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Greenberg Families Library Hours
Holiday Hours
Wednesday, December 24 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
December 25-28 | Closed |
December 29-31 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Thursday, January 1 | Closed |
Regular Hours
- Monday: 9:00-5:00
- Tuesday: 9:00-5:00
- Wednesday: 9:00-5:00
- Thursday: 9:00-5:00
- Friday – Saturday: CLOSED
- Sunday: 10:00-3:00
You must have an active SJCC or Greenberg Families Library membership to access the Library.
To purchase a Greenberg Families Library Membership click here.
Use of the library is included in your Soloway JCC membership!
- The latest Jewish Fiction and Non-Fiction available without long wait lists
- Extensive collection of books for children and young adults
- Foreign and English language DVDs including TV series, movies and documentaries
- MusicCDs from klez to classical to contemporary
- Israeli books and movies
- Computers available for use
To access our extensive collection click here to search the catalogue.
- Click on the Greenberg Families Library link and then hit the catalog button to begin searching.
Carlie MacPherson
Senior Librarian
(613) 798-9818 ext: 245
library@jccottawa.com
Greenberg Families Library Policies and Procedures
Effective July 2022, the Greenberg Families Library no longer accepts book donations.
Borrowing Books
You must have an active SJCC or Greenberg Families Library membership in order to borrow items.
Material requests will be held for a maximum of one week. Holds on new releases, or those with a waiting list of more than 3 people will be held for a maximum of 4 business days.
Find everything on our shelves from home using Greenberg Families Library Online Catalog
Book Return
The library’s book return box is outside the doors of the library.
All policies, procedures and operating hours are subject to change. Patrons will be notified of any updates.
Upcoming Events and Programs
Monthly Movie Night
With The Greenberg Families Library & the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society
Armageddon Time ➜ Wednesday, January 28
A coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American dream.
Doors Open 6:30 pm. Movie starts at 7:00 pm
Free – Drop In (no registration required)
Please consider making a $2 donation to help cover the cost of movie snacks.
Crafternoons in the Greenberg Families Library
For kids age 8+ (must be accompanied by an adult)
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Create a winter wonderland you can hold in your hand! Join us to design your own mini snow globe using jars, glitter, and tiny winter scenes.
Bring a new buddy to life with hand‑sewn felt stuffies! Kids will learn simple sewing techniques while creating a soft, colorful character to take home.
Fold, crease, and create! Explore the art of Japanese paper folding as we transform simple squares into animals, shapes, and other whimsical designs.
Let your imagination click into place with bright and colorful fuze bead creations. Arrange your design, melt it together, and take home a vibrant work of art.
Carlie’s Creations
Balloon SmashPainting
Get ready to pop into creativity with Balloon Smash Painting! This playful, hands-on workshop invites participants of all skill levels to explore abstract art in a fun and unexpected way—with balloons! Using a variety of vibrant acrylic paints, participants will experiment with the “smash” technique to create bold textures, dynamic patterns, and truly one-of-a-kind artworks. Perfect for beginners and seasoned creatives alike, this session is all about letting go, having fun, and embracing the joy of process over perfection. All supplies are provided, just bring your enthusiasm, your imagination, and a willingness to get a little messy!
Wednesday, February 11➜ 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
$15
Register here.
New Titles
Fiction
The Adventures of Max Spitzkopf: The Yiddish Sherlock Holmes by Jonah Kreppel
Max Spitzkopf—known as the “Yiddish Sherlock Holmes”—is a bold, risk‑taking Viennese detective who leads the famous Blitz bureau. With his loyal assistant Fuchs, he uses physical courage, sharp intellect, and masterful disguises to unravel conspiracies, defeat criminals, and defend the Jewish community. This complete collection of fifteen stories paints a vivid picture of Jewish life in the late Austro‑Hungarian Empire and preserves the linguistic charm that once captivated Isaac Bashevis Singer.
Other new titles:
- Human Scale by Lawrence Wright
- I Wanted to Be Wonderful by Lihi Lapid
- The Murder Show by Matt Goldman
- Queen Esther by John Irving
Non-Fiction
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine by Daniel Levitan
This book explores music as one of humanity’s oldest and most universal healing tools. While historically dismissed as ancient or alternative medicine, modern research now shows music can effectively treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s, PTSD, depression, pain, and cognitive injury. Levitan blends science, history, and cultural insight to illustrate how music is deeply tied to memory, emotional regulation, social behavior, and human evolution—revealing it as one of the most promising therapeutic modalities of our time.
Other new titles:
- Dinner Party Animal by Jake Cohen
- Ludwig Wittgenstein: Philosophy in the Age of Airplanes by Anthony Gottlieb (Jewish Live Series)
- On Antisemitism: A Word in History by Mark Mazower
Juvenile
Just Like Queen Esther By Kerry Olitsky and Ari Moffic
Just Like Queen Esther follows Atara, a young girl who loves wearing her crown everywhere — to the library, the dentist, even swim lessons. The crown makes her feel confident and helps her show the world who she really is, especially since people initially mistook her for a boy. Her perspective shifts when she learns the story of Queen Esther during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Inspired by Esther’s bravery and authenticity, Atara realizes that she doesn’t need a costume or a crown to express her true self. The book celebrates identity, courage, and discovering inner strength.
Other new titles:
- The Maccabees Tell the Story of Hanukkah by Noah Press
Libby – Digital and Audiobooks
The Libby app is the easiest way to get started with digital and audiobooks from your public library!
Download the free Libby app on any device to get started or visit libbyapp.com
Why Libby is your perfect reading companion:
- Eliminate wait lists for your favourite titles.
- Read or listen on your phone, tablet, or other e-reader.
- Make any text large print and adjust lighting settings for ebooks.
- Change the playback speed or set a sleep timer for audiobooks.
- Questions? Speak to your librarian, or get help in the app from the U.S.-based Libby support team.
- Install Libby for Android, iOS, or Fire tablets from overdrive.com/apps/libby. Or, visit libbyapp.com in your Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge browser.
- Email the Greenberg Families Library to set up your login credentials (library@jccottawa.com)
- In Libby, follow the prompts to find your library and sign in with your email.
- Browse your library’s collection and borrow a title.
- Borrowed titles appear on your Shelf and download to the app automatically when you’re on Wi-Fi, so you can read them when you’re offline.
- Tap Open In Libby, Open Audiobook to start reading or listening in the app.
- Tap Manage Loan to see options like Renew Loan and Return Early.
Happy reading!
Sefer Torah 1336
This is Sefer Torah 1336, the Ivanovice Scroll
Having arrived in Ottawa on permanent loan from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in Westminster, England, Sefer Torah 1336 was dedicated in 1998 and installed in the Soloway Jewish Community Centre’s Greenberg Families Library in April 2001. Where it has been ever since.
Sefer Torah 1336 comes from the town of Ivanovice, now part of the Czech Republic. Ivanovice is located approximately 7km from the district town of Vyskov. Until 1918, Ivanovice and the region were part of the Austrian Empire. Between the two World Wars, and during the postwar communist era, it was part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.
History of the Jews in Ivanovice
It is unclear precisely when Jews first settled in Ivanovice, however, tombstones dating from the 17th century indicate that by that point there were a significant number of Jews living there. By 1727, a synagogue had been built. By the mid-20th century the majority of the Jews in the community spoke German.
In 1848, Jews throughout the Austrian Empire were emancipated and received full civil rights. Restrictions on movement were also removed, which led to a migration of Jews to larger towns and cities in search of more economic and educational opportunities. This resulted in a population decline of the Jewish community of Ivanovice. In 1857, the Ivanovice Jewish community’s population peaked at 483, which was approximately 20% of the town’s total population. However, by 1922, this population had decreased to only 80 members. By 1930, the Jewish population had dropped to just 64.
The Jews of Ivanovice and The Holocaust
When the 1938 Munich Agreement was enacted the Republic of Czechoslovakia was dissolved and in March 1939, the region of Bohemia and Moravia became a protectorate of Nazi Germany. This ushered in a period of discrimination and violence against the Jews of the area.
While we do not know for sure, it is most likely that the Jews of Ivanovice were deported to the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Ghetto along with the Jews of Brno around the end of 1941. From there, they would have been sent to a number of concentration and death camps. Jewish life was not renewed in Ivanovice after the war.
The Looted Torahs
During the Second World War the Nazis looted many items, including Torah from damaged Synagogues and stored them near Prague. After the war some 1,100 were recovered. Those that could be repaired were, but those that were not sparked a debate about what to do with them. It was determined that these Torahs would be used for educational purposes, displayed in Jewish Centers, museums, archives, schools, etc. around the world as a memorial and reminder of the Holocaust.
While we are unsure of the original provenance of Sefer Torah 1336, we believe it could have come from this Synagogue. This synagogue was active from the early 19th century until the outbreak of the Second World War. The Synagogue was reconstructed in 1951 but has since been converted into a Czechoslovak Hussite Church.
As written by Rabbi Kassel Abelson:
“A notice was sent to synagogues, museums, colleges and similar institutions throughout the world offering such a scroll on condition that they be kept on perpetual display as a reminder of the Holocaust. Over four hundred synagogues, museums, colleges, etc., have received such Torahs and keep them on display as a reminder of the Holocaust.”
For information on other Memorial Torah Scrolls please visit www.memorialscrolltrust.org
