CJE Library Brings Joy of Reading to Local Jewish Youngsters

Elana Moskowitz is an educator, artist and daughter of a rabbiand Jewish educator. So the joy of learning, creativity and Yiddishkeit runs through her blood.

“Writing and storytelling have always been a big part of ourfamily,” says the 48-year-old Pikesville mother of five, who loves sharing withher children the resources of the Macks Center for Jewish Education Library and Resource Center. “Beingthe granddaughter of Holocaust survivors on my mother’s side and thegranddaughter of proud American Jews who went through the Great Depression onmy father’s side, I feel grounded when I hear stories that can be passed on tothe next generation.”

Moskowitz says the CJE library — located on the secondfloor of the Park Heights Jewish Community Center — provides her children withthe ability to explore the world of literature and other genres.

“The library has such a wide variety of books,” she says. “JessicaFink, who is the librarian, is probably one of the most charismatic andinviting people I have met. I have never had someone take such a personalinterest in my family’s reading lives. I tell her about what my kids areinterested in and she gives me suggestions. My kids love everything I bring home from there.”

The CJE library was founded in the 1950s as an educators’ resourcefacility housed in Baltimore Hebrew University’s basement. Nineteen years ago,the library moved to its current location at the CJE, and during that timetransitioned into a library for the general community.

“We still have educators’ resources, but we now have so muchmore,” says Fink. “We have everything from adult, young adult and children’sfiction, to nonfiction and Judaica pieces. One of the most unique parts of ourlibrary is that it’s an adult library a children’s library and a Hebrewlibrary. Many of our books are written in English and Hebrew, so it’s a dual-languagelibrary as well.”

Since becoming the CJE librarian two-and-a-half years ago,Fink has nearly doubled book circulation, implemented a summer reading program,grown the books selection to include young adult fiction and early readers, andregularly invites local authors to give talks.

“Jessica hasupdated and expanded the collection, taken the library mobile so more peoplecan be exposed to our amazing resources,” says Amian Frost Kelemer, the CJE’schief executive officer. “Jessica worked with our lay leadership to develop acollections policy and receive accreditation from the National Association ofJewish Libraries. She has listened to the needs of our patrons and become anindispensable resource.”

A San Diegonative, Fink graduated from the University of Florida with an undergraduatedegree in elementary education, the University of Pennsylvania with a master’sdegree in urban education, and the Pratt Institute in Manhattan with a degreein library and information science.

When she first started at the CJE, Fink says she noticedmany local Jewish day schools and preschools didn’t have librarians. Shedecided to partner with schools so children could check out CJE library books.Since implementing the idea of a traveling library, Fink has worked with preschoolsat the Park Heights JCC Park Heights, Bais Yaakov School for Girls and Beth El @Federal Hill, to name a few.

“I would love to have library access to all Jewish day schoolsin the area,” says Fink, whose two children attend Beth Tfiloh Community DaySchool. “It just takes one book to hook children. All kids deserve a librarianto help them find the book that hooks them, so they can enjoy reading and seethe amazing places books can take them.”

With a grandmother who was a librarian at St. John’s Universityin New York, Fink says she understands the magic of a good book. One of herfavorite books to read to children is “Bagels From Benny” by Aubrey Davis,about a boy who helps out in his grandfather’s bagel shop and learns the valueof giving thanks.

“I read ‘Bagels From Benny’ to kindergarten class, and theywere so invested in the book that they wanted to get bagels and bring them to ahomeless shelter,” Fink recalls. “The book taught them about mitzvot and giving, and made themrealize how much people need and that we can all do a little to help.”

Fink has worked closely with Sol Levinson & Bros. toautomate the funeral home’s library and purchase a collection of grief textsfor children.

“A parent in mourning shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheelwhen it comes to explaining death and grief to children,” says Fink. “Manyauthors have already done that, and parents should have access to those books.At the CJE, we now have a collection of books about grief and death that we canoffer to families in the community.”

Fink says she wants the CJE library to have a little bit of somethingfor everyone. “I just love thegoodness,” she says. “Even if there are hard topics, I find in today’s worldthat the library is a place of happiness.”

Elana Moskowitz couldn’t agree more. “Parenting today can beoverwhelming and scary at times, and the CJE library is a way to come home,”she says. “It gives my children a way to escape and explore other people’slives and other parts of the world. It expands their sensitivities to others, andreinforces pride and confidence within themselves.”