PJ Library

Home » Families » PJ Library

Your Child’s Treasury of Jewish Books

Parents Blessing Children

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
Follow Us on Pinterest

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 newborn–8 years old with a FREE treasury of Jewish books! 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 Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and generous local donors.

Photo above used courtesy of PJ Library.

Find a Family-Friendly Chanukah Event Near You!

Learn how you can support Israel during this crisis

Parenting resources on the current situation in Israel from PJ Library

Get the latest activity ideas for your family

Want to make connections with other Jewish families?
Check out the JFamily Ambassadors program!

Resources for Grandparents

Difficult Conversations: Resources for Parents

Tips for helping children cope with disturbing news

Shabbat and Havdalah Celebrations

DC:

Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner: the first Friday of every month (next one: December 8^th) at 5:00 PM at Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb St. NW, Washington, DC) – RSVP In Advance
Shabbat Singing at City-State Brewing: Saturday, December 9^th at 10:00 AM with The Storefront Project at City-State Brewing (705 Edgewood St NE) – Register here.

Maryland:

First Friday Shabbat Family Service: first Friday of each month at 5:30 PM (Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, MD)
Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner: third Friday of every month (next one: January 19^th) at 5:30 PM at Washington Hebrew Julia Bindeman Suburban Center (11810 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD)

Virginia:

Tot Shabbat Train Stop: Beth Emeth: Join Growing Jewish Families to visit the Tot Shabbat at Beth Emeth in Herndon, VA on Saturday, December 16^th | 11:00 AM
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)

Ongoing Programs:

Baby Lap Time: Sunday, December 10^th | 8:30 AM (Virtual)
Growing Grasshoppers: Sunday, December 10^th| 11:00 AM
Sunday Sing-a-Along: Sundays | 10:00 AM (Agudas Achim, Alexandria)

Resources

Sign up for free chapter books for kids 9-12 years old

Check out the PJ Library in Greater Washington blog!

This month on the Here’s the Story blog: Gratitude for Our Community

“Judaism Values” Cards for Families

What We Are Reading

FROM THE JEWISH FEDERATION

Summer Camp Grants and Listing
Check out our Summer Camp Resource Page which provides information about the Jewish overnight and day camp options available for your family. Through a partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camps, Federation is pleased to offer One Happy Camper grants for first-time campers from the Greater Washington community to attend Jewish overnight camps. If your child attends a Jewish day school, please apply for the PJ Library Camp Grant for your first-time overnight camper (check your email for the code sent by [email protected]).

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.

Connect with Purpose with Your Grandchildren

FROM PJ LIBRARY

Holiday Book Lists, Recipes, Games, and More
Get the scoop on Chanukah — and all the details on how to share the Festival of Lights with your child’s class — on PJ Library’s Chanukah Hub.

Happy Hannukah From Around the World
Enjoy this video Chanukah greeting from families in multiple countries around the world.

7 Delicious Foods From Around the World to Try This Hanukkah
Inspired by the global greeting above, here’s an international tour of Chanukah foods that you’ll want to invite into your home.

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.

PJ OUR WAY

PJ Our Way December Choices
PJ Our Way kids have between the 1^st and the 10^th of the month to log in and choose their next middle grade book or graphic novel.

Here are two ways to get advice from noted expert Dr. Sivan Zakai on discussing the tragic situation in Israel with children:

Read her article in Kveller, called “How to Talk to Kids About What’s Happening in Israel Right Now.”
The Jewish Education Project hosted a webinar with Dr. Zakai to support adults having these challenging conversations with kids. Watch the recording here.