On Sunday, January 19, Congregation B’nai Sholom/Fair Lawn Jewish Center (CBS/FLJC) held a meaningful book burial, ensuring that sacred texts were laid to rest with dignity and respect.
The event stemmed from the merger of Congregation B’nai Sholom and Fair Lawn Jewish Center a year ago. In the process, Congregation B’nai Sholom found itself with an overwhelming number of books that could not be stored. Seeking a respectful solution, the synagogue turned to Mickey Levine, executive vice president of the Cemetery Association of The Jewish Federation, which owns, operates and maintains 19 Jewish cemeteries in Bergen and Passaic County.
Typically, the federation conducts a book burial once a year but given the circumstances and the sheer volume of books, Levine arranged for an earlier, dedicated burial exclusively for CBS/FLJC. Two 12-foot graves were dug to accommodate the books, which filled half of a U-Haul truck. Each book was carefully wrapped before being placed in the ground.
According to Diane Haft, the vice president of CBS/FLJC, the synagogue had accumulated over 4,000 books, including numerous siddurim and chumashim. The burial served as a respectful farewell to these cherished texts, which had played a vital role in the spiritual lives of many congregants over the years.
Rabbi Howard Seigel of CBS/FLJC spoke at the burial, emphasizing the significance of the books and their impact. Haft recalled his words, noting that he “spoke about honoring the books because they have been around for quite some time and have been in many hands, impacting many people across their lifetime.”
Haft said that Levine was “wonderful to work with” and she appreciated how much dedication he had to “restoring the cemeteries which gives dignity to the people who passed away.”
The book burial at CBS/FLJC was a poignant reminder of the deep reverence within Jewish tradition for sacred texts. By giving these books a proper resting place, the congregation honored their legacy and the countless lives they had touched.
