because I can play with software I was not familiar with. By the time you read this we should have our new catalog up and running, with several new exciting features for patrons. I also happened to slip in the role of maintaining Beth Ami’s website, yet another task I am having fun with.

Our collection grew with over 300 books and DVDs in 2008. Thank you, dear readers, for donating them or giving money to the library’s dedicated fund so we could purchase them. Organizing information is another passion of mine. Thus cataloging all these new items was a rewarding task.

I admit I watch a lot of movies. Working at the library gave me the opportunity to share my enthusiasm via running last summer’s film club, when we watched 10 movies. I plan to restart the series in February. Recommendations for what movies to include in the series are welcome.

But none of this can be compared to the most thrilling part of my job: interacting with visitors and patrons. Seeing the joy of a child when I ask how she liked the book she just returned, finding the most suitable book when somebody asks a reference question, watching people as they browse our shelves to pick something to read, hearing the children’s laughter when I read stories to them, listening to people’s stories on how they relate to a certain book – these are the best of times in the life of a librarian.

Thank you for your ongoing support that allowed me to work in my dream job. Now, you can join in the fun as well. The beginning of the New Year is the perfect opportunity to start volunteering at the library. I need to take a short vacation for personal reasons, starting January 22. We need more people while I am away to cover shifts if we are to keep our usual opening hours. If any of the above appeals to you, I urge to inquire how you can be more involved.

The library will be closed from December 25 till January 4, 2009.

We will reopen on Monday, January 5.

You remember last month I posted the announcement that the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) was starting a new podcast series. By doing so we got entered into a drawing for five Jewish interest books from Hachette Book Group. This morning I got notified that our library is one of the five winners. As soon as I get and catalog the books I will post another entry about them here.

Meanwhile I just added a link on the right side of the library’s blog under the Jewish Books heading. We already had 8 links there, including the Book of Life podcast and the AJL site. Now the AJL Podcast is also listed there for easier accessibility.

A few weeks ago at the library Shabbat most of the volunteers at the library shared a few words with the congregation. After the service many people came up to me telling me how Noor’s impromptu speech touched them. Thus I asked her to write it up so we could share with all the readers of this blog.

Noorillah Karr: Three reasons I like to be in the Library

First, it is an entire Jewish microcosm, a world of books on Judaism and/or books written by Jewish authors, organized and arranged according to a uniquely Jewish system, the Elazar System. Here there is everything from Torah, Prophets and Talmud to the latest edition of the Jerusalem Post. In between are books representing nearly every facet of Jewish tradition and culture: ancient and modern Torah commentaries, Kabbalah and meditation, books on ethics and mitzvoth, poetry, biography, history, cookbooks, books on Israeli culture and politics, and the latest contemporary novels, not to mention a fine range of books for children. It’s as if members of the whole tribe, spanning all the generations are rubbing shoulders in one small room, just waiting for any one of us to come in for a conversation.

Second, because so many of our congregants have contributed their time, money, books and expertise to sustain and develop our library, there is no also a strong feeling of connection to the lineage of our congregation. The library is named for Leo Gurevitch’s mother, and although I never met her, I’ve met Leo and I’ve worked with Evelyn Gurevitch. Looking around the sanctuary, I see not only our amazing emeritus librarian, Susanne Batzdorff, but others I’ve worked with, who started in the library long before me, including Sylvia Sucher, Shayna Bakman and Lillian Judd. And I remember Natalie Wachspress (z’l) and know there are others, too many to name. And I also see many of you who have generously donated to the library over the years, and those who have come in to check out a book or ask a good question. The library is part of Beth Ami’s tradition, and it is good to participate in continuing that tradition.

Third, being in the library is an easy way to fulfill the highest commandment, which is to further learning. This doesn’t only mean the learning of our children or grandchildren, but especially it means our own learning. When you come to the library, it’s hard not to fulfill this mitzvah. Simply pursue an article on Israel or pull a book from the shelf and read a few sentences, and already you’ve learned something you didn’t know before. And if the book wants to come home with you, you can check it out for a month, put it by your favorite chair or on your night table and read a few more sentences from time to time. It may be a big mitzvah, but it can be fulfilled in small ways. To paraphrase one of our famous sages: Just because you can’t read the whole thing doesn’t mean you shouldn’t open the cover. It’s an easy way to connect with out tradition, and you’ll be in really good company when you do.

I missed the deadline for submitting our wishlist for the December Shofar, where you can read the nursery school’s and the office’s. But I started a wish list of items I would like to see in the library. Any time you feel giving something to the library you can visit our wish list at Amazon.com and pick an item or two. They will be delivered to us, with the information who gave it. Thus we can and will put a bookplate into the item with your name in it. The list is at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3LVCZKI4XFOUR

A few words about what you will see on the page linked above. As mentioned elsewhere the library’s collection development policy (i.e. what new items to get) is focused on four areas. So all the 60 items currently on our wish list belong to one of these categories:

• Great Jewish children books
• DVDs of feature films from Israel or with Jewish characters or themes
• Kabbalah books from a religious Jewish or academic perspective
• Newly or recently published novels by Israeli authors or with Jewish characters or themes

If you have a recommendation in the above categories or beyond, what you think we should have please let us know.

As you might have read in the Shofar or in yesterday’s post the Jewish Book Month, organized and promoted by the Jewish Book Council started right before Thanksgiving this year and will last till December 22. Yesterday we received this year’s poster. See below the small version or in our window the full size variety. We also have lots of new bookmarks for this occasion. One of them, the one with the pink background has lists and annotations of great new children and young adult books. The other, the blue bookmark is for adults and one size has novels, while the other lists non-fiction books. Come on in to the library and pick up one.

This year, Jewish Book Month starts November 22 and ends December 22. We challenge you to celebrate it by coming into the library, picking up a book that interests you and rediscover the joy you can get from reading. As always, we are here to help you, providing reference service, answering questions, and directing you to books on the topic you are looking for. We are also happy to announce that our DVD collection now contains over 30 movies, all related to Jews, Judaica and/or Israel.

We also have a treat waiting for you this month. Frances Dinkelspiel will come and speak about the research behind her book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California. The book is just as intriguing as its title! If you’ve never heard of Hellman, the great-great-grandfather of the book’s author, you are not alone. Had you lived a hundred years ago in California though, you probably would have been alone. Hellman arrived to Los Angeles from Germany in 1859 with almost nothing. He founded and developed Wells Fargo Bank and two other major banks. Some of his other accomplishments include leading the construction of Los Angeles’ first synagogue, donating the land for the University of Southern California, and serving as Regent of the University of California for 38 years.

If this intrigues you as it does me, please come to Ms. Dinkelspiel’s lecture mid-December. The date and time are being finalized as this goes to print!
This month we are happy to report on our new books related to Kabbalah and spirituality:

• Gershom Scholem: Zohar, The Book of Splendor – The greatest authority on Jewish mysticism culled selected passages from the Zohar on the wonders of creation, soul, love, suffering and death, exile, and redemption.
• Daniel C. Matt: The Essential Kabbalah – You can find the most important tenets of Kabbalah topics including G-d as infinity, Sefirot, mystical nothingness, alphabet, creation, meditation, and revelation.
• Jerry Winston: Colors from the Zohar – Amazing poetry inspired by (and expounding upon) the Zohar in a beautifully designed book.
• Aryeh Kaplan: Meditation and the Bible – A radical interpretation of the Bible demonstrating the methods of meditation used by the Prophets to attain their unique states of consciousness.
• Estelle Frankel: Sacred Therapy – Frankel uses biblical, Hasidic, Talmudic and kabbalistic traditions to shape her thesis: healing begins with brokenness and leads to transformation, wholeheartedness and renewal.