Rabbi Mitchell Serels looks on as Miriam Weiner unpacks cartons of books from her Sephardic Collection that she is contributing to , 1996

The diverse Hebraica-Judaica holdings of Libraries including a broad representation of languages, places, and dates. Complementing this breadth are the depth of the genealogical works that provide resources for both the casual family historian and the most senior genealogist to discover family connections, lore, and data through access to both standard and more obscure historical records. A genealogist and collector of genealogical resources, Miriam Weiner donated core Sephardic genealogical materials to Libraries in the 1980s, which marked the first significant gift in Sephardic genealogy to the institution. (To view a bibliographic record of the collection, visit .) This important gift augmented existing genealogical resources measurably and included rare histories. With a focus on Sephardic history, the gift directly supports the Sephardic Studies program, enhances the Sephardic Reference Room at the Libraries, and reinforces other university initiatives in Sephardic heritage and culture. Miriam Weiner’s contributions to genealogical research include an extensive research guide, , a syndicated news column on Jewish genealogy, and invitational lectures at synagogues and education centers. Her current focus is Ashkenazi genealogy, and she has donated a significant collection to the .