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The PJ (Pajama) Library

The PJ (“PJ” for pajama) Library is our proactive investment in giving, to help ensure the future of our Jewish community by activating and invigorating more Jewish households. Up to 1,200 Portland area youngsters between the ages of six months to six years old are eligible to receive free Jewish-content bedtime books and music on a monthly basis, all at no cost to the families with at least one Jewish parent.

Created and partially underwritten by the world-famous Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the PJ (pajama) Library is a pilot program for the OJCF seeking to set a Jewish future in motion for young Jewish families. Participating families with children between the ages of six months and five years receive a monthly mailing of a Jewish children’s book, CD, or the occasional parenting book.

Click here to learn more about the books and music.

Without the generosity of a visionary group of mothers, including (left to right) Elizabeth Menashe, Shirlee Lenske and Eve Stern, as well as (not pictured) Lois Schnitzer (through the Leonard and Lois Schnitzer Supporting Foundation of the OJCF), Lila Goodman, and Renee Holzman (through the Holzman Family Foundation), a project this forward-thinking could never have occurred.

The beauty of this innovative program is its ability to nurture and activate unaffiliated Jewish families within our midst who have an undernourished sense of Jewish identity or tradition within our own homes.

Each book and CD comes with guides to help your family use the selection in your home. The book and music list was chosen by the foremost early-childhood experts. The list includes a wide array of themes such as Jewish holidays, folktales and Jewish family life.

The PJ (pajama) Library is FREE for families with young children between 6 months and 6 years old with at least one Jewish parent living within the greater Portland region during the first year of participation. There is a nominal donation requested each year thereafter. For more information, please call Julie Diamond at (503) 248-9328. To a sign up for this exciting and inspiring new program, CLICK HERE.

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