PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation have a deep, unshakable connection to the State of Israel. We are proud to share stories with families around the globe that celebrate Israel and promote a sense of responsibility to the country and its people. And we are proud to reach hundreds of thousands of Israeli children and their families each month through PJ Library’s Hebrew-language counterpart, Sifriyat Pijama, and Arabic-language companion program, Maktabat al-Fanoos.
In the aftermath of the horrors of October 7, parents have shared with us that their kids are asking painful questions. Even very little children have very big questions, and older kids and tweens have their own emotional, intellectual and social responses. As parents, we may be struggling to answer versions of these same questions for ourselves.
- Is it safe to be Jewish?
- Can I love Israel and disagree with its leaders sometimes?
- What about all the Palestinians who have been killed?
As parents, we invest untold energy into raising our children with values, including kindness, honesty, and respect. We strive to teach the fundamental Jewish belief that every person is created b’tzelem Elohim, with sacred worth, and that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve safety, freedom and dignity. We struggle to explain why these ideals are so difficult to achieve.
Even in the darkest times, it’s developmentally critical for children to experience hope and joy, and to develop pride in their Jewish identity and community.
PJ Library is here to help your family do just that: continue to experience Jewish stories and togetherness, and to strengthen our connections to Israel and its people.