Library

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Woodside Park Synagogue Library was established over 40 years ago by Menachem Samuels and David Bender. For the past 30 years the Librarian has been Alan and under his custodianship, it has grown to become probably the best synagogue library in the UK.

Although many synagogues have a library, almost all of them have only seforim or books on Judaism. The unique feature of our Library is that as well as these, it has books of Jewish interest of a much wider nature.

The Library is split between three rooms and the Synagogue itself.

In the Beis Hamidrash (on the first floor of the Wiseman Linden Building) will be found the seforim, both for reference and for borrowing, as well as our books on all aspects of Judaism and, sadly but importantly, on the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism.

In the Library Annexe (on the second floor of the Wiseman Linden Building) will be found the books of fiction, history, Israel, Zionism, biography, art, photography and culture. It has 5 bookcases (30 shelves) devoted to works of fiction, listed alphabetically by author. It has several bookcases devoted to biographies. It has a section on art and photography and culture. What counts as Jewish culture? Cookery, Yiddish and Jewish Humour for a start. There is an extensive section on history, which includes the history of many Jewish communities around the world. There is a wide variety of books on Israel and Zionism.

At the back of the Stephen Plasco Children’s Synagogue (on the first floor of the Wiseman Linden Building) will be found the Childrens Library and the Harry Newton Youth Library. On Sunday mornings, the children who attend the cheder visit the Children’s Library and chose a book. For around twenty years, the librarian who helped the children to choose a book and then date-stamped the label was Bunny Marks. When he retired, his job was taken over by Jenny and then by the class teachers.

Finally, in the Synagogue itself, in the foyer and also just outside the Ladies Gallery, will be found children’s books that may be borrowed and read by children during the services.

Every book and every bookcase has been donated by members. Not a penny has been provided by the shul. We say to our members, it is YOUR Library. Please use it and encourage your children to do so as well. The Library is open during shul office hours during the week and on Sunday mornings. Please come in, choose a book, sign it out and enjoy.

Further Library Information:

The Adult Lending Library

This is a Lending Library of books of general Jewish interest, some parts of which are located in the Beth Hamidrash on the first floor of the Wiseman Linden Building and the remaining parts of which are located in the Library Annexe in the end classroom on the floor above.

The parts located in the Beth Hamidrash and the letters designating them are as follows:

“H” = Halacha

“PT” = Philosophy and Theology

“M” = Miscellaneous

(including dictionaries, grammars and travel guides)

“HA” = Holocaust & Antisemitism

“T” = Texts (some with commentary)

“C” = Commentary

The parts located in the second floor Library Annexe and the letters designating them are as follows:

“HS” = History

“B” = Biography

“F” = Fiction (alphabetic by author)

“IZ” = Israel & Zionism

“APC” = Art, Photography & Culture

(includes cookery and Yiddish)

Signing out Book

When you borrow a book please note this in the signing out book and when you return it, cross out your entry.

Opening Times

Broadly, the Library is open when the Synagogue Office is open.

Donations

All the books in the Library have been donated or bought with donations. If you wish to donate or dedicate a book please speak to Alan Tunkel (Librarian) or the Synagogue Office.

Barnet Libraries

Library membership is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Barnet.

There are 2 types of library membership:

e-membership if you want to use Barnet’s digital library and online resources.
full library membership for use in any Barnet library and online.

For details about joining please follow the link below.

https://www.barnet.gov.uk/libraries/join-library

With your Barnet library card and a PIN you will be able to use some of Barnet Library’s digital services. You can use Barnet’s 24/7 reference library for homework, study or general interest. You will find reliable information from some of the world's leading publishers, including the Encyclopaedia Judaica, the authoritative resource covering all subjects related to Judaism and Jewish people and culture. Access to the Ancestry popular family history website is also available from Barnet Libraries. All the resources are free. To set up a PIN contact any Barnet Library