After a two-year absence due to the COVID pandemic, the annual Seforim Sale at Yeshiva University returns from February 6 to February 24. Student CEO Eli Seidman, a senior from Bergenfield, New Jersey, said there will be a large variety of Jewish books on every topic including Halacha, Gemaras, Tanach, Chassidus, and Mussar/Machshava, plus Judaica items like kippahs and tzitzit.
Seidman thinks there will be a great turnout by students, faculty and alumni who are eagerly looking forward to the sale after the long absence. “There will be a lot of new titles that people missed in the previous two years,” he said. Seidman said a few vendors who have been hurt by the pandemic and have a low supply of books were hesitant to commit, as books are sold on consignment, but in general the logistics are going well and there are plentiful books for sale. To make sure the hall doesn’t get too crowded, there will be security at the door to manage the entrance and exit at busy times. The sale also runs online with customers from all over the U.S. The sale is run “by the students, for the students,” and all profit is donated to YU Student Life. The last Seforim Sale grossed over $750,000.
Events for students and the community are held in parallel with the Seforim Sale. This year, some events will be on Zoom. There will be an alumni day, with a 5% discount for those who show a YU ID, and a staff night. Special hours for community groups are still being planned.
Seidman said he worked with the YU administration to determine if an in-person sale could be held, and they decided it was a ‘go’ at the end of November. “We went back and forth, talking about how we could make it safe and possible,” he said. “I encouraged the community aspect; we wanted people from the community to come.” Seidman started last April, putting together a staff of student managers to start planning and ordering, despite not knowing if the sale would happen.
Seidman is running the sale while taking a full course load. But this may be the best learning experience of all. “I have gotten leadership experience managing a team of people working together and communication skills from reaching out to vendors, people calling me, making deals and advertising.”
The sale will take place in Belfer Hall at Weissberg Commons, 2495 Amsterdam Avenue. Hours are Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday through Thursday 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Motzei Shabbat from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Visitors are required to be masked and show proof of vaccination. Due to this requirement, only children who are vaccinated are allowed at the sale.
