Public Libraries

Public libraries are lending libraries intended to serve the public. These libraries provide access to many books that individuals cannot afford to purchase and maintain themselves, as well as archive collections of rare and valuable books.

According to the Rebbe's instructions, efforts should be made to establish public Jewish libraries everywhere, and the Rebbe connected this activity with the seventieth year of his birth.

History

On 6 Tishrei 5733, in a talk given by the Rebbe on the eighth anniversary of his mother Rebbetzin Chana's passing, the Rebbe requested to establish public libraries everywhere. This was based on the words of Chazal praising those who write books and lend them to others, as this is an ongoing action that produces fruits and fruits of fruits.

The Rebbe expressed that it is a "mitzvah" that everywhere Jews live there should be a public library with seforim, starting from books appropriate for those at the most basic level in Jewish matters, up to books specifically for those who delve deeply into studying nigleh and Chassidus.

The Rebbe emphasized that the library's purpose is both as a place for learning and study in the library itself, and to provide the possibility of borrowing books for reading and learning at home.

The Rebbe later emphasized that the inner intention of this takana is that the library should have a beautiful place to sit, with air conditioning and comfort, in order to attract visitors to the library for pleasant conversations about Jewish matters and through discussions around the books, to bring them closer to strengthening their commitment to Torah and mitzvos.

Following the Rebbe's instructions, any place that reported establishing a public library or expanding an existing library received Chassidic seforim from the secretariat as participation, and primarily, were given a large discount on purchasing Kehos seforim for the libraries.

In accordance with the Rebbe's instructions, many public libraries were established over the years by Chabad chassidim.

At a celebration marking the first anniversary after the victory in the seforim trial, the Rebbe again instructed about establishing and expanding public libraries.

Chabad Public Libraries

Among the public libraries established immediately after the Rebbe's instructions:

• Levi Yitzchak Library Crown Heights - Under the direction of Rabbi Nechemia Yom Tov Kessler
• Lubavitch Library London - Under the direction of Rabbi Tzvi Raibin
• Lubavitch Library Bnei Brak - Under the direction of Rabbi Moshe Zeev Yeroslavsky
• Lubavitch Library Morristown - Under the direction of Rabbi Avraham Asher Rosenberg
• Lubavitch Library Kfar Chabad - Under the direction of Rabbi Aharon Halperin
• Lubavitch Library Kiryat Gat - Under the direction of Rabbi Shalom Dovber Wolpo
• Lubavitch Library Tel Aviv - Under the direction of Rabbi Shalom Ber Butman
• Lubavitch Library Tzfat - Under the direction of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kaplan
• Lubavitch Library Afula - Under the direction of Rabbi Shlomo Segal
• Lubavitch Library Nachalat Har Chabad

Additional Chabad public libraries established over the years:

• The Chassidic Library Beitar Illit - Under the direction of Rabbi Pinchas Tzarfati

See Also

• Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad
• Mivtza Bayis Malei Seforim
• Mivtza Os B'Sefer Torah