Rhode Island

“It would not surprise me if there is at least one parent in our small community reading a PJ Library book to his or her child every single night of the year. Do you know what that means to a small congregation? Every single night, there is a child in our community who is laughing, learning and experiencing what it is to be Jewish. Even better, they are getting that experience from the teachers who mean the most to them -- their parents.”—Rabbi from North Adams, MA

About Our Community

In the summer of 2007, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island (BJE/RI) officially launched The PJ Library program in greater Rhode Island. The PJ Library is a program that seeks to engage Jewish families with young children in Jewish life. Created and supported by our partner, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), The PJ Library reaches out to Jewish families to foster curiosity about their heritage while exploring their Jewish identity.

Each participating child receives a high quality Jewish book or CD every month from age six months through age five, along with a guide to help families use the selections in their homes. All of the books and music have been selected by foremost early childhood experts and represent a wide array of Jewish themes.

Specialists have long touted the developmental and emotional benefits of introducing young children to the written word and music at an early age. Books and music, the staples of childhood, have the added benefit of being a natural conversation starter for families eager to instill deep and passionate Jewish feelings in their children.

The PJ Library program in Rhode Island serves over 800 Jewish children. Over 120 educational community programs are facilitated yearly. For more information contact nkatzman@bjeri.org

Local PJ Partner

PJ Library Funders:

Arnold & Rhoda Kleinstein
Arthur and Barbara Sheer
David & Hope Hirsch
DeRabbanan Fund of the Rhode Island Foundation
Engle Family Foundation
Ira and Anna Galkin Trust
Jewish Federation of Rhode Island
Linn & Steven Freedman
Michael Chesman
Mynde & Gary Siperstein
Lawrence & Jill Goldstein
Randi & Neil Beranbaum
Ravera & Rosenstein Families
Rosalie Fain & Family
Rotenberg Family
Ruth and Larry Page

PJ Library Partners:
Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Warwick
Barrington Books, Barrington
Borders Book Store, Providence
Brown University Hillel Foundation
Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island
Camp JORI
Congregation Agudas Achim
Congregation Beth Shalom
Congregation B'nai Israel
Congregation Beth David
EPOCH Senior Healthcare on Blackstone Blvd
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Harry Elkin Midrasha Community High School
Holocaust Education & Resource Center of RI
Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island
Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island
Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island
Jewish Federation of Rhode
Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island
Jewish Voice & Herald
J. Marcel Shoes, Providence
Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living
Providence Hebrew Day School
Providence Public Library
South County Hebrew School
Temple Am David
Temple Beth-El
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Habonim
Temple Sinai
Temple Torat Yisrael
The Friday School
URI Hillel Foundation

PJ Library Grandparent's Circle:

Michael Chesman
Duffy and Larry Page
Arnold & Rhoda Kleinstein

Sign Up

Geographic Area Covered:
Serving greater Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts

Age Range:
6 months to 6 years

→Sign Up!

Links

www.bjeri.org/

Contact Information

Nicole Katzman
Director, The PJ Library program in Rhode Island
130 Sessions Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906
401.331.0956 x180 or nkatzman@bjeri.org