The Levinson Library is open whenever the synagogue building is open.
Anytime you are in the building, whether weekday or Shabbat, you are welcome to come in and browse. It’s located in the far end of the Beit Midrash (small sanctuary). If the room appears dark, just open the door, and the lights will come on for you.
Book Nook: The Book Nook table is located near the library entrance with extra items on a variety of subjects available for free giveaway. Leave a book, take a book.
Vintage Jewish calendars from USCJ: A congregant recently donated a couple dozen printed Jewish calendars from the years 1985-2009 containing stunning glossy photographs of Judaica. They are on the “Book Nook” table for you to browse through or take home. If you are an art lover, you may want to read descriptions about the art and artifacts depicted here, and their histories. If you would like some beautiful pictures to cut out and use to decorate your Sukkah
this autumn, then please feel free to take home one or two of these vintage calendars.
Browse our catalog:
The Levinson library is comprised of 2700+ fiction and non-fiction books, which may be checked out by members of the congregation for three-week loan. Our catalog is available online. Just go to http://opac.libraryworld.com/opac/home on your cell phone, tablet or computer browser. Library name: “Congregation Beth David”
There is no password needed.
Your library is for your use.
If no attendant is present, use our self-checkout procedure which is halachically compatible with Shabbat. First locate the library envelope with your name pre-printed on it. There is one envelope for every Beth David member unit. Next, locate the checkout card from the inside front pocket of the book, and place the card in appropriate envelope, and submit in the designated place. A volunteer from the committee process the checkout after Shabbat. Please return books in the designated bin by the due date, so materials can continue to circulate.
Fiction titles acquired in June:
Wolf Hunt: a novel, by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
Little Liar: a novel, by Mitch Albom
The World that We Knew, a novel by Alice Hoffman
The Hebrew Teacher: three novellas by Maya Arad
Kantika: a Sephardic Family Odyssey from Constantinople to Barcelona to Havana to Queens, a novel based on a true story by Elizabeth Graver
The Only Woman in the Room, a novel based on the true story of Hedy Lamarr by Marie Benedict
Nonfiction titles acquired in June:
Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy, by Jane Leavy
Mel Brooks: Disobedient Jew, by Jeremy Dauber
Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews foiled Nazi plots against Hitler and America, by Steven Ross
Self-checkout procedure
Our titles are available for Beth David members to check out for a 3 week loan. If there is no attendant present, we have a self-checkout procedure which is halachically compatible with Shabbat.
You’ll notice a box of envelopes, one for each Beth David member unit.
Find the envelope with your name on it, and place the title card from the book pocket into the envelope. Submit the envelope in the designated place.
Contact Congregation Beth David Levinson Library Committee: Library@beth-david.org