February 18, 2005/Adar 1 9 5765, Volume 57, No. 25
Book learningTemple completes library
STEPHANIE N. HENSCHEL
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 Preschoolers at Temple Solel enjoy reading in the new Cary Jay Zucker Youth Library. The library recently opened in memory of Zucker, who died December 2002. Pictured are, clockwise from left, Leah, Bond, Ben, Alex, Jenna and Madison. Photo by David Weissman |
The temple recently announced the completion of its new Cary Jay Zucker Youth Library.
The library, built in honor of the late Zucker, serves the temple's preschool and religious school students. The dedication ceremony, held on Dec. 4, 2004, was in conjunction with the bat mitzvah of his daughter Amanda. Both she and her sister, Cara, attended Solel's preschool and have remained active in the temple. Their mom, Gail Zucker, used to work at the preschool.
According to Gail, her husband was a big advocate of reading. "It was always a dream of mine to develop a library," she says. After his death in December 2002, many people gave donations in memory of him and she spoke with Rabbi Alan Berlin about setting up an education fund. These funds built the library.
Patti Evans, executive director of Temple Solel, purchased children's library furniture from www.bigcozybooks.com. The furniture resembles covers of books, pencils and other types of paraphernalia found in libraries. The books feature names of Jewish books and authors, which the temple had to get special permission to use.
Zucker credits the success of the project to Evans and Berlin. She says Evans "orchestrated" the creation of the library. Ellen Lerman, librarian and education department assistant, was also helpful in moving the project along.
The library includes many books on Judaic themes. The preschool section categorizes the books based on the 10 subjects the preschool teachers felt were important: ABCs, numbers, animals, colors and shapes, community helpers, other cultures, family, feelings, transportation and weather. The young Judaica section is organized according to Elazar system, developed by David H. and Daniel J. Elazar. Books are available in hard pages for toddlers, and softer pages for older students.
But, "it still has a ways to go," Zucker says. Books are still being gathered and added to the library, which presently houses more than 2,000 books.
Temple Solel is located at 6805 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley. Call 480-991-7414.