PROOF | Winter/Spring 2021

PROOF A PJ LIBRARY ® MAGAZINE

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Finding Our Own Genius with Harold Grinspoon

6

Past + Stories = Future

by Boris Fishman

11

Taking a Stand Against Antisemitism

by Rachel Fish

WINTER/SPRING 2021

THE

FOREWORD THOUGH A LOT HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR,

my kids’ excitement about getting PJ Library books hasn’t. When PJ Library books arrive at our house, my kids talk about taking the "envelope off the book," as if the envelope is wrapping paper covering a gift. After all, for as long as they can remember, every month they’ve received a Jewish book as a present.

They’re part of a generation of children who will one day talk about Tikkun Olam Ted or Rabbi Harvey in the same conversation as Curious George and Elephant and Piggie.

The impact of PJ Library isn’t lost on me or my colleagues (some of whom you’ll hear from in this issue) because we all share stories of our kids growing up and learning about Jewish culture and traditions through this amazing program. The books are only part of the story, and that’s why we created PROOF. PROOF explores how raising Jewish children has changed because of the conversations and traditions PJ Library books inspire.

The magazine also explores PJ Library’s growth, from reaching children throughout the US and Canada to delivering books published in seven languages to homes and schools in 29 countries. PROOF showcases grandparents as family storytellers who not only read PJ Library stories but also share their personal journeys with their grandchildren. The stories included are evidence that a new generation of Jewish families, from the unaffiliated to the deeply involved, are teaching their children to carry on Jewish values, traditions, and customs.

I hope you enjoy this edition of PROOF and that these stories inspire you to share the joys of PJ Library with others.

Will Schneider Director of Fundraising and Community Advancement, PJ Library Proud 2 PJLI PJ Library Parent BRARY.O RG

My kids, Max and Aya, growing up with PJ Library

Innovation & Inspiration

with the Help of a Book

EDUCATOR AND PJ LIBRARY PARENT Jared

Matas is determined to teach children how they can make an impact on the world, and a PJ Library book is helping him make that goal a reality.

When Matas served as director of STEAM* innovation at Boston’s Jewish Community Day School, he felt something was missing from the curriculum. “Our kids got really good at building things like bridges and towers out of Popsicle sticks,” he says. “But it nagged at me, working in a Jewish day school with a commitment to contributing positively to the world, that this work wasn’t really helping anyone.”

That changed when he read the PJ Library book The Candlewick, written by Jennifer Rosner and published by PJ Publishing, PJ Library’s own imprint. While The Candlewick is set more than a century ago in a shtetl in Eastern Europe, the story is still relevant today. A child named Ruthie visits her friend Bayla, and since Bayla is deaf and cannot hear her knocking at the door, Ruthie has to be creative to let her friend know that she’s there.

Matas realized that the story could spark children’s imaginations with a real-world example. “When we read the story out loud with the students,” Matas explains, “we stopped … and said, ‘Well, we’re engineers, and we want to help. What can we invent to help a friend know Ruthie is at the door?’ That way, instead of presenting an abstract engineering challenge, it becomes very relevant. This is a real problem that people have.”

Students were eager to find a way to help. The group of kids, comprising kindergartners through fourth graders, stepped up to the challenge and brainstormed all sorts of creative ideas, such as a doormat that sends an alert to the person’s watch when a visitor steps on the mat or a device that releases a scent when someone knocks on the door. They suggested using strings, levers, or even trained animals to let the deaf person know when someone is at the door. “This planted the seed for younger students to think about how accommodating the world is — or isn’t — for people with disabilities,” Matas says.

“We want even kindergartners to feel empowered to solve those problems.”

*STEA M

(science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics)

Since Matas’ experiment, other organizations — synagogues, supplementary schools, and other day schools — have started introducing similar innovative programs. And Matas is still reading The Candlewick to inspire children — and adults — to think critically and come up with creative solutions to real problems. He knows something about reading PJ Library books repeatedly: He has young children of his own. But he doesn’t mind rereading this book. “It’s such a moving story that I love reading it over and over.” And just like every other PJ Library book, it’s making a difference.

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The Candlewick

Age 6 Written by Jennifer Rosner Illustrated by Kristina Swarner At the heart of this story lies the friendship between Ruthie, a little girl who loves to knit, and Bayla, a young woman who makes candles.

Bayla is deaf and cannot hear when Ruthie or potential customers knock on her door. Creative Ruthie comes up with a solution, just as she did in The Mitten String, the first book to feature this sweet friendship.

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Finding Our Own

GENIUS

Finding Our Own

GENIUS with Harold Grinspoon

IN 2018, HAROLD GRINSPOON, THE CREATOR OF PJ LIBRARY, WON THE SYDNEY TAYLOR BODY-OF-WORK AWARD — ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS JEWISH LITERARY HONORS. But when Harold was growing up,

none of his teachers ever said, “That kid is going to make his name in the book world.” As a child with undiagnosed dyslexia, Harold struggled with literacy as a student.

“I never could spell, I couldn’t write well, and I couldn’t read well either,” he remembers. Teachers had limited understanding of learning differences in those days, so Harold was pretty much on his own. “There was never a conversation about dyslexia at school or at home.”

But there were many conversations about Harold’s emotional state. “I was a screwed-up kid,” he says.

“My main feeling then was fury, to be really truthful.”

The antisemitism in his neighborhood compounded his struggles. “As a Jew, I got beat up on the stairway of the school and was not invited into other children’s homes.” Harold had a lot to be furious about, and the fact that the adults in his life had little idea of how to help him only made it that much harder. “If you go to school and you’re different, that’s always a problem.

Kids like to be the same,” he says. “I was uncoordinated, so I couldn’t play sports. The music teacher even told me not to sing because my voice was so bad! But I wanted to prove that I was not such a screwed-up kid.

I decided I was going to make money.”

And that’s just what he did — really well, in fact. Some of the same qualities that made him feel out of step at school — his natural curiosity, coupled with a 4 PJLI BRARY.O RG

(Above) Harold Grinspoon delivers PJ Library's 3 millionth book in May 2012. In 2020, PJ Library surpassed 41 million Jewish children's books shared around the world.

perpetual outsider’s perspective — allowed him to notice opportunities that others overlooked. With a keen, insightful eye, for several decades he acquired and sold real estate that other buyers ignored, proving to himself and to those around him that he was indeed not a "screwed-up kid."

But his idea of what constituted success took a major turn when he received a cancer diagnosis. “Suddenly I didn’t want to just make money anymore. I knew I wanted to give it away Jewishly,” he recalls. “I had to change course.”

With the encouragement of Diane Troderman — Harold’s wife — and guidance from his close friend Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Harold created the charitable foundation (the Harold Grinspoon Foundation) that carries his name.

But the concept of PJ Library, the flagship program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, was all his own. Once again, his natural curiosity and ability to think like an outsider helped him envision a program that would eventually foster Jewish connection in homes around the globe. That the program involved books — the very things that once contributed to Harold’s own sense of disconnection — is both ironic and poetic. But Harold points out that he always liked to read; he just did it slowly and needed to find books that spoke to him. He did it on his own terms — the way he does everything.

AN INTERNATIONAL HONOR:

US Library of Congress Honors Grinspoon Literacy Programs in Israel In 2009, as PJ Library was first expanding across the United States and Canada, PJ Library’s founder Harold Grinspoon launched a partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Education and other funders to bring books to children living in Israel. Today that partnership makes it possible for Grinspoon’s Israel-based foundation — Keren Grinspoon Israel (KGI) — to distribute 3.5 million books annually to more than 500,000 Israeli children in preschool through second grade. The partnership supports two book programs: Sifriyat Pijama (Hebrew for “Pajama Library”), a program akin to PJ Library that distributes Jewishthemed stories in Hebrew, and Maktabat al-Fanoos (Arabic for “Lantern Library”), an Arabic early literacy program designed for Arab-Israeli children. In addition to Grinspoon and the Ministry, Price Philanthropies is a longtime generous supporter of Maktabat al-Fanoos.

In September 2020, KGI became the first organization in Israel to be selected as a Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program Best Practice Honoree. The Library of Congress recognizes 15 organizations around the world each year for their promotion of literacy.

KGI received the honor based on a recommendation from Professor David K. Dickinson, Ed.D., the Margaret Cowan Chair of Vanderbilt University's Department of Teaching and Learning. He noted that KGI’s programs “provide exactly the type of supports known to nourish early development” through their high-quality books and associated activities.

As part of KGI's programs, once Israeli children are introduced to select books in school, they each receive a personal copy for their home library to enjoy with their family. Just like PJ Library, KGI's programs aim to strengthen children’s language skills, values, and ethnic identity; create shared moments of parent-child reading; and stimulate and instill a love of reading.

In early 2020, just before schools everywhere closed due to the pandemic, Harold spoke to a group of students at the Shefa School, a Jewish day school in Manhattan that serves students with language-based learning differences. He understood better than most what kind of struggles the students at Shefa face after having difficulty with reading as a child, and he didn’t have the advantage of attending a program devoted to meeting his challenges.

He has succeeded beyond most people’s wildest imaginations — his own included.

We are grateful to the generous donors who have joined us and the Israeli Ministry of Education to support these Israel-based programs: the Abraham & Sonia Rochlin Foundation; the Azrieli Foundation; the Baron de Hirsch Fund; the Crown family; the Goldring Family Foundation; the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.; the Jewish Federation of Broward County; the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando; the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; the Koppelman Family Foundation; the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation; the Miriam Yellin-Steklis Memorial Legacy; the Mitzi and Warren Eisenberg Family Foundation; the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation; the Naomi Ruth Fund; Price Philanthropies; Gerald Ronson and the Ronson family; the Salomon Family Foundation; Tmura — The Israel Public Venture Fund; and WIZO.

“It was an incredible meeting,” says Dana Raucher, a parent who attended that talk at Shefa. “Harold connected eye to eye with those kids. He spoke openly and honestly about growing up as a kid who’s dyslexic and how that frustration can so easily turn to anger. You can’t let that anger guide you.” That is, after all, one of the secrets to Harold’s successful life story: The best way to get around anger at what you can't do is to figure out what you can do.

“I think the most significant thing is to understand the beauty and nature of what we can all do with our genius,” Harold explains.

“We all have genius in our lives. It’s all about having the opportunity to express yourself in the way that’s right for you, which I didn’t have as a kid. But I have it now.”

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Past + Stories

= FUTURE

By Boris Fishman NOVELIST AND MEMOIRIST ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CREATIVE WRITING THE UNIVERSIT Y OF MONTANA PROUD PJ LIBR ARY PARENT

The stories that leave an impact often do so because they focus on the concrete rather than the abstract.

A story that begins with a specific moment will always be more effective: When my grandmother finally figured out a way to escape from the Minsk ghetto after two years of trying, her grandfather fell ill. Escaping meant having to leave him behind.

Perhaps a story like that can cause distress to too young a mind, but it also activates empathy, reflection, and consideration in a way that abstract platitudes about suffering can’t. And we must try to activate those feelings in our young people — their feet will walk the ground in a different way when they know what those who came before them experienced.

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In my case, it happened one day in 1996, when my mother explained that my Soviet-Jewish émigré family needed the English writing skills that only I, its youngest member, possessed. My grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, had been authorized to receive reparations from Germany. My mother wanted me to write down the story of what my grandmother went through in a way that would give the people in charge — the people with the power — no reason to turn her down.

When I had been a boy, there was nothing I wanted to know more than what my grandmother had gone through during the war. But my grandmother did not want to talk about it, and she had made it clear that I would pain her if I persisted in asking. But now my mother was asking me to make my grandmother talk — though not because my family understood the value of passing down that kind of knowledge.

Because I was the only one who could help.

Over the next several weeks, I took down my grandmother’s stories — the Minsk ghetto, her escape, 10 months in the forests and swamps with the partisans, returning to Minsk to find out she was an orphan. It was too hard for her to sit at a table and think of nothing else while telling these stories, so we did it in the kitchen while she cooked one of the many legendary family dishes that we all revered — and for which none of us wrote down the recipe before she died. (Again: stories. I recreated some of the dishes in my recent memoir, Savage Feast, a family history told through recipes.)

by climate change, artificial intelligence, and new conflicts — can hope to learn anything about strength and courage from those who preceded her, it will be because my grandmother shared her story.

We are exceptionally fortunate to have meaningful stories about Jewish identity and experience arrive on our doorsteps every month, courtesy of PJ Library. But storytelling is not the rarefied privilege of a specialized caste; it is something all of us do without noticing. If you’ve ever caught up with a friend or told a joke, you’ve done it.

How can you share your family’s stories?

Begin with the most forgiving of gateway storytelling occasions, the same one that helped me and my grandmother: food. Pick an old family recipe. Between your own recollections and those of other family members (and maybe a little background reading in history and cookbooks), take advantage of a pause during your next extended family dinner, even if it takes place over Zoom, and say: You know, in the Soviet Union, they used to make stuffed cabbage very differently from the way that we do here in America.

In the Soviet Union, they didn’t have all the ingredients that we have here, and so they had to get a little creative. Can you imagine stuffed cabbage stewed in torn-up rye bread and sour cherry jam? I need someone to help me write down the story. …

My grandmother received reparations for the rest of her life. But that wasn’t the most important outcome — at least not for me. Through her stories, my grandmother became a friend — someone I not only respected, but liked; someone I wished to not only honor, but think about. Without her stories, I wouldn’t have had the inspiration to write my first novel, A Replacement Life. I would not have the history to pass on to my half-Russian daughter.

I invite and urge you to ask your community elders about their stories, and then share them with the young people around you. This is particularly critical for Jews, because even the safest among us have not been safe for very long. If my young daughter Agnes — who will contend with a world defined

To read more from Boris Fishman and purchase his latest book, Savage Feast, visit borisfishman.com.

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The We

STORIES

SHARE

Introduction by Rabbi Melanie Levav DIRECTOR, PJ LIBR ARY IN NEW YORK

As residents of New York City, my family is fond of Broadway musicals. During this profound absence of live theater, my kids have been listening to their favorite musicals on repeat for the last several months. Hamilton tops the list, to no surprise.

Hearing the brilliant lyrics over and over again in the midst of this pandemic gives me an even greater appreciation for the show. The song “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” prompts me to reflect on the stories we will tell the generations that come after the pandemic. The experience of living through this time of isolation has helped me recognize the vital role storytelling plays in preserving our individual and shared legacies.

Driving down the West Side Highway in Manhattan one afternoon midpandemic, I stopped at a red light (yes, this highway has traffic lights) and took out my phone to capture the image of the traffic update sign against a gorgeous blue sky. “WE ARE NY TOUGH” read the sign instead of an update on traffic conditions. “Ema, why are you taking so many pictures lately?” asked my 10-year-old (a proud PJ Our Way subscriber) from the back seat. “To document our lives during the pandemic so I can tell stories to my grandchildren,” I replied.

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The privilege of working for PJ Library has helped me to internalize the importance of not only sharing our stories but also creating the stories we want to tell. What is it about our lives that we want to share with our children and grandchildren?

According to Marshall P. Duke, a professor of psychology at Emory University, telling family stories can have positive effects on both those who tell stories and those who hear them. Children who know a lot about their family history tend to be more resilient and have higher levels of self-esteem, more self-control, lower levels of anxiety, and fewer behavioral challenges. This is still true within our larger community — our Jewish family.

The following stories represent the Jewish narratives that have held the greatest meaning for several rabbis and community leaders. They share these stories with us as we together weather the storm of the pandemic, find hope, and grow stronger as a community.

The best stories are those you hear and rehear — the ones that spiral back into your life, eventually weaving themselves into the fabric of your very being.

For me, a story about Moses is one story with multiple lessons to last a lifetime.

In this story, God tells Moses to speak to a rock, which will then give water. But Moses doesn’t speak to the rock; he hits it. God punishes Moses by telling him he will not enter the Promised Land.

This was an intense story for me as a kid. Here was our greatest hero, God’s partner in creating the Jewish people, excluded from his lifelong dream. And why?

Because he failed to follow instructions. This is a foundational lesson: We need to listen carefully when someone asks us to do something.

As a teenager, the story agitated me. The punishment was disproportionate — why should Moses be denied his dream because of such a small slip? Didn’t God believe in second chances? I chafed at the conclusion and

connected, sometimes in adolescent anger, to those who critiqued the story and demanded a different ending.

As a young adult, I began to find my frustrations echoed in the words of commentaries hailing from throughout the generations. Maybe Moses really did something unspeakable, whether it was failing to inspire the people at a key moment, losing his temper at them, or perhaps doubting God’s power.

Or maybe the text shows us that this was all a setup. After all, God told Moses to take his staff — what for, if not to hit the rock? I reveled in the questions and found my place in a larger tradition.

Now that I spend my time in teaching and communal affairs, I return to a simple truth that this story reveals: We are never defined by our actions alone, and we are unavoidably linked to the fates of our colleagues, our students, and the generation in which we live. Moses couldn’t go into the land while the generation of the Exodus died in the desert. We are too responsible to one another to simply write a personal history for ourselves alone. And through that insight we cultivate responsibility and build community.

Rabbi Ethan Tucker PRESIDENT AND ROSH YESHIVA AT THE HADAR INSTITUTE TRUSTEE OF THE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION

When I was young, my dad would tell me and my siblings our favorite story.

sheep and how he would write poetry and engage in song. This, of course, is the future king, the one that Samuel anoints.

It was based on the book of Samuel, in which the prophet Samuel visits the home of Jesse while seeking the next king of Israel. One by one, Jesse parades his sons before Samuel. The first son, Eliab, is tall and striking. Although Samuel is tempted to assume that Eliab is the future royal, God quickly corrects him. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him,” God says. My dad would quote that verse, saying, “God does not look at the same things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but God looks at a person’s heart.”

Now that I am a mom myself, I tell this story to my toddler. I want him to understand that we must emulate God’s vision and try to see the potential and goodness in unassuming people. I want my son to consider what it means to have good character and what kind of people we want to crown as heroes. I want him to learn from ancient biblical tales indelible lessons about goodness and the human spirit.

The story goes on to describe Jesse’s other sons, Abinadab and Shammah. My dad embellished the tale to make it fun for us children, all the while trying to show us that external beauty and strength are secondary to internal character and virtue. Toward the end of the story, Samuel turns to Jesse and

asks, “Are these all your sons?”

At this query, Jesse presents his youngest son, a blue-eyed, redheaded shepherd named David — a physically unassuming youth, forgotten by his father.

My dad would then describe the character of David: how he would take care of vulnerable

Dr. Mijal Bitton COMMUNAL LEADER OF THE DOWNTOWN MINYAN, SCHOL AR IN RESIDENCE AT P RO O F WINTER /SP RING 202 1 THE SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE

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Our tradition abounds with stories.

One story in particular from the founder of the Hasidic movement, Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov, never fails to inspire me.

A child accompanying a parent to Yom Kippur services is confused by the scene of the solemn community steeped in prayer. “I want to talk to God too,” exclaims the child, “but I don’t know the words.” The parent shushes the child, saying, “Just sit quietly.” As the day wears on, the child becomes increasingly restless, yearning to partake in the congregation’s deep devotion. Finally, as the auspicious moment of Neilah — the climax of Yom Kippur — approaches, the child, ignorant of the words being said but comprehending the mood of the moment, pulls out a flute. Suddenly, a shrill sound bursts through the room, roaring above the shouts of prayers. An angry murmur spreads across the room — a child’s flute has no place during these sacred moments! But the Baal Shem Tov quiets the room with a smile. “The entire day,” he says, “I felt the Gates of Heaven locked before us. No matter how hard we banged, they would not open. But just when I thought all was lost, the sound of flute — blown with a whole heart — pierced the Heavens and ushered in all our prayers.”

This tale reminds us that our engagement with community cannot be limited to those who know the magic words. It is our essential duty to cultivate a culture of inclusion — one that meets the next generation where they are, seeks opportunities for all to enter and engage, and values different expressions of connection. After all, it was not the prayers that unlocked the Heavens.

At the same time, I cannot escape the unwritten end of this story. What came of this child the following year? What happened in those pews the following Yom Kippur? Was that thirst for context, content, and connection left unrequited, or was the child given the opportunity to learn the prayers they so deeply wished to utter and share with the community? Were they invited to share in the rich tradition, heritage, and values of our people? Were they given the gift of access to the sacred canon of our people? After all, what future would our people have if we merely raised a generation of flutists?

This is the secret and beauty of PJ Library.

PJ Library works to greet each of us, every reader and family, with meaningful stories and accessible content. At the same time, it ushers our children and our families into the great chambers of the Jewish canon, opening the doors to a framework of shared values, history, and traditions and connecting our homes with families around the world and across generations. A simple story may unlock our hearts or Heaven’s gate; once it has, the PJ Library world is there to support us in our next steps.

*! * ?! !

@ ! ?

Rabbi Tuvia Brander 1 0 PJLI BRARY.O RG

MAR A D’ATR A (SPIRITUAL LEADER ) OF THE YOUNG ISR AEL OF WEST HARTFORD TRUSTEE OF THE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION

Taking a Stand

By Rachel Fish, Ph.D.

Against Antisemitism

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOUNDATION TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM PROUD PJ LIBR ARY PARENT MEMBER, PJ LIBR ARY NEXTGEN BOARD

INCIDENTS OF ANTISEMITISM CAN OCCUR AT UNEXPECTED MOMENTS AND OFTEN WHEN WE LEAST ANTICIPATE THEM. To

experience hostility and discrimination from others because of religion, race, and/or ethnicity is traumatic for adults and children alike, and fear can make it hard to speak up and stand up for oneself. It's a difficult topic to discuss, and for many of us, navigating this terrain feels daunting and explosive. How do we speak, whether in person or via social media, to family members, close friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and, most importantly, our children about such an ugly and painful subject? What is required for each of us to feel confident to enter this conversation and feel as if we are on sturdy ground?

To effectively combat antisemitism, it is important to understand what it is and its historical manifestations. Hatred toward Jews has transformed over time. It began as hatred toward Judaism, then morphed to focus on Jews as a people, and now it also includes hatred toward the Jewish state of Israel. It is incumbent upon each of us to understand these manifestations and to engage in meaningful discussion about the ways in which Jew hatred rears its ugly head. Creating opportunities to correct misinformation and ill-informed positions is the first step in the educational process.

I know that is not always easy, but the way in which we, as grown-ups, model combatting antisemitism for our children truly matters. They watch us and notice. Ask yourself: Did you shirk from responding to an antisemitic comment? Did you sidestep your way out of a confrontation?

Our children pay close attention to see if we create brave spaces for these difficult and uncomfortable moments.

Though my children have not yet experienced Jew hatred directly, my husband and I know it is not a question of if, but rather when. As a child, I had several personal encounters with antisemitism, including when a classmate etched a swastika into my locker. For my children, it might look different — and will likely be technology-based — such as peers excluding them from an online chat group or posting hurtful and derogatory antisemitic comments, photos, or videos on social media.

It is becoming so prevalent in society today that I can’t imagine my children not experiencing some form of discrimination.

It's important for my kids to know how they can react confidently and directly in these tough moments and what they can do, like calmly sharing their perspective with others to educate them and explaining why someone's words or actions may be harmful. And I want them to

feel comfortable asking questions and talking about these types of antisemitic incidents with me and their father, even if it's tough and scary. But I do want them to stand up for who they are and not remain silent.

We regularly communicate to our four children that Jews have faced hatred and that we cannot be silent, not only when hatred is directed toward us but also toward other communities.

We are commanded 36 times in the Torah to protect the ger, or stranger.

It is a core principle of Judaism by which my family lives. We know what it means to be a ger and feel a sense of responsibility to protect others.

Children’s books can facilitate these difficult conversations. Part of the beauty of PJ Library is that it provides an opportunity for parents to read with their children from the safety and comfort of home about moments when Jews have faced intimidation, discrimination, and persecution.

Through the process of reading, we can help our children understand what was, what is, and what remains. We can engage in developmentally appropriate discussions about what to do if we encounter hatred toward Jews in our own communities.

It is necessary to prepare our children for a future in which they will face hard moments, whether on social media or in real life; teaching them the lessons of history is a prerequisite to readiness. Antisemitism should not be socially acceptable, and we cannot tolerate it any more than we would other forms of bigotry and prejudice. Together, let’s choose to embrace opportunities to dismantle ignorance while encouraging difficult conversations.

Rachel Fish is the Founding Executive Director of the Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism and leads the Together Beat Hate initiative. Together Beat Hate promotes sensitivity, awareness, and education about ethnic, racial, religious, sexual, gender, and cultural identities through collaborative community engagement and education, utilizing communication platforms that young people interact with most: the internet and social media. For more information about Together Beat P RO O F WINTER /SP RING 202 1 11 Hate, visit togetherbeathate.org.

Questioning Identity

By Gina Drangel

2018 JEW V 'NATION FELLOW, UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM, PROUD PJ LIBR ARY PARENT

When I stepped out of the mikvah as a Black Jewish woman in September 1998, I knew my life was about to change. Being Black and Jewish has given me the strength to walk proudly.

I have been asked on many occasions how I could be Jewish. I always respond to these questions because I believe that asking questions is a profound way to grow and learn.

I was not raised Jewish, so my Jewish journey and perspective are different from those who were brought up in a Jewish household. I love being Jewish, so when people find out that I am Jewish and begin to ask questions, it is a great opportunity to educate and tell my story. Being Black and Jewish has been a saving grace for my soul; it completes me. When I entered the Jewish community as a Black woman, I expected questions regarding my identity. With those questions came answers and apologies, and then people’s assumptions started to fade.

But it’s different for my children.

They were born Jewish, raised in a Jewish home, and they belong to a Jewish community. They have attended religious school since they were toddlers.

They are both extremely aware of current events, such as racial and gender discrimination and the rise of antisemitism, and they are often questioned by their peers and some adults about their Jewish identity and background. You might think most adults would be sensitive to children’s feelings, but based on my children’s experiences, that’s not always the case.

Our son, who always speaks up about his Jewish identity, felt the need to stand up for himself one day while playing basketball with his friend (before COVID-19). His friend, who is also Jewish, excitedly introduced my son to his mom, saying, “Mom, this is my friend, and he is Jewish too.” His mother immediately responded, “No, he is not.” To prove his Jewish identity, my son recited prayers in Hebrew in front of his friend’s mother. When he came home that day and told me what happened, I was very upset, but 1 2 PJLI BRARY.O RG

once I got past my anger, I asked him how it made him feel. He looked at me and said, “I know I’m Jewish, and I’m very proud. I just needed her to understand that.”

My daughter has also had her share of questions from peers and even some of her teachers, especially in December. They incorrectly assume that she celebrates Christmas and other Christian holidays throughout the year, so she bluntly explains that she’s Jewish and doesn’t observe these holidays. When this happens, I often ask her how it makes her feel. She just shrugs her shoulders and says, “Sometimes it bothers me that no one seems to get it, but there’s nothing I can do about it. But they need to know.”

My husband and I are raising two teenagers who are comfortable and proud to be Jewish and Black. This is all they know, so when their identity gets questioned by their friends, their friends’ parents, or even those within the Jewish community, it is unsettling to us as a family. No one should ever be questioned about their identity. When a child is made to feel as if they are not enough based on what they look like, it causes hurt and shame.

My husband and I worry about how our children will be perceived in the world once they travel outside the comfort of our neighborhood. The world right now is extremely broken. As parents, we must be vigilant and teach our children to embrace all people without judgment. The Jewish spectrum is vast and includes people from all over the world. When Jews of color are given the opportunity to be seen as leaders in their community, such as rabbis, cantors, educators, and administrators, hopefully the question “Are you Jewish?” will not be on the tip of someone’s tongue. Though this country has a lot of rebuilding to do on so many levels, teaching our children to acknowledge the injustices and inequalities in our world is a good starting point toward tikkun olam, rebuilding a better world for all.

How to Do a

BOOKSHELF AUDIT by Naomi Shulman In my work life, I’m an officer of content and engagement at PJ Library and a member of the book selection committee — a job I love in part because it means I read a lot of children’s books, which I really love. In my home life, I’m a mother of two daughters who grew up loving children’s books too, especially Jewish children’s books; they were PJ Library subscribers before I even began working here.

My kids are teenagers now. I give them books on their birthdays and at Hanukkah, but for the most part, their reading choices are entirely their own. When they were younger, however, I was their de facto librarian, and as such, I curated their book options, occasionally conducting what librarians refer to as a bookshelf audit.

Just as it sounds, a bookshelf audit is a review of the titles in your collection. A cursory audit would entail removing any books that no longer interest your kids. But when librarians use the term, they’re talking about going a lot deeper than that.

Doing an audit helps you get a sense of which values and ideas are getting adequate representation in your collection. That means looking not only at the content of the books but also who is doing the writing and illustrating — in other words, whose perspectives are being offered. This entails asking many questions: Who is represented in the illustrations? Are all the children white, for example? When illustrations show nonwhite people, do they serve as accurate depictions, or do they shore up implicit biases? Do the characters in the books hew to sexist stereotypes, or do they offer up narratives to children that help them imagine broad futures for themselves, regardless of gender? Does each family look much the same — father, mother, sister, brother — or is there a sampling of the many ways that family constellations are formed?

The responses to these questions can lead to some pretty remarkable discoveries, and you may find out what your bookshelf might be missing and what additional titles (or at least the type of titles) you may need to fill in some gaps of representation. A successful bookshelf audit can point you in the right direction so that you can widen the scope of your collection.

The PJ Library content team and book selection committee are always on the lookout for diverse content and representation when considering books to add to the PJ Library collection. Here are three books that PJ Library has added to the shelves of 8-year-old subscribers and some reasons why.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark Written by Debbie Levy Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an inspiration during her long and illustrious career, especially to girls, but really to everyone who saw unfairness in the world and wanted to correct it. This beautifully illustrated graphic-novelstyle picture book highlights the impact that antisemitism and sexism had on young Ruth, and how fighting it — dissenting — became her life’s work.

Pearl Moscowitz’s Last Stand Written by Arthur A. Levine Illustrated by Robert Roth

The title of this story is a little bit of a misnomer. Yes, the main character is Pearl Moscowitz, and, yes, she takes a stand — against the removal of a tree on her street — but it’s really a community effort. The neighborhood, which comprises people of all ages and backgrounds, works together toward the common goal of saving the last gingko tree on their street. They work so well together not in spite of their diversity, but because of it.

A Poem for Peter

Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney Illustrated by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson You're probably familiar with The Snowy Day, the children's classic published in 1962. What you may not know is that the author and illustrator, Ezra Jack Keats, was born Jacob Ezra Katz. The child of poor Jewish immigrants, Keats knew how it felt to be left out, so as an illustrator he wanted to depict kids who rarely saw themselves in children's books. Peter, the star of The Snowy Day, quickly became one of the most beloved characters in children's literature. Andrea Davis Pinkney's lyrically written account of Keats' life and work truly is a poem.

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How PJ Library adapted its digital media strategy during the pandemic

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to

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By Alli Thresher

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DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT, PJ LIBR ARY

J Library digital projects move fast and pivot quickly, which has never been more important. Before we all started sheltering in place back in March, I had the plan for PJ Library digital content mapped out for the next six months.

Overnight, it became clear that none of that was going to feel relevant. I remember picking up my son from school on Thursday, getting a call about canceled classes on Friday, and hopping on the phone with my boss, Meredith Lewis, the director of content, education, and family experience, on Sunday night to quickly come up with a new plan. And on Monday, PJ Library’s virtual daily schedule started to take shape.

As lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders hit across North America, we followed conversations that were happening online, took notes on what other organizations were doing to help families and keep them involved, and then looked for gaps in support that we could help fill. That was in early March, and we had no idea how long some version of quarantine, social distancing, and shutdowns would continue.

Spring transitioned into summer, and many families were still sheltering in place. Camps were canceled, school openings were up in the air, and juggling work, home, and childcare became an increasingly difficult balancing act. PJ Library didn’t stray from its mission and continued to provide Jewish content for children — in this case, high-quality, interactive, fun experiences that kids could take on with little to no supervision, such as videos of authors reading their PJ Library books. Since March, we have been developing daily digital schedules that detail when 1 4 PJLI BRARY.O RG

and what new content will be released to give kids (and parents/caregivers) something to look forward to each weekday. Many of us on the digital team are parents ourselves; we understand all too well just how much other grown-ups need a break!

As the digital lead for PJ Library, I know how important it is to have a strong online presence.

Nothing will ever take the place of books, and that’s especially true for PJ Library. But digital platforms allow us to be more agile than print; it can take up to four years to bring a book manuscript to life, but we can make a video, compile online guides, round up resources, and curate event lineups for PJ Library subscribers in a day.

In our work to bring more stories to families and build more storytelling moments between grown-ups and

Here’s another benefit of digital platforms: We don’t have to wonder whether our efforts have an impact.

We can see families’ responses in real time and analyze engagement on each platform. We had so many families sign up for our virtual tour of Jerusalem, for example, that we had to stream the experience on Facebook in order to accommodate everyone.

On the other hand, we can tell from simply listening to our subscribers' grown-ups that people are increasingly overwhelmed by the volume of online content. Our strategy now is not only to provide original content of our own, such as the Have I Got a Story for You! podcast and the High Holidays digital guide, but also to serve parents and caregivers by curating the massive amounts of content out there.

Parents and caregivers don’t always have time to watch everything before showing it to their kids. When we share something on our pages, grown-ups know that it’s trustworthy and good.

We continue to learn from other digital media as well. One thing I learned in my former life as a game developer is rapid iteration. You try something quickly, see what goes well (and what doesn’t), and then put those lessons into action by immediately attempting a better version. We consistently focus on what families need in the moment, but we also look ahead to the support we can offer in the future.

The pandemic has tested everyone in countless ways.

The silver lining is that we have a better understanding of our strengths and how we can become even stronger advocates and allies for PJ Library families and communities. As stressful as it has sometimes been to stay on top of a moment that has been evolving so quickly, it has also been deeply satisfying to see how families respond. No matter what the future brings (and if 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that the future can be very unpredictable), we will always strive to meet parents and caregivers where they are — on the page and online — and do so in a way that is authentic and real.

Throughout the pandemic, PJ Library has strived to keep families involved and informed by sharing digital resources and meeting families where they are — at home and online. Here are some examples of how we’ve stayed connected with parents and kids.

Storytimes and Craft-Alongs Every weekday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. (EST)

Virtual Field Trips Every day at noon (EST) Find more family resources on

pjlibrary.org/familyactivities

Each day, PJ Library shares a schedule of when new content will be available for parents and kids.

H

children, we’ve extended our work beyond just the PJ Library books. Families receive in-the-envelope gifts from PJ Library, access to music, and, as social media continues to gain ground, new digital resources. In our engagement work, we’ve always said that we need to be where parents and caregivers are — and given that families are staying connected to PJ Library through social media, we need to be there too. Our staff has even participated in our programming, recording themselves as they read PJ Library books to their own families or as they make crafts or holiday treats.

Hol ighAT HOMEidays

Complete with activities and helpful information, our digital High Holidays at Home guide provided a new way for families to participate in Jewish New Year traditions.

A PJ Library Family Guide www.pjlibrary.org/highholidays

Bestselling author and filmmaker Tiffany Shlain led a webinar, detailing ways families can unplug and spend quality time together away from screens.

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PAYING IT FORWARD IN PUBLISHIN G

HOW TR ACY N E WM AN BECAM E AN AUTHOR THROUGH PJ LIBR ARY ( AN D HOW SHE GAVE BACK)

By Naomi Shulman CONTENT AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, PJ LIBRARY

Tracy Newman knows a lot about perseverance.

Today, children around the world have read her books through PJ Library, and she has a successful career as an author. But when Newman first decided to write children’s books about 10 years ago, she got a dose of something just about every author faces: rejection.

“It’s really hard,” Newman admits. “I had been a corporate lawyer, which was intense and challenging, but in some ways, it was easier than this.”

The first books she wrote were for a general children’s audience, and she was having difficulty getting traction in the publishing world. Then a friend told her about a new program called PJ Library. “She thought it was the greatest thing,” Newman recalls, “having these books magically appear once a month on her doorstep for her children.” Newman, herself a mother of two, was intrigued by the idea, especially since she had a Jewish children’s manuscript sitting on her hard drive. The story was about the challenge of eating a whole piece of matzah without making crumbs — after all, Newman says, “Write what you know!” So she submitted it for publication, but it wasn’t picked up.

“It’s never been published,” she says. Children’s book publishing is a competitive business. That’s the way the matzah crumbles.

Then Newman attended a Jewish Book Council conference for writers. While there, she had the good fortune of meeting editor Judy Groner, formerly of Kar-Ben Publishing. Groner read Newman’s manuscript and gave her actionable feedback on the spot, encouraging her to stick with it and keep writing. She did.

The next time Newman attended a Jewish Book Council conference, something even more serendipitous happened: She sat next to Chris Barash, chair of the PJ Library Book Selection Committee.

“She and I were chitchatting,” Newman recalls, 1 6 PJLI BRARY.O RG

“and she emphasized that authors should submit their Jewish-themed manuscripts to PJ Library.”

The first manuscript Newman submitted to PJ Library was rejected. So was the second. And the third. But then Newman’s board book Shabbat Is Coming! was accepted — and soon, so were Hanukkah Is Coming!, Passover Is Coming!, and Rosh Hashanah Is Coming! To date, PJ Library has sent out nine ... Is Coming! books. But Newman didn’t stop there. Her picture books Around the Passover Table, Uncle Eli’s Wedding, and Shabbat Hiccups have become PJ Library selections as well, and her books have been translated into four languages and sent to families around the world through the global PJ Library program.

When Newman’s latest title, Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin, was accepted by PJ Library, Newman received an unexpected call from Barash. PJ Library had just begun awarding the Author Incentive Award (AIA), a $2,000 prize given to every author whose manuscript is accepted by the committee. Newman was delighted to receive the call, and Barash was delighted at her response: a grateful thanks, but no thanks. “I decided instantly that I would give it back.” Newman asked Barash to donate her check to PJ Library so that it could be used to fund other authors’ growth and development. “I know how fortunate I am to be able to attend conferences easily and know how instrumental these can be for writers,” she explains. “I wanted to be able to help some other writers be able to do that too.”

This was the first time an author had donated the AIA back to PJ Library. Barash certainly wasn’t anticipating it, but she wasn’t surprised. “Having gotten to know Tracy’s openness and generous spirit during the past decade, it came as no shock when she (almost shyly) asked how she might return

her award,” Barash says. “She wanted to help other writers who might not be able to participate because of financial concerns. That’s just who she is.”

Newman knows how difficult it can be in the publishing industry, so by paying it forward, she’s giving future PJ Library authors and illustrators a chance they may not otherwise have. “So many people are inspired to write children’s books, and so much of the difference between people who get published and those who don’t is just persistence,” Newman says. “Being an artist is really hard. In some ways it’s a luxury to be able to do it, and that’s why I was happy to pass on the grant. So many people don’t have that luxury.” In the spirit of mitzvah goreret mitzvah — one good deed leading to another — Newman’s donation not only furthers PJ Library’s mission but also helps provide a little extra encouragement to the creators who make the program what it is.

Cultivating Content Tracy Newman’s journey from unpublished writer to repeat PJ Library author was long and sometimes challenging, but as she points out, she had a lot of help along the way. Writer conferences played a key role in guiding her as she honed her writing skills and allowed her to make invaluable connections to other writers and publishing professionals. And as Newman points out, Chris Barash, chair of the PJ Library Book Selection Committee, also helped her navigate the notoriously choppy waters of children’s book publishing.

This isn’t unusual for Barash or Catriella Freedman, chair of the PJ Our Way Book Selection Committee. Both Barash and Freedman offer virtual office hours — 45-minute chunks of time dedicated to help authors go over a manuscript, flesh out an idea, or simply ask questions — specifically to guide authors through the often solitary writing process. Barash and Freedman agree that author cultivation is perhaps the most powerful tool in bringing high-quality Jewish children's books to fruition.

That’s why PJ Library also invests in events for writers, such as the Author Israel Adventure, which includes an immersive all-expenses-paid trip to Israel; Tent: Children’s Literature, a gathering that is cosponsored by the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA; and an author-illustrator conference at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, VT. All are designed to do exactly what Newman has found so useful: provide hands-on, real-time feedback to aspiring authors. That’s why Newman’s gift is so meaningful. After all, writing is solitary work — but it doesn’t have to be lonely.

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PLANTING FOR TODAY, PLANTING FOR TOMORROW

By Danny Paller

CONTENT AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE OFFICER, PJ LIBR ARY

A TALE FROM THE TALMUD*

Once Honi was walking on a road and saw a man planting a carob tree.

Honi asked the man, “How long will it take until this carob tree bears fruit?”

The man replied, “70 years.”

Honi said to him, “Do you think you will live 70 more years?”

And the man answered, “I found a fruitful world because my ancestors planted it for me. Now I’m planting for my children and my children’s children.”

*Rabbinic conversations on law and ethics, compiled in 500 CE (Common Era) 1 8 PJLI BRARY.O RG

An actual rabbinic sage and folk hero of the first century BCE (before the Common Era)

A tree that grows abundantly on Israel’s coastal plain and in the Galilee

Actually, it takes 6 or 7 years until a carob tree bears fruit. But we at PJ Library are more interested in “true” stories than in “factual” stories.

In other words, why perform a task from which you won’t directly benefit?

Wow. This could be PJ Library’s mantra.

December is when families might open their envelope and, rather than finding a monthly PJ Library book, discover a surprise gift instead. In 2019 the gift was a PJ Library apron, which many children have put to good use. In 2020 families received a gift inspired by the tale of Honi. With this December gift, PJ Library is furthering a variety of goals.

Families can grow their own microgreens indoors in a week.

Goal #1: We want to encourage children’s innate wonder about things that grow (including themselves) and their love of and responsibility to the earth.

Families can help reforest the US at $1 per tree, and PJ Library will match each tree.

Goal #2: We want to support meaningful Jewish experiences in the home and in the broader community. What theme could be more important for a family activity these days than the health of the planet and its inhabitants?

Families can read together an unfolding — or “growing” — book based on the Honi tale.

Goal #3: We want to help one generation pass on core values to the next generation, using classic Jewish tales retold for our times.

By the way, the Honi story doesn’t stop there.

We hope 2020’s December gift reinforces the lesson Honi learned — the power and importance of “planting for today” and “planting for tomorrow."

Honi fell asleep for 70 years.

When he woke up, Honi saw a man gathering carobs beneath a tree.

Honi asked, “Did you plant this tree?”

The man said, “No. My grandfather did.”

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The Jewish Rip Van Winkle — even before there was a Rip Van Winkle. In Jewish tradition, age 70 represents the “fullness of years."

19

WH Y DO WHY DO YOU YOU G GIV IVE E??

I THINK THE BEST WAY FOR JUDAISM TO SURVIVE IS BY INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE. We live in a spectacular world that has been harmed by hatred and ignorance, and I find it so wonderful that we, the Jewish people, keep going despite adversity. PJ Library reinforces the idea that a kid can enjoy Judaism and feel proud to be Jewish, and I’m so glad that my wife Mimi and I can share that with our grandchildren.

When our children and grandchildren visit us on the weekends, we spend a lot of that time reading together. I love to read, and our grandchildren are now old enough that when we share information with them, they can internalize it. Mimi and I enjoy sharing the experience of reading PJ Library books with our grandchildren and helping them gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be Jewish today.

Reading together inspires our grandkids to cherish Jewish values throughout their entire lives. They are growing up in the Jewish community with PJ Library books and a Jewish education. As a grandparent who did not have the experience of a rich Jewish education, I like reading PJ Library books with my grandchildren because they teach me so much too. PJ Library is one of our grandchildren’s greatest teachers, and we are proud to help support sending them books about what it means to be Jewish.

Arnold Penner New York, New York

WE GIVE TO PJ LIBRARY BECAUSE IT EMBODIES SO MANY OF OUR OWN VALUES: reading, education, turning children into menschen, perpetuating Judaism, pluralism among streams, coexistence with other faiths, and tolerance of differences. And PJ Library does it in partnership with organizations around the world, leveraging its philanthropy through volunteers and donors in each locality. PJ Library learns from its partners and beneficiaries, adapting to changing needs and abilities. If the entire world worked like PJ Library, it would certainly be a better place. Giving is an investment in the future of our children and grandchildren that we can make today. We are delighted to make that commitment.

Rick and Ann Tavan Saratoga & Truckee, California

WE SUPPORT PJ LIBRARY BECAUSE WE VALUE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND THE JEWISH FUTURE. As grandparents, we are moved by the impact we see in our own family and the accolades that we hear from other grandparents. PJ Library books, like Maddi’s Fridge and Snow in Jerusalem, promote values that are important to us, such as food justice and recognizing individual differences. PJ Library also helps build community by reaching and engaging families that otherwise would not be part of their local communities. We are proud to support PJ Library through the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

Tony and Pam Schneider Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 20 PJLI BRARY.O RG

"We give to support our grandchildren, pictured here with their parents."

Offering Support Where It's Needed Most THE ETRA FAMILY'S GIVING STORY When Paula Etra’s beloved husband Donald died in early 2017, she and her children knew they wanted to do something meaningful to honor his memory, and they knew it would be something they did together as a family. “He loved to read and to swim and to do family activities,” Paula says, “so we were looking for places we could do all that in a space where we helped Jewish children.” While researching different organizations to support, the Etra family came across PJ Library when they began receiving the books, and they quickly realized firsthand how valuable the program was. “PJ Library is a tool for Jewish families,” Paula explains — not just for parents who are new to Jewish practice, but also for fostering a sense of connection between different streams of Judaism. “The more knowledgeable people are about different traditions, the more they can have conversations with each other.”

In order to carry on Donald’s legacy, Paula and her children created the Donald Etra Futures Fund to support PJ Library in Jewish communities with the most need through an annual shared group gift.

Paula explains, “We were looking to reach those who needed to be better connected.” The Etra family’s gift fully covers PJ Library for every family in multiple small Jewish communities.

But where is the need greatest?

The Etra family asked PJ Library to provide a list of small Jewish communities across the United States that might not have local funding to make sure families can receive PJ Library books. Anna Etra, Donald and Paula’s daughter, says, "Our dad believed if you had a book, you were never alone. We are grateful to help bring together the next generation of

Jewish families and communities through sharing our dad's love of reading." This donation made in honor of Donald Etra’s legacy gives these communities the chance to connect with dozens of new families each year — an opportunity they may not have had without the Etras’ gift.

The beneficiaries, who are located in Monterey Bay, CA; Gainesville, FL; Athens, GA; and other cities throughout the country, are grateful to receive the gift of PJ Library for their community. The Athens, GA, Jewish community reports, “Donald Etra Futures Fund support is wonderful acknowledgment of the importance of supporting small Jewish communities, which are often the most vulnerable to assimilation yet also the most receptive to recognition and support. Athens, GA, thanks you for your generosity, which has helped to strengthen the Jewish bonds of young families.”

By funding PJ Library in communities outside their own, the Etras are not only passing on Donald’s values within their family but also throughout the greater Jewish community. “We created the foundation based on the things that my husband loved,” says Paula. “PJ Library opens people’s eyes to different ways of being Jewish. Spirituality may come from within, but more than anything else, Judaism brings community, and everyone is looking for community."

PJ Library books are always a gift to families. The program is a lifeline

in dozens of small Jewish communities across the country, reaching directly into the homes of families who might otherwise have very little exposure to Jewish life. If you are inspired by the Etra family and want to support PJ Library, your family can fund a Jewish community starting at $3,000.

Gifts can be directed to the community of your choice, or, like the Etra family, you can work with PJ Library staff to direct your donation to a community in need. Special recognition for your support is available in many communities. For details, please contact Will Schneider, director of fundraising and community advancement for P RO O F WINTER /SP RING 202 1 PJ Library, at will@hgf.org or 413-276-0716.

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Lessons for Our Children

By Winnie Sandler Grinspoon PRESIDENT, HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION

Every woman has her stories.

When I was in the sixth grade, I was among a handful of girls who wanted to play in the baseball game at recess. Some of the boys accepted us without issue and shared their gloves when it was our turn to field.

But there were other boys who were determined to keep us out. They knew they couldn’t ban us directly, so they announced a new rule: Every player had to own a baseball glove — no more sharing.

Years later, I graduated from law school and got a job at a top-tier law firm. At a team meeting, a male partner shared that a big case was coming to the firm.

It would be a great professional opportunity for a few junior lawyers. The partner wanted to know who was interested in working on the case — and who among the female lawyers had plans to get pregnant.

Winnie and Justice Ginsburg in 2016

I am not alone in having these stories. All women experience some form of sexism, and some of us have been denied jobs or other significant opportunities due to our gender.

That’s why Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a hero to girls and women everywhere.

We are grateful for Justice Ginsburg’s lifelong commitment to challenging gender inequality in all its

22 PJLI BRARY.O RG

pernicious forms. She moved us toward a fairer workplace and a more equitable society.

In 2016, I had the honor of meeting Justice Ginsburg.

PJ Library had selected the newly released book I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, written

by Debbie Levy, for its lineup and was sending it as a gift to thousands of 8-year-olds. Justice Ginsburg graciously agreed to share a few words about the book in a short video to PJ Library families.

During the video, we asked Justice Ginsburg if she had a message to share with the parents of PJ Library’s young readers. Her response was clear and strong: “For one thing, cherish your daughters as much as your sons. And teach them both to stand up for what is right and to be brave and not be put down. If at first you don’t succeed, then you try and try again.”

Fortunately for me, these are the same messages I received at home. After I told my dad about the baseball game situation, he spent his lunch hour that day shopping for a gift for me — my very own baseball glove. It felt great to head right to the field at recess. It felt even better to hit the ball over the pitcher’s head after he’d dramatically moved in close when I went to bat.

I also learned from my mother’s example that I have a voice, and I shouldn’t be afraid to use it. I asked for a meeting with the male partner at the law firm. I explained to him why it was wrong to ask the young female lawyers about their pregnancy plans, even if he’d intended it as a joke. I was polite, and he was open to listening to me.

Afterward he thanked me for the conversation, and I believe he meant it.

I passed on these same messages to my kids as they were growing up, and now I get to share them with children across the PJ Library community through

the books we select — books that highlight doing what’s right, books with female protagonists, and books that commend bravery and standing up for others.

We asked PJ Our Way kids to send us their drawings, videos, and written tributes to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — and they delivered! Here are a couple of the amazing submissions we received.

And, of course, books like I Dissent.

Levy’s book shares Justice Ginsburg’s journey from Brooklyn to the Supreme Court and her persistent fight against discrimination. The book brings to life Justice Ginsburg’s example of putting Jewish values to action through her relentless pursuit of justice, not only for women but for everyone who is denied equal treatment. In a 2004 speech at a Holocaust Remembrance Day event, Justice Ginsburg explained: “My heritage as a Jew and my occupation as a judge fit together symmetrically. The demand for justice runs through the entirety of Jewish history and Jewish tradition. I take pride in and draw strength from my heritage.”

Addie, Age 9

She then referenced the framed words that hung on the wall of her Supreme Court chambers, words from the book of Deuteronomy: “Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof” — “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” The justice explained, “Those words are ever-present reminders of what judges must do that they ‘may thrive.’”

For PJ Library, Justice Ginsburg’s story is an inspiration to children, especially to Jewish children who take unique pride in her example. Her rise from humble beginnings shows what is attainable through hard work and perseverance. Her dedication to improving people’s lives shows our kids what it means to live by one’s values. As author Debbie Levy’s simple words explain, Justice Ginsburg is a hero to many of us because of how she lived her life: “She made change happen, and she changed minds.

She cleared a path for people to follow in her footsteps — girls in college, women in law school, and everyone who wants to be treated without prejudice.

Her voice may not carry a tune, but it sings out for equality.

Step by step, she has made a difference ...”

She surely has. I will forever cherish the day I met Justice Ginsburg and expressed my admiration and gratitude to her as a woman, as a lawyer, and as an American. She opened doors for me and so many others, and she was relentless in her pursuit of justice for all. I am honored that I get to share her story with thousands of families in the PJ Library community.

May her memory be a blessing.

Ruth: Supreme Court Justice, Left-handed, Mother of two, Smart and serious, Seriously smart, Biography subject.

But none of that matters.

None of it.

All that matters is this: You have changed the world for the better.

Despite losing your mother, sister, and husband, You are still strong.

You have suffered.

But you haven’t let that change you.

Supreme Court Justice, Left-handed, Mother of two, Smart and serious, Seriously smart, Biography subject.

And most importantly: A hero to people everywhere.

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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 pjlibrary.org

ON THE SHELF

PJ OUR WAY

Have an address update?

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

You already know that PJ Library sends the gift of Jewish books to kids each month, but did you know that PJ Library extends all the way through age 12? As PJ Library kids get older, PJ Library grows with them!

As PJ Library kids turn 9 years old, they can enroll in the PJ Our Way program and receive middle grade books that feature Jewish topics and characters that tweens can identify with.

Each month, PJ Our Way kids can choose one title from four curated age-appropriate books that focus on topics such as adventure, fantasy, friendship, sports, history, and more, all showcased through a Jewish lens. PJ Our Way puts tweens in the driver’s seat, giving them the opportunity to not only choose what they want to read but also to have a say in the program. Subscribers can visit the PJ Our Way website (pjourway.org) for ratings, reviews, videos, and more content created for kids, by kids. And just like PJ Library, this is all available at no cost to families.

Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

This is NOT the Abby Show

Written by Patricia Brennan Demuth Illustrated by Jake Murray

KID REVIEW

This informative and engaging biography of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg details how she spent her life fighting for equality for others. Kids will learn about and be inspired by both Ruth’s personal history and her passion for justice.

The book was offered for selection just before Justice Ginsburg’s passing, and the book selection committee hopes that it will inspire conversations about Ruth’s values, accomplishments, and legacy.

“RBG is an amazing role model for young Jewish girls everywhere.

Her story is one worth talking about years and years ahead of us.”

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Written by Debbie Reed Fischer

KID REVIEW “It inspired me because I have a learning disability just like the main character. This made me feel like I can push through school.”

Abby, a creative kid with ADHD, is stuck in summer school instead of the drama camp she wanted. She’s sure summer will be a total bust, but will her new friends change her mind? This is NOT the Abby Show is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, and the book selection committee appreciated Abby's growth as a character, such as when she tries to make amends for her impulsive mistakes, an example of teshuvah (repentance).