The PJ Library

What is The PJ Library^®?
The PJ Library ( PJ for pajamas!) is a unique program that seeks to engage Jewish families with your children in Jewish life. In order to accomplish this goal, each participating family will receive a monthly mailing of a Jewish children's book, CD, or the occasional parenting resource. The PJ Library offers books to children from age six months to five, six, seven, or eight years depending on the community. Check Your PJ Community pages for details.

Each book comes with guides to help families use the selection in their homes. Our book and music list was chosen by foremost early-childhood and children's literature experts. The list includes a wide array of themes such as Jewish holidays, folktales and Jewish family life.

The PJ Library is FREE to families in PJ Communities. Please check our list of communities to see if you live in a PJ Library community.

Why does the Harold Grinspoon Foundation believe this is an invaluable program?
Parents and children have warm memories of that special time right before bedtime, when they snuggle together and end the day with a book. Reading stories and listening to music together are among the most powerful and nurturing early childhood experiences. The PJ Library will turn these special moments into Jewish memories.

Dr. Mark Rosen, a Senior Research Associate at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, found in a study commissioned by the Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation that:

There are approximately 60,000 Jewish births in the United States annually, but relatively few are being welcomed by the Jewish community - If the Jewish community reaches out to the young Jewish couples when they have a child, there is potentially a 3-5 year window for influencing their future educational choices and the Jewish identity of their children.

The PJ Library aims to respond directly to this opportunity by engaging these families early in the building of their Jewish home.

Who does The PJ Library want to reach?
The PJ Library is open to all families with young children in the sponsoring area. Our target groups, however, are the unengaged or marginally engaged families with at least one Jewish parent.

How can a local organization or philanthropist bring The PJ Library to a community?
Since December, 2005, The PJ Library has spread across the country to more than 100 communities. To become a partner in this exciting venture, a local Jewish organization, Federation, JCC, foundation, or private donors must finance the cost of the books and music for children in the designated community.  For example, in Western Massachusetts, our home region, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation funds subscriptions in four counties. 

In many cases, the local Implementing Partner is able to fund a significant portion of the program. They may allocate funds from their own budget, and/or choose to raise the funds specifically for The PJ Library program. In other cases, the program is funded through collaborative efforts of the Implementing Partner, other Jewish communal agencies, private donors, and/or foundations.

How much does The PJ Library cost the local partner(s)?
$40 for each subscription per year. This amount covers the cost of 12 mailings  (which includes the book or CD, mailing envelope that shows the local partner and philanthropists, a resource guide, and postage.)  .  Please see The PJ Library Opportunity Match page for more details.

What if The PJ Library is not in my community?
Please visit the Becoming a PJ Partner and Gift Subscriptions pages.