Whether you’re looking to dive into the latest Jewish publications, relax with a great novel, or find inspiration in one of our rotating displays, our Learning Center provides the resources and guidance you’ll need to get started. The two-story facility includes the Deborah Library, a collection of 12,000 volumes for adults and children, the Miller Reading Room, the Abraham J. Feldman Museum, and the Marjorie L. Rafal Archives. Our librarian is Rima Yashgur and she can be contacted at ryashgur@cbict.org.
Visit us at the following times this summer (self-checkout is also available whenever the building is open):
Tuesdays: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Sundays: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Please click HERE to complete a registration form if you are not currently a CBI member (all CBI members are automatically registered). Submitting a registration form will allow you to borrow books from our library. You can also visit us and complete a hard copy in the library.
NEW! Check-out our online catalog by clicking on the link below. Our library includes materials related to the history, beliefs, and practices of the Jewish faith, with a focus on Reform Judaism.
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/cbict
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence by machines, particularly computer systems. The intersection of AI and Judaism presents an opportunity to explore how technology shapes questions of morality, responsibility, and its societal impact, all while influencing religious practices and staying true to Jewish traditions and values.
What does artificial intelligence mean for Judaism, and how might Judaism evolve in response to AI? How do Jewish ethics guide our approach to scientific and technological advancements? Can Judaism and AI coexist harmoniously, or are they destined for conflict? We invite you to explore our newest book exhibit, which delves into the connection between this ancient tradition and the cutting-edge world of technology.
Staying Human: A Jewish Theology for the Age of Artificial Intelligence, by Harris Bor
Futurologists tell us that in the not-to-distant future technology will transform all existence into a single super-intelligence where AI will outsmart human beings, and humanity will coalesce into a single, ever-expanding mind for which data is everything. How does this idea relate to ideas about God?
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, by Yuval Noah Harari
Nexus looks through the long lens of human history to consider how the flow of information has shaped us, and our world. Harari explores the complex relationship between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power and how different societies and political systems throughout history have wielded information to achieve their goals, for good and ill. He addresses the urgent choices we face as non-human intelligence threatens our very existence.
Judaism in a Digital Age: An Ancient Tradition Confronts a Transformative Era, by Danny Schiff
Here is an account of the digital age through a Jewish lens, in which Schiff examines Jewish teachings and traditions, exploring what moral insight they might have to offer in this period of great flux.
Torah and Technology: Circuits, Cells and the Sacred Path, by Rabbi Daniel Nevins
What does Judaism teach about killer robots? Cultured meat? Genetically engineered people? How can ancient religious norms address the radically transformed reality of a technocentric society? Drawing on 3,000 years of biblical and rabbinic texts, Rabbi Nevins responds to pressing questions. These essays present an interest to any person who confronts ethical quandaries in our technocentric times.
24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, by Tiffany Shlain
Internet pioneer and renowned filmmaker Shlain takes us on a thought-provoking and entertaining journey through time and technology, introducing a strategy for flourishing in our 24/7 world. Drawn from the ancient ritual of Shabbat, living 24/6 can work for anyone from any background.
Located in the historic 1934 former library room, our museum’s collections hold dozens of pieces of Judaica, spanning three millennia and coming from five continents. Additionally, the collections holds two centuries of Congregation Beth Israel’s history, with many artifacts from one of New England’s oldest and largest Jewish communities. The museum, at the intersection of Hartford history and Jewish heritage, is a must-see for anyone interested in either or both. The Museum is open during synagogue hours. Guided tours of the Museum and the Sanctuary can be arranged by emailing archive@cbict.org.
Our CBI Library @ Home program continues under Karen Beyard's direction! If you or someone you know is not able to get to the CBI library and browse through new books and classics in our 15,000 book collection, Karen and her volunteers will arrange delivery and return of lovingly selected books to browse at home. Email Karen at kbeyard@cbict.org for more information or to arrange for a book bag drop-off.
Enjoy current issues of The Forward, a provocative and entertaining Jewish newspaper, International Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Report, and the Ledger. We keep back issues for several months. We also subscribe to several other excellent Jewish periodicals including Lilith (a feminist perspective), Moment (insightful commentary), and Eretz (the Israeli magazine in English that comes closest to National Geographic). Current issues are in the reading room; back issues are saved in the library stacks.
You will find the Plaut Torah commentary and Torah: A Woman’s Commentary open to the week’s portion. Books elaborating the themes of the Torah reading or providing additional context are available for check-out. The study table also includes children’s books related to the weekly readings and the holidays.
Past exhibits have highlighted Jews and baseball, Jewish art and artists, cookbooks and food memories, graphic novels and comics, and our commitment to social justice. We also have a permanent display of books related to our Congregation’s history. Most recently we had a "Standing with Ukraine" exhibit and "120 Books for Every Age".
This display features books from our extensive collection on the history of the creation and building of the State of Israel, highlighting Israel's history, culture, the diversity of people and their achievements and challenges. We also included many recent books of contemporary Israeli writers. Whether you are interested in borrowing a book on Israel's founding fathers, the Independence war, great oversized photography albums, the latest Israeli novel or mouth-watering Israeli cookbooks, please stop by and help us celebrate Israel's 75th birthday.
We try to collect books listed as “Jewish Best Sellers” by Hadassah Magazine, National Jewish Book and other award winners, and Jewish books receiving attention in the American press. We buy popular and literary fiction about Jewish themes or by Jewish authors, and interesting new non-fiction about a broad range of topics of Jewish interest. We also have a collection of Jewish-themed and Israeli films.
Our collection has many important Jewish books on a wide range of topics. While our mission is more community-oriented than academic, we can help most people make progress in their quest for Jewish learning. Learning Center Director Rima Yashgur can help find information online if needed.
This beautiful space provides a large collection of children’s books for check-out, games and toys, and space for parents and their little ones to enjoy a little quiet time. Tot Shabbat takes place in the children’s room, and young congregants and their teachers visit frequently when YEP is in session.
Those who can reach top and bottom shelves in the stacks can help with shelving and collection maintenance. Computer skills, library background, or a willingness to develop new skills are also helpful.
Sue Fulleton, Chair
Lynn Newman, Treasurer
Friends actively support the Learning Center and library collections and sponsor great programs. The Friends Advisory Committee, which includes several professional librarians among its members, provide advice and consent about the director’s plans and library operations. Join today!
