Jewish Federation brings PJ Library to SouthCoast
by Rebecca Aubut
South Coast Today
November 21, 2009
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is the brainchild behind PJ Library, an outreach program that offers its members free Jewish-based books every month. After hearing about the program, Olga Yorish, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, knew that the program would be beneficial to area families.
"The Jewish Federation decided that this was an important and exciting way to reach out to unaffiliated families and bring them into the community and give them tools to educate children," said Yorish. "And not just children, but when parents read to the child, the parents learn, too. It's a great way of doing it."
Started by real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist, Harold Grinspoon, the PJ Library — the PJ stands for pajamas — has grown to help service more than 100 communities across the United States.
"He came up with this idea because he wanted to involve young Jewish families with small children with learning about Judaism from an early age," said Yorish, "and make it accessible by sending families good children's books with Jewish content. It's a really great outreach idea."
A local sponsor is needed to help offset the costs of the program, and the Jewish Federation has put aside enough money to host at least 30 families for the next three years, says Yorish.
"The way it works is that families sign up, and every child from ages six months to seven years receive every month a free, beautifully written and illustrated book, age appropriate of course," said Yorish. "Twice a year CDs will be given, like for Hanukkah."
The Jewish Federation has hired program coordinator Rachel Elmaleh to help oversee the PJ Library program. In addition to sending books, events for PJ Library families and others not part of the program will be held throughout the year, with each event based on the theme of that monthly selection.
"They are open events for anyone who wants to come," said Yorish.
The first PJ Library event will be held at Baker Books from 3-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. It will be centered around Hanukkah, and along with reading, there will be crafts and snacks.
"Just a very nice informal gathering for the families," said Yorish.
Upcoming events also will include working with the Buttonwood Park Zoo when that month's selection will be a book focused on kindness to animals. On Sunday, May 16, a Fort Phoenix Beach clean-up and a book focused on environment and leadership will be distributed for that month.
"Each book in the PJ Library is a fun story and in a child appropriate way talks about Jewish ethical and moral values. It teaches the children about how to behave and how to grow up to be a good person, just how to do things right," said Yorish.
Already enrollment is at almost 30 families, but Yorish hopes that each successive year will allow an increase in the number of families helped by the service. Though only started in July, the fact that so many families have signed up has Yorish excited about the prospects of the program for the local community.
"Our goal is to involve as many families as possible within our budget limitations," she said. "New families that want to join will be put on a waiting list. We will have a few children, when they grow older, who will leave, and we can have a few new families. When people hear that we are at the maximum number, they shouldn't be deterred by that. We're very excited that we can bring this gift of Jewish learning to young families in the SouthCoast area."