Nineteen years ago, Harold Grinspoon started PJ Library by sending books to families raising Jewish children in Massachusetts with the goal of sharing Jewish stories that empower families and inspire joyful Jewish living. From those humble beginnings, today, PJ Library sends out more than 670,000 books to 40 countries around the globe, free of charge – and while the goal has never changed, PJ Library has established itself as a meaningful way to engage for Jewish families everywhere. As of November 22, 2024, PJ Library in Southern Arizona serves 637 children from birth through age 8, representing 466 families. PJ Library, in addition to creating moments of Jewish joy and learning in the home, has grown to be a platform to increase Jewish family engagement here in our own community.
Approximately every three years, PJ Library sends out a survey to learn about the evolving needs of families raising Jewish children. The 2024 PJ Library Triennial Survey data was recently released and there are two statistics of note that our community of Southern Arizona should be incredibly proud of.
- 43% of Southern AZ respondents said they attended a PJ Library sponsored event this year (compared to 25% national average).
- 14% report that PJ Library Southern AZ connected their family with other local Jewish activities or organizations either “moderately” or “a lot” (compared to a 7% national average).
Additionally, 76% report they are interested in resources to share Jewish life with family and friends from the broader community. Engaging families who do not identify as Jewish presents an opportunity to prevent antisemitism through relationship building and Jewish education.
Back in July, PJ Library in Southern Arizona received a grant from the Harold Grinspoon foundation to hire two additional parent connectors to engage families with babies and toddlers through two years old, and a second parent connector to help bring the magic of Jewish summer camp to life year-round. Currently, Suzette Joffroy is a parent connector focusing on creating experiences for parents, and Mallory Sussman is focused on building community for families with children aged two and younger.
One parent recently shared, “PJ Library has given my family the tools to help us to be Jewish joyfully for ourselves, and also connected us to the greater Southern Arizona Jewish community. Now more than ever, we feel incredibly connected to Jewish community.”
PJ Library in Southern Arizona continues to be nourished by and flourish under the leadership of Mary Ellen Loebl, who has run the program since its inception.
As PJ Library often shares, it costs a lot to be free. In 2023, PJ Library in Southern Arizona raised $48,000 through major gifts and the Grandparents’ Circle. In 2024, that number has so far grown to $55,000 – PJ Library in Southern AZ is grateful for continued support as it grows to serve more families.
PJ Library in Southern Arizona is a gift from the Tucson J, and is made possible by the Einstein-Sim, Hazan, Kippur, Langer, Loebl, Margolis, Rosenzweig, and Sharpe families, with support from Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
If you or someone you know is raising Jewish children, birth through age 12, please send them here to enroll today!
