PROOF | Fall 2020

PROOF FALL 2020

A PJ LIBRARY ® MAGAZINE

Joy 3 The of Giving

6

The Secret to PJ Library's Power

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PJ Library for All Why in-faith versus interfaith doesn’t benefit families

FOREWORD

THE

EVERY SO OFTEN I LEARN ABOUT AN ANCIENT PIECE OF JEWISH WISDOM THAT HAS UNEXPECTED RELEVANCE TO MY LIFE. I always love when it happens, and

it happened most recently just after the stay-at-home orders started across the country. None of us had ever experienced anything like this, of course, and an air of uncertainty settled over everything, including our work. It’s my job to make sure the funding for PJ Library is stable and secure, so naturally I was worried when one local leader told us that as the financial crisis unfolds, he might be forced to cut the budget for the program.

“I love PJ Library,” he said, “but you can’t eat books.”

I shared this anecdote during a PJ Library team meeting a few days later, and shortly afterward an email from a colleague popped up in my inbox. It was a quote from Pirkei Avot: “Im ein kemach, ein Torah; Im ein Torah, ein kemach” (“If there is no flour, there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no flour.”). Our bodies need food to live, but our souls need something to live for. The Jewish sages had done it again. This had been written more than two thousand years ago, and yet right at that moment, the flour shelf was empty at my local grocery store! I understood the point the ancient rabbis were making. It was the same one I had been struggling to articulate: We can’t pit essential services against each other. Humans are both body and soul. All of our essentials are, well, essential.

One of the amazing things about the Jewish people is the unconscious influence these ancient rules and adages have on us. The minute my colleague shared that quote with me, I realized that I already knew it on a bone-deep level. And I’m not alone. Around the world, funders and partners have quietly begun prioritizing PJ Library alongside basic-needs work.

One partner actually increased their budget allocation to PJ Library to cover a local waitlist, saying, “I am uncomfortable with the idea of Jewish families asking for these books for their children and the books not mailing.” As for the community leader who worried that people can’t eat books? Local donors have stepped up to support both an emergency campaign for essential services and ongoing programs and offerings all at once. Torah and flour.

The wisdom of the rabbis endures during a global pandemic. PJ Library has the resources, activities, and content to feed Jewish minds and encourage Jewish conversations. In a time of uncertainty, we stock up on shelf-stable foods, check on our neighbors, applaud our heroes – and continue to plan for the future. We know that not everyone who has supported PJ Library in the past will be able to continue to do so in the same way, so for those who can, it is more important than ever to help us bring PJ Library books to families around the world. In the meantime, may your local grocery store be stocked with flour.

Stay safe.

Will Schneider Director of Advancement, PJ Library Proud PJ Library Parent

Here are some snapshots from the past few months at home. It’s been challenging to balance everything, but I’m grateful for the memories we’ve made during this time.

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By Maxine Murnick

THEODORE R. Z”L AND MA XINE B. MURNICK PJ LIBR ARY ENDOWMENT, JEWISH COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION (JCF) OF GREATER METROWEST NJ

A few years ago, I visited the home of a lucky boy named Nathaniel to deliver the 300,000th PJ Library book in Greater MetroWest, NJ. Nathaniel and I had never met, but I arrived holding a shiny new book, and before long he was in my lap, ready to hear the story: The Forever Garden by Laurel Snyder.

It’s a retelling of an ancient story from the Talmud. When an old man is asked why he’s planting trees that will not bear fruit until after he passes, the man replies that when he was born, trees were already planted for him. He is planting the trees not for himself, but for his grandchildren.

Could there be a more appropriate book to honor the impact of PJ Library? I know the importance of reading to children: My late husband Ted and I read to our children Lee, Jay, and Amy every night, and they always had books around. We often vacationed in a camping trailer from the time my youngest was three years old, and as soon as they were old enough "Thank you to Maxine and her family for planting the seeds for future generations in Greater MetroWest through an incredible $4 million endowment gift. Your partnership is so special to us."

WINNIE SANDLER GRINSPOON

President, Harold Grinspoon Foundation

to read, they’d sit in the back seat of the car and read while we drove around the country.

But the books my children read on those car trips weren’t Jewish books. Neither were the books I read as a child. I grew up in the Bronx and Queens, and we knew we were Jewish because, well, we just were.

My mother lit candles, and I went to synagogue on holidays with my grandfather and my uncles. Ted and I sent our own children to Jewish preschool and had Shabbat dinners every week. My granddaughter once called these dinners “Federation Fridays” because somehow the discussion always turned to philanthropy.

I had served at Greater MetroWest Federation in multiple fundraising roles over the years, including women’s major gifts chair, women’s campaign chair, women’s president, and general campaign chair. When Ted passed away a decade ago, there was no question that we would honor his memory through a philanthropic gift, and so our family made our first gift to PJ Library.

While reading to our children is powerful, they also follow our example. When they receive Jewish books in the mail, they read about customs, holidays, and traditions that may – or

may not – feel familiar to them.

And then they start asking their parents questions: “Why don’t we light candles?” “Why don’t we make challah?” For many households, the conversation starts here.

Parents rely on PJ Library to keep these conversations going and to answer their children’s questions. If we care about these Jewish programs, we need to help them survive. That’s why I wanted to make a sustaining gift to PJ Library. The books that families receive each month spark children’s curiosity and keep Jewish traditions alive for them. It’s so important that families receive the resources they need to engage with their children, and I realized that I was in a position to help.

That’s why The Forever Garden is so meaningful. By supporting PJ Library, we are planting trees for our grandchildren. Ted and I must have done something right when we raised our children – they have all become philanthropically involved with Federation and other organizations. If I knew what we did, I would bottle it because that’s what we all want: for our children to learn from our best example.

But as parents and grandparents, we don’t know what takes root until many years later. We plant the seeds and wait, and hopefully a strong and sturdy plant survives.

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PROOF

of PJ Library’s Impact

By Sarah Martin

DIRECTOR OF EVALUATION, PJ LIBR ARY

Findings from the 2019 PJ Library Triennial evaluation show that as PJ Library welcomes families with a wide variety of backgrounds, it remains a trusted resource for parents.

In my job as director of evaluation at PJ Library, I’m constantly learning in ways you would expect – and in a few you wouldn’t. I’m not a parent, and I’m not Jewish, so I often rely on my colleagues’ knowledge (and patience!) to fill in gaps of my understanding. But sometimes being on the outside is an advantage. I have fewer preconceived notions about what PJ Library families look like and how they experience the program. Part of my work is to check in regularly with families and learn more about who comprises the PJ Library community. My lack of assumptions helps me see these families for who they are rather than who we think they might be.

And the PJ Library subscriber base is everchanging, which is inherent in the nature of a program that is growing rapidly and where children eventually age out of receiving the books. Our most recent triennial evaluation, which was fielded

in the fall of 2019, confirmed that fact yet again.

Over the past three years, the program has not only grown by more than 40,000 families (reaching 160,000 total families in the US and Canada in November 2019), but the backgrounds of enrolled families are increasingly varied. The proportions of PJ Library families who speak a language other than English, identify as an interfaith household, or have a member who identifies as LGBTQ have all increased since the 2016 evaluation.

We know PJ Library will continue to grow and change as we strive to reach as many families as possible, but our commitment to quality will always remain the same. The PJ Library team works every day to make sure that parents and families are happy with program offerings and are getting what they need from PJ Library, no matter what their households look like.

LIKELIHOOD TO RECOMMEND “How likely are you to recommend this program to a friend?” This question really boils down to parent satisfaction, which is why we’ve asked it in many different surveys over the years – from inthe-envelope resources to in-person community programs. (We’re not the only ones who ask it. You might recognize the question as a hybrid of the Net Promoter Score, which was developed by Bain & Company and is commonly used across many industries to understand customer satisfaction.) Most respondents – 86%, to be exact – indicated that they are very likely to recommend* signing up to receive PJ Library books to family and friends, and that holds true whether families are raising their children exclusively Jewish or Jewish and another religion (87% for both groups). Satisfaction is essential to cultivating trust.

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*Respondents selected 8-10 on a scale of 0-10 with 10 being extremely likely

RELIABLE SOURCE We’ve long asked how likely parents are to recommend us, but 2019 was the first year we tried to find out whether families depend on us. We’re glad we asked: Half of respondents indicated they do indeed rely on PJ Library as either the main source (10%) or one of a few sources (39%) to learn about Jewish values and traditions. The proportion increases to 68% for families who don’t enroll their kids in Jewish educational activities like day school, preschool, or summer camp and to 70% for respondents who are part of an interfaith household. It turns out there’s a remarkable educational responsibility on PJ Library’s shoulders.

D NA E T S U TR

ME

The latest evaluation found that 68% of respondents indicated they completely agree (19%) or somewhat agree (49%) that they are more likely to attend a local event for families or parents if it is sponsored or endorsed

by PJ Library. The percentage jumps to 74% for Spanish-speaking families (27% completely agree and 47% somewhat agree). PJ Library partners with nearly 200 community organizations across the US and Canada to support Jewish programming for families, so it’s important that we and our partners know that parents trust the PJ Library name.

PARENT SUPPORT For the second study in a row, the majority of respondents indicated they regard PJ Library as a valuable parenting tool (46% completely agree and 43% somewhat agree – that’s 89% total!). For these families, PJ Library has helped parents talk to their kids about their Jewish heritage (82%), create opportunities for quality family time (63%), and support moral/ethical values (61%). Respondents who are part of an LGBTQ household, an interfaith household, or a household with a person of color are even more likely to regard PJ Library as a valuable parenting tool (91%, 93%, and 92%, respectively).

In early May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 health crisis in the Northeast, PJ Library’s Rabbi Melanie Levav and Sarah Ruderman Wilensky hosted a webinar titled “Talking with Children about Death and Loss in the Age of Coronavirus.” Registration quickly maxed out (more than 1,300 online participants), and parents submitted hundreds of questions.

It was a stark, real-life example of what all these triennial evaluation findings actually mean.

When parents and families are looking for support and guidance, they turn to PJ Library as a trusted resource. This example re-energizes my commitment to leading evaluation work to understand who PJ Library families are and what they need so that we can build the best program experience possible.

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The Secret to

PJ LIBRARY’S

POWER

By Meredith Lewis DIRECTOR OF CONTENT, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE, PJ LIBR ARY PROUD PJ LIBR ARY PARENT THANK YOU TO NAOMI SHULMAN FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS ARTICLE .

Back in 1996, Bill Gates wrote “Content Is King.” In this famous essay, he predicted that the need for content would grow in the coming century and monetization, though challenging, would grow as well. Nearly 25 years later, think of all the news sources that compete for your eyeballs every day. Now think about how many of them are paid for. Gates’ essay resonates now more than ever.

However, what Gates could not have known at the dawn of the Internet age is abundantly clear to those of us who work in the content world today: Content is king, but context is equally important.

Content, after all, is simply information. It’s context that dictates how – and often whether – that information impacts the reader.

When we read something online, the context can be infinitely complicated. So many factors come into play: where we’re seeing the piece, which outlet is behind it, and even who has shared it. Do we know the source? Do we trust it? Content and context need to work together well.

Here at PJ Library, there is an entire team devoted to content. While most of that team works on the hundreds of books PJ Library sends in the US and Canada each year, some of the program’s most popular content is online. There, families can access all kinds of resources, including articles and webinars that address tricky parental topics like anti-Semitism, death, and inequality. And in the context of 2020, some of the most popular content PJ Library has online focuses on COVID-19.

The coronavirus is a brand-new piece of content, as we’re 6 PJLI BRARY.O RG RG 6 PJLI BRARY.O

all painfully aware at this point, and parenting in this age of COVID-19 brings with it very real challenges. But in a Jewish context, there’s a lot that’s familiar. Judaism has a long history of dealing with scary topics.

PJ Library’s basic advice for talking with kids about difficult issues appears throughout our website:

“It’s not just that PJ Library sends out great content.

It’s that the program helps families share that content in a deeply personal context.“

• Respond to questions honestly, but don’t

answer questions that your child didn’t ask.

• Provide your child with age-appropriate resources, not adult-aimed media, and watch what you say around them.

• Acknowledge, share, and validate their feelings.

Above all, parents are asked to think about the context in which these conversations happen.

Are you responding to a current event, or did your child ask you a question? Did your kid bring up a topic unexpectedly from the back seat of the car, or were you snuggling together in a safe, cozy spot? Did the question come from a place of fear or curiosity?

The answers to these questions will affect how parents respond. And I’d argue that Judaism has always given us this same advice. Our core content – the Torah – has been with us for thousands of years, but the commentary, starting with the Mishnah and the Talmud and continuing into the present day, provides our context. We can tell so much about what was going on in our communities historically by looking at how questions were asked and answered in the commentary. Where were we living? What was our relationship with technology?

Were we persecuted or thriving? We can even find historical responses to scary viruses. Our contextualized approach to age-old content is a big part of why Judaism has remained relevant through the centuries.

PJ Library works with that ancient blueprint in mind – the books must stand the test of time. After all, it takes about nine months for a PJ Library book to land in mailboxes once chosen by the book selection committee, which means the team must consider holidays, school calendars, and camp sessions, not to mention what might be going on in more than 160,000 different households.

A lot can change in nine months, so we work to build a system of highly contextualized support: digital activities that can change quickly; interactive activities in the envelopes for families to do on their own time, in their own way; local engagement that caters to particular communities’ needs; and peer connectors and microgrants that individualize the program. Most importantly, PJ Library empowers parents to use the program in ways that make sense for their families.

This brings us back to our most powerful content: books. Every reading of the Torah is both the same and different depending on where you hear it and who is reading it; it’s one of the most powerful Jewish experiences. That’s true of bedtime readings too. While tens of thousands of kids might get the same book in the same month, every reading of it will be slightly different depending on who’s reading and who’s listening, what happened that day, and what’s going to happen the next.

That’s how a program that reaches 680,000 children globally can seem like it’s speaking to each family’s particular needs.

The numbers back this up: Whether in South Africa, Russia, Mexico, Australia, or the US, at least three quarters of PJ Library families have indicated in our most recent evaluations that they are very likely to recommend* the program to their friends and relatives. These numbers hold steady despite wide variations in demographics, geography, ages of children, parental backgrounds, and levels of Jewish education. This is the real secret to PJ Library’s power: It’s not just that PJ Library sends out great content. It’s that the program helps families share that content in a deeply personal context.

*Respondents selected 8-10 on a scale P RO F FAL L 2020 of O0-10 with 10 being extremely 7likely

- - GOING - - - - - -GL- - -BAL ---By Rachel Kozupsky DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGR AMS, PJ LIBR ARY PROUD NEW PJ LIBR ARY PARENT TO NOA , BORN MAY 2020

Some elements of PJ Library are the same around the world. Each month, the books arrive like clockwork. They’re always a gift – families never have to pay. And they’re always high quality, inviting organic Jewish conversations between parents and children.

Beyond that? PJ Library is growing quickly, and with that growth comes new challenges. The program has to be adapted to make sure all children around the world have a similar PJ Library experience, no matter where they happen to be.

PJ Library families are located in some pretty farflung places. The program is available in more than 25 countries and shares books in seven languages.

The various cultural nuances and sensitivities can’t be pinned down to a number, however, which is why offering PJ Library to so many communities is not as simple as translating a title from one language to another. The books aren’t one-size-fits-all. PJ Library book selection committees make sure the titles sent are relevant and appropriate for each audience.

Take Rivka’s First Thanksgiving, a favorite in the US. Russian children have never heard of the Pilgrims, and kids in Australia don’t need stuffing recipes. Meanwhile, many books in Hebrew rely on puns using classic Hebrew liturgy. When you translate them to a different language, they don’t have the same effect.

The language barriers will get more complex this year as PJ Library partners launch a Portuguese-language program in Brazil and a German-language program in Germany, which will also reach families in Austria and Switzerland.

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Just as the books are not one-size-fits-all, people’s mailboxes also are a variety of shapes and sizes.

In the US and Canada, PJ Library uses the local postal service to mail books directly to families, but that’s not practical everywhere. In many places, the mail system – or even the size of the typical mailbox – requires partnering with schools or local organizations to distribute the books to children.

Sometimes it takes surprisingly creative problemsolving to ensure books get where they need to go. For example, for two years families in Shanghai received books only after they were picked up by community members in Hong Kong, who then carried the books back with them to Shanghai – even braving protests to do so.

But here’s another constant: Regardless of where families live and how different the Jewish communities are, we know that families value the program and its impact:

89%

of families in Russia said that PJ Library has increased their knowledge or familiarity with Jewish traditions, values, and/or customs.

91%

of families in Australia and New Zealand said that PJ Library has supported them in having conversations about Jewish traditions, values, and/or customs.

86%

of respondents in the Spanishlanguage program indicated that PJ Library has supported their family in spending quality time together.

--------------Hanukkah Bear Written by Eric A. Kimmel Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Fitilho 1 2 3

em Disponha os quadrados de tecido uma superfície plana. meio Coloque diferentes especiarias no dos quadrados.

Feche as pontas e amarre com o fitilho.

Desfrute o perfume doce!

Spanish

escrito por Dvora Omer ilustrado por Yael Albert traduzido por Diego Raigorodsky

¡Bienvenidos!

le guste Rabi Yehuda Hanasí Es bueno que a r . . . ¡porque el emperado de tener invitados a integração avisar para la comida aparece ® sin programa de educação judaica que incentiva premiado Antonino A PJ Library é um ad refleja el Harold Grinspoon, em Su generosa hospitalid É idealizado e apoiado pela Fundação Shabat! familiar. e o compromisso mês, as (en hebreo, recibir hajnasat orjim e organizações judaicas do mundo todo. Uma vez por judío de valor de com filantropos conjunto invitados o si llegan todos de alta qualidade, sendo Tanto si estánem infantis ad de temática judaica, visitas). casa livros oportunid famílias recebem invitados es una recibir valores (eternos) do judaísmo. sorpresa, os principais . Abraham, explorar convidadas abien a otras personas ad. para hacer un estimula o comprometimento hospitalid Library PJ a todo valores), era em Torá, (baseadas en la histórias dessas Através primer judío mais el Torá, de la a identidade judaica e inspira conexões fortalece judaica, el primer a vida Libro com familiar Bereshit, acesse En mais, saber Abraham, Para todo. que la en e o povo judeu do mundo una historia a comunidade encontramoscom solapa posterior)

Hebrew

Dvora Omer, winner of the Israel Prize, adapted this Talmudic tale about a Shabbat meal shared by the Roman emperor Antoninus and Rabbi Judah the Prince, compiler of the Mishnah. Antoninus loves the meal the rabbi prepared, but when he comes back for dinner on another day, the food just isn’t as good. Why? The secret lies in Shabbat.

Bem-vindo!

gostava Ainda bem que o Rabi Iehudá haNassí Antonino de receber, porque o Imperador sem avisar! A apareceu para o almoço de Shabat um generosa hospitalidade do Rabi reflete hachnasat importante valor para os judeus, o em orchim (receber bem os hóspedes, convidados ou hebraico). Se os hóspedes foram apareceram de surpresa, pouco importa: de fazer o recebê-los bem é uma oportunidade

profundas pjlibrary.org.br. (continúa en la

colocar uns Quem gosta de cozinhar costuma Os temperinhos nos pratos que prepara. a comidas temperos dão um sabor especial muita graça. É que, de outra forma, não teriam O como se eles dessem vida aos alimentos. pode ser Shabat, dia de descanso dos judeus, na comparado a um tempero que colocamos ansiosos nossa semana, um dia que ficamos mais por saborear. As comidas ficam até de gostosas no Shabat, os momentos são mais amigos os e família a com convivência divertidos, o sono parece mais reparador... nos mais Quanto há algo diferente no ar. mais dedicamos a tornar o Shabat especial, “temperado” ele fica.

(continua no verso)

vi

Pequenos quadrados de tecido Especiarias: cravo, canela em pau, cardamomo etc.

seguro te gusta Si disfrutas cocinar, que elaboras. Estas especias a la comida que, especial a los platillos aportan un sabor Se podría un poco insípidos. sin ellas, serían le dan vida a nuestros decir que las especias to que es como un condimen alimentos. Shabat un día que a nuestra semana, podemos agregar la comida Por alguna razón, ansiamos saborear. pasamos el tiempo que Shabat, en sabe mejor cálido y los amigos es más con la familia o dulce . . . más parece divertido, el sueño el aire. algo especial en simplemente, hay

O dia da semana com o melhor tempero

e

que faltaba

Materiais:

baseado nas histórias de nossos

O tempero que faltava

O Shabat começa na sexta-feira, de sábado, põe, e termina no início da noite ficam visíveis. quando as primeiras três estrelas e nele utilizamos A Havdalá marca o fim do Shabat para especiarias! Faça sachês de especiarias Havdalá ou serem utilizados por sua família na que você em qualquer outro momento em à vida. queira dar um tempero especial

O que dá um tempero especial à vida?

O tempero que faltava sábios

am

Albert Ilustrado por: Yael sachês de especiarias Faça Stoliar Irene Traducción por: quando o sol se

¿Qué agrega sabor a tu vida? mentado” El día más “condi de la semana agregar

lté

a de Jazal

Basado en una leyend

The Missing Spice Written by Dvora Omer Illustrated by Yael Albert

O tempero que faltava

vo

aba El condimento que falt

que faltaba Omer • Albert

MÃO NA MASSA!

Dvora Omer

English

Russian

El condimento

Bubba Brayna has invited the rabbi to join her in a lovely Hanukkah dinner. But Bubba Brayna doesn’t see very well. When a guest arrives at her door, she thinks it’s the rabbi ... but it’s not. And this guest is hungry!

This lovely story about the value of hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests) was written by the one and only Eric A. Kimmel, one of PJ Library’s most popular authors.

re

German

El condimento

sarrolla tidad judía el pueblo judío org.

Ensuring that families continue to receive the books and resources they count on each month is more challenging than ever, but it has never been more important. With the support of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the PJ Library Alliance, and many philanthropists around the world, PJ Library will continue to be a consistent presence for all families who wish to explore Jewish life, no matter where they are.

LAUNCHING IN GERMANY, AUSTRIA, AND SWITZERLAND IN FALL 2020

Omer • Albert

o y respaldado tropos a cada mes libros otivándolas

Those numbers speak for themselves, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to work with various Jewish communities around the world, especially since many of these families may not otherwise have a connection to their local Jewish community or Jewish traditions. It is inspiring to see firsthand the impact PJ Library books are having on future generations of Jewish families in places like Russia and Dubai.

Portuguese

WHY IS THE ARTWORK ON THE HEBREW EDITION FLIPPED? Hebrew is read from right to left, so Hebrew books are published with the spine on the right side. Illustrations are often drawn with characters looking in certain directions to help the story move with the text or stop you as you’re reading. When translating a book to or from Hebrew, we want to maintain as much of the original intention as possible, which means determining P RO O F FAL L 2020 9 which images need to flip for the story to make sense.

INVESTED IN THEIR FUTURE

PJ Our Way Tweens Talk Earth Day Saskia Swenson Moss

ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION PROUD PJ OUR WAY PARENT

Today’s tweens are not quite what you’d expect.

And I should know: I’ve had my ear to the ground listening to tweens for almost a decade. In my work at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, I have the joy of engaging with tweens on the PJ Our Way National Design Team and Kid Advisory Committee, both of which help inform the books we select for the PJ Our Way program, as well as the programming offered to this unique age group. I’ve learned that 9- to 12-year-olds are ready to have fun and use their imaginations, love challenges, and enjoy chances to chat with one another. They are also well-informed about current events. They see that their world needs help, and at this point in their lives, they deeply care.

This was evident in an online workshop we held for PJ Our Way tweens in April for Earth Day in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute.

The conversation hit the ground running with the following question: “You have one day of magical powers! You must use your powers to help in some way. What will you do?” In an instant, hands shot up, and the chat function began to roll as 87 participants from across the US and Canada shared their answers.

More than half said they wanted to stop COVID-19, which makes sense given how much their lives have been changed by our new reality. Livnat from Michigan responded, “Make food, water, houses, and clothes appear and give to people who need them.” A minute later, Ben from Colorado asked, “Is it humanly possible to save the earth at this point?”

The conversation flowed like waves in the ocean.

Between prompts, kids announced their upcoming birthdays, talked about where they were from, and looked for others from their favorite Jewish camps.

As they learned more about the Jane Goodall Institute, they shared their own thoughtful steps for making the world a better place.

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ON THE SHELF

PJ OUR WAY ...Too Far From Home Written by Naomi Shmuel Illustrated by Avi Katz Matthew has started a petition to make Google more eco-friendly. Hili picks up trash in her neighborhood.

Irene donates her tzedakah to petting zoos. Zoe tries not to eat processed foods.

The turnout and enthusiasm the tweens had for this workshop are evidence of how much they care about their future. We weren’t surprised; we knew they would have plenty of practical ideas and the energy needed to implement them. In 2018, PJ Our Way launched a national leadership initiative in local communities to support kid-initiated programming; 75% of the programs created by kids were geared toward improving the world.

Jonah, who lives in Maine, worked with the local PJ Our Way program professional on a partnership with Whole Foods to create soup kits for those experiencing hunger. In Delaware, Jenna, who has been hospitalized in the past and understands how difficult it can be, gathered local PJ Our Way members to make care packages for families with chronically ill children.

To support PJ Our Way tweens who want to create positive change, we held another national workhop called “Tell Your Own Story with PJ Our Way” with Donna Gephart, author of PJ Our Way favorite Death

by Toilet Paper. And with support from their local communities, PJ Our Way kids and their families have been sending emails, videos, and cards to elders who are isolated due to the coronavirus.

With planning, encouragement, and assistance, these PJ Our Way kids are making an invaluable difference in their communities.

Even as I don my mask to go outside, I am overwhelmed by a feeling of hope. Is it, as Ben asked, humanly possible to save the earth at this point? Based on the energy I see in these PJ Our Way kids, I believe it is.

Moving to a new town is difficult enough without facing classmates’ prejudices, but Meskerem’s courage will inspire readers as she begins to stand up for herself and take pride in her Jewish, Ethiopian, and American identities.

MEMBER REVIEW “This book is great, I learned that Jewish people are all over the world. That we should be very welcoming and not judge a person by their color of skin.”

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation Written by Stuart Gibbs This fast-paced, actionpacked spy novel gives readers a glimpse into modern-day Israel, where much of the story takes place.

Twelve-year-old hero Charlie is smart, brave, and totally relatable; readers will love her ingenuity and fierceness.

MEMBER REVIEW “Stuart Gibbs’ books are both hilarious and exciting, and this book is no exception. It has the unbeatable combination of a great plot, intriguing characters, and awe-inspiring locations.”

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Once PJ Library families outgrow their books, where do those books go?

The life of a PJ Library book is more interesting than other books.

Rather than gathering dust on a shelf in a bookstore for months or years, PJ Library titles zip around the globe, delighting kids (and parents!) every month. Families welcome each book onto their bookshelves, where they are likely to be read and reread again and again. But what happens next?

Dani Hill counts on PJ Library books to help her educate her 4-year-old son, Tobias, about Jewish holidays and traditions. There are very few Jewish households in Dani’s tiny Illinois town, so when a friend told Dani about PJ Library, she signed up immediately and quickly realized there was another way to find the books. “I pick them up at the nearest JCC (Jewish community center) when they have book sales,” Dani says. “You can fill a bag with books for five dollars!”

WHY DO R GE DOLS GS BEA BA S L HARVE FEE FO SICKBENNY

As a result, sometimes Dani ends up with duplicates.

“We had three of the same Sammy Spider books at one point, and two copies of Engineer Ari,” Dani says. She then lowers her voice as she continues, “I shouldn’t have said ‘Engineer Ari’ out

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loud. He’s going to come in and want me to read it again.” Dani donates the duplicate PJ Library books to other kids through her local Buy Nothing group, which organizes ways for families to give and receive items for free. “l get rid of stuff, I pick up stuff. It’s fantastic.”

But Tobias need not worry: she’ll keep his favorite titles for the long haul, no matter how many times he requests that she reads them to him.

Carolyn Bassett of Edenton, North Carolina, has had many, many kids’ books in her home over the years – she’s a mother of seven, ranging from age 6 to 20. Like Dani, Carolyn and her family live in a rural area with a very small Jewish community, which means that her kids are often the only Jewish kids in their classes. PJ Library to the rescue!

“My son Gabe’s teacher was so excited,” Carolyn says.

“She had never had a child who celebrated Hanukkah in her classroom but had a Hanukkah curriculum for 32 years.” Gabe brought in a copy of Hanukkah in Alaska, a book about a Jewish child in a rural

community. “We also brought in dreidels for the whole class and made latkes in the school cafeteria,” Carolyn says. “I had no idea that the school would be so receptive!”

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Of course, not everyone gets to go to school with Gabe, so Carolyn has another way of sharing PJ Library books. “We built a Little Free Library for our neighborhood,” she says, which is a box that allows people to take and leave books as they wish. “We don’t donate all our PJ Library books because my kids want to read some of them over and over,” Carolyn admits. “But we put some in the Little Free Library, and when we look again, the books are gone.”

Her family’s real library, which is about 20 minutes away, has a similar take-a-book, leave-a-book bin. “The library budget here is really, really small, and there hasn’t been any Jewish media there at

all, so the librarian has been very happy to have these books – even circulating some of them on the shelves.”

Not all PJ Library families are giving the books away, however.

Rachel Leva, a PJ Library parent in Houston, Texas, found herself on the receiving end a couple years ago when Hurricane Harvey hit her community. Rachel, a nurse, was working at a hospital when the waters began to rise. She ended up stranded at work for five days. Her husband and toddler were stuck on the second story of their home until a friend came to rescue them by kayak.

Rachel and her family know they were lucky. They were safe, and they didn’t lose their home. They did, however, lose their books, which were covered by four feet of water on the first floor. And that mattered more to Rachel than one might think since she’s a member of her local PJ Library committee.

“Silly as it sounds, one of the things I lost was my PJ Library shirt,” she says wistfully.

The flood hit Houston’s Jewish neighborhood heavily, which included the building that houses the local PJ Library office and Rachel’s daughter’s preschool, not to mention countless families.

A PJ Library liaison reached out to the affected community and asked if any families lost books due to the hurricane. “We had a huge community response,” Rachel says. “I actually ended up with more books after Harvey than we had started with! PJ Library communities across the country supported Houston, dividing up the books by age and dispersing them.”

Rachel’s family is fine now, but her family’s bookshelves are a continual reminder of the many kindnesses extended toward them in a time of need. “It’s not that easy to go to a local bookstore and buy a book on a Jewish holiday,” she says. “I really liked ending up with a collection of multiple books for every holiday for years to come.”

Of course, these are just a few paths a PJ Library book might take.

We’ve had reports of many book sightings in the wild. Families have donated books to senior centers for residents to read with young visitors or to doctors’ offices for kids waiting for their checkups. An extra PJ Library book is an excellent addition to a Purim basket or a care package when visiting a sick friend.

No matter where the books end up, we’re confident they’ll continue to entertain and provoke thought – and maybe inspire a new family to sign up. Happy reading!

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FAR F ROM

HOM E How PJ Library Supports My Jewish Military Family

As a Jewish military family, we have had the good fortune of experiencing life in places far from home – Hawaii, Japan, and Germany, specifically. While we have embraced the cultural differences, languages, and customs of each location, there is one area in which we have felt a distinct yearning: a Jewish community. Truth be told, while I eagerly anticipate each move that brings us a new adventure and the opportunity to meet people I ordinarily would never encounter, once we started having children, my heart ached for the chance to give my kids the opportunity to connect to a Jewish community.

Luckily, at our current duty station in Stuttgart, Germany, we have had the opportunity to engage with the Jewish and Jewish-adjacent children associated with the garrison, all of whom are the children of active-duty military members, government employees, state department employees, or government contractors.

Over the past two years, I have created a Jewish curriculum for children in kindergarten through bar/bat mitzvah, and together we have baked, crafted, read, and sang our way through Jewish holidays and traditions.

By Naama Krauz PJ LIBR ARY PARENT

Sammy Spider’s First Book of Jewish Holidays Written by Sylvia A. Rouss Illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn Shared with 6-month-olds

Every Sunday morning, I read a different PJ Library book to my students. Sammy Spider joins our classroom to explain the basic concepts

Estie the Mensch How Dalia Put a Big Yellow Comforter Inside a Tiny Blue Box: And Other Wonders of Tzedakah

Written by Linda Heller Illustrated 1 4 PJLI BRARY.O RG by Stacey Dressen McQueen Shared with 5-year-olds

Written by Jane Kohuth Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger Shared with 3-year-olds

Bagels from Benny Written by Aubrey Davis Illustrated by Dušan Petričić Shared with 5-year-olds

and symbols of different holidays. Dalia and her comforter teach my students about the importance of tzedakah. Estie demonstrates what it means to be a mensch. Benny and his bagels teach my students the importance of doing mitzvot. Bim and Bom help them learn about taking a rest on Shabbat. The lessons we’ve crafted around these books have been endless.

Most meaningful to our class, however, have been the books that so simply yet profoundly discuss the immense task of moving, turning a house into a home, and establishing old traditions in new places.

Mrs. Moskowitz teaches my kids that lighting Shabbat candles in a new and unfamiliar place adds warmth and comfort. Adding a mezuzah to a door suddenly transforms a new dwelling into a blessed place, and there is both bitter and sweet to every move.

We are endlessly thankful for the life lessons PJ Library books have lent us as Jewish nomads.

As both a mom and an educator, I am grateful for the resources I can use to teach my children, my students, and even the Department of Defense classmates of my children when I am inevitably called upon to teach lessons in the public school setting that revolve around popular Jewish holidays. PJ Library has enriched the lives we are able to lead as a Jewish military family, and although I will continue to yearn for a large and vibrant Jewish community, I am relieved to have the resources I need to teach my children to love their Judaism as much as I do.

Supporting US Military Familes

Many Jewish families experience the daily challenges that come with living far from Jewish community – finding Kosher food, celebrating holidays, gathering with other Jewish families, introducing Jewish traditions and values to their children, and exploring and embracing Jewish life and identity as a family.

Jewish US military families stationed around the world know these challenges all too well. But thanks to PJ Library, Jewish life comes to them.

More than 2,000 children of US military families can connect to Jewish values, traditions, and culture through PJ Library books and resources. Parents are further supported when they join the private PJ Library Families Facebook group, which has become a thriving hub for parents whose families don’t live near an organized Jewish community. This year, PJ Library continued the tradition of helping these military families celebrate Passover with deliveries of the PJ Library Haggadah along with a box of Yehuda Matzos. Funding for military families is provided by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and generous donors.

Mrs. Moskowitz and the Sabbath Candlesticks Bim and Bom: A Shabbat Tale Written by Daniel J. Swartz Illustrated by Melissa Iwai Shared with 3-year-olds

Written and illustrated

by Amy Schwartz Shared with 4-year-olds

Bitter and Sweet A Mezuzah on the Door Written by Amy Meltzer Illustrated by Janice Fried Shared with 4-year-olds P RO O F

Written by Sandra V. Feder Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker Shared with 6-year-olds FAL L 2020

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If Not Now, When?

BUILDING A PJ LIBRARY ENDOWMENT IN K ANSAS CIT Y

By Derek Gale VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

There we were at the PJ Library International Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts, with a room full of colleagues waiting to hear our response to Harold Grinspoon, the 90-year-old founder of PJ Library.

I shared with the group that a board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City (and proud PJ Library parent) had approached our team to see if his family’s foundation could make a significant gift to PJ Library. As soon as I finished, Harold raised his hand to ask, “Why did you wait for them to approach you? Why wait?”

It was a fair question. We’d been talking about building an endowment for PJ Library but had only recently gotten serious about making a plan to ask our benefactors to consider making significant multiyear gifts. There was no right answer to Harold’s question about timing, but his point was well made. There’s no time like the present; waiting only results in missed opportunities.

At that time, PJ Library in Kansas City had been active for 10 years. The program was established, popular, and respected in the community, yet annual fundraising for PJ Library on top of all other campaigns was a chore, and there were no guarantees we’d raise what we really needed to cover our costs. We decided to invite a staff member from PJ Library’s national office to present at a meeting with the board member’s family, which led to an opportunity to make a request of the family foundation’s board.

“When Harold talks about his personal commitment to PJ Library, people are inspired to ensure its future in their own communities.”

When the time came, we made a presentation that emphasized the family foundation’s interests and demonstrated our confidence in the program.

As a result of many factors – our relationship with the family, the meeting with the PJ Library staff, and our presentation – we secured a lead gift: a commitment of $500,000 in matching funds to build a PJ Library endowment in Kansas City.

From there, the fun began. First, we asked for Harold’s help in raising the funds to maximize the match and set a course to develop a $1 million endowment for PJ Library. He and Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, the president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, came to Kansas City for a full day of meetings and inspirational conversations, and we followed up with our donor prospects. Ultimately, that day led to $250,000 in commitments to our growing endowment.

The generosity of the Polsky family inspired others to give and made the PJ Library endowment fund in Kansas City possible. Thank you! Pictured from left: Ellen and Larry Polsky, Renee Polsky Silver and Larry Silver, Harold Grinspoon (Founder, PJ Library) and Winnie Sandler Grinspoon (President, Harold Grinspoon Foundation)

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From there our efforts stalled as obvious prospects ran low. However, the promise of matching funds kept our staff inspired, and Harold’s question reminded us to seize the day. We then spoke with a community member who was helping his elderly friend look for philanthropic opportunities. The combination of the

power and impact of the PJ Library program and the opportunity for these philanthropic dollars to be matched led to yet another six-figure commitment.

This demonstrated the importance of patience, diligence, and never missing an opportunity to talk about what is important for the future of our community.

Our PJ Library endowment fund now resides at our Jewish Community Foundation and will eventually generate distributions that will cover PJ Library subscriptions on an annual basis and contribute toward family programming.

Throughout 2019 and early 2020, we’ve learned that we could – and certainly should – have started building the PJ Library endowment fund earlier. Families love and believe in this program and its impact. When Harold talks about his personal commitment to PJ Library, people are inspired to ensure its future in their own communities.

We’ve also learned that it takes a team: Our CEO, a development professional, and our senior director of community engagement were all involved in these conversations and requests, each participating when necessary.

When an organization like ours is aligned in an effort and puts great resources toward it – including the partnership of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation – there is nothing we cannot do.

Will PJ Library be there for our kids when they become new parents?

Today, half of the cost of PJ Library is raised through annual donations. We are inspired by local Jewish communities like the one in Kansas City who are planning well into the future and establishing endowments to cover the cost of PJ Library books and resources in perpetuity.

Earnings from their endowment fund will ensure that new parents for years to come will be able to sign up for PJ Library.

One gift can truly impact generations to come.

If you are interested in learning if there is an existing endowment in your area or how you might be able to introduce one, please contact Will Schneider, director of advancement: will@hgf.org | 413.276.0716

The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City is the heart of the Kansas City Jewish community. We build community by bringing people together, strengthening Jewish identity, developing leaders, and inspiring generosity in order to fulfill our mission of sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world. Learn more at jewishkansascity.org.

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THE WORK OF

WELCOMING

How Jewish Atlanta Created Space for Russian-Speaking Jewish Families

By Nathan Brodsky FAMILY IMPACT MANAGER, JEWISH FEDER ATION OF GREATER ATL ANTA

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ATLANTA has affirmed several

core values, but I am most proud of our focus on radical welcoming.

It’s how we celebrate diversity and create opportunities for those who may not feel connected to or welcome in organized Jewish life.

We have made it a priority to understand the nuances of our Jewish community and deployed our PJ Library social network to bring together eight Russian-speaking Jewish parents for our firstever focus group. In a meeting facilitated by a representative from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the attendees spoke about their experiences living in Atlanta’s Russian-speaking Jewish community.

Connections were made, conversations were started, and tears flowed – happy and sad. As the only non-Russian-speaking person in the room, I had to wait until someone translated for me so I could fully grasp the depth of these discussions.

I quickly learned how little I knew about the Russian experience or the complexities of Jewish life in Atlanta for first- or secondgeneration immigrants. They have a very different heritage than most of those who had already been attending our events. I heard stories about parents leaving their home country to find a place where they could be free to live openly Jewish lives. I heard about kids who only knew of their Jewish heritage because of identification markings on their legal documents. I heard moving stories about life experiences that connected each person in the room. Each story was incredibly human and fully unique.

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With insights from the focus group and a few key cheerleaders eager to invite their friends, we quickly identified two representatives for the Russian-speaking community: Masha Vaynman and Lana Severinsky. They joined our team and immediately started creating opportunities for Russian-speaking Jewish families to connect in person and virtually.

Four months into this work, PJ Library has made an impressive impact on the Russian-speaking community. Our team has already hosted seven programs for Russianspeaking Jewish families and brought 75 families together, many of whom hadn’t met previously. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta also saw a 61% growth of the PJ Library subscription base coming from within the Russian-speaking community.

As our outreach continues to spread, friends who I didn’t even know were Russian-speaking have approached me to share their family’s journey to Atlanta and how they have connected to other families with similar stories.

It’s gratifying to know that we are able to support Russian-speaking community members and that they now know Federation is here to help.

Our willingness to ask questions and discern this community’s needs has made the practice of radical welcoming real. This initiative has already inspired conversations that led to the creation of a Russianspeaking Moishe House, the first of its kind in our area, to support young Russian-speaking Jewish professionals.

Our team has gone from knowing little about the Russian-speaking Jewish community to becoming a catalyst for Jewish moments in those families and building an even stronger community. We look forward to continuing this work and hope it may inspire others to follow in our footsteps.

PARTNER

Spotlight

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OUR FAMILY, PASSING ON OUR JEWISH TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS WAS IMPORTANT TO US. From the time our kids were born until they turned 2, we would use PJ Library books to teach and explain the Jewish holidays and customs, as well as Yiddish words, to our kids.

As they went through Jewish preschool, our kids were always excited to get a package addressed to them each month and expand on what they were learning in school. When we were preparing to take our kids to Israel for the first time, we showed them all the PJ Library books about Israel that they had received over the years. This made the trip memorable because they were able to identify so much of what they had learned. We are so grateful to PJ Library for helping us set our kids on the path to a strong Jewish identity. We are happy to help PJ Library give other families the opportunity to do the same.

Jill and Jacob Manczyk New York, New York

IN MEMORY | ILIA SALITA z”l PJ Library’s success connecting with Russian-speaking Jews around the world, from Atlanta to Russia and beyond, is largely due to generous support and guidance from Genesis Philanthropy Group, and especially its President and CEO Ilia Salita. The PJ Library and Harold Grinspoon Foundation team mourns the loss of Ilia Salita, our dear friend, partner, and Jewish leader, who passed away from cancer at age 52 in June 2020.

Ilia and Irina Salita with Harold Grinspoon, PJ Library's founder, at Russia's first PJ Library conference in April 2019.

Under Ilia’s leadership, Genesis Philanthropy Group has helped Russian-speaking Jews around the world discover, embrace, and connect with their Jewish identities and the global Jewish community. As leader of Genesis Philanthropy Group and a mentor and friend to so many of us, Ilia had a profound influence on PJ Library. We will carry his legacy forward with every Russian book we publish and every family we reach.

P RO O F FAL L 2020 Baruch dayan ha’emet. May his memory be a blessing.

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OUR GRANDDAUGHTER RACHEL WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE PJ LIBRARY BOOKS FROM AN INCREDIBLY EARLY AGE. When Bebe reads through some of the books we have saved throughout the years, she can recall her childhood memories and once again share similar experiences.

We decided to start a family foundation and share the results of the hard work and good fortune that we have had throughout our lives. PJ Library is not only our foundation’s first recipient; it’s also our most treasured. It brings our family immense joy to be able to give the greatest gift – passing on our Jewish values and stories through PJ Library. We have instilled our Jewish values and customs in our children, Larry and Carole, with the hopes that they will continue the work of our foundation for generations to come.

Stephen and Bebe Saks PJ Library Alliance Partners Naples, Florida

The PJ Library Alliance is a core group of leadership-level funders who commit $1 million or more to grow and deepen PJ Library. PJ Library Alliance members are recognized on the back cover of millions of PJ Library books. If you are interested in learning more about joining the PJ Library Alliance, endowing PJ Library locally, or sponsoring your local PJ Library community, contact Will Schneider, director of advancement: will@hgf.org or 413.276.0716.

PJ LIBRARY IS A PERFECT COMBINATION OF THE THEMES AND IDEAS OUR SAMUELS FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS. We focus some of our philanthropy on early childhood education.

Another thread of our giving is for Jewish continuity. As a retired professor of children’s literature, Bobbi was thrilled that the Harold Grinspoon Foundation developed a program to deliver outstanding children’s books with Jewish content to young Jewish children and families. Ideal! Research supports combining reading with supportive activities to improve literacy and understanding, so we particularly appreciate the work that goes into creating ways for families to interact with the books as well as the community programming that Houston provides for PJ Library families. PJ Library is a win-win as far as we are concerned!

Bobbi and Vic Samuels Houston, Texas

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With gratitude for their ongoing support of the PJ Library program in Houston, all of us at PJ Library send our most sincere condolences to the Samuels family on the passing of Vic Samuels z”l in June 2020. May his memory be a blessing.

MY GRANDDAUGHTER DANICA AND I HAVE BEEN SHARING JEWISH STORYTIME EVER SINCE SHE WAS VERY YOUNG. As a longtime supporter of PJ Library, I was excited when she began receiving her own PJ Library books. I love how these beautifully illustrated and age-appropriate stories with interesting characters and settings bring us around the Jewish year together.

We enjoy books that touch on various aspects of life, such as going to summer camp or learning about empathy. I can see by the questions she asks that these stories have made an impact on her. I enjoy knowing that reading has opened her mind to a bigger world outside herself while we sit together closely and securely.

Each month, Danica looks forward to tearing open the envelope that holds her gift from PJ Library, and I look forward to creating another memorable experience with her that inconspicuously infuses a piece of Judaism in her heart. PJ Library books expand our children’s lives and imaginations with Jewish content and themes. I love the PJ Library program for giving me and Danica this special time together.

Sheila Schwartz Phoenix, Arizona

PJ Library is ...

hey k n o w in g t ue w il l c o n t in yful t o m a k e jo m o r ie s J e w is h m e a r . ye year after

Thousands of donors like you come together to support the cost of sending books and resources to families. Those gifts, no matter the size, make it possible for PJ Library to focus on providing families with connections to Jewish life and each other.

Even in times of uncertainty when parents don’t know where to turn, PJ Library provides opportunities to connect their family with one another and their community.

Visit PJLIBRARY.ORG/GIVEPROOF to donate.

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F OR A L

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PJ Library Why in-faith versus interfaith doesn’t benefit families

By Winnie Sandler Grinspoon PRESIDENT, HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION

During the early days of PJ Library, I got a call from my mother. She was curious to know more about the Jewish storybook project I was working on. I started sending books to her each month and we’d talk about them. She would tell me which stories she really liked, which books had the best illustrations, and which reading guide on the book flap was particularly helpful in explaining a Jewish concept. She shared how much she wished PJ Library had existed when she was a young mother, new to Judaism and trying to create a Jewish homelife for us kids.

Both of my parents are Jewish, but my mother was raised in another faith tradition and converted to Judaism as an adult. She would tell you that not having grown up Jewish was a factor when it came time to create Jewish connections and memories for her children. She didn’t have her own memories of Jewish holidays or practices to fall back on. My dad could easily lead the seder and say the Hebrew blessings, but my mother had to research all the other details that went into each holiday celebration.

We learned from the most recent PJ Library Triennial evaluation that half (51%) of PJ Library families are headed by a parent who didn’t grow up Jewish.

Respondents indicated that their households include:

• A partner who is a different faith/no faith, and/or • At least one partner who is Jewish by choice (someone who has converted to Judaism).

For context, half of all PJ Library households in the US and Canada equates to more than 80,000 households, and 94% of all respondent households reported that they are raising their kids Jewish either exclusively (77%) or with another religion (17%). It is important for us to consider, then, that there are tens of thousands of parents among the PJ Library community who didn't grow up Jewish and are now raising Jewish kids.

Those parents are creating Jewish childhoods for 22 PJLI BRARY.O RG

their children without the benefit of having grown up around Jewish celebrations and experiences.

It’s simple to think of the Jewish community in binary terms between in-faith Jewish families and interfaith families in which one of two parents is Jewish. The assumption is that the interfaith families require more resources to help them raise Jewish kids. But if we limit our approach to PJ Library along in-faith versus interfaith lines, we miss important truths.

On a survey, my parents would clearly fall in the in-faith Jewish household category. But in terms of approaching Jewish parenting, my mom would tell you she was in a different place than other Jewish parents. A basic in-faith versus interfaith view wouldn’t capture this difference.

My mother wanted to feel confident that she was doing Jewish parenting right. She wanted holiday celebrations to have all of the key elements, and it was important to her that she could teach us what it means to be Jewish.

As PJ Library grows and increasingly reaches all types of families, we ask ourselves if we are doing enough to serve as a valued resouce. Is PJ Library offering the right content to help a parent learn and understand Jewish topics? Does the program do enough to help all parents feel confident in transmitting that knowledge and engaging with their children around the questions that follow?

Not only did the most recent triennial evaluation help us realize just how many PJ Library parents didn’t grow up Jewish, it also showed that PJ Library has played an outsized role in these households in terms of deepening knowledge about Jewish life and increasing confidence around discussing Jewish topics with children. These households are also much more likely to report that they rely on PJ Library as the main source or one of a few sources for learning about Jewish values and traditions.

My mother figured out Jewish parenting, but she had to work at it. Our Rosh Hashanah meals were full of sweet dishes to start the new year, including my mother’s homemade teighlach for dessert, and she hosted memorable Passover seders each year for the extended family. I realize now just how much energy and effort she put into creating our Jewish home. No wonder she was so taken by the idea of PJ Library.

She could appreciate how helpful it is for parents raising Jewish children.

TEIGHLACH ADAPTED FROM THE KITCHEN OF DORIS SANDLER (Winnie's Mom) INGREDIENTS Dough 3 large eggs 2 tablespoons oil 2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon salt Syrup 1 cup honey 1 cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger ½ cup water ¼ cup hazelnuts, chopped ¼ cup walnuts, chopped ¼ cup candied cherries

1. Start mixing the dough by whisking the eggs and oil together in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, ginger, and salt.

3. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture a little at a time, stirring until the dough is elastic. (You may have flour left over.)

4. Roll the dough into long ropes, then cut each one into ¼-inch-wide pieces.

5. Next, make the syrup by combining the honey, sugar, and ginger in a 3-quart pot.

Bring it to a boil over low heat, stirring occasionally, then drop the dough pieces into the pot a few at a time.

6. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Every 5 to 10 minutes, stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.

7. After 20 to 30 minutes, check the dough pieces to see if they are fully cooked.

Remove one from the pot and separate it with two forks; if the ball is dry inside, it’s done. Remove the pot from the stove.

8. In a separate pot, bring the water to a boil, then add it to the cooked dough and syrup.

(A note from Doris: Stand back when you do this – it spatters.) Immediately add the hazelnuts, walnuts, and candied cherries.

9. Pour the teighlach into a large flat dish and form it into a mound.

Our recipe tester used raisins instead of candied cherries.

HOUSEHOLDS IN WHICH AT LEAST ONE PARENT DIDN’T GROW UP JEWISH*

ALL OTHER HOUSEHOLDS

67%

50%

... said PJ Library increased the respondent’s confidence to engage with their child/children regarding Jewish traditions, values, and/or customs [a lot or moderately].

59%

38%

... indicated that they rely on PJ Library to learn about Jewish values and traditions as the main source or one of a few sources.

59%

39%

... said PJ Library increased the respondent's knowledge or familiarity with Jewish traditions, values, and/or customs [a lot or moderately].

*Includes interfaith households and/or households with at least one partner who is Jewish by choice (someone who has converted to Judaism)

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD, MA PERMIT NO. 71

67 Hunt Street, Suite 100 Agawam, MA 01001 USA 413-276-0800 www.pjlibrary.org Have an address update?

Want to sign up to receive PROOF? Contact us: proof@hgf.org

A Beacon That Burns Leaving a Legacy Through PJ Library

By Ida and Sam Switzer

PROUD PJ LIBR ARY GR ANDPARENTS

Growing up in a small town in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, holidays were very special. Our small community of Jewish families was extremely close-knit. We both attended a parochial Jewish school and were comfortable with and knowledgeable about our heritage, history, and identity.

We were surrounded by extended family that still lived with Jewish traditions, celebrated Shabbat and Passover, and had a burning passion for the new state of Israel.

At that time, there were two Jewish day schools, three synagogues, and a small central auditorium at the old Hebrew day school that served as a community center for sports and teen gatherings. Our community eventually would boast a stand-alone community center, at least two more synagogues, a vibrant women’s network of Council and Hadassah chapters, and a strong Jewish Federation that fostered an active and involved community during the best years of growth our city and country had ever seen – and we were the beneficiaries.

Coming home for the holidays had always been a tradition, and I am struck by how different it is now.

We have two sons: One lives in Calgary with his wife and two adorable children, and one lives in Seattle with his wife and new baby. Our grandchildren’s education and opportunities to learn about their culture and heritage are very different from the hands-on education we experienced when we were 24 PJLI BRARY.O RG children. We were surrounded by the old European

customs and language. We did Jewish; it was who we were.

We have watched PJ Library welcome many new families into our community who wish to remain secular but maintain ties to their Jewish roots. The Jewish community center and especially PJ Library have buoyed participation in Jewish culture, music, and celebration of the holidays. In our own community, PJ Library hosts holiday events where children, parents, and grandparents come together to mark Purim, Hanukkah, Simchat Torah, and Passover and to sing celebratory songs and taste the foods characteristic of those special occasions.

Learning about one’s roots is both meaningful and necessary for building a child’s identity and confidence; parents and grandparents can foster this aspect of a child’s growth and development. We were lucky to have received this gift naturally from our own families, but even for us, making Judaism relevant to our family has been an evolving art.

Having completed our legacy donations, Sam and I have chosen to highlight PJ Library. We have been strong supporters of our still small but caring community that struggles to maintain passion for our roots and institutions, and we see PJ Library as a beacon that burns with a compelling flame for the continuance of our heritage.