These tributes were shared at Shabbat services on November 23, 2024.
Barbara Gollob (read by Aileen Grossberg)
Long time congregant, widow of Herman Gollob
Herman and Sam were natural friends, Herman with his publishing background was an invested ally and champion of both the library and Sam. Herman was on the Library Committee and happily contributed books to the library .Herman also arranged for some of his authors to speak at Lampert Library sponsored evens. They included authors such as Judith Viorst, Alex Haley, and Leon Uris. Those were heady days for Shomrei.
Happy Birthday, Sam and many thanks for all you put in motion. Shomrei would not be Shomrei without the Alan Lampert Library and your stewardship. As Herman would say : “Many thanks old friend”
Merrill Silver
ESL teacher, writer, and proud grandmother of three young children.
When I was in graduate school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I took a class in Children’s Literature. I remember writing a paper about JEWISH children’s literature. It must have been very short because there wasn’t much to write about then.
Fast Forward to 2024 and the LAMPERT LIBRARY at Shomrei Emunah. I go there to prepare for our visits with our grandchildren. There are so many books to choose from that I could fill a shopping cart.
When we are together, we read the books, mostly about Jewish holidays, over and over again. The kids never get tired of the bears, wolves, sheep, elephants, dinosaurs, spiders, kangaroos, and yes, HUMANS who celebrate holidays. The funniest thing is that I never get tired of reading the stories either. THEY ARE THAT GOOD.
The stories are written with humor, creativity, with education in mind, and dare I say LOVE. It is always a treat to spend my time browsing the titles, reading the books and ultimately watching my grandchildren’s faces as they savor each word and illustration.
Thank you, Aileen and the Lampert Library for providing us with this wonderful resource. Happy 100th birthday, Sam. May you have the pleasure of spending time with Sammy the Spider, Ari the Engineer and Elijah the Cat.
These additional tributes were printed in the Shabbat flyer.
Cecelia Doller
JLC teacher and Hebrew teacher for adult b’nai mitzvah class
Since my arrival at Shomrei, the LAMPERT LIBRARY has not only been my classroom, but also a quiet space for research, reading and reflection.
The library represents the very soul of who we are as Jewish people, as its name speaks of tradition and continuity. Our love for history, music, poetry, cooking, and traditions lives on the library’s shelves. However, the real treasure at the heart of the Lampert Library is our librarian, Aileen. You can always count on Aileen to advise you and find that special book you’re looking for.
Jennifer Moses
Poet, painter, and writer
Where better to find the greatest masterpieces of Jewish literature than in a Jewish library? It was in the Lampert Library that I unearthed (and read) Chaim Grade’s The Yeshiva, Linda Grant’s When I Lived in Modern Times, and Vivian Gornick’s Fierce Attachments. Libraries are treasure chests for the imagination.
Marjorie Steffe
Preschool teacher
The Alan Lampert Memorial Library at Shomrei Emunah offers an endless amount of information for our Preschool students. By promoting creative and imaginative avenues for learning and development, a visit to the library also opens up opportunities to build a child’s language and communication skills. Being part of an active and thriving library encourages responsibility, independence, and confidence. We love our library!
Katie Toledano
High School English teacher
I believe that the Lampert library provides endless ways for intellectual and spiritual Jewish growth and development. The library is a truly wonderful resource for any Jewish themed work of fiction or nonfiction. I have been so completely impressed by the collection offered, and for this, I credit the incredible mind of Aileen Grossberg. Every single time I have come across a title that interests me, the Lampert Library either has it in stock or has been able to order it right away. My wish is to see it continue for another 100 years or more!
Our synagogue is the spiritual home of a warm and inviting community of Jews in and around Montclair, New Jersey. We welcome individuals, couples and families of diverse backgrounds and orientations. We observe an egalitarian, vibrant Judaism, balancing openness and traditional practice.
Open-Door Judaism: members voluntarily set the level of thier dues.
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