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Our shul library has been neglected for many, many years, and b'h' we are finally cleaning and organizing it. We have some great books, but I'd like to know of some resources identifying important books that we should make sure we have in our library.

Noach MiFrankfurt
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user3473
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2 Answers2

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Libraries vary significantly from shul to shul based on the congregation but there are some standards that are common across the board and which would be missed if anyone tried to use the shul library for studying.

  1. Siddurim. These aren't really part of the library, but a basic necessity because most of your congregation will want something to pray out of. It's worthwhile to have at least some in translation and an assortment of nuschaot different from the one the shul uses so guests will feel comfortable.

  2. Chumashim. Also a basic necessity in any shul. Translations and rashi are helpful.

  3. Mikraot Gedolot on all of Tanach. These come with many exhaustive commentaries and are meant for in-depth study, not for following along during Torah reading.

  4. Talmud bavli. The second most important Jewish text. A functional shul library should have at least two sets because people tend to learn gemara in pairs. Since you mention that you are "cleaning out" your shul library, please allow me to beg you on behalf of gemara learners everywhere: please, please get a new shas in addition to your old ones. The newer editions are much more legible, and contain more and better-edited supplementary stuff.

  5. Two sets of Kehati Mishneh

  6. A good edition of the Mishneh Torah.

  7. At least one set each of Mishneh Berurah and Orech Hashulchan.

Most shul libraries will have many more books than this, depending on the interests of the members but these are the basics. All of them are available in English and some in other languages as well. Which ones you get, and which editions obviously depends on the needs of your community.

Yitzchak
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    No Shulchen Aruch? – sam Feb 11 '14 at 03:39
  • Good point. I had it in there and took it out because most people use a Mishneh Berurah/Kitzur/similar to learn halacha, not shulchan aruch/nosei keilim so it doesn't really qualify as a bare essential. The rav would have his own, as would most people who would be looking for it. – Yitzchak Feb 11 '14 at 03:45
  • It really depends on congregation – sam Feb 11 '14 at 16:01
  • Agreed. I left it out because so many congregations wouldn't want one. – Yitzchak Feb 11 '14 at 16:12
  • @mbloch Aruch Hashulchan doesn't exist in English (though some parts are available on Sefaria, including some se'ifim I translated myself) but Judaica Press publishes an English Mikraot Gedolot – Yitzchak Feb 14 '19 at 19:07
  • @Yitzchak you are for sure right, I didn't realize, I leave this link here in case it is useful to others – mbloch Feb 15 '19 at 04:31
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The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized having at least the following Seforim in order to fulfill his directive, known as "Mivtza Bayis Molei Seforim", of filling up Jewish houses with Seforim (list in no particular order):

Chumash, Tehillim, Siddur, Tanach, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Tanya, Talmud. (See here)

A Tzivos Hashem Children's handbook (not available online) also lists a Haggada.

Of course this is only a small list, and should be expanded upon according to the means and needs of the specific shul.

termsofservice
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  • I thought the Rebbe also said that everyone should have a Keser Shem Tov and a Maggid Devarav LeYaakov? – ertert3terte Nov 06 '13 at 06:33
  • @ShmuelBrin Yes, he did, forgot about those, but it may be for chassidim only, do you know the exact source – termsofservice Nov 06 '13 at 06:35
  • Sefer Haminhagim – ertert3terte Nov 06 '13 at 06:40
  • It is vital and proper that chassidim should have the following three books in their possession: Keser Shem Tov, Or Torah and Tanya. For certain reasons, however, they should not be bound together in one volume. One should study them as much as one wishes (though let that study be worthy of the name!) - daily, or at least on Shabbos and Yom-Tov and at certain other times."[770] http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/sefer-haminhagim/78.htm – ertert3terte Nov 06 '13 at 06:41
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    Though this list is for a house. A shul will by definition have different priorities (try running a Shul without siddur or chumashim, for example) – ertert3terte Nov 06 '13 at 06:51
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    −1: this list is for a home. – msh210 Nov 06 '13 at 07:30