The Temple Israel Library was originally established in the 1930's as the Waterman Memorial Library by Dr. and Mrs. Albert Ehrenfried in memory of Julius and Rosa Waterman, the parents of Mrs. Ehrenfried. At the 1938 dedication ceremony, the program book stated:

The Waterman Memorial Library was created in an effort to develop at Temple Israel a library suitable to the needs of a Metropolitan congregation with an extensive educational program. It is the culmination of efforts dating back to 1891 at the Columbus Avenue Temple...It is intended that as the collection grows through the years it will develop into an authentic and important Jewish library, and will effect a strong cultural influence over our congregation and the community at large.

Today, the beautiful Dr. Arnold L. Segel Library Center, named in memory of Temple member Dr. Arnold L. Segel, consists of: the Waterman Adult Library, the Ellen and Harold Wald Children's Library, and the David and Leona F. Karp Audio-Visual Center. Our collection has over 15,000 books, audio-tapes, video-tapes, books on tape, journals and newspapers on Jewish subjects ranging from Bible to Zohar (mystical text). Temple Israel members and students may borrow materials from the library, and the library is open to the public for reading and research on site.

The Library sponsors an annual event, the Joy Ungerleider lecture, featuring an author from the Jewish Community, as well as a book fair.

For more information on the Temple Israel Library, please contact Ann Abrams, Librarian.