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
- Follow Us on Pinterest
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:
- Havdalah with The Storefront Project: Saturday, February 1st at
- Tot Shabbat & Family Dinner: the first Friday of every month at 5:00 PM at Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb St. NW, Washington, DC)
- Tot Shabbat: first and third Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM at Tifereth Israel (7701 16th Street NW, Washington, DC)
- Yoga with Doda at Tifereth Israel: second Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM at Tifereth Israel (7701 16th Street NW, Washington, DC)
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 at 5:30 PM at Washington Hebrew Julia Bindeman Suburban Center (11810 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD)
You must pre-register for all of these Shabbat events using the links.
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 Train: Hop on the Tot Shabbat Train to visit local synagogues with your Pozez JCC JFamily Ambassador!
Virtual:
- Shabbat Spark: Fridays at 4:30 PM (hosted by the Pozez JCC, Fairfax, VA)
Ongoing Programs:
- Little Bookworms with Growing Jewish Families (GJF): monthly at public libraries in Northern Virginia
Burke Centre Library: Friday, January 10th | 10:30 AM - 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, January 19th | 9:00 AM (Pozez JCC, Fairfax)
Check out the PJ Library in Greater Washington blog!
This month on the Here’s the Story blog: Bringing Chanukah Values Into the New Year
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 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
Learning the Jewish Calendar
How is it that we celebrated the Jewish New Year back in October if a new year just started this month? Answer the whole family’s Jewish calendar questions and prepare for this year’s holidays on PJ Library’s calendar hub.
Get Together for Havdalah
Havdalah is Shabbat’s closing ritual, happening every Saturday evening, and one of the coziest themes for a winter gathering with your friends and their kids. Apply to PJ Library’s Get Together program, and we’ll help you be a Havdalah hosting hero.
Board Books About Shabbat and Havdalah
Cuddle in candlelight with the babies and toddlers in your life as you read any of these adorable PJ Library board books, all featuring kids enjoying Shabbat or Havdalah with their families.
Get Together With Friends–and Get Paid For It!
Check your email for the exciting 2024–25 launch of the PJ Library Get Together program, where we’ll give all kinds of help for you and your friends’ families to have a shared Jewish experience.
PJ OUR WAY
PJ Our Way January Choices
Happy New Year! PJ Our Way is proud to offer four fantastic books this month! Your reader can learn more about the early life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, be inspired by the bravery of the Danish people who risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbors, spend a summer on an American beach during WWII, or bake delicious chocolate cream doughnuts with Tristan. Learn more about each of these titles. 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
Rhythm ’N’ Ruach with Auntie A: Music ’n’ Yoga
Thursday, February 27, 2025 - Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Sing-a-Long with the Hazzan
Sunday, March 16, 2025 | 11:00 am - 11:45 am
JFamily at the Phillips Collection – Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line
Sunday, March 16, 2025 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
