How Might We Raise the Money?

The Schottenstein Talmud retails for $2,999.00 for the full-size edition.  Another, less expensive edition, is called the Daf Yomi edition and it's less expensive because the pages (and the type) are smaller -- and harder to read.  The Daf Yomi edition was created to be more convenient for people who carry Talmud with them wherever they go and try to study one page of Talmud every day.  

Ordering the full size Schottenstein Talmud online from the publisher creates a 10% discount.  As you might expect, seventy-five volumes add up to a considerable weight, about 350 lbs, so there are some significant shipping charges involved.  Using the least expensive shipping, it lands on a California doorstep for only $2,719.80.  

I contacted Jim Holtz about how to establish a fund for the Talmud Project and I received this email from him on May 12, 2008:

 

Brian,

There is a Special Fund for the Library which you can use.  Funds raised could go into this fund and be used for the purchase of the set.

You should note that there is currently $1914.41 in this fund.  There was a discussion during the budgeting process about using some or all of this money to buy the Talmud books this coming year.  The Religious Committee is authorized to spend the funds in the Library Special Fund.  Therefore, if you want to apply these funds for this purpose, you need to have the Religious Committee vote to spend these funds for this purpose.  Note also, that no funds have been spent from this account for over two years.

Jim

So, if we follow Jim's line of thinking, then we might be closer than we thought, about $1,900.00 closer. 

Or, we could consider something else altogether.  Congregation Beth Emek has a lovely library and Martha Jensen has done a great job of organizing it.  But, what with the addition of 73 volumes of Talmud, it could be the right time for a library makeover.  Nothing drastic.  Just some tidying up. I've done some research towards a related project concerning freshing up our library and have collected some information on that here.

So, what if we apply the money that's already in the library fund to organize the library and start the Talmud fundraiser from zero?

My idea is that I will "sell" each volume of Talmud for $42 each.  It's simple math:  $42 x 75 = $3,000 which should cover everything as I outlined above plus Very Nice Bookplates for each edition that will note the sponsor of that volume.  I think this is easily in our reach and am eager to get started.   I've written to Jim Holtz to find out the right way to up the fund.  This is how I think I can raise the money:

1.  Personally contact members in the congregation.

2.  Spread the word that people can sponsor a volume of Talmud to commemorate special events in their lives.

What do you think?

From here....

The Beth Emek Talmud Project: Table of Contents and Overview

Background on Talmud

Freshening up the Congregation Beth Emek Library