Here’s the Story – The PJ Library in Greater Washington Blog
PJ Library Blog
The Values of Purim
I’m delighted to welcome a return to public celebrations of Purim. I hope you’ll join us for an event and carry the values of Purim throughout the month. There are many ways to celebrate the holiday, including observing the four Purim mitzvot (commandments), but I want to focus on two: hearing the story and […]
Celebrating the Birthday of the Trees
February is filled with fun! We have Tu B’Shevat (“the birthday of the trees”) starting on Sunday night, and many fun events around the area throughout the month. Tu B’Shevat is a great holiday to celebrate with kids in a few different ways: Take the opportunity to introduce a new fruit, either something grown on […]
Raising Lifelong Readers
January is the perfect time to snuggle up and read with your family. Whether it’s quietly reading books next to each other or reading aloud together, you can enjoy quality time as a family and set your children up to be lifelong readers. Some tips to make reading fun and engaging: Don’t be shy about […]
8 Ways to Brighten Your Chanukah
Chanukah is a celebration of courage, Jewish pride, and kindling new light in dark times. It is also provides a multitude of opportunities for families to celebrate together. Throughout the month, your family can celebrate these values in eight different ways: Read books about Jewish heroes: PJ Library offers many biographical picture books about Jews […]
Because We Were Strangers
In 37 places in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), we are reminded to love strangers because we were once strangers in a strange land. In fact, the phrase כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם (ki-gerim hayitem, “Because you were strangers”) appears in the Torah more frequently than any other. By reminding the Jewish people […]
Using Sukkot to Teach Hospitality
It seems hard to believe, but we are only halfway through the fall holidays! Up next is Sukkot (festival of booths). Beginning on Sunday night, many Jewish families will enjoy meals, and even sleepovers, outdoors in temporary homes called sukkot (the singular is a sukkah), inviting others to join them. The practice of inviting others […]
How Do You Measure a Year?
It’s the start of a new year — both a new school year and a Jewish new year! We hope the transition from summer fun to fall routines has been smooth for you. We typically spend the month of August preparing both mentally and physically for a new school year by adjusting bedtimes, finishing required […]
How Two Jewish Holidays Teach Resilience
Resilience is a key predictor of adult success, but it is an elusive concept to explain, especially to children. There are examples of it when you encourage your child to dust themselves off and get back on their bike, or when the birthday party plans were rained out and you had to switch to Option […]
Finding Joy in Simple Summer Pleasures
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.” –Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel Kids understand “radical amazement” instinctively. They […]
Pride and Solidarity
At a time when our world feels more fractured than ever, I remember that there is support and allyship in our community. The ways in which our world needs repairing and healing seem overwhelming, but you are not alone. Nor are you solely responsible for mending what is broken — that’s an obligation we each […]