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Your Child’s Treasury of Jewish Books

parents reading to small children The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is thrilled to share PJ Library® (PJ, as in “pajamas”) with our entire community. This program provides families raising Jewish children from 6 months–8 years old with a FREE treasury of Jewish books and music! Every month, families enrolled in PJ Library receive a high-quality, expertly-selected and kid-tested (!) Jewish book or CD as a gift from the community. PJ Library in Greater Washington is a gift from The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Emanuel J. Friedman Philanthropies, the Bender Foundation, the Charles E. Smith Family Foundation, the David Bruce Smith Foundation, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

Enroll Your Family in PJ Library (books for kids 6 months-8 years old)
Enroll Your Family in PJ Our Way (chapter books for kids 8 1/2-11 years old)
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Here’s the Story: PJ Library in DC Blog
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Featured Events

Check out all of our Chanukah Events!

The oil may have only lasted eight days, but the Chanukah celebrations last all December! Join us for parties, story times, workshops and more all around town.

Find Holiday Resources specifically for grandparents!

Federation’s Preschool Fairs

MoCo: Sunday, December 8 at Federation
DC: Sunday, January 5 at Tifereth Israel
NoVA: Sunday, January 12 at Providence RECenter

All events are 10:00 am–Noon

Find answers and options for your family at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Jewish Preschool Fairs in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. Meet representatives from local Jewish preschools and bring your little ones for story and music time! Strategically planned for that pre-naptime golden hour!

Join the PJ Our Way Book Group!

Next Meeting: Sunday, January 5, 2:00 p.m.
Gathering Grounds Cafe (10637 Braddock Rd, Fairfax)

The Lemonade Crime book cover The only thing better than finishing a great PJ Our Way book is getting to talk about it with friends! Join us for one or more of our monthly pop-up book group meetings around the Northern Virginia area, led by staff from Gesher Jewish Day School. The January meeting will discuss the PJOW Book, The Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies, which was an August selection or is available at your local bookstore.

Future meetings will be held on the first Sunday of each month at 2 pm in a cafe in Northern Virginia. Get the full list of books and locations on the Gesher site.

Monthly Events

Book Buddies

Run by Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families

Monday, December 2, a.m., 10:30 a.m.: Brambleton Library (22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton)
Thursday, December 5, 10:30 a.m.: Chantilly Library (4000 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly)
Wednesday, December 11, 10:30 a.m.: Fairfax Regional Library (10360 North Street, Fairfax)
Saturday, December 28, 10:30 a.m.: Gum Spring Library (24600 Millstream Dr, Stone Ridge)

All parents, grandparents, caregivers and children who love books are welcome to join us for fun stories and movement activities that relate to Jewish culture, traditions and holidays. The monthly Book Buddies focus on the nearby holidays.

PJ Storytime at Barnes & Noble

Run by Bender JCCGW’s JPlay

Barnes & Noble, 12089 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 am

December 11

Join the Bender JCC and PJ Library at Barnes & Noble for Storytime, Snacks, and Arts & Crafts. This program is free, but please register yourself and your child(ren) in advance.

Challah Tots

Run by Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families in NoVa and Bender JCCGW in Maryland.

Sunday, December date TBD, 10:00 a.m.: Whole Foods Market (1700 Duke Street, Alexandria)
Sunday, December 15, 10:00 a.m.: Whole Foods Market (11660 Plaza America Dr, Reston)
Thursday, November 21 at 10:00 a.m.: Whole Foods Market (11355 Woodglen Dr, North Bethesda)
Also: December 19 at 4:00 p.m.

At Challah Tots, you will enjoy a storytime, craft and braiding challah to take home to bake for Shabbat! Whole Foods Markets provides the dough, and PJ Library and our partners will provide the activities and the braiding help (if you’d like). Click the JCC links to register for this free program.

GJF NoVA Playlabs Indoor Play Date

Run by Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families.

Sunday, December 15, 10:00 a.m.: NoVA PlayLabs (3656 Centerview Dr, Unit 10, Chantilly)
Also: December 15

Play dates aren’t just for kids! While the kids play, the grown-ups get to schmooze and meet other families with young children. Come out and meet up with old friends, and make some new friends, too! Socks required for everyone (kids and adults)…..

PJ-Cosponsored Shabbat & Havdalah Programs

In DC:

P J Library Tot Shabbat and Participatory Dinner, first Friday of the month, 6:00 p.m. at Temple Sinai (DC)

In Maryland:

First Fridays, first Friday of every month, 5:30 p.m. at Temple Shalom (Chevy Chase)
Tot Shabbat, first Friday of every month, 5:30 p.m. at Washington Hebrew Congregation Bindeman Center (Potomac)
Tot Shabbat, first Saturday of the month at B’nai Shalom of Olney (Olney)

In Northern Virginia:

Kabbalat Shabbat @ Gesher–Children’s Romp n’ Sing, Friday, December 20, 2:00 pm at Gesher Jewish Day School (Fairfax)
Shabbat Family Service with Birthday Blessings, Friday, December 13, 7:00 p.m. at Temple B’nai Shalom (Fairfax Station)
Gan Shabbat, Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. at Agudas Achim Congregation (Alexandria)
Oh Say Shalom, Sunday, December 15, 11:00 a.m. at Agudas Achim Congregation (Alexandria)
Erev Shabbat Family Service, second Friday of the Month, 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Adat Reyim (Springfield)
Tot Shabbat, fourth Saturday of the month, 10:00 a.m. at Congregation Adat Reyim (Springfield)

Baby Playdates Around Town

Looking for activities with your baby or toddler? Our partners offer something nearly every day of the week!

Drop In Play Group, Fridays, 10:00 a.m. at Tikvat Israel (Rockville)
GJF NoVA Playlabs Indoor Play Date, Sunday, November 10, 10:00 a.m. at NoVA PlayLabs (Chantilly)
I Say Shalom Baby & Me Hebrew Playgroup, Tuesday, January 28, 10:15 a.m. at Gesher Jewish Day School (Fairfax)
JFamily Playtimes, dates and locations vary, with the EDCJCC (DC)
Little Explorers at Gates of Discovery, Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. at Shaare Tefila (Olney).
Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach in NoVa , Sundays, starting November 10, 10:30 a.m. at the Pozez JCC (Fairfax)
Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach with Auntie A, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. at Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim (Silver Spring).

Resources

Sign up for free PJ Library books for kids 6 months-8 years old

Sign up for free chapter books for kids 8.5-11 years old

Check out the PJ Library in Greater Washington blog!

Character Day is a global conversation about why character matters. We offer insights, conversation catalysts and questions for your family to explore what it means to be a mensch (a good person).

“Judaism Values” Cards for Families

What We Are Reading

FROM THE JEWISH FEDERATION

Local Chanukah Resources

Federation’s Jconnect has rounded up recipes, articles, events and more to make your Chanukah even more fun and meaningful. Check them out!

Federation’s Jewish Preschool Fairs

The Jewish Federation is partnering with our community’s Jewish early childhood centers to offer three Jewish Preschool Fairs! These came from an idea from local Jewish parents and are a great way to learn of all the options. Save the date for the one near you. All are on Sundays at 10:00 am–Noon on their respective dates:

Montgomery County Jewish Preschool Fair: December 8, 2019 at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, 6101 Executive Boulevard, North Bethesda
DC Jewish Preschool Fair: January 5, 2020 at Tifereth Israel Congregation, 7701 16th St NW, Washington
NoVA Jewish Preschool Fair: January 12, 2020 at Providence RECenter, 7525 Marc Dr, Falls Church

FROM PJ LIBRARY

PJ Library Wants to Hear from YOU

Every three years, we conduct a survey to learn more about your family’s experience with PJ Library. Please take 10 minutes to share your feedback via the email you have received from our evaluation partner, Atlantic 57. Didn’t see the email? You can learn more here.

10 Community Project Ideas for Children Under 5

Community projects are a great way to help your children to be more aware of the people around them and the wider world that they’re living in. These ideas are especially helpful for younger kids, but still worthwhile for the whole family.

The 2019 Quick Guide to Celebrating Chanukah With Kids

Need ideas for enjoying Chanukah with your kids? Use this one-page guide is your go-to resource for quick stories, activities, and recipes suggestions by age.

Best Tips for Sharing Chanukah At School

Are you the designated Chanukah Parent at your child’s school? Our handy tips and activity ideas will make your visit easier.

12 Easy and Kid-Friendly Chanukah Recipes

While latkes are a fun Chanukah tradition, there are many more recipes to remind you of the miracle of the holiday. These 12 ideas have got you covered for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

FROM PJ OUR WAY

December’s PJ Our Way Books

There are four wonderful PJ Our Way selections to look forward to this December. Depending on which one you choose, you can learn a shocking secret about a boy’s family history, follow eight kids as they try to save their teacher’s job, join a fun and surprising Chanukah sleepover, or discover the truth about a famous but mysterious magician. Dive into a great read this month and pick your book by December 10th!

New PJ Our Way Titles to Hit the Shelves This Year
With Rosh Hashanah behind us, it’s time to think about goals and dreams for the coming year. For us, that means thinking about books that kids will love. Here are some upcoming titles that have the PJ Our Way Book Selection Committee very excited.

The PJ Our Way Chanukah Hub

PJ Our Way’s Chanukah Hub is where you’ll find everything you need to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Find recipes, activities, crafts, videos, and more; then, explore the PJ Our Way website for some great Chanukah-themed reads.

PJ Our Way Book Group
Sunday, January 5, 2:00 p.m.
Gathering Grounds Cafe (10637 Braddock Rd, Fairfax)

The only thing better than finishing a great PJ Our Way book is getting to talk about it with friends! Join us for our next monthly pop-up book group meeting led by staff from Gesher Jewish Day School. The January meeting will discuss the PJOW Book, The Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies, which was an August selection or is available at your local bookstore.