The Jewish story encompasses people, places, times, ideas, and values. PJ Library families are the next generation to write a chapter in this Jewish story, and to do so they need to know the backstory: Tanach stories, historical narratives, examples of how Jews have acted bravely and with purpose through the ages. We equip families to discover that classic Jewish texts contain the Jewish people’s collective wisdom and values, which are still relevant today.
We are also a people that welcomes debate and discussion. Machloket (מַחֲלֹקֶת), the Hebrew term for “dispute,” is part of Jewish tradition, inviting every person to learn, ask questions, and consider different perspectives. This means that there isn’t just one way to tell the story of the Jewish people. We welcome multiple views and experiences, and we don’t shy away from complex truths.
Torah/Tanach
This is the core Jewish story, the master narrative told week after week, year after year, not just by Jews but across cultures. Some stories are familiar to some PJ Library families, others are not. The Torah (the Five Books of Moses/first five books of the Hebrew Bible) is often thought of as a Tree of Life that forms the foundation of all other Jewish text and thought. The stories of Torah include God creating the world, the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs, the exodus from slavery in Egypt, God’s giving of ו holy commandments (mitzvot - מִצְווֹת) that provide a foundation for Jewish law across generations, the story of Jewish ancestors reaching the promised land of Israel, and the origin of the Shema, the central prayer of the Jewish people. Other parts of Tanach (the Prophets and the Writings) include stories of the original Jewish kings; proverbs and other wisdom; narratives including Ruth, Esther, Daniel, and Jonah; and, poetry from Psalms to the Song of Songs.
Israel
Israel is the historic homeland of the Jewish people and the only contemporary Jewish state, a land with rich history. In the millennia since the Jews’ expulsion from Israel at the hands of the Romans, diaspora Jews have centered Israel in their prayers and yearned for their homeland from afar. The story of the Jewish people intertwines with the land of Israel and its history from the times of the Tanach to the present, including a relationship with the place itself and a sense of responsibility to its people.
The people of Israel: Israel’s incredibly diverse inhabitants include Jews from every continent, as well as Jews who have always lived there, and Arabs, people of various religious backgrounds, refugees and immigrants, heroes and everyday folk.
The language of Israel: modern Hebrew.
The geography and natural world of Israel: The land of Israel and its features—from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee, and from the Negev Desert to Mount Hermon—is full of villages, towns, cities, and kibbutzim (collective farms).
Well-known Israelis: Founders, innovators, inventors, artists, musicians, actors, dancers, and athletes.
Jewish People and Places
As Jews were exiled from Israel in antiquity and moved throughout the world, Jewish communities encountered other cultures. Our Jewish stories, guides, music, and other resources reflect these rich convergences and highlight for all ages the fascinating diversity of global Jews and their communities. For tween readers, authentic stories about the challenges Jews have faced—including persecution and survival stories from the Holocaust—help them understand Jewish resilience and the importance of standing against injustice.
Jewish people: From figures in Tanach to contemporary heroes, there are countless individuals who lived (and continue to live) their lives with Jewish values and to whom children can look for inspiration. Some are famous, some are ordinary people.
Jewish places: Jews have lived all over the world, making marks on many cultures while being influenced by those cultures in return.
The Hebrew language: The alef-bet (אָלֶף-בֵּית), the Hebrew alphabet, is taught to generations of Jewish children all around the world. It is the language of the Torah and our most sacred prayers.
Jewish music: From Miriam’s timbrels at the Red Sea to King David’s harp to contemporary interpretations of Jewish song and prayer, music offers diverse access points to Jewish life around the globe, bringing meaning and joy.
Diaspora communities: As Jews spread across the globe, different communities formed—Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi, and underrepresented Jewish communities from around the world—along with unique Jewish languages like Yiddish and Ladino.
Cultural life: Jewish food—from bagels to bourekas—is synonymous with Jewish culture. Jews have deep roots in music, arts, sciences, comedy, and many other fields. Cultures worldwide have both influenced Jewish participation in these areas and been influenced by them. In every place Jews live, they proudly incorporate secular, national holidays into their Jewish and civic lives.
Jewish history in the US and Canada: America is home to the largest population of Jews outside Israel and—along with its neighbor Canada—is a place where Jews, while still a minority, have historically felt welcome and integral to the nation’s fabric.