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…)
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.
How enriching to live by two calendars! However, it’s also confusing: try to explain the Jewish calendar and the secular calendar and their relationship to the moon and the sun.
Just as our two calendars are entwined, the stories of the U.S. and Israel share common points of contact. (more…)
Are you looking for ideas for your seder? Are you bored with your haggadah because of the dated language? Is the text too long for your family? Do you need something more family oriented? Are you seeking seder energy?
Come to the Lampert Library and take a look at our selection of Passover haggadot. There are long ones- and short ones; beautifully illustrated ones and very plain ones; thematic texts and traditional texts with no off topic references. (more…)
What’s a hero or heroine? Shortly we will be celebrating the story of a quintessential heroine, Esther, also known as Hadassah. She exhibits so many qualities of a heroine from her initial reluctance to get involved to her final confrontation with the villain. Heroes are not always brave-at least not at the beginning of their journeys: heroes overcome their fears to undertake difficult tasks, often ones that they are totally unprepared for and challenge authority. How much more difficult it must have been to be CHOSEN as queen than to be BORN to take that role. (more…)
