Just over a week and a whole world ago, my family and I went to the Carmel Clay Public Library to get some books. Social distancing had already begun, but the CCPL was still open. We had the place almost to ourselves, and it felt like a rare luxury. Which it is — I feel very fortunate to have such easy access to such a rich collection, not only of books, but of physical and digital resources of all kinds.
Step one was to the Children’s Reference Desk to find some books for my younger son based on what he was already reading. But I was brought up short when I noticed an attractive rack of handouts labeled “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR: AJL recommends Jewish books for all readers.” Do you ever get that feeling of “Wait, where am I again?”
As the flyer–actually a series of four different flyers– explains, in the wake of the tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and to rising Antisemitism in the United States, the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL!) offers this series of books for young readers. “It is our hope that meeting Jews on the page will inspire friendship when readers meet Jews in real life.”
I love it, even if the readers are themselves Jewish.
We could do a lot worse than to read these books and share them with our children. For those of us who are on a Jewish path and never got to have a Jewish childhood, a Jewish children’s book can be an important portal to that experience. We can be ambassadors of the Jewish people. Sometimes we are, even when we don’t choose to be. The more knowledgeable we are, the better ambassadors we are able to be.
Even though the CCPL is closed right now, a lot of these books will be available by digital library loan or to buy for your preferred e-book reader.
Visit the Association of Jewish Libraries website, www.jewishlibraries.org, and look for the “Love Your Neighbor” series.
Synagogues, Clergy, and Jewish Ritual; and
The American Jewish Experience.
L’hitraot,
Rabbi Justin
