RE: [ha-Safran]: Book: Bobbie Rosenfeld
Congratulations, Anne, on this well-deserved recognition! Etta Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Defining What is Jewish
Regarding the comments of Mr. Wise, Sensitivity for philosophy and outlook should exist on both the right and left side of the aisle. Mr. Wise is absolutely correct. The sad reality is that many librarians fear that some books are too religious, for their libraries G-d forbid. Building on the logic of the numerous comments to Mr. Wise's initial email... Just as Jewish families may have members that contain intermarriage, gay people, etc., -- the exponential growth of the Baali Teshuva movement means that tens of thousands of Jewish families now also have Orthodox sons, daughters, grandchildren, parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, etc. Therefore it follows that if libraries are REALLY concerned about representing their member's needs in order to understand the particulars within their families better, then books of an Orthodox nature should also be included in their collection development strategies. The sad reality is it seems like Orthodox perspective books are quickly excluded from purchasing decisions simply because they are Orthodox and perceived as too religious G-d forbid--without any further consideration. Sarah Field Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: what is Jewish?
I do not mean to underestimate the possible difficulties of defining Jewish, but if there really can be no basic working definition or standards of what is Jewish, Judaica, etc. for the AJL, what is to stop the AJL from recommending, and even giving awards to, so-called Messianic Jewish literature? (Just to be clear: I am not a Messianic Jew and would not support this.) Shmuel Ben-Gad, Gelman Library, George Washington University. Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[Hasafran] cataloguing question
Help! I've got a donated book here and don't know what call number to give it. Here's the info: Mozeson, Isaac E. The Word: The Dictionary That Reveals the Hebrew Source of English. New York: Shapolsky Publishers, 1989. I was thinking of 423 or 401, but Toronto Public Library has it as 422.4924. Yikes! TIA for your help. Regards, Anne Dublin, Librarian Holy Blossom Temple Toronto Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: AJL's FAQ debuts
--- Message requiring your approval -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ha-Safran]: AJL's FAQ debuts We are delighted to announce the latest addition to the AJL website—our FAQ section. It’s located in the resources area of the website. We invite everyone to take a look at it and send us their comments. We want to thank the many people who contributed the questions, answers, revisions, and suggestions that went into the finished product. Thanks, too, to Peggy Pearlstein and Pearl Berger, who were the guiding forces behind the project, and to Nancy Sach, who posted the FAQ on the website. Diane Romm Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: ALA grants for school librarians
I haven't read all the materials, but school librarians in AJL might be interested in this. -Stanley Nachamie [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 16 Feb 2005 11:00:07 - Subject: Application Deadline Extended to March 15! Apply for a We the People Bookshelf Grant From: ALA Public Programs Office [EMAIL PROTECTED] Attention Public and School (K-12) Librarians: The American Library Association (ALA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are accepting applications for the We The People Bookshelf on Freedom grants. Part of the NEH's We the People initiative, the annual grant project will award sets of 15 classic books for young readers to 1,000 libraries across the country. Libraries interested in receiving the collection are required to develop and host a program to introduce the collection and its theme of freedom to students and/or patrons. Guidelines and applications are available at www.ala.org/wethepeople . Applications will be accepted online until February 16, 2005. ALA Public Programs Office Linking Libraries, Communities, and Culture www.ala.org/publicprograms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Defining what is Jewish
It seems to me that the Jewish people who I have spoken to, at least where I am, DO NOT include Hebrew Christians or Jews for Jesus people as Jewish. Is this assessment universal? Thanks. Jeff Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: For Sale: Charlesworth, James.
We have recently purchased the (small) remainder of the stock of this title from the Oxford University Press. Price is postpaid via media mail within the US. We ship and bill to libraries and institutions. Individuals can pay check or charge card. Call 415-831-3228 or email to reserve a copy. Charlesworth, James, et al. Miscellaneous Texts From the Judaean Desert: Discoveries in the Judaean Desert XXXVIII. Oxford, At the Clarendon Press, 2000. First Edition. ISBN: 0-19-924261-5. Large quarto, green cloth with gold lettering, xviii, 252 pp., map, 26 pp. figures, XXXVI pp. of b/w photographic plates, 'Hebrew and Aramaic Concordances' by S. and C. Pfann, 'Indices to the Greek Documentary Texts' by N. Cohen. The texts included in this volume are all non-Qumran texts. Sites where they were discovered are Ketef Jericho, Wadi Sdeir, Nahal Hever and Nahal Hever/Wadi Seiyal, Nahal Mishmar, Nahal Se'elim and one of unknown origin. These locations are all caves near the Dead Sea, mostly south of Qumran with the exception of Ketef Jericho which is a little north of Qumran. Hardbound. Very Good. (22179) Originally published at $160.00 OUR PRICE $40.00 Henry Hollander, Bookseller 843 Twenty-Fourth Avenue San Francisco, CA 94121 http://www.hollanderbooks.com 415-831-3228 fax 415-831-3226 Jewish books in all fields and languages. Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Learn Hebrew SALE, last 12 days
Dear Safranim! Israel-Catalog.com SALE This is the Chance to learn Hebrew: Reading Hebrew, Conversational Hebrew Courses, Dictionaries, Games much more PLEASE NOTE the sale prices are valid until February 28. 2005 For online information orders http://www.israel-catalog.com/hebrewsale.html?agent_camp=7263001agent_bann=7264001 (Click or copy paste to your web browser) ~ Hebrew Speaking Dictionary Pro Israel-Catalog EXCLUSIVE The Next Generation is Here, Learn Hebrew Fast and Easy.Speak, read and learn Hebrew the EASY WAY! 900,000 words, 5 dictionaries. Buy this product get a Pocket Dictionary with transliteration FREE Retail Price:$229.95 Sale Price: $169.95 ~ Yanshuf, Easy Hebrew Magazine - A Year Subscription Yanshuf is the only easy hebrew magazine published in full color attached with a dictionary page that translates the difficult words. Buy this product get a Pocket Dictionary with transliteration FREE Retail Price:$79.95 Sale Price: $69.95 ~ FREE Pocket Dictionary for orders more then US$50 Pocket Dictionary with complete transliteration Pocket Dictionary - Hebrew-English-Hebrew with a peripheral and updated vocabulary, alongside slang and common expressions. Price14.95 ~ Dictionary Of Basic Biblical Hebrew Contains over 6,000 entries of the most common words in the Hebrew Bible. Retail Price:$32.95 Sale Price: $17.95 ~ Hebrew At Your Ease - For English Speakers This course is a perfect way for those who want to learn the Hebrew language as spoken in Israel. A book and 4 audio CD's. Retail Price:$79.95 Sale Price: $47.95 ~ Modern Hebrew Modern Hebrew provides all the tools you need to improve your Hebrew language skills, with 21 interactive lessons designed to improve your Hebrew language comprehension. Retail Price:$64.95 Sale Price: $44.95 ~ Hebrew Dictionary With Transliteration A very Comprehensive new dictionary with complete transliteration. Available in: English, French, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and German. Retail Price: $59.95 Sale Price: $39.95 ~ Click Word Ideal English to Hebrew, Hebrew to English dictionary for PC computers. Use it at home, business, for studying, correspondence and for browsing Hebrew Internet sites. Retail Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $8.95 ~ Hebrew Magnet Game Learning Hebrew is fun and exciting. Hebrew Word Magnets are a fun and exciting way to learn Hebrew and to bring Hebrew into your home. Retail Price: $25.95 Price: $13.95 ~ To order offline: 24-Hour phone service for orders in Israel: 03-518-8255 In USA Toll free number: 1-888-750-7021 In Canada Toll free number: 1-877-380-9511 In U.K. Northern Ireland 0-800-028-7172 In Australia 1-800-035-639 Information and customer service; 9:30- 17:30 (Israel Time) Fax: 972-3-518-8256 Mail: Tal-Shahar, POB 8162, Tel-Aviv 61081, Israel Mail: Tal-Shahar Ltd, P.O.B 1935, Summerville, SC 29484-1935, USA ~ Israel Catalog Tal-Shahar Ltd ~ email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 972-3-5188255 web: http://www.israel-catalog.com Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: LJ recommends debut novel Genizah by Tamar Yellin
LIBRARY JOURNAL has just recommended Tamar Yellin's debut novel, The Genizah at the House of Shepher (ISBN 1-59264-085-0. $19.95) as Filled with myth, mystery, and history). We're delighted to reproduce the review below! YELLIN, TAMAR. The Genizah at the House of Shepher. Toby. Apr. 2005. c.358p. In Yellin's debut, Shulamit, a British biblical scholar and daughter of a third-generation Jerusalemite, returns to Jerusalem to seek out her roots. A codex has been found in her grandparents' attic, a veritable genizah of documents from many generations of the family. Shulamit's investigation of the manuscripts illuminates the lives of her great-grandfather, who traveled to Babylon in search of the ten lost tribes of Israel. Her grandfather, meanwhile, was a follower of the Zionist principles inherent in what is now called political Zionism. The mystery of the codex is heightened when a stranger claims to be a descendant of the tribe of Dan, one of the ten lost tribes. Filled with myth, mystery, and history, this novel gives the flavor of Jerusalem neighborhoods through the modern era. Recommended. -Molly Abramowitz, Silver Spring, MD Thanks and with kind regards Matthew Miller The Toby Press PO Box 8531, New Milford CT. 06776-8531 Tel: 203 830 8508 Fax: 203 830 8512 Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: More Honors for Anne
--- Message requiring your approval -- From: Linda Silver [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ha-Safran]: More Honors for Anne Once again, I have the pleasure on behalf of all SSC members - of congratulating Anne Dublin on yet another honor for her book, Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything, which has just been named to the 2005 list of Recommended Feminist Books for Youth, the ALA/SRRT Amelia Bloomer Project. We are all proud of Anne and of the recognition that this deserving book has received! Linda R. Silver, President SSC Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Music Cataloging Worksop in Southern California
For anyone who may be interested Music Cataloging Workshop Sponsored by the Music Library Association Southern California Chapter and the Southern California Technical Processes Group April 4-5, 2005 Sign-in and refreshments 8:30-9:00 am Workshop: 9:00 am ? 4:00 pm California State University, Northridge Oviatt Library Presentation Room. $55 for members of MLA Southern California or SCPTG $75 for participants who are not members of either organization Advance registration required; Class size is limited to 40; registration closes March 4, 2005. Program: Designed for beginning and intermediate music catalogers, participants will receive an overview of the basics of music score and sound recording cataloging using AACR2, MARC coding, and LCSH. Topics include: music cataloging tools: (e.g. LCRI's, LC Subject Cataloging Manual, Cataloger's Desktop, sources for dating music, Internet resources); basics of describing printed music; basics of describing sound recordings; uniform titles (AACR2 and use of OCLC authority files); and subject analysis (based on LCSH) Intended Audience: * Librarian and para-professional catalogers who are not full-time music catalogers * Library school students or recent graduates * Music catalogers interested in reviewing the basics Instructor: Ralph Papakhian, Head of Technical Services, William and Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University, Bloomington (1975- ); Humanities Cataloger, Univ. of Florida (1973-75); Coordinator of the NACO-Music Project (1988- ); Executive Secretary, Music Library Association (1988-92); Vice-Chair/Chair/Past-Chair, Music OCLC Users Group (1993-97); instructor for Workshop in Music Cataloging, IU School of Music, Special Programs (1996- ); supervisor of over 60 IU School of Library and Information Science interns in music cataloging; author of Music Librarianship at the Turn of the Century: Cataloging In Notes (56) 2000. To Register: Please email Angela Riggio by March 4, 2005 to reserve your space at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and then send the completed registration form located at http://library.csun.edu/sctpg/ Please send checks payable to SCTPG by March 18 to: Angela Riggio c/o UCLA Library Cataloging Metadata Center A1538 YRL Bldg Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 __ Barbara Rudich Sciences Hebrew/Judaica Cataloger UCLA Library Cataloging Center A1538 YRL (Campus Mail Code: 157511) Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 (310) 825-4019 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Question
Safranim / Safraniyot, We received a question about a Jewish Book week in New York in June. Does anybody on the list have information about this event. Please email me to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dr. Hayim Y. Sheynin Adjunct Professor of Jewish Literature Head of Reference Services Gratz College 7605 Old York Rd. Melrose Park, PA 19027 Tel.: 215 635-7300 x 161 Fax: 215 635-7320 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Rules for open board meetings
Someone asked: Does anyone belong to organizations or synagogues that have open Board Meetings? I can't find the original post with the name of the questioner, so I am sending this message to the list. Below is the reply a friend of mine offered. I think he wishes to remain anonymous, but I can forward any follow-up questions to him. Thank you. -Stanley Nachamie [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Our synagogue has been around for 13 years in its present form, and before that in a different form for 8 years. The last 13 years we have been self-governing and remain so today (under the leadership of a Rabbi). For the first 7 years, we had completely open organizational meetings for the entire community, and those that attended three our of five meetings could vote. This model is best compared with the New England town meeting. Then we got larger, and moved to a board and committee structure. The four permanent committees are Ritual, Learning, Community Service and Life Cycle. They focus their energy as one might expect given their names; but they play a role in the larger governance of the community as well. At the time we made the change in structure, the leaders strove to retain some transparency at meetings while recognizing that the New England town meeting model no longer worked. So, all board meeting minutes are available to anyone in the community who asks for them, and we have one board meeting every quarter (every 3 months) open to the community. Here is how it works: 1. We have a quarterly meeting every three months, which is an expanded version of our executive board meetings. Expanded in two ways: a. it is an open meeting, and, b. the four permanent committees each get one vote. 2. An open meeting means that anyone in the community can speak and propose ideas, events, etc. Board members must still make and second motions. 3. Any proposals must be distributed to the four committees at least a week before the meeting so that each committee can meet and decide how it as a group wants to vote its one vote. These votes count the same as the vote each board member has. 4. The thinking behind this is that the board should discuss with and hear input from the community, and that the community, both at the quarterly meeting and via the committees, should have an opportunity for participation and bringing ideas and proposals. We have other committees as well, but they have not done enough to be considered involved and contributing so much to the community that they should get a vote. Perhaps this will motivate one or more of them to do more for the community. One practical situation to consider is whether or not there will be community participation. Without it, open meetings can waste resources and frustrate a board. In the case you mention, it may be quite difficult to tell in advance how interested the community is in participating. One way to gauge this is with a survey; another is to collect anecdotal information in casual conversations. We are undergoing a social change in our community in which people volunteer for committee and board work less than their predecessors did (the neighborhood has high turnover and other Jewish religious institutions are going through the same change). Thus it is a reflection of a larger social trend that our quarterly meetings are not well attended unless there is a major outstanding issue facing the community. This may lead us to re-examine the structure yet again. Perhaps that is sufficient. If not, let me know. Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: The Israelis -- new in paperback
Thanks for the tip about The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land. It's just out in paperback. My daughter's class at Rutgers is reading it. And I hear it's required reading in some high schools. I'm Israeli and I loved it --excellent for all ages. D. Vered Princeton Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: What is a Jewish book?
There are at least two separate questions being discussed in the emails concerning What is Jewish? One has to do with a particular book by James Howe and if it encourages intermarriage. It does not. Far more insidiously, in my opinion, it encourages the belief that there is no basic difference between Judaism and Christianity. This is a ploy that Christian evangelicals use to convert Jews and it crosses over the line that divides an acceptable American Jewish pluralism of belief from a form of religious syncretism that, at heart, shows a contempt for Judaism. See a recent Hasafran posting by Mark Stover called A Kinder, Gentler Teaching of Contempt? Jews and Judaism in Contemporary Protestant Evangelical Children's Fiction. Mr. Howe's book is NOT one of those discussed, by the way. It is from a mainstream publisher and may only inadvertantly mirror the evangelical message. The second question concerns guidelines for book reviews that appear in AJL publications. The AJL Newsletter children's book review editors have developed guidelines and they are sent to reviewers with every copy of a review book that they receive. SSC has also prepared a brochure called Excellence in Jewish Children's Literature: A Guide for Book Selectors, Reviewers, and Award Judges, which has been widely distributed and which is also sent to all new reviewers. It addresses issues of Jewish content in children's books: accuracy, authenticity, depth of Jewish content, positive focus and values, and sensitivity. AJL's book evaluators - editors, reviewers and book award committees - use these guidelines in judging the literary merit of books of Jewish content that fall within the wide spectrum of American Jewish pluralism. It remains the responsibility of individual librarians to decide if a particular book is appropriate for their institution. If a book showing a female rabbi is acceptable, for instance. Or one about an intermarried family. Or one showing mixed seating in a synagogue. Or about dating. Or any covering the wide category of teenage angst?As anyone who reads knows, the list could go on and on because literature is about human experience, not standards for library purchase. A professional librarian who may look to AJL for advice and suggestions, as Eli Wise put it, will find them in AJL reviews. But he or she makes the final decision about whether a particular book is appropriate for a specific library collection. This isn't a matter of let the buyer beware but a basic principle of professional book selection. I don't know if this has answered any searing heart and soul questions but it may put the matter(s) in perspective. Linda Silver SSC President Co-editor, with Ellen Cole, of AJL Newsletter Reviews for Children and Teens Editor, Jewish Valuesfinder Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: What is a Jewish book?
--- Linda Silver [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The AJL Newsletter children's book review editors have developed guidelines and they are sent to reviewers with every copy of a review book that they receive. SSC has also prepared a brochure called Excellence in Jewish Children's Literature: A Guide for Book Selectors, Reviewers, and Award Judges, which has been widely distributed and which is also sent to all new reviewers. It addresses issues of Jewish content in children's books: accuracy, authenticity, depth of Jewish content, positive focus and values, and sensitivity. I think depth of Jewish content is what the hasafran posters have been converned about --- for the adult, as well as the children's books. Steve Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
