About Our Libraries

The mission of the Temple Sinai Library Committee is to provide meaningful programming, relevant collections, and a comfortable, accessible space where members of all ages can engage in Jewish learning and appreciation.

Our committee oversees the operations of the synagogue’s Main and Youth Libraries. To achieve the committee’s mission, we practice Tikkun Olam, develop and maintain the collections and facilities, and implement activities and events to engage the membership. Our committee is serious about the work it does, and is just as serious about having fun and building friendships while doing it.

Both libraries are open during normal synagogue hours with comfortable seating and free wifi. Temple Sinai members can search the collection and check out items with a simple self-service system.

The Main Library

In the Main Library read, study, meet or relax with free WiFi.

Temple Sinai Youth Library, July 2016

The Youth Library offers books, educational toys, and even a multi-media center plus lots of fun, comfortable seating.

Save the Date for Our Edible Book Fest

Temple Sinai Library Edible Book Fest November 16th 2024 at 1pm

November 16th 2024 at 1pm in the Main Library

Rules:

Must be based on a book in Temple Sinai library.
Display must be made with mostly food.
No toxic ingredients, please!
No pork or shellfish (this is still a synagogue!)

Categories for prizes by popular vote are:

Best in Show
Most Edible
Funniest / Punniest
Most Literary

Some Examples from similar events:

"Farewell to Arms" example with Gingerbread without arms

Punniest: A Farewell to Arms

Credit: Loganberry Books

"A Very Hungry Caterpillar" example with a caterpillar made out of cupcakes

Most Literary: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Credit: University of Cincinnati

"The Life of Pi" example with the stages of a pie created for display

Punniest: The Life of Pi

Credit: Duke University Library

Novel Noshers – a Temple Sinai Book Club

Next meeting:

September 22nd 1pm in the Main Library

Library Programming & Outreach

Enjoy Our On-Line Public Access Catalog

Click the button here or visit SinaiReno.org/Catalog to search our collection from anywhere. Members can log in, save books to their list, view their accounts and then visit the library to check-out and return books.

The Guest Check-out form is for people who are not Temple members, but still want to check out materials.

Browse our Entire Library Catalog

Guest Check-out Form

The Book Nosh – Monthly publication

Book Nosh Past Editions

September 2024

Sept-2024-FINAL-1

Restories: “Because books make you better.”

Through “Restories”, the Library Committee continues to engage synagogue members by reaching out to home-bound members by loaning and delivering books in our collection. The goal is to bring friendship, relaxation, adventure, enjoyment, and knowledge because books make you better. If you know of any members that would benefit from this program please email us at library@sinaireno.org.

Supporting Our Libraries

Ways to Volunteer and Contribute

Volunteering for the Library Committee requires a few hours each month and yields immeasurable results for Temple Sinai and the greater Reno community. The committee convenes regularly and makes every effort for its’ meetings to be accessible, whether in person or virtually. CLICK HERE to message us and become a volunteer.

Support reading, literacy, and education by giving an in-kind or monetary donation to the designated Temple Sinai Library Fund. To make a financial donation to the Temple Sinai Library Fund, CLICK HERE. Be sure to choose “Library Fund” in the donation options. Or, you can email the synagogue office for more information.

To donate an in-kind gift, CLICK HERE and message us to find out if your book or DVD donations meet the library criteria.

Past Events and Projects

Antisemitism Event - April 2024

Faces of Sinai

The evening of April 17th, 2024 was Antisemitism: Then, There, and Now hosted by Jewish Nevada and Temple Sinai Library Committee. Three presenters discussed different times and places. Dr. James McSpadden discussed the origins of antisemitism in Europe. Dr. Dennis Dworkin discussed the antisemitism in American during his life time and the political landscape at the time. Elliot Malin discussed antisemitism now in Northern Nevada and his role on the Nevada Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust. All three presenters then engaged in Q&A moderated by Mara Langer, director of Community Engagement for Jewish Nevada.

If you want to watch the livestream of the event here:
“Com.unity” in the Museum of the Jewish People

“Com.unity” in the Museum of the Jewish People

Temple Sinai Reno is part of The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot which celebrates and shares the vibrancy and diversity of contemporary Jewish life around the world. The ongoing and multi-faceted story of the Jewish people includes impressive, interactive exhibits. Com.unity is a most impressive, interactive exhibit. This project offers Jewish communities from all around the world visibility and an opportunity to share their inspiring story about the global Jewish experience.

Visit com-unity.bh.org.il and enter “Temple Sinai Reno” in the search bar to see many familiar faces from our Sinai community. The Com.unity Project

The Museum of the Jewish People
Jewish Book Month Event - November 2023
Being Jewish in the Time of COVID
Being Jewish in the Time of COVID: Reflections from Congregants

Life as we knew it was normal.

Then life as we knew it changed.

What did change look like?

In 2020, the Temple Sinai Library Committee asked Temple Sinai members to submit their personal stories, memoirs, and poetry about Jewish life experiences while living through the COVID-19 pandemic. “Being Jewish in the Time of COVID” is a collection of these.

Read the Collection here:

https://sinaireno.org/covid-reflections/
Faces of Sinai

Faces of Sinai

The evening of February 28, 2020, was WOW Shabbat. Hosted by the Library Committee to celebrate the opening of the Women of The Wall Photo Exhibit in the small social hall, participants joined together to recognize the 10th anniversary of a photo session in which congregant Steve Davis photographed women of Temple Sinai wearing Tallit and holding a Torah. They did so to demonstrate their solidarity with the Women of the Wall (WOW) in Israel. Founded in 1988, WOW is a multi-denominational feminist organization whose goal is to secure the rights of women to pray at the Western Wall (Kotel) in a fashion that includes wearing religious garments (tallit, kippah, and tefillin), reading aloud from the Torah, and singing.

On March 5, 2020, the exhibit was viewed by over 200 community-wide attendees in conjunction with the interfaith forum entitled “Breaking the Stained-Glass Ceiling”.

Faces of Sinai – Women of the Wall Display

Event promo for Breaking the Stained Glass Ceiling

Our Youth and Adult Libraries