Press Release: The PJ Library Provides Family Learning Experiences for the High Holidays
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The PJ Library Celebrates The High Holidays
August 24, 2008
West Springfield, MA, August 25, 2008- The PJ Library is hosting numerous creative outreach events to get young families across the country involved with the High Holidays. Here is a small sampling.
Shofar Factory in Connecticut
The PJ Library of Eastern Fairfield County, Connecticut is participating in hosting a Shofar Factory with the Chabad of Fairfield and the JCC of Eastern Fairfield County, on Sunday afternoon, September 21.
Children and their parents will discover where a Shofar comes from and will assist in the crafting of a real Shofar. Once the Shofar is fashioned, participants will learn how to sound it. In addition, families will move through an array of stations where they can do crafts, holiday food tasting and candy apple making.
The PJ Library partner-donors Edie and David Chaifetz will read to the children, featuring The PJ Library book, Sammy Spider's First Rosh Hashanah.
Partnering with Borders Bookstore & WaterFire in Rhode Island
As part of the Jewish Community Center's 10 different events to celebrate Rosh Hashanah throughout Rhode Island, The PJ Library of Rhode Island will hold numerous book reading programs at places such as synagogues, day schools, public libraries, and assisted living centers.
The largest will be a community-wide event called WaterFire (www.waterfire.org), on Wednesday evening, September 17. It all begins at Borders Bookstore in Providence Place Mall with PJ Library story time, crafts and snacks revolving around Rosh Hashanah themes.
They will play "PJ Grabbers" a game invented by director Nicole Katzman, using "soft props" to spur kids' curiosity about the holidays. They'll read When The Chickens Go on Strike, Apples and Honey, and It’s Shofar Time. Parents will receive take-away holiday info sheets to explore at home.
As evening draws near, the families will walk together to Waterplace Park to join up with the Jewish Community of Rhode Island for WaterFire, in celebration of Israel's 60th Anniversary. Honored community leaders will kick it off with a Torch Ceremony, lighting a series of bonfires on the river. Participants will dazzle ribbons of blue light around and dance to live music.
Sukkah Shopping, Building and Decorating in Oregon
The Portland PJ Library, which Portlanders lovingly refer to as "The PJ Pajama Library" - is partnering with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) and the Portland Jewish Academy (PJA) Day School for a number of Sukkot activities.
To start off the community-wide Sukkah celebration taking place at the MJCC on October 12, Cantor Ida Rae Cahana will lead a group walk to the local farmer's market to explore the spirituality and bounty of the season, and bring back decorations for the community Sukkah. This is part of the MJCC’s popular "Ask An Expert" series.
Next, everyone is encouraged to join in building and decorating the Sukkah in the MJCC courtyard, with Sukkah building materials provided. Once completed, The PJ Library's Story Time in the Sukkah will begin.
The six female Portland partner-donors are being invited to do "spontaneous reading" with the children. The PJ Library books will include Tamar's Sukkah, The Mysterious Guests, and Bubbe Isabella and the Sukkot Cake. PJ Library facilitator Julie Diamond is especially enthused about Bubbe Isabella, as it is a brand new PJ Library selection.
Treats and holiday-related craft projects will be provided by PJA, to include making decorations to hang in the Sukkah.
The PJ Library Portland still has some slots available for subscribers. They are reaching out to new young families to attend the Sukkot Celebration, where they will have an opportunity to meet families who are current PJ Library subscribers, and get a taste of the program.
About The PJ Library
The PJ Library™ program (www.pjlibrary.org )sends Jewish-content books and music, free-of-charge on a monthly basis to children from age six months to ages five, six or seven years depending on the community. It was created by The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (www.hgf.org), which is the majority funder. The PJ Library is co-funded in partnership with local philanthropists in the over 120 American regions in which it operates.
Contact The PJ Library for programming details: judi@hgf.org.