PJ Library
Your Child’s Treasury of Jewish Books
- Enroll Your Family in PJ Library (books for kids newborn–8 years old)
- Enroll Your Family in PJ Our Way (chapter books for kids 9–12 years old)
- Family-Friendly Events
- Here’s the Story: PJ Library in DC Blog
- PJ Library Community Partners
- Like Us on Facebook
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Family Shabbat Events
Did you know that every child under age 12 in your family can receive their own FREE book each month?
PJ Library sends free, award-winning books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children from birth through 8 years old. Signing up is easy and takes less than 3 minutes. Join today!
PJ Our Way (PJOW) is for kids ages 9-12, and they choose their own books each month, creating a tailored experience totally based on their own interests and reading level. Learn more and sign up your middle grade reader.
PJ Library and PJ Our Way in Greater Washington are made possible by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and generous local donors.
Want to make connections with other Jewish families?
Check out the JFamily Ambassadors program!
Difficult Conversations: Resources for Parents
Shabbat and Havdalah Celebrations
DC:
- DC Musical Shabbat: Saturday, March 22nd at 4:30 PM (16th Street Heights). Email for details.
- Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner: the first Friday of every month at 5:00 PM at Washington Hebrew Congregation (McLean Gardens)
- Tot Shabbat: first and third Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM at Tifereth Israel (Shepherd Park)
- Tot Shabbat: first and second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM at Hill Havurah (Capitol Hill)
- Yoga with Doda at Tifereth Israel: second Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM at Tifereth Israel (Shepherd Park)
Maryland:
- First Friday Shabbat Family Service: first Friday of each month at 5:30 PM (Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase)
- Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner: third Friday of every month at 5:30 PM at Washington Hebrew Julia Bindeman Suburban Center (Potomac)
- Shabbat Shalom Playgroup: Fridays at 10:30 AM at the Bender JCCGW (Rockville)
- B’nai Israel Tot Shabbat: Saturdays at 10:45 AM at B’nai Israel (Rockville)
You must pre-register for all of these Shabbat events using the links.
Virtual:
- Shabbat Spark: Fridays at 4:30 PM (hosted by the Pozez JCC, Fairfax, VA)
Virginia:
- Tot Shabbat at TBS!: third Friday of each month at 6:00 PM, and for Family Shabbat on the first Friday at 7:00 PM (Temple B’nai Shalom, Fairfax Station, VA)
- Gan Shabbat: first Saturday of every month | 11:00 AM (Agudas Achim, Alexandria, VA)
- Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach Shabbat Family Jam: most Saturdays | 11:00 AM (Agudas Achim, Alexandria, VA)
- Tot Shabbat: second Friday of every month | 5:15 PM (Etz Hayim, Arlington, VA)
- Tot Shabbat Train: Hop on the Tot Shabbat Train to visit local synagogues with your Pozez JCC JFamily Ambassador!
- Saturday, March 29th | 11:00 AM: Chabad (Fairfax)
- Saturday, April 26th | 9:00 AM: Temple Rodef Shalom (Falls Church)
Ongoing Programs:
- Little Bookworms with Growing Jewish Families (GJF): monthly at public libraries in Northern Virginia; click link for schedule.
- CJM Story Time: second Thursday of the month | 10:00 AM (Capital Jewish Museum, DC)
- Shabbat Playgroup: Fridays | 10:30 AM at the Bender JCCGW in Rockville
- Sunday Sing-a-Along: Sundays | 10:00 AM (Agudas Achim, Alexandria)
- Shalom Baby at the J: Sunday, March 9th | 9:00 AM (Pozez JCC, Fairfax)
Check out the PJ Library in Greater Washington blog!
This month on the Here’s the Story blog: Every Chapter in Your Story Is Important
What We Are Reading
FROM THE JEWISH FEDERATION
First-Time Camper Grants Now Available
The One Happy Camper application for 2025 is now open with new increased grant amounts! We’ve made it easy for you to find the perfect camp at JewishCamp.org. Your first-time camper could be eligible for up to $1,500, but grants are limited. Learn more and apply. If you have questions, please contact Noa Havivi at Noa.Havivi@ShalomDC.org
703-J-CARING Community Support Line
Feeling overwhelmed? Unsure about your options for support? Call 703-J-CARING: The Jewish Community Support Line (703-522-7464), to be connected with the many resources available to residents of DC, MD, and Northern VA.
Discover Local Jewish Preschools
Discover Local Jewish Religious Schools
Discover Local Jewish Day Schools
How to Talk to Children About Antisemitism
It’s a sad reality that even as we share holiday greetings and festive foods, we also need to offer expert advice on talking to your children about this topic.
FROM PJ LIBRARY
It’s time to make sure you have copies of PJ Library’s beautiful, helpful Haggadah. This family-friendly guide to Passover’s story-telling meal is designed to make the experience engaging for seder-goers of all ages. See PJ Library’s website for info on ordering print copies, or to download your free interactive version (available in multiple languages).
Streit’s Matzos and PJ Library
PJ Library is once again partnering with Streit’s Matzos to bring Jewish books, activities, our many other resources to more families in the US and Canada. Look for the PJ Library logo on Streit’s Matzos boxes in supermarkets or at StreitsMatzos.com, and look inside specially marked 5lb. boxes for a PJ Library Passover Question Catcher!
Get Together for Passover with a PJ Grant
While your family’s usual Passover seder isn’t eligible for PJ Library’s Get Together program, our team will help you host friends for all kinds of other matzah-baking, craft-making, Passover party gatherings.
PJ OUR WAY
PJ Our Way is proud to offer four fantastic books this month! The book selection deadline is the 10th of the month. Next help deciding? Check out these tips.
Here are two ways to get advice from noted expert Dr. Sivan Zakai on discussing the tragic situation in Israel with children:
Preschools
Is your little one ready for preschool? We hope that you are able to find a Jewish preschool to start your child on his/her Jewish journey.
Day Schools
Provide your child(ren) with the building blocks for their Jewish future. Explore the options for area day schools and whether they are a good option for your child(ren).
Family-Friendly Volunteer Opportunities
Helping out as a family is a wonderful way for everyone to do a Mitzvah! Jconnect can help you find family-friendly volunteer opportunities.
Family-Friendly Events Cosponsored by PJ Library in Greater Washington
Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner at JBSC
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Shalom Baby at the J
Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Tot Shabbat Trains
Friday, May 2, 2025 | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sing-a-Long with the Hazzan
Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 11:00 am - 11:45 am
Springtime in the Park with GJF – Dale City
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Friday Morning Brunch Bunch – Falls Church
Friday, May 9, 2025 | 10:30 am - 11:30 am