PJ Library: A Wonderful Resource for New Jewish Parents
The bris is one of the first Jewish experiences your son will have — but it certainly doesn't have to be the last. From the very first weeks of life, you can begin surrounding your child with the warmth of Jewish stories, songs, and traditions. One of the best (and most delightful) ways to do that is through PJ Library.
What Is PJ Library?
PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation that sends free, high-quality Jewish books and music to families with children ages six months through eight years. Every month, your child receives a carefully selected book — no strings attached, no subscription fee. The program is funded by generous donors and local Jewish communities across North America and around the world.
The books are beautifully illustrated, thoughtfully written, and cover everything from Shabbat and holidays to values like kindness, honesty, and courage — all rooted in Jewish tradition and told in a way that children genuinely love.
Why Rabbi Glantz Recommends It
Over 30 years of performing bris ceremonies, Rabbi Glantz has seen thousands of families begin this journey of Jewish life. One of the most common questions he hears from new parents — especially those who didn't grow up with a strong Jewish education — is: "How do we make Judaism feel natural and meaningful at home?"
His answer is always the same: start small, start early, and make it joyful. PJ Library is one of the simplest and most effective ways to do exactly that. Reading a Jewish book together at bedtime isn't just a literacy activity — it's a way of saying to your child, these stories are yours. This heritage belongs to you.
How to Sign Up
Signing up takes about two minutes. Visit pjlibrary.org, enter your child's birthday and your mailing address, and the books begin arriving. You can register children from six months of age — so if you are expecting, you can sign up right away and the first book will arrive right around the time your little one is ready for storytime.
A Few Favorite Titles
Over the years, PJ Library has sent out hundreds of different titles. A few that families consistently love:
- Goodnight, Sh'ma — a sweet bedtime book that introduces the most central Jewish prayer
- The Shabbat Princess — a Cinderella-inspired story about welcoming Shabbat
- Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah — a beloved series that grows with your child through the Jewish year
- Eight Nights, Eight Lights — wonderful for toddlers exploring the holidays
And of course, as your child grows, the books grow with them — from board books for infants to chapter books for early readers.
Building a Jewish Home, One Page at a Time
There is a beautiful concept in Jewish tradition that a home filled with Torah — with learning, with stories, with Jewish values — becomes a mikdash me'at, a small sanctuary. You don't need to be a scholar to build that. You just need to read together, ask questions together, and let the stories do their work.
PJ Library helps make that happen, month after month, from the time your child is a baby.
If you are in the early days of expecting — or you have just welcomed a new son and are preparing for his bris — this is one of the loveliest gifts you can give him: a lifetime of Jewish stories that feel like home.