The Newsfeed

There’s always plenty going on at PJ Library. Here’s a quick roundup of the latest news and events.

 

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This story appeared in the summer 2025 issue of PROOF, a PJ Library magazine.

Developing Resources Against Antisemitism

Conversations around hate are difficult for any adult to have with a child, yet more families than ever are finding them necessary. In a survey last year, 76% of subscriber families told us they are interested in a PJ Library resource on how to have those hard talks.

“As a trusted source, PJ Library is uniquely positioned to speak to Jewish families,” says Jessica McCormick, PJ Library’s director of family experience. “While we have always operated from a place of Jewish joy, our goal is to support families in Jewish life today and offer expertise that bolsters their ability to talk, in age-appropriate ways, about antisemitism.”

To meet the need, PJ Library has embarked on an ambitious new initiative to address antisemitism and strengthen resilience and pride among Jewish families. Over three years, pending crucial donor support, PJ Library plans to produce a suite of materials featuring expert guidance and tips. These resources will include a parenting guide to help families talk about antisemitism, age-appropriate storybooks, a series of short videos, and toolkits to help families navigate antisemitism in public schools and on social media.

PJ Library hopes these resources will fortify parents and other adults as they broach difficult topics, allow Jewish parents and allies to recognize and address antisemitic narratives, and ultimately help Jewish and Jewish-adjacent families feel less alone.

“This project is a priority for us,” says Alex Zablotsky, executive director of PJ Library. “Jewish families aren’t alone, and we want them to know they can turn to PJ Library for support.”

—By Rachel Zaimont

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Helping More Families Get Together

Jewish life is richer when we celebrate in community. That’s why, beyond beautiful Jewish books, PJ Library was designed to connect Jewish families to their local communities — and to each other. Since 2016, PJ Library’s Get Together initiative has encouraged families to host small gatherings and holiday celebrations with other Jewish families. PJ Library helps cover the cost and helps families build deeper relationships that make Jewish life joyful and fun.

Thanks to generous donors, Get Together got even better last December: PJ Library made the program available throughout the US and Canada, meaning every PJ Library family can now participate. This coming High Holidays season and beyond, families everywhere will be able to access this PJ Library incentive — and feel motivated and empowered to grow closer with their community. To learn more, visit pjlibrary.org/gettogether.

—By Rachel Zaimont

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A Sweet Partnership for PJ Library in New York

This past December, PJ Library in New York teamed up with Doughnut Plant and Breads Bakery to bring a sweet surprise to families celebrating Hanukkah. Throughout the holiday, these locally beloved bakeries gave away a special PJ Library Hanukkah-themed book with every order of sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). In total, they distributed over 1,200 books across eight locations in New York City.

The partnership was about more than just delicious holiday treats. By working together with these bakeries, PJ Library tapped into the time-honored tradition of blending Jewish community, food, and storytelling. The initiative made an impact for New York families; many said they were delighted by the books.

“At a moment when inspiration is hard to find,” says Julie S. of New York, “I walked out of Breads Bakery with a big smile on my face and a sense of wonder and joy.”

—By Margaret Piraino

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Grinspoon Jewish Story Awards

PJ Library added 57 new titles to the English-language lineup last year for readers ages 0-12. That’s a lot of great new Jewish stories! To surprise and delight young readers and their families month after month, PJ Library relies on inspired authors who are committed to creating Jewish content. One way PJ Library encourages authors to keep writing Jewish children’s literature is through the Grinspoon Jewish Story Awards.

Originally introduced in 2016, the awards program provides a cash prize to authors of new books accepted into PJ Library. All submissions are eligible, and new manuscripts chosen for the program for the first time receive this special award. The prize serves as a thankyou to authors for contributing to PJ Library and an incentive to keep creating the high-quality Jewish stories families depend on to convey Jewish values and traditions.

To learn more about how PJ Library chooses new books, visit pjlibrary.org/manuscripts.

—By Patrick Coyle

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Streit’s Matzos Passover Collaboration

When families sat down for their Passover seders this past spring, they welcomed a surprise guest to the table: PJ Library. Thanks to a collaboration with Streit’s Matzos, the iconic pink kosher-for-Passover matzah boxes that are ubiquitous in stores around the holiday featured PJ Library ads. As families reached for 1- and 5-pound boxes at the market and set them on their tables at home, they saw information about PJ Library and a QR code to sign up. (Some 200,000 5-pound boxes also included a PJ Library Passover question-catcher game!)

The partnership offers a range of benefits. The ads serve as a strategic way for PJ Library to reach more families who self-identify as Jewish. In turn, they help Streit’s reach a greater demographic share of families with young children.

PJ Library has been leveraging the collaboration to make a splash on social media. Last year, the PJ Library team visited the Streit’s factory with two PJ Library subscribers and recorded heartwarming behind-the-scenes footage. Five digital creators also gathered content on an influencer tour designed to introduce Streit’s and PJ Library to their followers. The tour made a lasting impression on dietician and cookbook author Micah Siva, whose take on modern Jewish cuisine has won her tens of thousands of followers. “Seeing the magic behind the matzah was a dream come true,” she says, “as it brought the matzah from countless PJ Library books to life.”

—By Rachel Zaimont

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