Help us finish the Lily Montagu Reading Room at Leo Baeck College
The Leo Baeck College Library is one of the great hidden treasures of Anglo-Jewry with collections going back over 500 years and spanning every aspect of Jewish life, thought and culture, from prayer books that survived the trenches to 21st century feminist Talmud commentary. One of LBC’s greatest ambitions has always been to share these treasures with the wider world.
What has been an elusive dream is now a reality. In 2024 LBC received a gift from an anonymous donor to redevelop the Old Synagogue Hall at the Sternberg Centre into a state-of-the-art new reading room fit for future generations of users.
Your support will help us finish this space and inspire the next generation of extraordinary Progressive Jewish leaders – donate today!
Only you can help us create this accessible space open for all...
This inspiring space would not be possible without the visionary support of our major donor alongside grants to support our collection care, infrastructure and programming. With your generosity we can continue to build an extraordinary Jewish library.
Please note – the items below are indicative of some of the many items needed to complete the new reading room. New funds and Gift Aid will be used where the need is greatest. If you, or your community, would like to fund a specific item (with or without a dedication), please contact us directly at communications@lbc.ac.uk.
£280 could buy a small book trolley for the new reading room
£200 – £500 could buy a chair, a table or an armchair for the reading room
£45 could buy a single Mezuzah scroll for the new reading room's doorframes
“If you are working in Jewish Studies this is the perfect library. Everything you need is at your fingertips. And all the things you didn’t even know you needed.” King's College PhD Student
Help us finish creating this exciting new space at the heart of Progressive Judaism
You can help us create a space which will inspire the next generation of extraordinary Progressive Jewish leaders – donate today!
The grand opening of the Lily Montagu Reading Room at Leo Baeck College
At the heart of all our teaching and learning is the extraordinary Leo Baeck College Library. For 40 years the LBC Library has been hidden away in the basement. In 2025 we were finally able to realise the incredible dream of creating a new reading room to share and celebrate our collections. After 18 months of preparation and building work with architects, planners and engineers, the project reached its completion.
On Wednesday 18th February 2026, we were thrilled to be joined by 120 members of our community to celebrate the grand opening of the Lily Montagu Reading Room. Watch the video and browse the pictures of this extraordinary event below.
The Leo Baeck College Library is a unique place allowing for interaction between students, practicing rabbis, scholars, creative practitioners and enthusiasts. The Library enables those engaged with contemporary Judaism to interact, stimulating ideas, building networks, and deepening learning and action.
The new reading room is a historic opportunity to create an accessible, inspiring space to engage visitors, support researchers, and create community, enhanced by innovative and targeted programming.
Not only will the reading room better serve our core community of students, rabbis and researchers, but it will also celebrate and share our collections and the stories they tell of Jewish life and history with the wider public. We hope you and members of your communities will be able to join us on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, for the grand opening and a celebration of this historic milestone.
“One of the most profound experiences of my time at [LBC] was visiting the rare books room and handling the Rabbinic Bibles from the 16th century.” - LBC Alum
Only you can help us finish creating this accessible space open for all
We could not create this inspiring space without the visionary support of our major donor alongside grants to support our collection care, infrastructure and programming. With your generosity we can finish building an extraordinary Jewish library.
Make your donation below