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The National Library of Israel
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NLI MONTHLY UPDATE
Highlights of upcoming and recent NLI news, programs, and events
FROM THE CEO
The following is a statement from Oren Weinberg, CEO of the National Library of Israel:
"As friends of the Library are likely aware, recent events have put the Library in the spotlight, the Ministry of Education having submitted a bill that would change significantly the Library's status as an independent entity. Please refer to our online statement as to the Library's position on this matter, and accept our thanks for the messages of support we have received from you. We are optimistic that this situation will be resolved, although it may take time. In the meanwhile, we are serving the public as usual, our building is alive with researchers, students, school groups, and visitors, and we continue to fulfill our mission as always." 
We are heartened by the outpouring of support from literary and cultural leaders from Israel and abroad, as well as from the press, with items published in Times of Israel, The Jerusalem Post, Ha'aretz, and many others. 
SPOTLIGHT
Purim Time is Here! Let Joy Be Unconfined! 
In the cycle of the Jewish year, the holiday of Purim offers a moment to revel in uncertainty, to make merry as if there were no tomorrow or, in the words of Prince, party like it's 1999. Now's the time to dive into the National Library of Israel website for a range of Purim-related content – and possible costume inspiration: manuscripts, photographs, stories, songs, and educational programing activities. If you're in Israel, we invite you to the Library for our Purim Tour and/or Purim Activity for Kids
Sign up for our webinar happening today, March 5th: The Talmud and #MeToo - A Lecture in Anticipation of the Fast of Esther and International Women's Day with Professor Mira Beth Wasserman. 
CURATOR'S CORNER
New Acquisition: 1839 Purim Liturgy 
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The Library recently acquired an 1839 copy of Purim liturgy Yemei Ha-Purim, printed in Karlsruhe, Germany. Karlsruhe, formerly the state capital of Baden, was the seat of the Oberrat (central council) of Baden Jewry, and a center of Jewish printing houses, with some 60 books published there. This small volume includes the order of prayers and the text of Megillat Esther with German translation in Hebrew letters, Tikun Sofrim (masoretical annotations), as well as the piyut (liturgical poem) Krovetz le-Purim.
Der Klasisher Eydisher Komedye Kumt in der Natsyonaler Biblyotek! 
A cache of approximately 5,000 records consisting of Jewish music, cantorial chazzonus, Yiddish comedy skits and songs on 78 rpm disks, and Israeli popular music 331/3 rpm albums from second half of the last century, has been donated to the National Library of Israel by Charles Bernhaut through the American Society for Jewish Music (ASJM). We invite you to "give a listen" and enjoy.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NLI
Never Mind the Rain - Visitors Come From Near and Far
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TOP L: Seforim editor Dan Rabinowitz with NLI staffers; R: The 2023 Paideia cohort; BOTTOM L: Arab Noar HaOved leaders; R: Yeshiva University Museum's Gabriel Goldstein with NLI's conservation team. Images: NLI 
February's unusually cold and wet weather did not deter visitors from coming to NLI – and we were glad to receive them. In just one day, we had 140 schoolchildren participating in different educational activities...the next day a delegation of Arab national and district training coordinators for the Labor Zionist youth movement HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed got to know the library and discuss future areas for cooperation...the Paideia European Institute for Jewish Studies cohort conducted their annual two-day seminar and work with NLI curators on individual research topics...Gabriel Goldstein, interim director and chief curator of the Yeshiva University Museum came to talk with NLI's Conservation Department about an upcoming exhibition at YU where NLI treasures will be on display...and Dan Rabinowitz, founder and editor-in-chief of the Seforim blog, and author of The Lost Library, met with NLI staff and ended his visit by declaring the Library among the greatest institutions in the world. 
Celebrate Israel's 75th Independence Day with NLI!
2023 is an exceptional year for Israel and for NLI, as our move to the new building coincides with Israel’s 75th birthday. Across the Library’s various departments, plans are underway for marking Israel’s 75th Yom Ha’atzmaut in thoughtful, creative, and inspiring ways – and we invite all to take part in a range of initiatives, from poster competitions, to travelling exhibitions. Click here to download the full list of events -- and if you're in need of Jewish education ideas, NLI for Educators creates lesson plans and programs, based on Library resources, for educators around the world.  Contact NLI Global Jewish Education Manager Shuvi Hoffman at shuvi.hoffman@nli.org.il for details.
Regístrese al boletín – NLI Latin America Outreach Launches Newsletter
Reference Librarian Dr. Aliza Moreno recently began work on the Library's outreach efforts in Latin America, starting with an interview on Radio Sefarad, and, as of February, the launch of a Spanish language edition of this monthly newsletter. The response has been enthusiastic and we invite you to share the "boletin" registration link with colleagues and friends. You can also read the latest interview with Dr. Moreno in English, How The Spanish Inquisition Persecuted Descendants of Converted Jews.
Islamic Treasures for Ramadan 
March 22 marks the beginning of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims are obligated to fast from dawn to sunset, as one of the five pillars of Islam. In recognition of the month's central importance, a special musical journey is planned as well as a mailing with dedicated content. In the meantime, NLI has compiled a selection of valuable treasures related to Ramadan, including rare Quran manuscripts, photos, historical press, and more. Enjoy and Ramadan Kareem!  
GESHER L'EUROPA
NLI at Jewish Book Week UK at Standout Success
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TOP: NLI at Jewish Book Week UK. BOTTOM L+R – NLI at the EDJC conference, CENTER: NLI with the Manchester FED Holocaust testimony series. Photos: Courtesy
February 26th was our day at 2023 Jewish Book Week, with five separate events featuring NLI speakers. The morning kicked off with a talk and workshop with comic book artist Rutu Modan, who provided wonderful personal insights to her work, with a special focus on the six artist-participants in the Library's SADEH fellowship. Reference Librarian Daniel Lipson's talk about his discovery of a book belonging to David Dov Neuwirth, a boy murdered in the Holocaust, moved the audience to tears. Dr. Stefan Litt's talk on Stefan Zweig and Joseph Roth was termed one of the event's best, and author Matti Friedman presented the story of Leonard Cohen's Sinai sojourn during the Yom Kippur War - with wider context about the War's impact on Israeli society - to a sold-out crowd. 
NLI To Play A Major Role in European Days of Jewish Culture 2023
European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC) happens in September but program planning has already started and, as in previous years, NLI will play a major role. In February, at the EDJC planning meeting in Paris, NLI's Gesher L'Europa presented the Library's contribution to this year's theme of Memory: a concept and exhibition based on NLI collections to be distributed among the 27+ participating European countries. 
Manchester Fed Gifts NLI with Survivor Personal Testimonies 
We were honored to receive a series of Holocaust testimonies in storybook form, entitled My Voice, from the Manchester, UK-based Jewish social care charity, The Fed. My Voice differs from other testimony projects with a unique interview model that focuses not only on the subject's wartime experience but afterwards as well. 
NEW BUILDING NEWS
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News Flash: New NLI Building Attains LEED Platinum Certification

We're delighted to announce the new National Library of Israel building has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, highest rating of the most widely used green building rating system. The new building includes solar panels, low energy / low maintenance lighting, and Israel's first below-ground "rockstore" a mechanism for storing thermal energy that significantly lowers the energy required to cool the building, reduces its overall carbon footprint, and will provide up to 20% in annual operational savings, compared with regular cooling methods.
NLI USA
NLI USA Announces New Board Members
NLI USA works with NLI in expanding its impact in the United States as it grows partnerships, develops programs for the US audience, and builds support for NLI. A strong and diverse board is essential as NLI USA seeks to bring NLI into the daily lives of Jews and the broader community as a go-to resource and destination for learning and connection to our history and culture. We are delighted to announce that Mark Donig, Moses Libitzky, Art Sandler and Kinney Zalesne have joined the board of NLI USA. Each new member brings exemplary leadership talent, a commitment to the community, strategic thinking, and a passion for the role of the Library. We look forward to our work ahead together.
NLI IN THE NEWS
NLI's good relations with UAE counterpart the National Archives in Dubai was featured in The Circuit's Missing pieces to cultural puzzles appear in UAE-Israel library ties, there was wide coverage of the JTA story about how the late great Yiddish author Chaim Grade's archive made its way to YIVO and NLI, and the digitized Talmud belonging to the late scholar and haredi leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky made e-Jewish Philanthropy's "Pic of the Day".
NLI BLOGS, VLOGS & PODS
PODCAST: Israel From the Inside Gets Into NLI
Across the street from the Knesset, there's a building going up that has no fences-intentionally. NLI's Head of Collections Dr. Raquel Ukeles in conversation with Daniel Gordis about the new home and profound vision of the National Library of Israel.
Like podcasts in Hebrew? Check out HaSafranim!
SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
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Now Available for Pre-Order!
To celebrate the opening of the Library's new building, we present this fascinating and inspirational new volume, 101 Treasures from the National Library of Israel,  that provides a thematic journey through the rich and diverse collections of the National Library of Israel. Selected by the NLI's curators and collections experts, and illustrated with high-quality photographs, this fine-art volume features 101 of the most precious items in the Library's collections, and shares illuminating stories and anecdotes about these significant works and the intriguing people behind them.
If you've missed one of our newsletters, now's the time catch up! All our monthly newsletters are available online.
Support NLI! Click now to make a donation – large or small – and/or become an International Member. Share the word about the National Library of Israel, serving as the collective memory of the Jewish people worldwide and Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths.
This newsletter is prepared in partnership with NLI USA

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