Blumberg-Zalis Family Library

Welcome to the Blumberg-Zalis Family Library—Washington’s Premier synagogue Library, and a beautiful setting for reading, learning, and relaxing. Having received and maintained an Advanced Accreditation by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 2014 and recognized with a Solomon Schechter Gold Award from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, our library supports the curricula of the Schilit Early Childhood Center, the Lessans Talmud Torah, Noar B’Yachad, and teen and adult education programs. Programs include book reviews, book discussion, visiting authors, movies and more, all free of charge and everyone is welcome.

The library has several reading areas with tables, chairs, upholstered furniture and, in the children’s section, lovely, carpeted steps. The collection totals over 15,000 items and features fiction and nonfiction books, DVDs, magazines, and periodicals. There is an extensive children's collection including board books, picture books, middle grade and young adult. Topics in the collection include holidays, cookbooks, theology, ethics, life cycles, grief, parenting, biography, the Holocaust, graphic novels and so much more.  

The second floor of the library is a Beit Midrash (a hall dedicated for Torah study) and includes different editions of Talmud, encyclopedias, and other texts of Judaic scholarly interest.

Members and nonmembers are always welcome. Nonmembers, while able to enjoy the library during library hours, may also check out books for a small yearly fee. There is no charge to members.  If you cannot make it in during library hours, feel free to email the librarian to set up an appointment.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Library Hours

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Monday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday–Friday: By appointment

Please don’t hesitate to reach out for reading recommendations for all ages, research requests, holds or other questions.

Susan Kusel, Librarian
240-221-2519, skusel@bnaiisraelcong.org

Click here for our online catalog.

for upcoming library programs Click here.