I was recently having a conversation with Kate Elder, our PJ Library Coordinator. Now before I go any further, you might be asking, “What is PJ Library?” Founded in 2005, PJ Library sends free high-quality Jewish children’s books to families every month.
“The program was created by the nonprofit Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) in keeping with its mission to help people connect to Jewish values, traditions, and culture while building vibrant Jewish communities. HGF partners with local Jewish organizations to fund PJ Library and make it available in their community.”
~ Pjlibrary.org
The Dayton Jewish community has participated in the PJ Library program for the past 18 years. And over that time, it has grown dramatically. I was aware that our participation numbers and programming have increased. However, after speaking with Kate, I was truly blown away by the extraordinary impact this program is having on families in our community.
Kate told me of a recent Shabbat gathering with her family and three other families. Prior to PJ Library, these families did not know each other. However, through the program, they quickly became friends. On a recent Friday evening, they joined together for a Shabbat Dinner cookout, followed by a paint battle between the parents and kids.
Also, through a recent “Get Together” grant from PJ Library, four dads from the Dayton Jewish community gathered for “Dad’s Night Out” ~ a fun evening of camaraderie, where they were able to relax and bond over their shared experiences of living their lives Jewishly in Dayton. “Get Together” grants allow for communities to further engage in programming that connects families together to celebrate their Judaism in meaningful and unique ways.
After Kate shared these amazing experiences with me, she said, “We don’t have an extended Jewish family in the Dayton area, so these families have become our Jewish family.” My heart was full, and I had tears in my eyes.
One of my favorite things about PJ Library is that it meets families where they are, whether they are Reform or Orthodox, heavily involved in their communities or unaffiliated. It allows participants to weave Judaism into their lives in a way that works for them. And what we often find is that many families who do not have a connection to their local Jewish communities develop one once they begin participating in PJ Library.
There are lots of exciting PJ Library programs coming up, including a Shabbat Summer Splash on July 12, Shabbat in the Park on August 2, and Down on the Farm on September 29. You can click on the program titles for more information and to register. You can also click here to check out pictures from the recent PJ Library screening of An American Tail, which was held in partnership with the JCC’s Dayton Jewish International Film Festival. (insert link to FB) For more information about PJ Library, including “Get Together” grants, please contact Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net.
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