2,000 spiritually nourishing titles draw families from around the city
The streets of Los Angeles are awash with waves of images and messaging containing everything under the sun, all of it in glittering Technicolor. The lights and action with which even the most debauched offerings are presented can present a challenge for anyone, but is especially difficult for parents trying to raise young children.
That’s why Rabbi Moshe and Chanie Levin decided to open the Jewish Family Library of Los Angeles, a warm, inviting, and most importantly, safe place for parents to come and spend time with their children. Levin is the rabbi of the Bais Bezalel synagogue in the Pico Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles and co-director, with his wife, of Chabad of Downtown East. The library, located on West Pico Boulevard, already contains 2,000 titles and is growing.
“My children are constantly bombarded with both overt and subliminal messaging to the tune of, ‘This is how your life should be,’ and it can be very disorienting,” said Tanaz Yeroushalmi, a local parent who frequents the library. “To have this space where everything is in line with our values—a place where my children can feel secure and comfortable with their way of life—is such a blessing.”
The library grew out of such thinking. “My mother got me into reading when I was a small child, purchasing books that would be attractive to us at that age, and I’ve been reading ever since,” explained Rabbi Levin. “I wanted to pass that passion for books along to my children, and so I would regularly take them to the local library.”
Going to the library with his family was a beautiful family experience, he said, but over time he became more and more concerned with some of the materials on offer, even in the children’s section.
“It got me thinking,” explained the rabbi, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a place where I could be confident that the books are suitable and educational? A safe environment where I knew my children could go and comfortably take any title home?”
Levin soon discovered that many other Jewish parents in the community shared his concerns. In the midst of discussions with friends, congregants and fellow rabbis, Levin learned that the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, had been a strong proponent of local Jewish lending libraries. And that’s how the Jewish Family Library was born.
After consulting with experts in the field—namely, Tzipora Feige Jaffe, MLIS, Ph.D., and Levana Ekman, MLIS—part of the Beis Bezalel synagogue was repurposed into a library, professionally cataloged with advanced software. They also worked hard to create a warm atmosphere in the room itself, a place which would envelop visitors in the soft glow of literary wonder, all with a unique Jewish flavor.
The library operates throughout the week, open on Sunday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Sunday to Thursday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
A Warm Library for All
The Family Library, as its name attests, is a place where anyone can just walk in, pick up a book or two, and enjoy and be enriched. As a distinctly Jewish establishment, the library also offers a unique space to learn about Judaism at one’s own pace..
“The Jewish Family Library gave me an introduction to the world of Chabad, Chassidus and Jewish law,” said Alex Provisor, who is currently building on this introduction and pursuing his studies at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, N.J. “It is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn.”
“From adults to children, the library is a beautiful hub for kosher, Jewish entertainment,” added Gavriel Sholom Kollin, who volunteers there. Indeed, parents regularly gather to read to their children, while in another corner, a young teen can be seen reading a novel or two (or three).
“The library is really a dream come true for every parent,” said Chanie Levin. “Books are expensive, and children read quickly, so the library is a great way to make that love for reading accessible to everyone. As an inclusive space, we are proud that we have attracted many families from all sorts of communities to come visit and become members of the library.”
She continued, saying “the Rebbe strongly encouraged the idea of a home filled with Jewish books, and that starts from a very young age. There’s nothing more delightful than seeing a child’s eyes open in wonder and their imagination at work. Hopefully, this project will inspire all these Jewish children to acquire a special library of their own. And not just to own the books, but to open them, to learn from them and to act on their messages.”
“Parents and children alike are thrilled with the library and are so happy it’s open this summer,” said Ilana Korchek, a staff member at the library. “The children are particularly excited about the summer reading program and are even writing book reviews for titles in the library.”
The rabbi explained that a library like this is something every community needs. He likens it to cooking a dish—all the ingredients can be there, but it’s only the addition of fire that makes it complete.
“There are so many wonderful Jewish spaces and initiatives in this neighborhood for adults,” said Levin. “This library will provide the warmth that brings the entire family together.”
