Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better. —Sidney Sheldon
The Odell/Diamond Library was endowed by Arlene and Jerry Odell in memory of their parents, Pauline & Samuel Odell and Sara & Joseph Diamond, and offers a full range of in-depth Judaic materials such as classic texts, scholarly material, pleasure reading, religious guidebooks, Jewish children’s books, and more. The Library hosts monthly Short Story Discussions and various Author Talks throughout the year and helps our MLRT family obtain the materials they need to connect with Judaism intellectually, spiritually, and in hands-on practice.
Main Line Reform Temple is a member of the Jewish Book Council, and as such, able to get incredibly in-demand authors to speak at Friday night Shabbat services, Sisterhood brunches, a literary lunch held in honor of Jewish Book Month, and the newly added Brotherhood Shabbat.
Read, and dive into a new world! Join in our lively discussions once a month of a wide range of incredible Jewish short stories from a variety of genres–fiction, memoir, history, and more. From our diverse body of Jewish Literature, we read masters such as Bernard Malamud, Philip Roth, Saul Bellow, Amos Oz, Ruth Calderon, Nathan Englander, Molly Antopol, R.L. Maizes, and Grace Paley. This month’s short story is available at the front desk. All are encouraged to pick up a copy, read, and attend our next discussion on Zoom and in person at MLRT.
🗨 The Bernie Kleinman Book Club will discuss Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30 pm in person and on Zoom. This is a gripping story of a mother and son escaping a drug cartel and trying to get to freedom in the USA. If you have any questions, please contact Norm Fienman at nfienman@gmail.com.
🗨 Lee Matthew Goldberg wrote The Great Gimmelmens, a story about middle child Aaron Gimmelman who watches as his family goes from a mild-mannered reform Jewish clan to having over a million dollars of stolen money stuffed in their RV’s cabinets while being pursued by the FBI and loan sharks. Filled with greed and love and the meaning of religion and tradition until the walls of the RV and the feds start closing in on the family, this thrilling literary tale mixes Michael Chabon and the Coen Brothers with equal parts humor and pathos. Hear from this Jewish Book Council author during our Shabbat service on Friday, December 20 at 6:30 pm.
Bill Wolf endowed a program in loving memory of his wife Ella C. Wolf to bring an author every year to Main Line Reform Temple to speak at Shabbat services, which is continued today by their grandson, Jeffrey Margolis. We have hosted dynamic, award-winning authors such as Alana Newhouse, David Dalin, Dan Ephron, Ariel Sabar, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Jamie Bernstein.
The annual Ella C. Wolf Author in Residence lecture featuring Dr. Miriam Zieman will take place on Friday. November 8. Dr. Zieman authored Tap Dancing on Everest, her inspiring memoir about taking part in an expedition to forge a new route on the East Face of Mt. Everest, considered the most remote and dangerous side of the mountain. It is a true survival story about the risks we take to become our most authentic selves. Please join us at 6:30 pm for this special Shabbat.
Support Main Line Reform Temple’s Odell/Diamond Library and donate to the Carroll and Charlotte Cohen Weinberg Multi- Media Resource Fund.
JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL AUTHOR NETWORK
Main Line Reform Temple is a member of the Jewish Book Council. This marvelous organization makes it possible for us to bring in Jewish writers to highlight their wonderful new books. We hope you will be able to meet and greet these diverse and interesting authors who have written about the many facets of our rich Jewish life.