For the eight days of Hanukkah, Jewish families light the menorah’s candles to commemorate a time when their ancestors were denied the freedom to worship and study sacred texts. Today, in honor of Jewish literary pride, PJ Library sends children’s books each month to a growing number of families across the globe to engage them in Jewish heritage, tradition, and holidays.
In Orange County, the PJ Library is reaching 1,114 families who are opening their mailboxes this month to find featured Hanukkah books such as:
- Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel, a 2013 National Jewish Book Award for Illustrated Children’s Book recipient
- Hanukkah in Alaska by Barbara Brown, a 2014 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Younger Readers award recipient
- The Peddler’s Gift by Maxine Rose Schur, a 1999 Sydney Taylor Award for Younger Readers recipient
Started in 2005 by Jewish philanthropist Harold Grinspoon, PJ Library is made possible by local donors and partner organizations such as the Jewish Federation & Family
Services of Orange County. More than 130,000 children, between the ages of six months and eight years, in approximately 200 communities in the United States and Canada
receive books from PJ Library. And, the number is growing every day.
“Each day we receive letters of thanks from families who delight in sharing the joys of Jewish tradition with their children through PJ Library’s beautiful story books,” says Harold Grinspoon Foundation President Winnie Grinspoon. “They tell us that the books have led them toward richer, more connected Jewish lives. We feel wonderful that the program is having a positive impact.”
About PJ Library
PJ Library is an award-winning Jewish family engagement program designed to strengthen the identities of Jewish families and their relationship to local Jewish community. Created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library started in 2005 by providing free, high-quality Jewish books and music each month to 200 families. Now, more than 130,000 children between the ages of six months and eight years receive the books in more than 200 communities in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 220,000 schoolchildren in Israel receive Hebrew language, Jewish values-based books through PJ Library sister’s program, Sifriyat Pijama. PJ Library is also available in Australia and Mexico with further international expansion anticipated. Originally inspired by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which sends books to children in underprivileged areas of the US, PJ Library (“PJ” is short for “pajamas”) strives to contribute to the magic that Jewish books bring to bedtime. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation works in partnerships with philanthropists and Jewish non-profit organizations to bring PJ Library to families raising Jewish children. For more information, visit www.pjlibrary.org.
