PJ Library: 200,000 and Counting

For those old enough to remember, it was like the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. You know, the one where the Prize Patrol showed up at the door of a family with the surprise that they had won millions of dollars.

So perhaps it wasn’t a giant check. Yet it seemed close to that for young Zachary Wynn of Pikesville.

For when this two-year-old opened the front door last spring, he and his family found themselves at the center of a big celebration. They had been selected as the recipient of Baltimore’s 200,000th PJ Library book.

“It was such a great surprise,” says Kimberly Wynn, his mother. “The PJ Library team knocked on the door, envelope in hand, balloons surrounding them, and gave him his book. Linda Hurwitz [chair of the board of The Associated] read to him and we had a small party.”

Since 2008, thanks, in part, to the support of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, free Jewish-themed PJ Library books have been landing in the mailboxes of local Jewish families with children, six months through age eight.

These books, an international initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, are distributed monthly by the Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE), an Associated agency.

The monthly package is something that Zachary looks forward to. He loves to open it and listen to the stories. And his mother really appreciates the Jewish themes, as well as the educational information for parents included in each book.

“I grew up in an involved Jewish family and was president of my youth group at my Reform synagogue,” says Wynn. “My husband grew up in a Virginia suburb outside of D.C. where he was one of only four Jewish kids in his high school. We were both immersed in Jewish life, yet these books broadened our Jewish understanding of Jewish holidays and culture and added to what our child is learning in Jewish preschool.”

“In fact,” says Gabrielle Burger, director of CJE’s PJ Library program,” PJ Library has been a huge success, not only because of the free books. Many parents are excited they are learning something new about Judaism.”

CJE often supplements PJ Library through hands-on programming at area retailers and holds events throughout town.

“One mother told me she attended a PJ event where they made Havdalah candles and learned about Havdalah. At the conclusion we gave them a Havdalah kit. Not only did she start making Havdalah at home, but she began bringing her friends to CJE’s weekly Tot Shabbats.”

Wynn can’t wait for her younger son, Asher, to be old enough to get his own book. “It’s been a wonderful experience sharing these Jewish stories with my child. And it’s helped us build a library, while developing a foundation for Jewish learning.”

Learn more at pjlibrary.org.

CUTLINE

Every month Zachery Wynn, with mom, Kimberly, and dad, Jason, looks forward to receiving his monthly PJ Library book.