PJ Library: Giving Books to the People of the Book, One Family at a Time
February 01, 2009
Once upon a time, in a land far away (otherwise known as Massachusetts), a good king (actually a philanthropist named Harold Grinspoon) noticed a problem. You see, this good king (a.k.a. Harold) was worried that some of his people (the Jews, to be exact) seemed detached from their community (their Jewish nefesh). He wanted to find a way to reach out to them and help them appreciate what makes their heritage special. So he sat on his throne (probably just a nice leather desk chair), and thought for a really long time about what to do.
And then Harold had a fabulous idea (and as a philanthropist, he had the cash too). He realized that one of the most special times for families is when they are ending their day, sharing bedtime stories and songs with their children. Jewish families have lots of stories to tell and songs to sing. So this good king decided to make sure that the Jewish families in his village in this land far away (Massachusetts) would all get books for their children (once a month, to be exact). He named this the “PJ Library” because he imagined the little ones would be snug in their beds wearing cozy pajamas while their parents read to them. And since then, many evenings have been happily spent with the sharing of a book. The end… almost.
That was 2005. Since then, the PJ Library has spread to more than 100 communities throughout the United States thanks to the vision and leadership of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. The goals of the program are simple: to reach out to Jewish and intermarried parents and provide them with tools, resources and information to help them create a more meaningful Jewishcentered life for themselves and their children. Every month, the PJ Library sends an age-appropriate book or CD to enrolled families, often in time to the Jewish calendar. For example, for Chanukkah, families with very young children received a lift-the-flap book by Karen Katz called “Where Is Baby’s Dreidel?” The next month, the selection was a CD called “OyBaby” that included an hour of hip, dynamic and playful renditions of favorite Jewish melodies.
Good King Harold was pleased that the children and families in his village (Massachusetts) liked their gifts so much. He found himself thinking, ‘How can I get other people to participate?’ So he sat in his comfy chair with his thinking cap on and then he said, “Ah ha! I bet there are other philanthropists and caring folks who might give of their time and resources to bring books to the children in their villages too!” He just needed to show them how to do it.
The PJ Library works in collaboration with funding partners in each area, including San Diego. Those partners — local philanthropists, the Jewish Federation or other Jewish organizations, for example — pay for the cost of the books ($60 a year per family), while the PJ Library, under the auspices of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, takes care of the administrative costs of the program.
In San Diego, the Viterbi Family Foundation has sponsored the program since its inception in our community just a few years ago. Dr. Alan Viterbi explained his family’s inspiration to get involved.
“The PJ Library innovatively combines our family’s interest in Jewish continuity with our commitment to literacy and education. By reaching out to young families, we can strengthen the entire Jewish community and make an impact that we hope will be lasting.”
In its first year in San Diego, 500 families participated, but that number has increased to 1,000 for the 2008-2009 year, thanks to a generous increase in funding. Viterbi shared the reason for expanding the program. “The enthusiastic response of young families participating in the program has justified and reinforced our commitment.” He emphasized the local program’s link to its national parent group.
“We were also pleased to partner with the nationally known Harold Grinspoon Foundation which has done so much good across the country.”
Good King Harold knew it takes more than money to make things happen. It takes good and caring people to do the work.
In San Diego, Charlene Seidle and Judy Nemzer have committed themselves to the cause. Seidle is the vice president of philanthropy for the Jewish Community Foundation, and it was originally her idea to bring the program to San Diego.
“[I] was delighted to help bring this important program to San Diego,” she said, especially since it gave her the opportunity to work closely with the Viterbi Family Foundation. She partnered with Nemzer, of Shalom Baby, a successful outreach program that started seven years ago and operates out of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.
Shalom Baby identifies Jewish and intermarried families in the community and provides them with gifts, programs and resources to help them raise their children with a strong sense of Judaism in their homes. Seidle recognized the natural fit between the two operations.
“Shalom Baby [could] transform the PJ Library from a positive experience that is more limited in scope to a vital step in a continuum of Jewish outreach and engagement,” she said. With all the pieces in place, the PJ Library/Shalom Baby duo could serve families whose young children were in all stages of development.
“I greatly enjoy developing and implementing [these] programs,” Nemzer said. Thanks to her, San Diego families benefit from the “concierge” services she provides. Seidle, on the other hand, orchestrates behind-the-scenes matters for the PJ Library. Nemzer said it is Seidle’s “personal touch [that] really shows this part of our Jewish community that we welcome them with open arms.”
Besides Nemzer and Seidle, the Viterbi family has helped make a difference for San Diego’s young Jewish children. Besides funding the PJ Library for children 5 and under, the Viterbi family also sponsors the Viterbi Family Baby Book Club for babies 9-23 months. They also collaborate with the San Diego Jewish Book Fair to co-sponsor Family Day programs with PJ Library authors and books. According to Nemzer, these programs help families who might have “fallen through the cracks” and “ensure young Jewish and intermarried families in particular feel a part of the Jewish community and are empowered to raise their children with Judaism in their homes.”
Joanna Schranz is an active mother of three children, all under the age of 5. She and her husband Craig, a Navy physician, are strongly committed to raising their children with strong Jewish values, and she credits the PJ Library for making the endeavor especially fun. “I first received information about PJ Library through Shalom Baby when my second child was born in June 2006,” she said. “It’s been really fun finding new books and CDs in the mailbox. I will usually put the new book away for a special time to give it to the kids, like a plane trip or incentive for good behavior. I love the Jewish lessons and values of every book. The kids have also loved the music selection.”
Schranz echoes a sentiment common among Jewish parents.
“My kids’ bookshelves are full of Jewish books. We can pull out different books pertaining to different holidays throughout the year. It’s a way to bring Judaism into the household each evening during bedtime.” The books help create lasting memories as well.
“Our favorite book for our children is “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.” It’s a fantastic book about making the best out of any situation. We have to explain the concept to our 5-year-old. I think it’s a really important life lesson. We read the books at their bedtime for my 5- and 2 ½-year-old. They love this time listening to the stories.”
Good King Harold was very pleased. What started as a good idea had become a very, very good idea. Jewish children in many villages were getting books for free (thanks to the help of really kind people). And that is the end of our tale.