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…)
This poem was written for Bruce’s 80th birthday in March 2019. (more…)
Bruce Baff, a long-time marketing and advertising executive and travel writer for Jewish publications, passed away on June 11, 2025, at the age of 86. Bruce was the beloved husband of Natalie Goulston Baff, to whom he was married for 53 years, a loving father to his daughter Arlene Yoskowitz and his son, Adam Baff and his wife, Maia, and the adored grandfather of grandchildren Sivan, Eden, Golan, Eli and Owen. (more…)
Thank you for supporting MERCAZ USA, the voice of the Conservative/Masorti movement, during the spring voting campaign. The Mercaz votes increased from 15,000 in 2020 to 27,893 due to a strong campaign across the Conservative synagogues & institutions. The increased votes translates to more seats in the World Zionist Congress (WZC) and ultimately supports Conservative institutions in Israel (including the pluralistic prayer area of the Kotel) as well as Camp Ramah & Schechter Day Schools. (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.
