The story begins in Houston, Texas, before finding its happy ending in Haifa. The time is January–February 2025 and Alyssa Weinstein-Sear's sixth grade class at the Emery–Weiner School, a Jewish Day School in Houston, is looking for an Israel support project. It's not long until the class organizes a super successful book drive that gathers more than 900 children's books for donation to someplace in Israel. Now, how to locate a recipient for this treasure trove?
Luckily for the ESRA Haifa Secondhand Bookshop, opened in August 2024, the Houston Jewish Federation is an active supporter of Haifa's Leo Baeck Education Center, and teacher Alyssa approached Penny Arenson, the longtime (recently retired) International Programming Coordinator at Leo Baeck, about a possible destination for the books. Even luckier, Judi Granit, an active member of ESRA Haifa, once taught at Leo Baeck. Penny contacted Judi, and the deal was done.
Meanwhile, back at the bookshop, ideas were being advanced about how to increase our selection of children's books, considering the bookshop doesn't purchase books, but relies on donated books for its inventory. How about encouraging visiting friends and relatives from abroad to contribute a book or two to expand our children's collection? Maybe a story hour to appeal not only to English-speaking parents looking to enrich English language experiences for their kids, but also to attract Hebrew-speaking parents, interested in introducing their children to English books?
Meanwhile, the next chapter is written in March 2025, when a delegation of 13 Emery-Weiner staff members, including school principal Joe Weinstein-Sears and his wife Alyssa, the teacher behind the book drive, land in Israel for a week's volunteering. But first, a stop at the bookshop, where the delivery crew is welcomed by Judi and Eileen Martell, the ESRA Haifa chairperson, along with a few other members who happened to be at the shop. True excitement, unpacking the five big bins, brimming with a remarkable assortment of books. Eden Weinstein-Sears, daughter of Joe and Alyssa, lugged another load of books to Haifa when she came to Leo Baeck for a month at the end of April.
Talk about a boost to sales… the books were barely unpacked before they began flying off the shelves, story books for young children being especially popular. Two devoted grandmothers each purchased a few dozen titles!
Thank you to all—the Emery-Weiner School staff, principal Joe Weinstein-Sears, sixth grade teacher Alyssa Weinstein-Sears, their daughter Eden, and those dedicated, effective sixth grade book "collectors", and to our Haifa connection, Penny Arenson at Leo Baeck! The ESRA Haifa Secondhand Bookshop is appreciative beyond words.
If you're coming to Israel from an English-speaking country, any of ESRA's Secondhand Bookshops - Haifa, Modiin, Raanana, and Zichron Ya'acov - would welcome contributions of a children's book or two.
ESRA Haifa Bookshop is open daily, Sunday through Friday from 10 am till 1 pm and Sunday through Thursday from 3 pm till 6 pm.