Lelyveld Reading Room Celebrates a Remarkable Life

This blog post is shared by our Librarian Julie Moss

The next time you are at Fairmount Temple, we invite you to stop by our library, The Arthur J. Lelyveld Center for Jewish Learning, and visit the Lelyveld Reading Room. Established in honor of what would have been the 100^th birthday of Rabbi Lelyveld in February, this is a special space on the left of the Rotunda as you enter the Library. Inside you will find new furniture and a collection of photos and mementos of the Rabbi’s life and work. The Lelyveld Reading Room also holds a collection of materials, available for borrowing, that represent what the rabbi stood for: social justice, Zionism, interfaith dialogue and more. Highlights include audio interviews and the Rabbi’s writings. It was his strong belief that we not be silent with our views on the challenging issues that face us as Jews and Americans in every generation!

Plan now to join us in October to celebrate our remarkable rabbi, the namesake of our Library. Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld was our spiritual leader from 1958-86 and Senior Rabbi Emeritus until his death in 1996. We will honor his memory and legacy with a commemoration featuring Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who will be speaking at Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, October 11 at 6:15 p.m. On Shabbat morning, October 12, Torah Study and Minyan will be followed by a special luncheon with tributes to our beloved rabbi. Details soon.