The Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library offers outstanding general and Judaic resources to all Temple members and staff. Use the drop down menu to find out more about us. The Blumenthal Library is located on the third floor. The library is closed on holidays and for Shabbat. SEPTEMBER - JUNE LIBRARY HOURS:: Sunday 9am - 3pm Monday - Thursday - 8am - 5:30pm Friday - 8am - 2pm (pst) or 3pm (pdt) Saturday - Closed Summer Library Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library is one of the finest temple libraries in the nation. We have over 30,000 books, tapes, videos, DVD'S, and other materials, and are open on a year-round basis. Our professional staff includes the library director, a cataloger and reference librarian, an office manager, a school librarian, and various assistants who all keep our excellent library running smoothly. We are one of the few temple libraries (of any denomination) that have received advanced accreditation by the National Association of Jewish Libraries. Library privileges are free to all temple members, regardless of age. There is a $25.00 annual fee for non-members. Books are checked out for two weeks, videos and DVD's for one week, and audiobooks for three weeks. Children in our affiliated schools come to the library on a regular basis and are allowed to borrow materials according to grade level guidelines. Renewals are easily permitted by phone, email, or in person. Library programs are offered throughout the year. They include various author visits, children's storyhours, book clubs, Sisterhood classes, annual used book sale, Jewish Book Month Breakfast, and other book-related programs. Please check this website regularly for updates on our various activities and events.

Lisa Silverman
Library Director
lsilverman@sinaitemple.org
310-481-3218

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL JEWISH BOOK MONTH BREAKFAST:

Featuring Author, Rich Cohen,

Rich Cohen is the author of seven books including Israel is Real, Tough Jews and the acclaimed memoir, Sweet and Low. His newest book, The Fish That Ate the Whale, recounts one of the great untold stories of the last 100 years: the life of Samuel Zemurray. Known in his prime as “Sam, the Banana Man”, he was a penniless Jewish peddler who arrived in America in 1891 and quickly became one of the richest, most powerful men in the world. From hustling on the docks of New Orleans to overthrowing Central American governments or feuding with Huey Long and CIA agents while controlling the empire of the United Fruit Company, Zemurray emerges as an unforgettable figure, connected to the birth of modern American diplomacy, public relations, business, and war—a monumental life that reads like a parable of the American dream.

We are proud to present the Millie Tynan Mitzvah Award to Leslie Wachtel

With special award recognition to Sidney Burke

• When: Sunday, December 2, 2012, 9:30 a.m.
  Tickets: $25.00
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-3217 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org">bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details or to RSVP

TALMUD FOR BEGINNERS: Learning Jewish Wisdom on an iPad

Taught by noted author Maggie Anton

Maggie Anton, author of the Rashi’s Daughters trilogy and the new release, Rav Hisda’s Daughter, will teach a class for beginning students of Talmud. This 3 week session will study the parts of Tractate Shabbat that focus on the holiday Hanukah, using the new Koren Talmud and its iPad app. iPads will be provided!

• When: Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., in the library classroom
  Dates: November 8, 15, 29 (limited to 12 participants)
• Cost: $50.00
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-3217 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org">bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details or to RSVP

 

ANNUAL JEWISH BOOK MONTH BREAKFAST:

Featuring Author, Rich Cohen,

Rich Cohen is the author of seven books including Israel is Real, Tough Jews and the acclaimed memoir, Sweet and Low. His newest book, The Fish That Ate the Whale, recounts one of the great untold stories of the last 100 years: the life of Samuel Zemurray. Known in his prime as “Sam, the Banana Man”, he was a penniless Jewish peddler who arrived in America in 1891 and quickly became one of the richest, most powerful men in the world. From hustling on the docks of New Orleans to overthrowing Central American governments or feuding with Huey Long and CIA agents while controlling the empire of the United Fruit Company, Zemurray emerges as an unforgettable figure, connected to the birth of modern American diplomacy, public relations, business, and war—a monumental life that reads like a parable of the American dream.

We are proud to present the Millie Tynan Mitzvah Award to Leslie Wachtel

With special award recognition to Sidney Burke

• When: Sunday, December 2, 2012, 9:30 a.m.
• Tickets: $25.00
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-3217 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details or to RSVP
  

 

 

AFTERNOON LIBRARY FILM SERIES

Join us in the library for a series of fascinating documentary films and discussions.

Ahead of Time: The Extraordinary Journey of Ruth Gruber

For seven decades foreign correspondent and photojournalist Ruth Gruber didn’t just report the news, she made it. Born in Brooklyn in 1911 to Russian Jewish immigrants, Gruber defied tradition from the beginning, becoming the world’s youngest PhD at age 20. In a trailblazing career that included authoring 19 books, Gruber reported from the Soviet Arctic, escorted Holocaust refugees on a secret war-time mission and stunned the world with dispatches from the Palestine-bound ship Exodus in 1947. (73 min.)

• When: October 17, 2012 1:00-2:30 p.m.
• Cost: Free of Charge
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-321 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details
  

 

Koran by Heart

Every year 100 young people from 70 countries across the Islamic world arrive in Cairo to compete in the world’s oldest and most prestigious Koran reciting contest. This documentary follows 3 children who participate in the International Holy Koran Competition. These students have committed the 600 pages of the Koran to memory and will put their skills to the test before the elite of the world’s Muslim community. As the competition reaches its climax, Koran by Heart offers a compelling and nuanced glimpse into the pressures faced by the next generation of Muslims. (80 min.)

• When: November 28, 2012 1:00-3:00 p.m.
• Cost: Free of Charge
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-321 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details.
  

I’m Not Filipina

Krizel is a six year old blind Filipina girl who was born in Israel and adopted by Janette, a Filipina woman working in Tel Aviv. Together they try to bridge the gaps of language and acceptance in a country which one of them regards as her homeland and the other still feels like a stranger. Operating on one of Krizel's eyes may allow her to see and would also improve their chances of remaining in Israel. This film is about a mother and her adopted daughter and the fate that binds them. (51 min.)

• When: January 16, 2013 1:00-3:00 p.m.
• Cost: Free of Charge
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-321 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details.
  

Edie & Thea

In the closeted 1960’s, two young women met and fell in love – and so began the extraordinary tale of Edie and Thea, whose engagement to each other would span more than forty years. Touched by events like the civil rights movement and the Stonewall riots, Edie and Thea’s relationship endured. This documentary follows the two women into their 70’s, when Thea’s health rapidly declines and the two seize the opportunity to fulfill their dream of getting married. (61 min.)

• When: February 20, 2013 1:00-2:30 p.m.
• Cost: Free of Charge
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-321 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details.
  

 

Short Story Discussion Group
Co-Sponsored by the Sinai Temple Sisterhood

Have no time to read the whole book? Enjoy reading and discussing modern Jewish literature in the library. We provide you with the story.

Facilitated by Lisa Silverman, Library Director

• When: Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
• Dates: October 10, November 7, December 5, January 2, February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5
• Cost: Free of charge
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-3217 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details.

 

Evening Book Group

Join us in discussing contemporary Jewish-themed books with the Sinai Temple Book Group. We are open to all who are interested in good books and good conversation. Come to one or all of our meetings, held in the Lainer Learning Center’s Library Lounge!

Facilitated by Lisa Silverman, Library Director

This season we are reading the following titles:

	The Hare with Amber Eyes, by Edmund DeWaal Thursday, October 4, 2012
	The Last Brother: A Novel, by Nathacha Appanah Thursday, November 1, 2012
	The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King, by Rich Cohen Thursday, December 13, 2013
	The Little Russian, by Susan Sherman Thursday, January 24, 2013
	Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible, by Matti Friedman Thursday, February 28, 2013

 

ANNUAL JEWISH BOOK MONTH BREAKFAST:

Featuring Author, Rich Cohen,

Rich Cohen is the author of seven books including Israel is Real, Tough Jews and the acclaimed memoir, Sweet and Low. His newest book, The Fish That Ate the Whale, recounts one of the great untold stories of the last 100 years: the life of Samuel Zemurray. Known in his prime as “Sam, the Banana Man”, he was a penniless Jewish peddler who arrived in America in 1891 and quickly became one of the richest, most powerful men in the world. From hustling on the docks of New Orleans to overthrowing Central American governments or feuding with Huey Long and CIA agents while controlling the empire of the United Fruit Company, Zemurray emerges as an unforgettable figure, connected to the birth of modern American diplomacy, public relations, business, and war—a monumental life that reads like a parable of the American dream.

We are proud to present the Millie Tynan Mitzvah Award to Leslie Wachtel

With special award recognition to Sidney Burke

• When: Sunday, December 2, 2012, 9:30 a.m.
• Tickets: $25.00
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-3217 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details or to RSVP
  

 

TALMUD FOR BEGINNERS: Learning Jewish Wisdom on an iPad

Taught by noted author Maggie Anton

Maggie Anton, author of the Rashi’s Daughters trilogy and the new release, Rav Hisda’s Daughter, will teach a class for beginning students of Talmud. This 3 week session will study the parts of Tractate Shabbat that focus on the holiday Hanukah, using the new Koren Talmud and its iPad app. iPads will be provided!

• When: Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., in the library classroom
• Dates: November 8, 15, 29 (limited to 12 participants)
• Cost: $50.00
• Contact: Barbara Goelman, 310-481-3217 or bgoelman@sinaitemple.org for more details or to RSVP

 

 

The Central Cataloging Service helps Judaica librarians and lay people who need to catalog books into the Elazar classification systems. It is available electronically. This means that if someone is starting a library or doing a retrospective conversion, or just needs Elazar cataloging, they can easily obtain it through us as long as they own a computer system that can receive downloadable MARC records. The library can send us a book list and we hope to have a large percentage of "hits" which will allow us to send them records by MARC format on a disk or through a computer download. We have a large collection and can supply most of a synagogue library's needs with the exception of a library of strictly Orthodox materials. We can also offer a simple call number matching service for those who do not wish electronic records. (Contact us for a price list.) In addition, we also sell an Integrated Subject Heading List and the Elazar Classification book with an errata sheet.

Please call Lisa Silverman or Joel Tuchman at 310-481-3218 or contact lsilverman@sinaitemple.org for more information.