Bio

Sylvia Rosenbaum spent six decades in Great Neck, where she transformed the local library into a sanctuary of learning and community. Born to Yiddish-speaking immigrants, she grew up surrounded by books and stories of resilience. As head librarian, she curated Holocaust education exhibits, hosted poetry nights, and knew every child’s favorite author by heart. Her home was filled with antique bookends, embroidered challah covers, and the scent of cinnamon kugel. Even in retirement, she led a memoir-writing group for seniors, believing every life deserved to be archived.

Family Videos & Photos

Family Tree

• Parents: Miriam & Saul Rosenbaum (Minsk → NYC)
• Children: Deborah (Roslyn), Alan (Manhasset)
• Grand Children: Rachel, Jonah, Eli

Family Recipe

🍜 Sweet Noodle Kugel with Golden Raisins

Source: America’s Test Kitchen

Ingredients:

Filling:

• 1 lb extra-wide egg noodles
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 lb cream cheese
• 2 large eggs + 2 yolks
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp grated lemon zest
• 1 cup golden raisins (soaked for 10 min in warm water)

Topping:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions:

• Prep noodles: Boil noodles until just tender (about 6 minutes), drain, and toss with 2 tbsp butter.
• Make filling: Beat sour cream, cottage cheese, and cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and soaked raisins.
• Combine: Mix filling with noodles and transfer to a greased 9x13" baking dish.
• Top: Mash butter, brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon; dot over noodles.
• Bake: 350°F for 40–45 minutes until golden and crispy on top. Cool slightly before serving.

Testimonials / Stories

From Granddaughter Rachel:
“Every Friday after school, I’d walk to the library and find Grandma Sylvia waiting with a stack of books she thought I’d love. She never said ‘you should read this’—she said ‘this might speak to you.’ When I was twelve, she gave me The Diary of Anne Frank and told me, ‘Some stories change you. Let them.’ I’m a writer now because of her.”

Location