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Author: Aileen Grossberg

Aileen Grossberg, a professional librarian, is a long-time congregant and serves as volunteer librarian for Shomrei's Lampert Library. The library, one of the best-kept secrets at Shomrei is used by the Rabbi, congregants, students and teachers of the JLC (Hebrew School) and Preschool. It's a tremendous resource completely supported by your donations and gifts. Aileen also heads the Shomrei Caterers, the in-house food preparation group. Can there be any better combination…good food and good books!
Home Page Blog Feature, Lampert Library

Summer in the Book

As the summer begins to wind down (even though it’s not officially over until September 22), let’s try to capture some last glory and intensity through books set in the summer. The following fiction and nonfiction books are available in Shomrei’s Lampert library.

Yael Van de Wouden’s The Safekeep takes place during the hot summer of 1961 in the Netherlands. It’s long enough after World War II that all should be calm. But Isabel, living in her mother’s house in rural Netherlands, discovers that some wars are never really over and things are not always as they seem. This novel was short-listed for the Booker Prize and winner or nominee for many other literary awards.

Allegra Goodman’s Kaaterskill Falls takes place in 1976 in upstate New York where scores of religious Jews make the trek from the city to one of the many summer communities. The story focuses on the restless Elizabeth and the confused Andras. The village’s Rebbe also has his struggles as does the local judge who is faced with the problem of overdevelopment that will change the village’s character. The book was a National Book Award finalist and winner of the Edward Lewis Wallant Award.

Laura Amy Schlitz’s  The Hired Girl has escaped her dull, hard life on a Pennsylvania farm to work as a maid in a wealthy Jewish household in Baltimore. It’s the summer of 1911 and the work can be as difficult as farm work in its own way especially when Joan finds herself out of her element trying to understand this family whose customs are so foreign to her. This young adult novel is an award-winning coming-of-age book. Adults readers may also enjoy it for the local color and dramatic arc.It

Leslie Kimmelman ‘s book about friends Sam and Charlie (and Sam too) at Camp is a low-key early chapter book about friendship and the outdoors. It is suitable for readers just beyond easy readers.

Seymour Fleishman’s original Chelm-like tale Too Hot in Potzburg takes advantage of the summer heat. The weather is unbearable so the residents use their “brilliant” problem-solving skills to find a way to cool off. In true Chelm fashion, the solution has its own complications when giant fans are set up to create a breeze.

As the October 7 war nears its second anniversary, one wonders if peace and friendship ever be achieved between Israelis and Palestinians? Some people feel that people to people contact is the way to achieve understanding, if not peace. Sharing Our Homeland is Trisha Marx’s photo essay on the Summer Peace Camp which has brought teens from both sides together for many summers. Amazingly, the camp is still going strong although under much different circumstance since the October war began. Read about  the Youth Peace Camp at (https://parentscirclefriends.org/youthpeacecamp) and the long running Seeds of Peace located in Maine.(www.seedsofpeace.org)

Home Page Blog Feature, Lampert Library

NonFiction

Lots of people shy away from nonfiction, thinking that it’s going to be dense, dry and dreary. But well-written nonfiction, especially narrative nonfiction, can be as exciting as the latest best-selling mystery or romance. Biography easily lends itself to good narration since it’s the story of people’s lives, while history is a close second when it tells the story of true events.

As with previously recommended books, these are available in both the BCCLS system and in our library. (more…)

Lampert Library

Summer Reading

Whether you’re lazing by the pool, relaxing on the beach, or just staycationing, summer’s the time to catch up on reading.

Here are some suggestions for great Jewish-themed books. Because of budget constraints, our library does not have all the books mentioned here. But your local public library consortium should. (more…)

Lampert Library

Celebrating Pride Month

June is Pride Month. Jews have been at the forefront of human rights. So it’s no surprise that Jews were also very much involved in rights for LGBTQ+ people.

To mark this month, I’ve chosen four books that either discuss LGBTQ issues from a Jewish point of view or center on Jewish characters. In our library there are many other books related to LGBTQ+ issues. (more…)

Lampert Library

Commemorating Flag Day

June 14 is Flag Day commemorating the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777. However, despite attempts to make the day an official holiday (Lincoln, Wilson, and others) it was not officially set until 1949 under President Harry S. Truman. The day was established simply to honor and recognize the flag.

To mark this year’s celebration, the Lampert Library is highlighting the following book:

Rubin, Susan Goldman. The Flag with fifty-six stars: a gift from the survivors of Mauthausen  who were liberated by U.S. soldiers in the spring of 1945. In gratitude the survivors fashioned a flag out of scraps of fabric but overestimated the number of stars. A heart-warming thoughtful appreciation of our nation’s flag and the impact it had 80 years ago. This is a picture book but is of interest to  all ages including adults.

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