The Heart Behind the J’s New Hebrew Library
If you’ve stopped by the J lately, you may have noticed something new. A once-empty space outside the gym now holds two tall shelves of books, waiting for someone to pick one up. Above it, a sign reads: “The Hebrew Library: In Loving Memory of Daniel Ryan Crowley.”
On Sunday, October 11th, we celebrate the grand opening of Northern Virginia’s first free lending library of Hebrew-language books for adults. It’s a labor of love by Adi Eilat, the J’s Billing and Accounts Manager, who dedicated the library to her son. Daniel died as a baby and would have turned 20 this year. Now his name is on a place where community will gather, read and share stories.
The idea grew out of Adi’s own life. As an Israeli living in Northern Virginia, she knows how hard it is for our small Hebrew-reading community to find new books to read for fun.
“It’s very, very expensive to bring books from Israel because of the weight. You cannot just go and bring lots of books with you,” she says.
So, the community has made do. Friends and family tuck a few books into their suitcases on each trip home. Once a book has been read, it gets passed to a friend or offered to a neighbor through WhatsApp and other local Israeli community groups. It’s a lovely tradition, but it isn’t easy.
Adi wondered why there couldn’t be one welcoming place where Israelis and other Hebrew readers could come to find their next great read. The J, a natural gathering spot for our community, seemed like the perfect home.
Once the idea was approved, the community quickly rallied around it. One local Israeli donated two bookshelves. A community member who was moving donated nearly 200 books to the library instead of packing them up. Others added gently used books from their own shelves. Adi invites everyone coming to the grand opening to bring a book or two to help the collection keep growing.
“Right now, we have a huge selection of unbelievable books,” Adi gushes. Many of the books are recent releases in wonderful condition, read only once or twice before finding their way here.
The community came together to build this library, and Adi hopes the library will bring the community together in return.
“Israelis who haven’t been to the JCC will come to see the facility and say, oh my gosh, look at the pool, look at the gym. Maybe in the future they’ll become members,” she says.
She is clear that the library is for everyone, not only Israelis. Americans who read Hebrew are welcome to borrow books to practice the language and enjoy modern fiction and nonfiction, a nice change from the religious texts they may know from synagogue. That’s why she dropped the original name, the Israeli Library, and chose the more welcoming Hebrew Library.
Anyone with a valid government-issued ID can borrow books, whether or not they’re a J member. Adi sees the library as just the beginning. She’s already dreaming up a book club and events that will bring book lovers of every background together at the J.
“It will be great for the whole community,” she says. In English or in Hebrew, those are some of our favorite words at the J.
—-
Want to learn Hebrew, so you can browse the Hebrew library? The J’s next beginner Hebrew class meets Wednesdays from October 14 through December 9.
If you’re already conversant, join our shlicha and meet new friends at our Conversational Hebrew Affinity Group meetings.
Book lovers can join discussions (in English) online or at the J by joining the First Friday Book Group.
