At the heart of every Jewish Library’s reference collection stands one title, the English language Encyclopaedia Judaica. Our library, Cantor Ted Cotler Memorial Library, has the 1st edition of this venerable sixteen volume work, which required 45 years of preparation, beginning in Germany, surviving Nazi suppression, and reviving in 1966 at Keter Publishing in Jerusalem (funded partly by Holocaust reparations). Intended to provide a comprehensive overview of Jewish life and knowledge, from Second Temple, through Rabbinic and modern Yiddish literature, Kabbalah, and American Judaism to contemporary Israel, EJ was ranked by the American Library Association near the top of the list 50 major reference works of the Millenium. Many classes of Isaiah’s adult and childrens’ bar and bat mitzvah reference questions, as well as Sunday and public school research began with this encyclopedia. Ditto for adult education classes, librarians helping congregants, and havurah researchers. Its publication date? 1971: 35 years old. Many moms and dads in this congregation were not born when this work hit library shelves.
For years Judaica librarians asked for a new and updated edition to bring Judaica research forward into the end of the 20th century, and now, into the 21st century. With history to be preserved, people and ideas worthy of reflection, and new generations of researchers needing this best-of-all starting place for informed thought, someone finally heard the call, and announced a new edition.
The Association of Jewish Libraries spearheaded special pricing for members, and in March 2006, Librarian Val Morehouse approached the Temple Library Committee and Rabbi Graetz about securing a donor for the new EJ. The Rabbi and the Library Committee agreed, and Lisa Hirsch piloted a proposal before the Endowment Fund Committee to acquire the new EJ with Endowment Funds.
In November, Temple Isaiah’s Endowment Fund Committee chaired by Maynard Lichterman, agreed and on December 31, 2006, partners Macmillan Reference USA/Thompson Gale (British), and Keter Publishing (Israel) will publish a new Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition, 22 volumes, 17,000 pages, with 2,200 new entries, and 12,000 reworked articles by top scholars from major universities and centers of Jewish research, plus 150 pages of color photos, and completely revised bibliographies. If the past history is any predictor, Temple Isaiah’s “People of the Book” have every reason to thank the Endowment for this wonderful gift from one generation to future generations of library users. Watch for news about a ribbon cutting.
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