More than 35 family members, friends, and school faculty and administrators gathered at The Rashi School in mid-December to celebrate and rededicate The Harold H. Silverstein Early Childhood Collection, housed within both the school’s main and Grade 1 libraries.
In 1986, the family of the late Mr. Silverstein, a school psychologist in Newton, established a fund to create The Harold H. Silverstein Early Childhood Collection at the burgeoning new school, then consisting of just two grades in the basement of Temple Shalom of Newton. Upon receiving the initial gift, Rashi’s Founding Chair, Rabbi Henry A. Zoob, wrote “a good library is a prerequisite for quality Jewish education, and we are delighted that the Silverstein Collection will help us get started in this direction.”
Nearly four decades and seven locations later, Rashi’s permanent home in Dedham has a beautiful, robust library. Julie Koven, School Librarian and Technology Integration Specialist, commented, “The Silverstein Collection fosters early literacy skills by introducing children to diverse narratives, Jewish values, and the joy of reading. These books serve as a bridge to more complex texts and cultivate a lifelong love of learning within our Rashi community.”
The rededication ceremony was held in the school’s library with welcoming remarks by Head of School Emily Charton, as well as the late Mr. Silverstein’s children, Ross Silverstein and Jamie (Silverstein) Stolper. In addition, Norma (Silverstein) Freeman read “The Harold Silverstein Story,” a picture book written and illustrated by Rashi students in 1987, to current Grade 4 students. Rabbi Sharon Clevenger, Dean of Jewish Learning, led guests in a blessing as a new plaque was revealed.
Guests also visited a satellite collection located in Grade 1 where they were treated to a presentation entitled “The Important Thing about Reading” by the school’s young students.The event concluded with attendees joining in the school’s weekly Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) program.
To read more about Harold H. Silverstein and the collection, click here.
To support the Collection to benefit Rashi’s youngest students, click here and select the Silverstein Library Collection Fund under the Gift Designation drop-down.
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