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<\/td>\n<\/tr>\nWhen Rabbi Yaakov Levin\u2019s aunt died of cancer more than 20 years ago, his mother promised to start a Jewish library in her memory. <\/p>\n
Chaya Levin grew her collection to more than 4,000 books in her Lakewood, N.J., basement, before she became ill in 2025.<\/p>\n
One year later, Rabbi Levin acquired his mother\u2019s books and created the ZRL Library in his Meyerland-area home.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Levin, his wife Shiffy and their four young children have opened up their home to the Meyerland Minyan community and beyond to check out books.<\/p>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\nRabbi Yaakov Levin with his wife Shiffy and Yehuda.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great place for people to take their kids on Friday afternoons,\u201d Rabbi Levin told the JHV.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope their reading will inspire their Judaism and their children\u2019s Judaism when they read about Jews who are able to live such rich and full lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
All the books are by Jewish authors and publishers and age appropriate within each age category.<\/p>\n
The library include kids\u2019 picture books (about 800 books), young adult books (about 700 books), a fiction section with spy thrillers and dramas (1,000 books), biographies on famous rabbis and Jewish leaders and a Holocaust and history section (probably the most used section, with about 100 books).<\/p>\n
ZRL Library stands for Zichron Rivky Lamm. It was named in honor of Shiffy\u2019s mother, who also passed away from cancer, when Shiffy was 5.<\/p>\n
Having so many books in the house has been a dream come true for Shiffy.<\/p>\n
\u201cEver since I was a kid, books were my thing. I was always curling up on the couch reading,\u201d Shiffy told the JHV. \u201cSo, now that we have this huge library in my house, it is pretty amazing. I always have something to read.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy kids love it, and they get to choose a different book every night, and it just feels good to help find people something good to read.\u201d<\/p>\n
Popular publishers include Artscroll, Feldheim, Menucha Publishers and Israel Book Press.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Levin said every book in the collection is free of violence and profanity and can be enjoyed by anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople could go to the Houston Public Library \u2013 which is a great facility \u2013 but it could be time-consuming to sift through the books to make sure they are appropriate,\u201d Rabbi Levin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt our library, they know the publishers are meticulous on what they put out. They are aware that people could be sensitive to certain topics. There isn\u2019t anything you wouldn\u2019t want a 5-year-old to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rabbi Levin, who is a rabbi at Kollel of Houston Torah Center during the day, has cataloged each book and set up a barcoded system for checkout. And, the collection continues to grow every week.<\/p>\n
In addition to getting books directly from publishers, Rabbi Levin said he also purchases used books from people and receives donations.<\/p>\n
Eventually, Rabbi Levin said, the collection will outgrow his home.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur dream \u2013 five-year goal \u2013 is to be a standalone facility,\u201d he said. \u201cWe would have a storefront, with a work area and a play area and the library can be open every day.\u201d<\/p>\n